TMU adds experts in engineering, biblical counseling, biology, and music.
Approaching its 30th year, TMU’s Israel Bible Extension program remains as impactful as ever.
‘The Essential Church’
Dr. MacArthur reflects on new feature-length documentary.
STUDENTS IN TMU’S ISRAEL BIBLE EXTENSION (IBEX) PROGRAM SPEND A WEEK OF THEIR SEMESTER AT A RESORT ON THE SHORE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE. SUNSETS LIKE THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE TREASURED MEMORIES THAT IBEX STUDENTS BRING BACK WITH THEM.
PHOTO BY MARK FINSTER
Each year, The Master’s University sends teams of students around the country and the world to partner with missionaries, pastors, and church planters in sharing the gospel and serving communities. Hear more about this summer’s five Global Outreach trips to Alaska, Albania, Cambodia, Honduras, and Uganda.
In 1995, The Master’s University launched the Israel Bible Extension (IBEX) program. Nearly 30 years later, TMU is the only Christian university with its own campus in the Promised Land, and the program continues to provide a uniquely immersive and Christ-centered experience for students. Here’s a snapshot of the program’s current leadership (including field director John Black, pictured above) and what a semester at IBEX looks like today.
Over the years, more than 1,000 TMU students have spent a semester studying in the land of Israel. We got in touch with nearly 20 of these alumni and asked them to share their favorite memories from their time at IBEX, as well as their perspective on how the program has had a lasting impact on their lives.
Ihave a confession to make: I never went to IBEX.
For four years, I was a Bible major at The Master’s University — an institution wholeheartedly committed to Christ and Scripture — and I never took the opportunity to spend a semester studying at the Israel Bible Extension Campus. Yeah, ouch.
I wish I had a good reason. I don’t.
In truth, I loved my time at TMU from 2009 to 2013. I formed lifelong friends. I grew in my faith. I played a little baseball, and I made connections that God used sovereignly in my career. But I always felt like I whiffed on one of the most impactful programs offered here.
Then, I got a second chance.
In March, Mark Finster (’17) and I flew to Israel to shoot a promo video for IBEX. We filmed in Jerusalem and traveled with TMU students across the Galilean countryside. It was amazing — especially Galilee, where the land is largely untouched, making it easy to picture Christ walking on water or delivering the Sermon on the Mount.
We climbed mountains. We rode camels. We rafted down the Jordan River. We captured it all on video in hopes of inspiring a new generation of students to come to The Master’s University and travel to Israel for a semester that I have no doubt will change their lives.
I hope too that in reading this edition of our magazine, you’re either reminded of your own fond memories of studying in Israel, or you get a taste of what it’s like. For those of you like me who didn’t go, I would encourage you to explore TMU’s Friends and Family Trips, which go twice a year to the Promised Land.
They say it’s not if you go to IBEX, but when. And there’s still time.
Mason Nesbitt DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, THE MASTER’S UNIVERSITY
Drs. Todd Bolen, left, and Abner Chou are shown here on Mount Arbel. This photo was taken in 2007, the year that Bolen's time as a resident professor at IBEX ended and Chou’s began.
Campus has undergone a transformation in recent years — including at North Campus, which has seen renovations to the Business Center and patio area, and the addition of a cafe, Trophy North.
PHOTO BY EMILY WIDDERS
TMU’s online alumni platform, Master’s Connect, has seen accelerated growth since its launch last year. If you haven’t already done so, sign up today at alumni.masters.edu
2,153*
The number of registered users on Master’s Connect, including alumni, current students, faculty, staff, parents, and corporate partners.
The number of jobs posted on the platform. Companies from across the country want to hire TMU students and alumni, and the Office of Career Services wants to help you find the right fit.
The number of registered users who have offered to provide mentorship. Users can search for and engage with mentors who are working in their chosen industry.
The number of groups available to join. Examples include TMU Baseball, the Paul T. Plew School of Music, TMU Parents, and many more.
