Lipscomb's College of Bible & Ministry Podcast: Dr. Kate Watkins

February 10, 2025

In this episode of Lipscomb University’s College of Bible and Ministry podcast, Dr. Kate Watkins shares her inspiring journey from receiving her elementary education degree to becoming the first woman to earn a Doctor of Ministry at Lipscomb. Her path was anything but linear. After homeschooling her children and navigating unexpected career turns, she found herself drawn to the service of ministry. Despite numerous challenges, she eventually stepped into academia, becoming a professor and director of the LIFE (Lipscomb Initiative for Education) Program. Dr. Watkins’ story is a testament to perseverance, faith, and God’s unexpected guidance.
 

The LIFE Program, founded in 2007 by Dr. Richard C. Goode, extends education to incarcerated individuals. LIFE offers not just courses but full degree programs. What began as a simple initiative to include the prison population in the Lipscomb community has flourished into an associate’s, bachelor’s, and even the only seminary degree program in a women’s prison in the country. Traditional students and incarcerated students learn side by side, breaking down barriers and fostering a deeper understanding of humanity and faith. Dr. Watkins highlights how this work challenges participants' assumptions. As Dr. Watkins says, “the invitation to go into prisons is not because I have something to offer. The invitation is to go into prisons because that is where I will encounter Jesus." While most enter prison ministry with the intention of bringing Jesus to others, it is usually discovered that they are the ones encountering Him in profound ways through their classmates.
 

Dr. Watkins’ work deeply engages with the themes of Christlike suffering and unconditional love. She shares powerful moments of learning from incarcerated students who, despite experiencing unimaginable trauma, still hold onto their faith in God and show forgiveness towards their offenders. Her reflections on Mark 5 reveal the beauty of God’s responsiveness—whether people beg for healing or simply reach out in faith, Jesus meets them where they are. This perspective has shaped her understanding of spiritual direction, guiding her to approach life with an awareness of God's presence and the ability to recognize His work in unexpected places.
 

The impact of the LIFE Program extends beyond individual transformation—it affects families, communities, and the broader economy. Education reduces recidivism, provides employment opportunities, and offers hope for a future beyond incarceration. Lipscomb’s commitment to making education accessible is reinforced through the Richard C. Goode LIFE Endowed Scholarship, which helps formerly incarcerated students transition into college life, and the ReEntry Support Fund aims to support these released individuals by covering the non-tuition costs of a Lipscomb education. As Giving Day approaches, the university invites listeners to support this life-changing initiative through scholarships, textbook funds, and general contributions. This episode is a powerful reminder that the kingdom of God is at work, often in places we least expect.

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