Published on December 4, 2024 by Neal Embry  
Chaney

Ava Chaney, a student and soon-to-be alumna of Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, spent 17 years teaching in the classroom.

So, when she felt the Lord calling her to earn a seminary degree, she thought transitioning to the other side of the classroom would be easy.

Chaney said it was instead a “night and day” transition.

“I realized the importance of what it’s like being a student and having to study, finding a study buddy, etc.,” Chaney said.

Finding friends was not hard, given Beeson’s small, in-person community. Chaney and fellow student Cole Frier became friends and have remained friends throughout their studies. Frier graduated in April, while Chaney will graduate this week, both with a Master of Divinity.

Chaney accepted a call to ministry in 2017, following the recommendation of her pastor, a dear friend of renowned Beeson preaching Professor Robert Smith Jr.

“It’s been a challenge to be here, but at the same time, I feel that this is the place I needed to be at,” Chaney said. “I have a fresh look when I open the Bible. It is not just a Bible; it is a tool, a road map. I have learned that standing in the pulpit is not the first time I can express the Bible. I can express the Bible in my everyday life.”

Chaney said learning how to preach in Beeson’s preaching lab prepared her to share the Gospel and to always study God’s Word.

“To be a good handler of the Word of God, you’ve got to be in the Word of God,” Chaney said.

Chaney said she would fondly remember the study groups formed at Beeson, her time with professors, and the preaching lab.

Chaney plans to apply for the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s chaplaincy program in the fall of 2025, which will provide her with a job and further chaplaincy education. Eventually, she hopes to be a chaplain at Children’s Hospital.

“I do love people, and I care for people; my heart is at its most vulnerable stage for people when they are hurting,” Chaney said.

Chaney will also pursue a doctorate in the Old Testament in the future, with aspirations to teach at the seminary level.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.