ACADEMICS In 1927, Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary welcomed its first class of 24 students. This fall, that same institution — though with a new name and expanded mission — welcomed another historic incoming class.
What makes this year special? Incoming freshmen this fall are slated to graduate in 2027, making them the 100th graduating class of The Master’s University.
“It is a tremendous joy for us to welcome the graduating class of 2027 to TMU,” says Dr. Mitch Hopewell, provost and chief academic officer at TMU. “What an honor to be a part of this institution’s storied history and God’s clear hand of providence in training faithful men and women to serve Him all over the world and in countless ways.”
The class is also special for another reason. This incoming class has pushed TMU’s residential undergraduate population past the threshold of 1,200 — a number that has long been a dream goal for the institution — and the total TMUS enrollment to roughly 3,000.
Dariu Dumitru, TMU’s vice president of enrollment and marketing, says that this fall’s newcomers are exactly the sort of students TMU hopes for.
BY KAELYN PEAY“We’re very thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness in bringing them. Students really selfselect themselves into The Master’s University. They want a place where living out their Christian faith in an uncompromising way is the normal reality.
“And a lot of them are here because they are connected to alumni of the University, who have gone all over the country and the world and continued to live faithfully. These alumni then point students to TMU because they trust us to educate the next generation of believers.”
This fall marks an important milestone as the University approaches its centennial.This year’s incoming freshman class will be TMU’s 100th graduating class in 2027.
World War II veteran received high praise from Dr. MacArthur on big day.
BY TMUS STAFFThis summer, a former board member and long-time ministry partner of The Master’s University and Seminary celebrated his 100th birthday.
Jack Babbitt flew bombers during World War II. He has also been a successful businessman and leader, with a strong track record of excellence and service. In a recent letter to Babbitt, Dr. John MacArthur said, “There are no words for me to express my gratitude for your long faithfulness, trust, and encouragement. We love you greatly and believe the Lord has uniquely used your life and will continue to do so long into the future because of your faithfulness.”
ACADEMICS
Students admitted by Nov. 1 qualify for a $1,000 scholarship.
BY KAELYN PEAYApplications are now open at The Master’s University for the fall 2024 semester. Those who apply for traditional undergraduate programs and are admitted by Nov. 1 qualify for the $1,000 Early Admission Scholarship, part of more than $16 million available to students in financial aid.
If you have children, friends, or fellow church members looking for an undergraduate education submitted to Christ in all things, please encourage them to apply and to visit campus. TMU has an overnight View The U event scheduled for Oct. 19-20 and several one-day Mondays at Master’s planned during the fall semester. Learn more at masters.edu/visit
Funds are available to new students whose parents graduated from LABC, TMC, TMU, TMS.
BY KAELYN PEAYIn response to a rise in the number of alumni who are sending their children to The Master’s University, TMU has committed more than $8 million to its Alumni Scholarship over the next four years.
The scholarship is awarded annually to new students whose parents hold a degree from TMU, The Master’s College, Los Angeles Baptist College, or The Master’s Seminary.
Dariu Dumitru, vice president of enrollment and marketing at TMU, said he is excited to see more legacy students enrolling at the University.
“It continues a legacy of faithfulness throughout their families and here on campus,” Dumitru said. “These are families that had traditions and experiences at TMU, and we want to continue those traditions and experiences through their children, through multiple generations. It’s a blessing and a joy to have parents
BY KAELYN PEAYwho were blessed by their experience here pour back into the University, and for us to have the opportunity to pour into their kids through these scholarships.”
The Alumni Scholarship, which builds on generous donor scholarships already aimed at helping legacy students attend TMU, offers children of alumni $5,000 per year in financial aid. In addition to benefitting alumni and their families, Dumitru hopes these funds further propel alumni referrals. He says that recommending the University to prospective students is one of the best ways alumni can invest in TMU.
“Alumni know and understand the importance of The Master’s University,” Dumitru said. “They understand what a unique institution TMU really is. They know best who should be coming to the school. They want to maintain the integrity, the mission, and the momentum
of everything that the University is doing.”
