We want to thank all students for their participation in the 57th Edwin J. Omark Preaching Competition and congratulate all on a job well done. The results are in, and we invite you to hear the 2024 Omark Preaching Competition winner Erica Stricklen preach live at the Seminary Preaching Showcase on May 1, 2024, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Anderson Center.

Erica Stricklen is the Children’s Pastor at Seymour Heights Christian Church in Seymour, Tennessee. She is a graduate of Johnson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Children’s Ministry and Preschool Daycare. She has served at Seymour Heights since 2016. She and her husband, John, have been married since 2010 and have two sons, Zachary and Caleb. Erica is pursuing a Master’s in Children’s Youth and Family Ministry at Bethel Seminary. She loves her family, spending time outside, playing games, and Dr. Pepper.

Emmett is currently working as an associate campus pastor at Crossroads Church-Hastings. Emmett and his wife Sara moved to Minnesota from Arizona in October of 2022. Emmett’s undergrad degree is in biology with an emphasis in pre-medicine. Vocational ministry has been a recent calling that Emmett has felt God placed on his heart. He loves to try different foods, travel, and learn about cultures from around the world. Emmett has a passion to serve and care for his neighbors. Community outreach and sharing about Jesus is a passion of his. Emmett is currently a student at Bethel University pursuing his master’s in  divinity and is excited to see how God will use him for His kingdom.

Lydia has been in ministry all of her adult life. After graduation from Pensacola Christian College, she did an internship at the European Headquarters of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) in Switzerland. She returned stateside to attend Children’s Ministries Institute. Lydia joined the International Headquarters and eventually became Director of Publications. Lydia’s second career was a stay-at-home mother and homeschooler. During that time, she also managed the business office for her husband’s residential construction business. Lydia’s third career was the launch of a Christian Ranch/Camp that served children with especially challenging life circumstances.It is still going strong. After their three children left home, Lydia returned to CEF as Corporate Communications Specialist for four years.

With the desire to be a more present grandmother, Lydia moved to work part-time and remotely for Life Focus Communications. The ministry’s emphasis on Bible-centered trauma healing for children and women strikes a chord in Lydia’s heart and she believes God has led her to partner with LifeFocus.TV. Lydia is enjoying a light seminary load with Bethel so she can get the most out of each course. She hopes to use her degree to be a hospital chaplain someday.

Charlene has been a school psychologist for 22 years in Minnesota. After being on the prayer team and leading a small women’s group at her church, she decided to become a pastor as a second career after she retires from the school district in a few years. Charlene has raised four daughters, who are serving God in their own lives. Charlene is enrolled in the Masters of Divinity program at Bethel Seminary and hopes to lead a women’s ministry and write healing books for women upon graduation. In her spare time she loves to go on mother-daughter trips with her children, spend time with her grandson, and read fiction; especially historical fiction novels.