Seminary intern Nicole Wilson reflects on the joy of collaborating with Jeff Nelson on a series of writing projects rooted in the life and ministry of Royal Oak First. From exploring the mission of the church to creating an Advent devotional and the upcoming Lenten study Called & Seen, these works grow out of theology that is practiced, shared, and lived in community. Her reflection offers a glimpse into how faith takes shape when people gather, listen, and seek to make Christ’s love tangible together.
Dear friends,
My name is Nicole Wilson, and I am a seminary intern at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. I enjoy writing, research, and the work of bringing theology into everyday life. Working alongside Jeff Nelson on these books has been a true joy and a profound learning experience for me as a seminary intern. Each project has invited me deeper into the life, mission, and heart of the church—not just as a place, but as a living, breathing community.
At Royal Oak First, theology is never only something we study—it is something we practice. Through what we often call the ROFUM Lens, we continually ask how Christ’s love can be made real in tangible, embodied ways. These writing projects have grown directly out of that shared commitment. They were shaped not at a distance, but in worship, in small groups, and in the everyday lives of people seeking to follow Jesus together.
We began with a book exploring the mission of the church—who we are, why we gather, and how we are called to love and serve in the world. From there, we collaborated on an Advent devotional that became a tapestry of voices from across the congregation, reflecting the many ways faith is lived and practiced here.
As Lent begins next week, we are grateful to share Called & Seen, an eight-week Lenten study written for small groups. This study centers on how Jesus sees us—truly and uniquely—and how being seen by him becomes a call that shapes who we are and how we live. It is designed to be experienced together, trusting that theology deepens when people gather, listen, and reflect in community.
We are also currently working on a new book titled What Does It Mean to Be a United Methodist? This project invites thoughtful, accessible reflection on identity, theology, and practice—grounded in lived faith and rooted in the church’s ongoing mission to make Christ’s love real in the world.
Across all of these projects, I have come to understand theology as participatory—formed in community, shaped by shared questions, and rooted in love made real. These books exist because people showed up, shared their stories, and trusted that God was already at work among us. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn, to listen, and to help bring these reflections into print. It has been a gift to witness how faith takes form when people are seen, named, and invited into God’s ongoing work together.
With gratitude,
Nicole Wilson
Seminary Intern, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary