4 minute read
GOD’S CALLING
By Stacey Walters
The serene campus of the University of Pikeville sits atop a hill in Eastern Kentucky where one can marvel at a view of the Appalachian Mountains, open educational pathways and witness the beauty of God’s work.
That view from campus inspired a faith-journey and opened many doors for UPIKE alumnus Scot Robinson ’16.
Like many Eastern Kentucky students, applying for college can be overwhelming, but for Robinson, growing up only a stone’s throw away from campus, attending UPIKE felt like an obvious choice. Alongside receiving an alumni scholarship from the university, he thought that UPIKE showed a genuine interest in his success and helped guide the path of his calling to ministry.
While at UPIKE, Robinson had the opportunity to learn about religious traditions, but he also learned more about himself and explored his own theology.
“I’ll never forget the valuable experiences of attending interfaith panels, getting to dialogue with guest lecturers from other faith traditions, and even having the opportunity to visit the local Mosque to learn more about Islam,” said Robinson. “In my own life, this has taught me the invaluable skill of ‘holy envy,’ a phrase I heard termed by Barbara Brown Taylor. This is the skill of being able to look at the different religious traditions of my neighbors and friends with generosity, curiosity and appreciation.”
As someone who grew up in a Christian context, Robinson was grateful for the chance to learn about other religions and interfaith dialogue while studying at UPIKE.
“Through historical-critical surveys on Biblical books, studying the history and development of Christian theology and tradition, hearing theology from the margins by voices different than my own, and listening to open dialogue between students in classes, I experienced major formative moments for me in my own faith journey,” said Robinson. “Learning the history, development, philosophy, and theology connected to my own tradition deepened my curiosity and appreciation of it.”
The professors in the religion department at UPIKE served as mentors for Robinson and had an integral impact on his academic journey.
UPIKE Professor of Religion James Browning, Ph.D., shared a few words that impacted Robinson during his journey through academia. Browning said, “Compassion is the root of wisdom,” which pushed him to seek knowledge and endeavors that inspire change and healing.
Although Robinson’s interests were in religion, he didn’t initially see himself becoming a pastor. When he began looking into graduate programs, he thought the Master in Divinity would be a stepping stone toward ordination or becoming clergy.
The first spark of his call to ministry happened his senior year when Chaplain Rob Musick asked if Robinson would deliver a sermon at the First Presbyterian Church in Prestonsburg. After reluctantly accepting and fighting back the nervous jitters, Robinson felt warmly embraced and welcomed by everyone at the sanctuary when he preached on the Good Samaritan.
“Inviting Scot to speak was a natural progression in Scot’s call. Being in class with him, watching him grow as a worship leader through campus worship and hearing his heart for the Lord and others, it was evident that God was calling him to serve the church,” said Musick. “Scot’s sensitivity to the Spirit, the heart of others, and the injustices of our world made it clear that God was inviting Scot to lead in pastoral ministry.”
That moment, Robinson clearly saw what he had learned academically intersecting in his own faith and began his journey of ordination in the Presbyterian Church.
Upon graduating from UPIKE, Robinson attended Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville. During the time of his ordination process, an opportunity to serve as a guest preacher at the First Presbyterian Church of Pikeville presented itself, which quickly turned into being installed as the full-time pastor.
Former UPIKE Trustee and member of the Presbyterian Church Charles J. Baird immediately liked Robinson’s inspirational preaching and teaching style.
“There was never any doubt that we wanted him to serve as our pastor,” said Baird. “Scot has initiated new ways for the church to help others in the community and his messages are relevant and meaningful. We are very fortunate to have his family as a part of our church and look forward to having them with us for a long time.”
Robinson believes growing up in Pikeville, loving the area and seeking to serve its people made this the perfect opportunity. “As a few of my mentors have told me, this was definitely a ‘God thing,’ and it all came together amazingly,” said Robinson.
Though vocationally Robinson is in congregational ministry, his academic journey still inspires him to learn. In 2020, Robinson wrote a piece on the intersections of healthcare and the church in Appalachia published in Unbound: Presbyterian Church U.S.A.’s Journal on Christian Social Justice and credits UPIKE for cultivating the achievement.
Robinson also had the opportunity to work alongside student street chaplains and doctoral students who offered pastoral care to the homeless and addressed systemic issues like poverty and racial justice.
“In my journey through ordination, I’ve learned about so many others who are serving God in amazing ways that are outside the box. The sky’s the limit,” said Robinson.
