Women

SPEAKER BIO

Originally from southern California, Allysen Waters has called Winston Salem home since 2010, when she moved here to be near her sister and to complete a year of AmeriCorps VISTA with Habitat for Humanity. Allysen became a covenant partner at First Presbyterian in 2012. She then co-lead a young adult ministry called House, volunteered with high school youth, and served on various committees. Several years and two jobs later, Allysen moved to Vancouver, B.C. in 2017 to pursue an M.Div from Regent College Graduate School of Theology. She felt called to local church ministry because of the healing and transformative power of the Triune God in her life--the relationships and experiences made at First Pres were a key part of this.

During seminary, her love of God, Scripture, and the local church were strengthened and renewed. She found a deeper appreciation of God's beautiful creation amidst the vast beauty of B.C., and began to understand how God meets us even in the ordinary, daily rhythms of our lives. One major highlight of her seminary experience was receiving a bursary to travel to the Holy Land and research the topic of lament and reconciliation, where she was able to make a pilgrimage throughout Israel and Palestine. It was a powerful experience to see and stand upon the land on which Jesus lived.

Right after graduation in 2021, Allysen spent a summer as a Spiritual Care Intern at a hospital in Vancouver where she earned one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education. It was an impactful summer as she learned the power of pastoral presence to people in difficult circumstances. That fall, Allysen returned to Winston Salem to be near family and to begin a Pastoral Residency position at First Pres, which she completed in August 2024. Allysen worked in several areas while on staff including missions, Women's Bible Study, hospitality, and youth ministry.

Allysen met her husband Chris in the parking lot of First Pres in 2022, and they were married in the small chapel in March 2023. In February 2024, they welcomed their daughter Joanna into the world. Chris is a hospital chaplain at Novant Forsyth and, as a lover of Biblical Hebrew and a fellow Bible nerd, they delight in discussing theology and the church. They live in Ardmore and love all things food and coffee, neighborhood walks, fly fishing, biking, and time with family and friends.

Allysen is honored to be the Women's Retreat speaker and has loved this time away with other women since Pastor Amy first invited her 11 years ago.