Autobiographical Profile
Cindy Alford
Last revised: 9/29/99

Picture not yet available.		      My name is Cindy Alford, and I was born in Georgetown, South Carolina on October 13, 1967.  My father died of Lou Gehrig’s disease when I was nine, and a few years later my mom remarried.  We moved to the rural part of Georgetown County to a community called Pleasant Hill where I spent my middle and high school years.  I attended Francis Marion College in Florence, South Carolina where I played fast-pitch softball and received a B.A. in English with a minor in Mass Communications.

      Spiritually, I accepted Christ at the age of nine.  I was never really discipled, but I was consistent in my Bible reading and church attendance through high school.  When I got to college, I became involved with the Baptist Student Union, and God provided some Christian friends who helped to disciple me.  I served on the council (was even president) and did summer missions in Boston, MA.  After college, I did a one year internship at the College of Charleston’s BSU.  God really blessed the ministry, but I did not feel a distinct call to a full-time Christian vocation. (Looking back, I think I played Jonah and chose not to listen to God's call.)  Anyway, I went 
to work at the Litchfield Company, a real estate development firm in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, in the marketing department.  As I climbed the corporate ladder, I knew God wanted me somewhere else.  After much prayer and seeking, God did call me to be a ‘campus minister’ on January 1, 1994.

      I attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary from 1994-1995 after which time I served for two years as the intern for the Georgia Southern University BSU and for the college ministry department of First Baptist Church of Statesboro, Georgia.  God really confirmed my call to campus ministry and strengthened my gifts in this area over these years.  I returned to NOBTS for another semester, but due to serious family problems, I was unable to complete my degree there.  However, in the midst of the turmoil, God brought grace and healing, and I was offered a position as assistant student minister at First Baptist Church, Boone, North Carolina in July, 1998.  I accepted it and transferred to GWU’s School of Divinity last year.  I hope to graduate May 13, 2000.

      My parents still live in Pleasant Hill.  I have an older sister and brother-in-law who live in Myrtle Beach, and I have a brother who is 12 years younger than me who is currently doing his National Guard basic training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

      I love sports!  The ones I get to enjoy most often are golf, tennis, hiking and snow skiing.  I also like to read.  My passion right now is working with students, and unless God leads me in another direction, I hope to remain in student ministry at First Baptist after graduation.