Lenten Reflections 2026: The Rev. Sharad Creasman
Finding Hope in Everyday Moments at Brevard College
Photos Courtesy of Brevard College
“Walking around the campus and speaking and listening to students, faculty, and staff brings me joy. Helping to facilitate experiences that will positively impact their lives is deeply rewarding.”
— The Rev. Dr. Sharad Creasman, Chaplain at Brevard College
By Wendy R. Cromwell
BREVARD, N.C. — For the Rev. Dr. Sharad Creasman, hope shows up every day at Brevard College, often in the smallest, most human moments. “I am inspired by students’ giggles, laughter, smiles, vocational interests, questions about life, and everything in between, and their dreams about their futures,” he said.
Creasman has spent 10 years at Brevard College, where he works closely with students, faculty, and staff to nurture community, spiritual growth, and purpose. A graduate of the Morehouse University School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center, he was ordained in 2022. He also leads 366 Sacred Names, a daily reader project exploring names of the Divine as a framework for leadership formation and reflection.
Much of his joy, he said, comes simply from being present with people on campus. “Walking around the campus and speaking and listening to students, faculty, and staff brings me joy,” he said. “Helping to facilitate experiences that will positively impact their lives is deeply rewarding.”
As a college chaplain, he sees his role as one that opens doors to self‑discovery. “I enjoy the moments when I get to help people awaken their deepest dreams,” he said.
That sense of purpose feels especially urgent this year, as students and educators face rising anxiety, burnout, and uncertainty. Supporting the campus community through those challenges is one of his central goals.
Despite those challenges, Creasman said he is energized by opportunities for learning and transformation. This year, he plans to take students to Montgomery, Alabama, to visit museums created by the Equal Justice Initiative. A trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, this winter allowed students to experience the Buddhist monks Walking for Peace.
When asked what he most wants church members to understand about his work, Creasman keeps the answer simple. “It matters,” he said.
For Creasman, nurturing hope, courage, and connection across campus is both a calling and a privilege, one lived out in conversations, shared experiences, and the unfolding stories of the students he serves.
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