Heaven Berhane, guest preacher October 21
Heaven Berhane’s life is guided by two foundational scriptures Matthew 6:33 & Luke 4:18.
A recent graduate of Yale Divinity School, she received her Masters in Divinity in May of 2018. Heaven serves as an Associate Minister at Community Baptist Church in New Haven, CT where she is seeking ordination in the American Baptist Church. This summer Heaven served as an intern at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem. Heaven is currently serving as the Faith Coordinator for New Sanctuary Coalition NYC.
Heaven identifies as a burgeoning Womanist preacher/theologian, innovator and Licensed Social Worker. During her time at Yale she held various positions within the greater Yale University. In 2016 Heaven was awarded the Yale Presidential Public Service Award which places a Yale student to work with a non-profit in the community of New Haven.
Heaven is a fierce voice and activist for truth, equality and justice. Heaven’s academic concentrations are centered around: Womanist theology and ethics, refugees & displacement, racial injustice, and mental health – with a focus on engaging the African Diaspora from a theological, social, and political lens. Heaven has traveled internationally to countries like South Africa, Greece and most recently Kenya to engage in experiential learning, document stories of refugees, and provide support and consultation for various non-profit’s and NGO’s. Prior to coming to divinity school Heaven was working in the field of social work as a Licensed Clinician.
Twenty-seven years ago, Heaven and her family immigrated to this country as refugees from Eritrea, and have since called the D.C. Metropolitan area home. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Social Work from The Howard University.