Seini Fine Prepares for Ministry with Claremont Graduation

CLAREMONT, Calif. — “I’m filled with gratitude as I graduate and prepare to take the next step in my calling,” said Seini Fine, who is graduating from the Claremont School of Theology. “It’s my hope to serve God’s people in the places I’m appointed, especially reaching out to those who can’t come to church on their own.”

Fine, a candidate for ordination in The United Methodist Church, is a member of the California-Nevada Annual Conference and completed her theological studies with a focus on pastoral care and community engagement. She was awarded the E. Craig Brandenburg Scholarship, recognizing her dedication to ministry and academic achievement and is one of the 290 General Board of Higher Education scholarship recipients graduating this spring.

At Claremont, Fine has been deeply involved in outreach work, particularly with her local church’s Young Couples Group, which she leads. Under her guidance, the group started a homeless ministry offering prayer, meals, clothing and support to individuals in need. The group also provides financial assistance to local shelters helping people transition into stable living conditions.

“Ministry doesn’t only happen inside the walls of the church,” Fine said. “We have to meet people where they are.”
Her congregation also supports young Tongan people through mentorship programs and scholarships — helping them thrive and stay connected to their communities.

The daughter of a schoolteacher, she put her education on hold after her father’s death in high school to help raise her younger siblings. Two decades later, she became the first in her family to attend college and now seminary.

“I want others to know that it’s never too late to answer God’s call,” she said. “Even after years of waiting, the opportunity came, and I’m ready.”