A journey on a train... 
 
My journey in Practical Theology can be likened to a journey on a train. It brings people of differing backgrounds into one space. Intersecting my undergraduate education in Theatre Arts, missions, and youth work experience, I have endeavored to work with people of varying backgrounds.​​
 
Practical theology is a form of theology occurring within multiple contexts carried out by a variety of people: as a theological discernment by Christians seeking faithful ways of life, as a theological action and reflection by ministers and church leaders, and as a theological discipline focused on teaching and learning as well as research and study in universities or seminaries.[1] 
 
In light of the above assertion, the metaphor of a journey on a train reflects and describes how different people come together in one space to ride the train to other destinations. Invariably, a train has a starting and an ending point, but again, it goes back on the same tracks to pick up and ferry different people with different experiences. 

Each train stop has different people who board the train, and these people have unique stories worth listening to and learning from sharing.​ Practical Theology has implications for ministers and the church. It also affects the wider society, influencing proceedings in various communities and religious, social, political, and educational institutions. 

Given this understanding, I describe myself as a bi-vocational – scholar and activist. As a scholar, I seek to gain insights from fieldwork that can be influenced by the people I work and engage with. Thus, my work should reflect interactions and learning processes gained from working with others. This work will primarily gain insights from marginalized communities and interact with other practical theologians who may share my objective.​​ 
Notions of resistance also influence the objective. This resistive posture highly subverts dogmatic usage of biblical and theological precepts for the subjugation of the weak in society. Thus, my scholarly work questions the religious legitimization of an oppressive political system and seeks to do so from a collective and inclusive standpoint.

[1] Cahalan, K. A., Nieman, J. R. (2008). Mapping the field of practical theology. In Bass, D. C., Dykstra, C. (Eds.), For life abundant: Practical theology, theological education, and Christian ministry (pp. 62–85). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans.