Rev. Dr. Valerie J. De La Torre was born in Los Angeles, but raised in nearby Miami, AZ. She is a GCU alumna, having graduated with a BS degree in music education. She completed her MDiv at Fuller Theological Seminary and earned her doctorate in formational counseling at Ashland Theological Seminary. Her ministry interests and experiences are vast and varied, but currently lean towards emotional and spiritual well-being.

 FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

I became a follower of Jesus as a young child, sensing a call to ministry in those early developmental years. My professional work both in the secular world and the church have given me an incredible array of experiences when it comes to serving and guiding people. Through it all, the Lord has been faithful, leading clearly each step of the way, including returning to my alma mater (then Grand Canyon College) in a teaching ministry role for our College of Theology.

I currently serve as full-time online faculty, teaching CWV-101, CWV-301 and New Testament Bible courses. I also teach Spirituality and Healthcare courses along with the five-week Bioethics classes in the accelerated nursing program. I look forward to teaching the Pastoral Care in a Ministry Context course offering in our new GCU seminary program.

Within these course contexts, I am most passionate about the work of spiritual well-being, which encompasses not only intellectual knowledge, but also involves acquiring emotional health and growing in spiritual wisdom. When this learning can take root, the work of sanctification is more fully experienced, allowing us to continually meet the challenges that hinder us from knowing the fullness of God.

My advice to theology students is two-fold. First, it is important to establish a solid and ongoing relationship with the presence and power of God. Second, as part of this, it is important to understand that to truly know oneself, one must fully know God and, in turn, one must fully know God to fully know self.

I consider it a privilege and a blessing to be a minister, counselor and instructor to students in these formative years of university Christian education here at GCU.