The 2026 CCA Auxiliary Scholarship

Christian Chiropractors Association 2550 Stover, B-102 Fort Collins, CO 80525 Toll Free: 800.999.1970 Local: 970.482.1404 Fax: 970.482.1538

Auxiliary Scholarship Second Place Award - 2026

Abigail Funk

It’s easy to fall into the thoughts of those around us in society. Or rather, it’s easy to fall into the thoughts of His enemy. After telling community members how I plan to pursue chiropractic, I’ve gotten various responses. Some of those responses were exciting and others on the contrary: “oh, you mean witch doctor?” and “that’s just voodoo.” These responses usually come from people who have seen one chiropractor and didn’t get the results they were hoping…after one visit. And instead of trying a different chiropractor, they tag the whole field of chiropractic as “fake.” Chiropractic has this bad stigma within society, and I plan to change that.

I’m in my third trimester at Palmer College of Chiropractic, and my strength has definitely been tested. Sometimes I ask myself, how do non-believers make it through this program? Or rather, how do they make it through any difficult situation? I’m afraid of what the answer might be. Although, I’m not saying just because I am a Christian means that I am perfect. No. But I have the key to life (God) to help me work through my troubles. I still have my moments of weakness, though…I sometimes find my mind wandering: “I’m so tired,” or “why is this important?” or “I can’t feel C3!” But those thoughts encourage me to be lazy and let life pass by. God doesn’t want us to take the easy road in life. He wants us to do His work. This is a battle we are in: all day, every day, for the rest of our lives. As Christians, we need reminders to stick to God’s Word. Just as we learn in school, thoughts have the power to make us sick! To keep my thoughts captive, I wear a “WWJD” bracelet and never take it off–not even when I swim in the lake or take a hot shower. Because being a strong follower means recognizing one’s temptations and human tendencies; there will never be a time when I am “perfect” enough to put away my reminders. My WWJD bracelet has become so much a part of me where I feel naked without it. As a visual person, I appreciate the symbols of God whether I wear a cross around my neck, a WWJD bracelet, or a shirt that has Philippians 4:13 , saying “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). But symbols only bring me up to the line. In order to cross it, I need to take action. Since starting school here, I’ve become involved in the Christian’s Chiropractors Association (CCA). There, I’ve met so many examples of people who live lives as God wants them to: spreading love, joy, and His Word. Before Palmer, I was not a daily Bible reader, but a few CCA members have encouraged me…I am forever grateful.

On the weekends–between my studying–I play organ at three different churches. When I moved to Iowa, I went “church shopping” to find a congregation in need of a musician. Of course, I do not play organ to engorge myself with power, nor do I play to have a better view of the altar. No, I play to enhance the atmosphere in church to spread the joy and love of God! I heard once that you cannot synchronously hum/sing with an intrusive thought. Through music, I have the power to allow others to keep their intrusive thoughts captive and create an atmosphere to worship! At the end of last trimester, a friend from the CCA gifted me a Bible. It’s a version with descriptive footnotes for beginner Bible readers like me. And so, every time I open it up at night, I am reminded of her generosity…just like that, my thoughts are kept captive. Through symbols, objects, and music, we are encouraged to act and be followers of the Lord. To be kept in-line of how he wants our actions and thoughts to be. Through these daily reminders, I am developing habits of thought to develop a good character that will ultimately make me the best chiropractor I am meant to be: a chiropractor that God wants me to be. Abigail Funk is a student at Cleveland University in Kansas City, MO and plans to graduate in August of 2029.

“What Does It Mean to Take Every Thought Captive” by: Abigail Funk Palmer University (Iowa)