[Some people have gotten divine messages from Gabriel the Angel. Many of you have gotten emails from Gabriel Dodd, the Program Manager. I asked him to tell you a little bit more about himself. He did. – Bill]

My name is Gabriel. I’m 26, a husband, and I have been the Program Manager for Coracle for the past three years. Before starting this job, I’d never even heard the word Coracle! But it’s become a real blessing to me on this part of my journey.

I grew up in the Church of the Brethren tradition, which combines Anabaptism and Pietism. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University and moving to the Shenandoah Valley to work in outdoor ministry, a church member passed along the job opening that turned out to be close where I lived. It was a similar position to something I held before, and allowed me to incorporate my interest for outdoor ministry in a new setting.  But then it turns out that Coracle has played a huge part in how I have continued my path in ministry.

After learning about the work Coracle was setting out to do, I became more and more interested in the ministry because it speaks to the Christian values of justice and shalom that I grew up understanding kingdom action to be. Coracle works at helping others be formed in Christ, and out of that place, working for a heavenly kingdom come to earth. What caught my eye was the attention to creation care, community building, current world injustices, and creating a space for people to meet God and be met by God. What was different for me from some other ministries I have worked with, is that people who come and use Corhaven deeply desire to be close to God, and this energizes me to continue this type of work. Coracle offers tools for people to deepen in their relationship with God, and helps people work for kingdom action.

Over the last three years, I heard a calling to the ordained ministry, and am now about half way through an M.Div at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, VA. Over that time I’ve increasingly felt a strong calling to pursue pastoral ministry with an emphasis in spiritual direction. My passion for working for peace and justice has led me to help others discern with God on a local and community level. This involves personal relationships to help others grow with God to do the very things Coracle is set out to do – spiritual formation for kingdom action. So I am taking classes and pursuing opportunities to mediate conflict, do spiritual direction, and create change. In seminary and through my activity in my church, I have heard others affirm my gifts to include being a calming presence, and allowing others to be honest and open with me. I plan to further my study to enable me to use my gifts in communication to help others discern with God, both with individuals and groups.

It is no coincidence that I have been working at Coracle for three years. It’s not just a part time job for me. This work has transformed me as a minister. I do not know what is next for me, but I do value the work I do for Coracle behind the scenes. Though a lot of the work I do is logistical, I have heard and experienced testimonies about how this ministry has transformed people, and inspires people to grow closer to God. I am honored to be helping in the ways that I able, and feel a blessing to be working closely with Bill. He has been a great resource to me, and helps me discover the need for my ministry on the local level. And it’s been a great resource for me to learn a lot about other faith traditions, and has opened my eyes to interdenominational Shalom. Praise the Lord!