Adrian College’s mission statement claims that it is a “Liberal arts college founded in the United Methodist tradition”. However, for several years, Adrian lacked a committed Methodist pastor to guide students in their spiritual life. Luckily for students, in 2023, Reverend Alice Ford joined the team at Adrian as the official Chaplain. Rev. Ford has been a key leader in bringing spiritual life to Adrian’s campus, finally establishing regular weekly worship services at Herrick Chapel on Thursdays at noon and Sundays at 6pm.
Rev. Ford’s journey to the church was long. She was raised Presbyterian but was drawn to a Methodist Youth Group in her teens. Nonetheless, while studying at the University of Alabama, she found herself stepping away from the faith after her professors challenged the authenticity of many Biblical stories.
“When I was in college, I stepped away from my faith, which is one of the reasons why I really love being the chaplain at a college,” Ford said.
Her “first love in life” was music, and then social work, where she found herself volunteering at survivor centers with rape victims. After she graduated, however, the federal government was closing many social work centers. By way of this, she found her way into working for a computer company at a time before computer science degrees existed. After many years, she found herself with a high-paying job working for Kraft Foods.
After many years away from the faith, she decided to go on a short-term mission trip to Guatemala. There, she witnessed many of the hardships and poverty that those who live in such countries face.
“I just thought to myself, I cannot live my life with my primary purpose being helping shareholders and high-ranking people make money,” Ford expressed.
She fell to her knees and cried, asking God to give her more of a purpose in life. This experience is what led Ford to begin the nine-year ordination process in the United Methodist Church.
To her, Methodism is a denomination that is “primarily based on Grace, and I am in love with that,” Ford stated. To Ford, the church is open to everybody, with oversight on all faith groups and all traditions. Whatever spiritual development students want to expand, she wants to help.
At Adrian College, she sees that most students are “overprogrammed and overscheduled,” but nevertheless detects a warmth and kindness at Adrian that is not seen elsewhere. She makes sure that the weekly chapel service is within 30 minutes, geared to the minds of what students need to hear, including affirmations such as “you are enough”.
Students can participate in worship services with Rev. Ford on Thursdays at noon and Sundays at 6pm.
