Zero to Hero

As a grandmother of eight, Sandra Holden was not convinced that she needed to go back to school to complete her degree. Mrs. Holden was employed as an in-home care-provider when she realized God’s calling on her life was more then what she was experiencing. Jim Woolums, Director of Campbellsville University in Louisville remembers when he first met Mrs. Holden, “She wasn’t sure if she had made the right choose to go back to school. Kelli (Gwilt, Assistant Director) and I helped her to understand, this was the right place to be.”

“I was afraid to back to school because people told me that I was not college material” said Holden. Despite the negative commits, Mrs. Holden began classes at CU-Louisville and soon finished her Associate’s degree. She would not stop there. Mrs. Holden continued in her studies until she graduated with her Bachelor’s in Educational Ministries.  “The Louisville Campus was like an extended family, they helped me stay focused so I could go on until I finished” said Holden.

“It was out of her Spiritual Formation class that she found her passion to help others,” said Woolums, “She wanted to turn her hurt into the ability to help others”. For years she had an idea of the older women in her church mentoring to the younger women. Mrs. Holden spoke with the wife of the pastor on a number of occasions but it appeared it would never happen. Then one day her Pastor approached and asked her to begin this ministry. 

“I wanted to learn how to help others overcome the negative feelings that I had been through during my time of grief.” said Holden who had suffered a lost of a child before attending CU-Louisville. “My intention was to learn how to speak to others that were going through what I went through; I needed to get over the fear of speaking to others” said Holden.

After graduation Mrs. Holden enrolled in the chaplaincy program at Baptist East Hospital in Louisville. She has just completed the program and is now excited about the future. Mrs. Holden commented on the staff at CU-Louisville, “I appreciate everyone’s help with both my emotional and physical problems that I endured during my time there. You (the staff) helped me keep the faith”.

Mrs. Holden continues to help others. Her ministry at the church continues to help younger women deal with the pressures that life offers. She also plans on extending her chaplaincy experience. Jim Woolums offers this compliment to Sandra Holden, “This is someone who went from zero to hero”. 

CU-Louisville is an extension of Campbellsville University offering a Christ-centered education for the adult learner. Their programs and classes are designed to help the busy adult complete their higher education while raising a family. For more information call 1-877-4CUGRAD or email Louisville@campbellsville.edu.