Referrals extend far beyond the children of alumni. Every year, TMU alumni refer their friends, relatives, and people in their churches to the University. Over the past five years, the number of these alumni referrals has increased by more than 15%, and Dumitru wants to see that number climb even higher.
“When someone from TMU says to a high school student, ‘You should go to TMU,’ that phrase is powerful,” he says. “And it benefits that student, because you know that everything they’re going to experience here is uncompromisingly committed to Christ and Scripture — from academics to student life and athletics.”
You can learn more about the Alumni Scholarship and other financial aid opportunities at masters.edu/ scholarships.
Desireé Hassler, a TMU School of Music alum, will be making a guest appearance for TMU’s new Guest Recital Series. Hassler is a professor at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and continues to perform master classes and recitals all across the U.S. Get tickets at masters.edu.edu/music-events
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
The Master’s University kicks off the 2023-24 academic year, which will ultimately culminate in the school’s 97th annual Commencement Ceremony on May 3, 2024.
September
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL VS. VANGUARD
The Mustangs will host one of their top rivals for a GSAC match inside The MacArthur Center. Vanguard finished second in the conference last season. The match will be livestreamed at gomustangs.com/watch
26
BASKETBALL OPENING NIGHT
TMU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will play a doubleheader inside The MacArthur Center. The men will take on former GSAC rival Azusa Pacific, and the women will face Claremont Mudd Scripps. See gomustangs.com for game times.
28
THEOTECH 2023
Join us for an innovative day exploring technology from the standpoint of biblical theology with this year’s TheoTech Conference. Learn more at masters.edu/theotech
For prospective students and families, this is a great opportunity to get a snapshot of what TMU is all about. Visit classes, take a campus tour, attend chapel, learn about financial aid opportunities, meet TMU students, and get questions about TMU answered. Learn more at masters.edu/visit
MEN’S SOCCER VS. VANGUARD
The Mustangs host the defending GSAC Tournament-champion Lions for a nonconference showdown on Reese Field. The teams meet again in conference play on Oct. 14 in Costa Mesa. The game will be livestreamed at gomustangs.com/watch
This fall’s Theatre Arts production is “Emma,” based on the beloved novel by Jane Austen. Alumni are invited to a special dinner theater showing on Thursday, Oct. 19. To register, visit masters.edu/ dinner-theater-2023
19-20
VIEW THE U
This is a two-day event for prospective students and families, offering an unforgettable opportunity for students to experience life as a Mustang. Overnight accommodation is provided for prospective students. Learn more at masters.edu/visit
21
WOMEN’S SOCCER VS. OUAZ
The Mustangs’ final home game of the regular season comes against Ottawa University Arizona. The Spirit finished second in the GSAC last season. The game will be livestreamed at gomustangs.com/watch
The Mustang men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete in their 11th annual home event at Central Park in Santa Clarita. The day will feature eight races in all, including collegiate and high school varsity and junior varsity competitions. Come out to support the Mustangs! Learn more at gomustangs.com/xcinvitational
20-28
THEATRE ARTS PRODUCTION OF “EMMA”
This fall’s Theatre Arts production is “Emma,” based on the beloved novel by Jane Austen. Join us for one of six showings, with 8 p.m. performances on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays. Get tickets at masters.edu/theatre
Join us for a night with TMU’s Orchestra filled with symphony excerpts, featuring Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Get tickets at masters.edu.edu/music-events
PRELUDE WEEKEND
Prelude Weekend is an exciting time for prospective music majors to visit our campus, stay in the dorms, sit in on music classes, ensembles, and private lessons, and audition for a School of Music scholarship. Learn more at masters.edu/prelude
MONDAYS AT MASTER’S
For prospective students and families, this is a great opportunity to get a snapshot of what TMU is all about. Visit classes, take a campus tour, attend chapel, learn about financial aid opportunities, meet TMU students, and get questions about TMU answered. Learn more at masters.edu/visit
December
10 1-2
This year, our annual Come Christmas Sing! concert series is designed around the theme “Comfort and Joy,” featuring TMU School of Music choruses and orchestra. We will also be bringing back our Christmas market, where shoppers can buy gifts at boutiques, enjoy themed hot and cold beverages, and capture photos in a beautifully decorated space. This is a great way to start your Christmas season, so bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Get tickets at masters.edu.edu/music-events
TRUTH & LIFE CONFERENCE
The Truth & Life Conference takes place every January. TMU students, faculty, staff, and alumni join us for a themed event with teaching, fellowship, and worship. Learn more at masters.edu/truth-and-life
2023 class includes retired faculty from a range of disciplines.
