18 March 2025 4 minute read
The Senior Expression Series at Spelman College is a tradition that provides graduating students with the opportunity to reflect on their faith journeys and share their messages with the community. Five seniors each with unique backgrounds, have the honor of delivering sermons that showcase their growth, challenges and insights. Here are the reflections and key moments from their time at Spelman that underscore the role faith has played in shaping their college experience and their lives.
Kourtney Flowers, a graduating senior majoring in English from Miami, Florida, had long dreamed of attending Spelman. "I was seven years old, telling everyone that I would go to Spelman, and I worked hard to make that dream come true," she recalls. Flowers' time at Spelman marked by faith and service began with a desire to join the Sisters Chapel team and remain in the background. However, her involvement blossomed into a powerful ministry journey.
"What began as a simple extracurricular opportunity became a pathway toward discovering my life's purpose," said Flowers. Delivering a senior sermon was a moment of deep personal significance for her. "I have to trust that if this opportunity was brought forth to me, there is something here that I must respond to; something that I may learn along the way," she shared. Looking back on her spiritual growth, Flowers emphasizes the importance of proactively nurturing one’s faith.
"Being proactive in my spiritual life rather than reactive when overwhelmed has been key to balancing spirituality with my academic and leadership demands," said Flowers.
Shadavia Burnett, a religious studies major from Queens, New York had a unique spiritual journey at Spelman. "My Spelman journey started subconsciously in middle school when I visited Atlanta," she said. Though she initially had no plans to attend Spelman, after visiting Atlanta in middle school, she found herself drawn to the community. Her spiritual growth was deeply nurtured by the resources offered through Sister‘s Chapel and the Women In Spiritual Discernment of Ministry (WISDOM) Program. Burnett's senior sermon will be a powerful expression of her identity.
"I minister to those who haven't seen themselves in the Bible or the center of love," she said. As a queer Black woman who challenges traditional views on faith, Burnett's message was one of inclusivity and love. "Ministering in this series is ministering to the versions of myself and the people whose parts of themselves were never talked to, loved or seen."
Faith Allen, a senior biology major from Rochester, New York is on the pre-med track. Allen shares her gratitude for this moment and support in her journey. "Spelman embraced me, providing the support and guidance I needed to grow in ways I never imagined possible," she shared. Her time at Spelman was transformative, especially within the Chapel community, where she found her spiritual voice. Delivering her senior sermon will be a powerful affirmation of a spiritual commitment.
"It filled me with excitement to share the gospel and show that faith knows no age boundaries," Allen says. For her, stepping into the pulpit was an act of answering God's call, which solidified her spiritual commitment. "I hope my sermon encourages students to create space for God in their lives."
Naryah Ellis, a religious studies major hailing from Jonesboro, Georgia comes from a lineage of women who found strength thorough prayer. "I am here honoring the journeys of all the women who came before me and the legacy of those who will come behind me," she stated. Though Spelman was not her initial dream, she found a home and student ministry at Sisters Chapel and in the WISDOM Center. "Here, I reclaimed my love of God, community and dance," she said. Delivering a senior sermon for a moment of affirmation of her journey and the journeys of those who came before her.
“If God calls me, I will respond, she said. Inspired by Travis Greene’s song "Respond,” she recognizes the sermon series opportunity as part of her vocational exploration. "I have to trust that if this opportunity was brought forth to me, there is something here I must respond to."
Emauni Crawley, a sociology major specializing in criminology from Hampton, Virginia is a disability advocate and an ambassador for the Tourette Association of America. Having started her Spelman journey virtually in fall 2020, she faced challenges that led her to pursue her studies before returning stronger than ever. "Now, at the end of this chapter, I look back at the highs and lows and truly thank God for it all," she said. To her, preaching a senior sermon is a profound responsibility. "A sermon is not a light task. I was always told that if I am chosen to preach the Word of God, regardless of the audience size, it is a matter of life or death." She deeply appreciates the platform given by Rev. NeichelleGuidry, Ph.D., Dean of Sisters Chapel, to share her message.
"When it comes to the soul, not everyone is meant to nurture it. Doctors care for the body, psychologists for the mind, but who is equipped to care for the soul? Therefore, given the privilege to water the souls of my community, even for a moment, is an indescribable feeling that I am truly blessed to receive."
As part of the Senior Expression Series, the students discuss how they balance spirituality with the rigorous demands of college life. For Flowers, maintaining her spiritual life is essential for academic success. "If I do not prioritize my spiritual life, my capacity and performance as a student and leader inevitably dwindle," she noted. Burnett, however, approaches spirituality by deeply integrating it into her daily life. “Spirituality is embedded in how I live, how I breathe, how I eat, how I talk, and how I think," she reflected.
As the seniors conclude their sermons, they each aim to leave a lasting legacy for their peers. For Flowers, it’s about encouraging others to be authentic. "I hope that my sermon can be a possibility model for those coming behind me, encouraging them to show up in the fullness of themselves." Burnett's message is one of love and inclusion, challenging her community to accept all aspects of their identity. The senior expression sermon series at Spelman College stands as a testament to the profound impact that faith, service and leadership can have on the Spelman community. These seniors are leaving a meaningful mark, sharing their messages of hope, resilience,and faith with future generations of Spelman women.