When Samford junior Kionna Ramsey first arrived on campus, she intended to follow a pre-medical path with aspirations of becoming a pediatrician. In a transformative moment during her freshman year, she felt called to a different vocation.
"Though those were my plans, they ultimately were not God’s," said Ramsey. “After constant tugging and toiling, I eventually chose to surrender to the wooing of the Lord.”
Embracing her calling to ministry, she changed her major to Christian and Religious Studies and added minors in Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Management, as well as Race, Ethnicity and Social Justice.
This shift in direction gave Ramsey a sense of purpose that has only deepened with her work at Samford.
Ramsey’s work in Samford’s Center for Congregational Resources, which exists to aid pastors in charting a course to thriving ministry, especially in local African American and Hispanic communities, has brought her ministerial passions together in a plethora of ways.
Through a connection with Joanna Bradley, assistant professor of World Languages and Cultures, Ramsey learned about an opportunity to work with the center’s director, Keri Burns, on projects that support minority communities.
“In partnership with the Center for Congregational Resources and the Office of Student Success and Diversity, such two amazing offices, I am able to integrate race and religion, justice and the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Ramsey.
At the same time, Ramsey credits the faculty and courses within Howard College of Arts and Sciences for refining her approach to ministry and social justice.
“Dr. David Bains and Dr. Theresa Davidson have greatly influenced my pursuit of the intersectionality between race and religion,” said Ramsey.
In courses such as Dr. Bains’ “Introduction to World Religions” and Dr. Davidson’s “Race and Ethnic Relations” and “Prisons, Punishment and Power,” Ramsey explores how one’s cultural, religious, and social identities affect interactions within broader societal systems.
“We are multifaceted individuals; thus, when discussing such a topic as race or religion, there must be careful consideration given to one’s environment, social interactions and personal experiences,” said Ramsey.
Ramsey’s commitment to social justice is grounded in her faith, inspired by the model Jesus presented in Scripture, which she reads and practices daily.
“Jesus would often address a person’s physical need before giving attention to their spiritual need,” she said, citing examples such as the Samaritan woman retrieving water at the well.
Ramsey believes that for marginalized communities—many of whom grapple with poverty and injustice—addressing physical needs is essential to meaningful ministry.
"How can they openly receive the Gospel when hatred, malice and brutality crouches at their door daily? How can they truly believe that God is sovereignly good when they are unsure of where their next meal will come from? " said Ramsey.
Her work with churches serving minority communities has advocated for those whose voices have long been marginalized. She envisions a future career that furthers this mission, whether in ministry, nonprofit work, or social justice.
Ramsey’s experiences at Samford have also sparked her interest in nonprofit work as a means of making a tangible difference.
"One day, it is my hope to start my own nonprofit organization,” said Ramsey.
Whether or not that dream materializes, she is committed to serving in initiatives that intersect faith and social justice. Ramsey’s roles with the Center for Congregational Resources and the Office of Student Success and Diversity allow her to stay “in tune with the ‘heartbeat’ of those I aspire to serve,” she said.
As she looks ahead, Ramsey plans to pursue further schooling and hopes for a career that continues to merge her life passions.
"No matter where I go or what I do, as long as I remain in Christ and surrender to His providential purpose for my life, it is well with my soul," said Ramsey.
