“Studying theology has made me humble”

In an Antwerp coffee shop, alumnus Miguel Zova, accompanied by his wife Desirée, tells how he experienced studying at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit in Leuven and how it shaped him. Today, they are pastors of an evangelical church in Antwerp, where they live with their 3 children. However, Miguel was born in Ecuador and Desirée in the Netherlands.

How did you end up studying theology in Belgium?

“It was actually a miracle. After studying at a Bible school in Ecuador, where we lived at the time, I worked for the church. I wanted to get to know God better and more deeply. We explored options in South America and the Netherlands, where my wife is from. We were praying for our next step. Desirée searched the internet for studies abroad and found ETF Leuven. The philosophy of ETF Leuven appealed to us; we wanted to grow not only in knowledge but also in faith. The personal support offered there was very decisive for my choice.

I applied and was accepted. We saw that as an open door to come to Europe. But I had to start in June and that was too early because of a project I was involved in. After a letter, I was allowed to start in the following academic year. In 2017, we moved to Belgium. We saw God’s hand in the whole process: the finances, paperwork and more.”

What program did you follow?

“I had a bachelor’s degree but it was not accredited here. That’s why I did a pre-master and then my master’s, with a one-year extension. I finished my studies in 2021.”

How did studying at ETF Leuven shape you?

“ETF Leuven is a fully academic environment and at the same time, there is real investment in the lives of students through, among other things, the chapel services, advice, mentoring. I have had very good mentors. From staff and professors to the academic secretariat and library staff; they really stood by me. They saw me in my situation and because of them I didn’t feel alone. They helped me to the finish. I am very grateful for that. But I am also very grateful for all the donors of ETF Leuven. Thanks to them I was able to get a scholarship for 3 out of 4 years.

God used ETF Leuven to show me something: that I was not able to do it myself. I wanted to show the world that I could. Studying theology has humbled me. It has been much more than just an academic journey. It has also been a spiritual, personal journey.”

And then you were done studying. How did things go with you after that?

“We were happy to start something new and wanted to discover God’s dream for our lives. For a year we worked in a project called KoffieKlap (by Cherut vzw), a work experience placement for women (and sometimes men) who have been released from situations such as human trafficking, exploitation or prostitution. In the meantime, we were praying for next steps. We considered going back to mission projects in Ecuador, or to other parts of the world. But those doors remained closed. Then we came into contact with Philadelphia Kerk. Since September 2023 we have been working there as pastors. We are blessed with a great team and look forward to growing further. We do not know how long we will do this, but for now we experience that God wants us in this place.”

How does your study help you in your profession as a pastor?

“Especially when I do research when preparing my sermons. Being aware of how papers are written, where you get your information from. But what I took with me from ETF Leuven goes much further than that. You can have all the knowledge in the world, even about God, but you need the people around you. And that is what we want to do as pastors now: work with people as a team. Of course I can share and teach a lot because of my study. But sometimes you have to encounter certain problems in practice to be able to make theology really practical. And that is what we are doing now. I am glad that theology is not just about writing books.”

Desirée adds: “When he had just finished all that studying, he seemed a bit dried up, his passion had faded a bit. But once we started working in practice, we were able to apply it. I cried with him when it was hard and difficult and at the same time saw how he was not afraid to ask questions. Lots of questions. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to study on the one hand and at the same time realize that you can never have all the answers.”

Miguel concludes: “It was a tough journey, but I am happy with how it went. I am grateful!”

Do you have a heart for the church and would you like to contribute to the training of the next generation of pastors, preachers and church workers? Support ETF Leuven with a donation via www.etf.edu/donate.