BY KAELYN PEAY
This year, The Master’s University inducted its second class of “professor emeritus” appointees. The title is bestowed upon select former faculty members in recognition of exceptional contributions to TMU.
Benefits of the position include facultylevel access to TMU events and the Mustang Grill. An honoree’s TMU email address is also reinstated, giving their colleagues and past students an easy way to reconnect with them. This year’s five recipients join Dr. John Hotchkiss and Dr. Paul Plew, who were selected in 2022 as TMU’s first professors emeriti.
“These five were distinguished for their academic excellence, long-term service to the University, and most importantly, their commitment to Christ,” says Dr. Gregg Frazer, dean of the John P. Stead School of Humanities and architect of TMU’s professor emeritus program. “They were loved and respected by their faculty colleagues, and they, as well as their contributions to TMU, are missed.”
Here are this year’s recipients:
RETIRED 2017
Dr. Dennis Hutchison joined The Master’s in 2003 and served as professor of New Testament. He was a pastor in Frenchtown, Montana, for 15 years and a professor in Talbot School of Theology's New Testament department for 13 years before coming to The Master’s. He also served on the board of directors for Montana Bible College and as president of the Montana Regional division of IFCA International.
RETIRED 2017
Owen earned his bachelor’s degree from Los Angeles Baptist College and his master’s from California State University, Dominguez Hills. He joined The Master’s as a faculty member in 1978 and served as an associate professor of history. His particular specialty was church history, but he also taught courses in European and American history, as well as apologetics.
RETIRED 2018
Englin served at The Master’s beginning in 1981, teaching subjects such as animal biology, organismic biology, and astronomy as a professor of biological sciences. He was a member of the Creation Research Society, Southern California Academy of Sciences, Yellowstone Association, and Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies.
CONTINUED
While not necessarily the best in the Doyle collection, this short novel introduced the world to Sherlock Holmes and to the principles of his detection methods.
Agatha
ChristieThis novel is Christie’s first and introduces the character of the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Although Christie developed several other detective personalities, Poirot remains her most significant detective creation and the process by which her novels were set. One critic describes her plots as “animated algebra,” solving the unknown equation of crime detection.
Edgar
Allan PoeThe tales of ratiocination (“The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “The Mystery of Marie Roget,” and “The Purloined Letter”) introduce readers to the private detective in C. Auguste Dupin, who was based on the real person of M. Vidocq, who was credited with developing the Parisian Surete, the first investigative police force in the world. Poe builds the stories around the private citizen who solves difficult cases by logical processes.
Dashiell
HammettHammett is credited with creating the “hard-boiled” detective, who works at the edge of the law with a strong moral sense of his own making. He frequently employs methods that the police either choose not to use (or cannot use) to solve crimes.
Richard Bradford
Bradford traces the history of detective fiction by providing a brief chronology of the genre’s development. He lists seminal titles that give readers a focused reading list through the six broad categories of the field.
COMPOSED BY
DR. KURT HILD Professor of English
Mays served as a professor of piano at TMU. He has played solo recitals throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Great Britain for more than 40 years. He was on staff at the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College for 19 years before coming to The Master’s in 1986. Mays’ latest recording is titled “Reflection & Praise,” a series of hymn arrangements for piano.
