Alumni Link

Linda Adams Named 2019 Distinguished Alumna of the Year

Published Date: January 2, 2020

Asbury Theological Seminary is pleased to announce its 2019 Distinguished Alumna of the Year, Linda Adams of Holland, Michigan. 

Asbury Seminary’s Distinguished Alumni award is designed to honor alumni who, in their personal lives and public ministries, exhibit the values of a theologically educated, sanctified, Spirit-filled, evangelistic ministry to spread scriptural holiness across the world. 

In July 2019, Bishop Adams was elected as the first female bishop in the 160-year history of the Free Methodist Church USA. Her territory oversees the northern United States from eastern Montana to West Virginia, as well as the Free Methodist work in all the countries in Latin America that have not yet become General Conferences. 

Prior to her election, Bishop Adams served the Free Methodist Church as Director of International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) for eleven years. ICCM is a child sponsorship initiative serving approximately 20,000 children in 33 countries around the world. This initiative serves children through education, residential care, and after-school programs. Before taking up leadership of ICCM, Bishop Adams served churches in Michigan, Illinois and New York. 

Bishop Adams is a graduate of Spring Arbor University and earned her Master of Divinity (1991) and Doctor of Ministry (2000) degrees from Asbury Theological Seminary. The Center for Contemporary Christianity in Bangalore, India, has awarded her an honorary doctorate. 

“With this award,” comments President Timothy Tennent,  “Asbury Seminary celebrates our close partnership with the Free Methodist church.  In particular, we celebrate Bishop Adams’ long and distinguished ministry of service furthering the cause of Christ around the world.”

See all articles


3 responses to “Linda Adams Named 2019 Distinguished Alumna of the Year”

  1. Robert Wickens says:

    Wow! So happy to see this!

  2. Ken Werlein says:

    Yay Linda! Very proud of you and proud to know you! Ken Werlein

  3. David Ntogohnya says:

    Congratulations bishop Adams

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *