SPIRIT AND LIFE SEMINARY - Key Persons
Albert Murza is Spirit and Life Seminary's Academic Dean. Albert grew up in Moscow, Russia, and is the oldest of five siblings. Albert's father is the national overseer of Russia for the Church of God of Prophecy. At the age of 16, his mother passed away from cancer. He reports that it was a tough time for his family, but "it made us stronger, and we became even closer".
He attended European Theological Seminary in Kniebis, Germany where he majored in Church Ministry with an emphasis in Christian Education and a minor in Counseling. During his time in Germany, he met his wife Kristen and they were married in 2016. After getting married, they moved to Cleveland, TN where they became members of Peerless Road Church. Albert has been serving in local church youth ministries since the age of 17. In the Spring of 2019, he and Kristen became the youth pastors for Spring Place Church of God of Prophecy in Cleveland, TN. Since the beginning of 2022, Kristen and Albert serve as youth pastors at Hickory Valley COGOP.
Albert and Kristen believe that God will eventually call them back to Europe as missionaries, so they have decided that they should focus on education as an essential part of preparation. They both graduated from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary where Albert pursued a Master of Divinity degree. Currantly Albert is working on Ed.S. in Higher Education Administration degree at Liberty University. Albert likes to watch soccer, movies, build Legos and travel with his wife Kristen.
Job Titles:
- Registrar and Student Services Coordinator
Debbie served as an academic advisor and music instructor at Tomlinson College from 1987 to 1992. She then taught music in Bradley County Schools before marrying her husband Dennis and moving to Alabama, where she served as an academic advisor at Calhoun Community College.
Debbie later moved to metro-Atlanta and taught music and special education students in Gwinnett County Public Schools for nearly 20 years. She loves to play piano and has enjoyed working with several church choirs on her journey back to Cleveland, Tennessee, where she is excited to serve in a new role as registrar at Spirit and Life Seminary.
Job Titles:
- Admin
- President
- President of Spirit
Dr. Michael Hernandez serves as the President of Spirit and Life Seminary and the Director of Accredited Ministry Development for the International Offices of the Church of God of Prophecy.
He previously served as the World Language Coordinator, managing the translation of the White Wing Messenger, Sunday School material, and the publications and correspondence of the International Offices. He also served on the Assembly Task Force, coordinating the simultaneous interpretation of the International Assembly in Spanish, French, and Russian.
Prior to working at the International offices, Dr. Hernandez was the director for a mental health center with locations in Cleveland and Athens, TN that provided therapy, case management, and medication management services to children, teenagers, and adults. He has experience working in inpatient mental health, substance abuse, and geriatric units, as well as intensive outpatient mental health and substance abuse units, and providing in-home therapy services and counseling in church settings.
Dr. Hernandez is an ordained bishop, a state-licensed and national certified counselor, and has served the body of Christ on staff as a worship leader and associate pastor. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Lee University, a Master of Divinity from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Dr. Hernandez was raised in a pastoral home. His parents were called to plant Spanish-speaking and English-speaking churches in California and Hawaii. This experience contributed to his passion for the church and to bless families through the ministry of counseling. He enjoys teaching, reading, and playing guitar. His wife Kara is also trained as a counselor and is an elementary school teacher. They are members at Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy.
Job Titles:
- Director of Library Services for the Spirit
Mrs. Brewer serves as Director of Library Services for the Spirit and Life Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee. In addition, she serves as Director of Library Services for the Chattanooga College: Medical, Dental, & Technical Careers. Her career spans over 30 years and includes the roles of faculty member, instructor, consultant, director of technical services library division, assistant director, director of library services at three colleges (located in Cleveland, TN; Charlotte, N.C.; & Chattanooga, TN), head of circulation department, Interlibrary loan librarian, reference librarian, original cataloger, resource room coordinator, branch manager of rural county public library, community development librarian and branch services librarian.
Mrs. Brewer received her Bachelor's degree from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (1985) with a major in Psychology and minor in Library; her Master's degree from University of Tennessee at Knoxville (1988) in Library Science; and her 6th Year Specialist degree from the Florida State University (2006) in Library and Information Studies.
She has held membership in numerous local, state and national organizations including Optimist Club; Kiwanis; Civitan; Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, Inc.; the Dade County (Georgia) Chamber of Commerce, board of directors and ambassador; the Walker County (Georgia) Chamber of Commerce member and Leadership Institute graduate; American Library Association; Association of College and Research Libraries; Tennessee Library Association; Tenn-Share; Chattanooga Area Library Association; Georgia Library Association, Georgia OCLC/SOLINET Users Group, Public Library Association, Family Connections, Adult Literacy committees in Dade County (Georgia) and Walker County (Georgia). She served as volunteer librarian for the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park - CHCH Library from August 2011 to June 2018.
Mrs. Brewer has written several successful grants for the Chattanooga College Medical, Dental & Technical Careers, Inc. in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Cherokee Regional Library System in La Fayette, Georgia. The grants were awarded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund HEERF I, HEERF II, HEERF III - American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, American Library Association/National Endowment for the Humanities Big Read; Joshua's Law Grant (Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety); Mini-Grants to Support Summer Reading Club Programs; Lois Lenski Covey Foundation; Millennium Project for Public Libraries We the People Bookshelf (NEH), Awarded 2003 Walker County Alliance for Literacy / Certified Literate Community Program grant to purchase Accelerated Reader materials for three public libraries.
Mrs. Brewer is married to Ray N. Brewer of Chattanooga, Tennessee and is primary caregiver to her mother Martha Cassidy. She attributes her success to her Christian faith, life-long learning, mentors, motivation, drive, and vision of a desired path. She recognizes that prayer and support from family and friends make anything possible.
Job Titles:
- BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER
- Business Office Manager for Spirit
Jacob serves as Business Office Manager for Spirit and Life Seminary. Previously, Jacob worked in the Communications department of the Church of God of Prophecy International Offices as their project manager. Jacob earned a bachelor's degree in music business from Lee University, and a master's degree in business administration, also from Lee University. Jacob also serves the Peerless Road Church as their part-time Music Director. He and his wife Julie reside in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Admissions and Marketing Manager
- Marketing Manager for Spirit
Steven Hodge is the Admissions and Marketing Manager for Spirit and Life Seminary. Steven manages the admissions process for all new applicants to the certificate program. Steven also assists with the promotion and marketing strategies of SLS initiatives and the development of global cohorts.
Steven grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and is the youngest of 5 children. Steven is bilingual and served as a lay minister at the Elizabeth Spanish Church of God of Prophecy where Steven had been an instructor for his church's bible institute as well as the event coordinator. Steven also served the Spanish Northeast Region as the assistant chief of operations for the Spanish Northeast Region Children's Camp since 2012. He previously served his local church as the youth pastor.
Steven earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Seton Hall University. Steven enjoys music and has played in orchestras and jazz bands. He states that his personal goal is to "continue serving and continue learning. I serve God by serving others, no matter if it's through pastoral ministry, an educational role, or in the community. A personal motto of mine is ‘Always be learning.' God has given us the ability to learn and I plan on using it."