Unshaken and Unafraid

Jamil and Vanessa Hairston met in high school, at Georgia–Cumberland Academy in Georgia, United States, and went on to study at Southern Adventist University in Tennessee. Vanessa majored in elementary education and Jamil in clinical psychology, and they were married during their senior year.

Everything was going according to plan until they felt called to pastoral ministry. Vanessa had considered ministry in the past but was unsure whether to use her gifts in a classroom or church setting. Jamil had experienced a change of heart and was beginning to witness the purpose God was giving him through mentoring others and speaking for services, something he never imagined doing, given his fear of public speaking.

“We didn’t want to stay at Southern for another two years,” Jamil said. We were already graduating. But we applied to Andrews University for the Master of Divinity program saying, ‘If it’s God’s plan, it’ll happen.’”

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