Internship Spotlight: Emmanuel A.

The Perkins Intern Program is widely recognized for preparing women and men for faithful leadership in Christian ministry. Internships allow students to integrate classroom learning with the real-life demands of serving congregations or agencies in urban, suburban and rural settings. Interns are encouraged to follow three guiding practices: “Be Aware, Think Theologically, and Lead Faithfully.” Interns receive guidance from trained mentors, feedback from on-site committees, and support from their cohort, intern program faculty and consultants through the Internship Seminars. They gain hands-on experience, reflect theologically and explore how God is calling them to serve. In the second of this ongoing series spotlighting interns, we introduce you to Emmanuel Anning, an M.Div. student who interned in the hospital chaplaincy at Methodist Health System and continues in the residency program.

In choosing to pursue a career as a hospital chaplain, Anning worried that his African accent might hold him back. However, through his internship, he discovered that what seemed like a weakness helps him serve others. Anning, an M.Div. student, completed an internship this summer at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. In August, he began a yearlong residency at Methodist Charlton Medical Center in Dallas as part of his Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program. The CPE combines hands-on practice, clinical supervision and academic study to prepare for the hospital chaplaincy. Anning reflects on his journey here.

Q. What led you to the CPE program?

I was a Methodist lay preacher back home in Ghana in West Africa. When I came to the U.S., I joined the Army but couldn’t obtain the security clearance for the Army’s chaplain’s assistant program. After retiring from the Army, I wanted to enter the ministry and decided to study at Perkins. CPE was not originally part of my plans. However, Dr. Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner introduced me to the week-long Health Care / Holy Care program at Houston Methodist. We shadowed the chaplains as they visited patients’ rooms.  I felt I could make an impact as a chaplain. That led to an internship at Methodist Mansfield to determine whether this field is right for me.

Q. What is a typical day like in your residency?  

Each morning, we receive a list of patients to visit. I visit and see how they are doing.  Some ask for prayers, some may ask for a Bible, and others may ask for additional support. I don't go there with the mentality of a pastor. Sometimes I’m there to listen and assess their emotional and spiritual needs. In chaplaincy, we refer to it as being present. I sit down with the person and allow them to pour out their heart. Sometimes listening helps them to release stress.

Q. How has the practice of writing verbatim helped you? 

For verbatim, we write about a visit with a patient, including your experience with them, how you were able to support them, and the impact of the visit.  I present verbatim each week to my colleagues as well as my mentor, the Rev. Willacin “Precious” Gholston (M. Div.  '09), who is Manager of the CPE program at Methodist. A verbatim helps you and your colleagues reflect on what you did well, what you didn't do well, and how best you can improve. So, it's really helping us to grow in the chaplaincy.

Q. In what ways have you seen your theological studies come alive?

I hope Dr. Magallanes will read this. (Laughs.) In his class, The Church in its Social Context, we were always going back and forth. Maybe he thought I was a difficult student! But that class changed my perspective when I visit a patient. That class taught me to not only look at the person I'm talking to, but also look for God in that person. Because God created that person. I don't go to a room to judge. I go to accept that person as a child of God. Before, I had had a mentality where, if a person didn’t think like me, that person was wrong.

Q. So it’s an ability to see God in other people, even when you disagree or don't have the same beliefs?

Exactly that. Also, I learned from Dr. Ruben Habito’s class on Buddhism.  Recently I had a one-on-one with a Buddhist patient. It didn't feel like anything different. I could talk to him as a brother. We did not chat in a religious manner, but we impacted each other with the knowledge that God has given each of us.

Q. How has your experience as an international student affected your ability to relate to your patients?

One of my biggest fears was whether patients could understand me, because I have an accent. But people in need don't necessarily care what you tell them. My accent, which I thought of as a weakness, has helped me to keep quiet. To have a listening ear. Sometimes patients just need someone to listen.

On the other hand, when I see patients who are from Africa, they are happy to see somebody like them as a chaplain.

Recently, a patient left a message saying that he wanted to talk to me before he was discharged, because my visit with him had meant a lot to him. I received the message after he left, but it touched me. This patient was a 65-year-old old white man. I thought, “Who am I? I’m somebody from Africa, but our conversation made an impact in his life.”

Q. How is the CPE stretching you in ways you didn't expect?

In the Army, it’s important to be strong. In the CPE, I realized that I'm very emotional. Sometimes I cry with the family that has lost a loved one. I never thought I would behave like that. But this CPE has taught me that I am human, and that is so precious to me. I’ve come to love the chaplaincy.