Before Rodney Carter (’17) began pursuing a master’s degree in professional counseling at Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary and Graduate School’s Greenbelt location, he was already an accomplished scholar. He holds two bachelor’s degrees from Southern Methodist University – one in accounting, the other in economics – and a master’s degree in business administration and finance from Emory University. He’s spent the last 25 years working in banking and finance in Washington, D.C., and his most recent role had him working in credit risk management in the capital region.

By all accounts, Carter had achieved the American dream: he had a great education, great job and was living life in a bustling metropolis.

So why study counseling now?

According to Carter, it’s all because of God.

“I view my pursuit of a second career as more of a calling from God,” he explained. “While I have achieved a level of success in the secular arena, I strongly believe that God has called me to the helping profession to be a healer of the soul.” Since he began his studies, Carter said that he’s certain that he made the right choice for his education. “I choose LBC | Capital because of its Christian worldview and its emphasis on training of counselors in the integration of the Christian faith with evidence-based secular counseling approaches,” he said. “. . . [And] the counseling program challenged me to grow as a Christian and to become a sharper instrument of change and transformation for God’s use.”

Carter looks forward to his graduation in May of 2017, seeing it as an opportunity to put his God-given talents and passions to use through helping others. His current post-graduation plans include becoming a licensed professional counselor who focuses on addictions, trauma and crisis counseling. Carter also plans on pursing his doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision.

Carter credits his education as a transformational period in his life. “My time a LBC | Capital was not only a time of professional development but one of spiritual and personal growth. I thought I was coming to LBC | Capital only to learn how to counsel others, but God did a work in me!”