The Personnel Committee and Missions Committee are delighted to share that our own Claudia Amaya will be joining us as our new Pastoral Intern! Claudia and her husband, Elmer, are members of First Baptist on Fifth, and Claudia has just completed her first year of the Master of Divinity program at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. Her internship will cover 300 hours over the next several months, and she will focus her energies in missions and pastoral leadership.
Hear now these words of introduction from Claudia:
My name is Claudia Garcia Amaya, and I’m currently a Master of Divinity student at Wake Forest University. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as a pastoral intern and to walk alongside this community in faith, care, and service. I am especially passionate about pastoral care, spiritual formation, and the importance of self-care, both as spiritual practices and as ways we live out God’s love. My calling is rooted in creating spaces where healing and liberation can flourish, particularly for women and those whose voices have often gone unheard. Before seminary, I worked as a bilingual health educator and volunteered in ministry settings, experiences that continue to shape my approach to compassionate, inclusive care. I draw inspiration from mujerista theologians like Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, Ada María Isasi-Díaz, and María Pilar Aquino, whose work reminds me of the power of faith, culture, and community in shaping our lives and our callings.”
Claudia’s first day in the office will be June 2, and we’ll offer our blessings for her internship in worship on June 8. Welcome, Claudia!