by Rich Stratton, Assistant Director of Public Relations
A Childhood Dream Takes Root
Long before Abigail King set foot on the stage at Cedarville University, she was already dreaming of a life that would combine her greatest loves: animals and theatre. Even as a little girl growing up in sunny Florida, she imagined a future where the joy of performance could meet the companionship of creatures great and small.
That dream stayed with her, and when it came time to choose a college, Cedarville was the right place.
Finding Her Place at Cedarville
Abigail stepped onto campus with a dream in her heart, but she had no clear map for how it would unfold. She thought she might pursue a degree in something with animals, but biology didn’t quite suit her. It wasn’t long before she found her way to the theatre department — a place that embraced her creative spirit and gave her room to grow.
Abigail fell in love with theatre, believing it was where God would transform her more than she ever expected.
Bringing the Bible to Life with Animals
As she recently shared on the Cedarville Stories podcast, Abigail is now living out that childhood dream in the most unexpected and delightful way — as an animal trainer at Sight and Sound Theatres in Branson, Missouri. There, amidst the spectacle of biblical productions, she helps bring stories from Scripture to life by working with the animals that share the stage with actors, lights, and music.
“Sometimes our sheep are a little too friendly,” she laughed. “They’ll stop in the middle of the show to hang out with David. The audience eats it up, but we’re in the back whispering, ‘Go, go, go!’”
Abigail also serves in the theatre’s after-show ministry, where cast and crew meet guests for prayer and conversation. “It’s such a blessing to connect with people after the show,” she said. “We get to be part of something much bigger.”
Faith, Purpose, and a Future Full of Possibilities
Though she hopes to one day work with service animals and children, Abigail is joyfully rooted where God has her right now. “This is the dream,” she said. “I’m just following where He leads.”
With a heart full of gratitude and a barn full of well-trained animals, Abigail King is living proof that when you trust God with your gifts, He’ll write a story better than you imagined.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio’s largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