Bloomfield holds a doctorate from Claremont Graduate University in historical performance practices and joined TMU’s faculty in 1989. As an associate professor of music, she taught students of all majors in Essentials of Music and Art. She also taught music history, world music, and aural skills courses. The harpsichord is her specialty, and she is the president of the Historical Keyboard Society of North America.
Learn more about TMU’s faculty at masters.edu/faculty.
THEATRE ARTS
Beloved literary classic will come to the University’s stage in October.
BY KAELYN PEAYThe Master’s University will be presenting a stage production of “Emma,” the Jane Austen classic, this fall. Six showings will take place between Oct. 20 and 28, with tickets available for purchase starting Sept. 8. In addition, TMU is hosting a special dinner theater showing for alumni on Oct. 19.
Tricia Hulet, director of TMU Theatre Arts, says she is thrilled about the opportunity to produce this show. “Not only is the story beloved, but it is poignant and full of relational nuance and lessons that are relevant to the modern era,” she says.
“On a production level, we are striving to give the students opportunities for cutting-edge theatrical stagecraft. This is geared toward giving our audience the best gift that we can, so that they see and experience ‘Emma’ as if for the first time.”
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The University’s evangelism club gives students weekly opportunities to share the gospel close to home.
BY GABRIELA CIURCUThe Master’s University evangelism club has a clearly defined goal when it meets in downtown Newhall, not far from the school’s campus: to build relationships that lead people to Christ and to a local church.
Students embraced the opportunity last semester, and plans are in place to continue the club this fall.
“We remind the students that we cannot debate anyone into the kingdom of heaven, and it’s the gospel that saves,” said Dylan Flannery, an off-campus resident director at TMU and the evangelism club’s organizer.
Tage Herrington, the club’s
student leader last semester, took that approach with an older gentleman who walked his dog around the park on Fridays. Herrington started by talking to the man about metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics, before laying out the gospel and providing evidence for the resurrection.
“He is always kind and responsive, and I know that when I see him, I can pick up right where we left off,” Herrington said. “We are not there just to preach the gospel, but to build relationships.”
Another friendship that Herrington built was with a 60-year-old man from Japan. Topics such as soccer, philosophy, current
events, and the Lord were at the center of their conversations.
“I confidently pray that they would both be saved, knowing that God is eager to display His mercy and that He uses broken vessels like me to evangelize, preach, and pray to achieve His sovereign ends,” Herrington said.
Herrington also highlighted how being part of the club is a sanctifying experience.
“The knowledge throughout the week that you have to give an account of what God is doing in your life to a stranger causes you to seek Him more, and it strengthens your faith and prepares you to defend it,”
Herrington said. “Those things then bring about an even greater desire to preach Christ and thus starts a beautiful sanctifying cycle.”
Flannery agrees that the benefits of the club go both ways.
“The sweet part is having conversations with students who were nervous about going out, had never gone out, went once, and now they attend regularly,” Flannery said. “They keep coming because of how transformative it is to their walk with the Lord.”
Learn more about TMU’s clubs at masters.edu/clubs.
This year’s chapel theme at The Master’s University is titled “Life: Liberating, Transforming, Satisfying,” based in part on Christ’s words in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Topics for the semester are expected to include life in Christ, freedom from sin, and sanctification, as well as what it looks like to follow Christ and put all of one’s hope in Him. “We want to highlight the vitality, richness, and abundance that’s in Christianity,” said Campus Pastor Harry Walls. “Students today can be enslaved to sin. They’re just in a cycle, they’re sucked in, and they feel like it’s futile. But the life Jesus brings is liberating — it’s meant to change you.”
The latest news on this year’s speaker schedule is available at masters.edu/chapel. Chapel is livestreamed at masters.edu/live and on TMU’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
WHAT’S IN YOUR OFFICE?
This year’s messages will center on the theme of abundant life from passages like John 10:10.
BY TMU STAFF“Those books are all first editions that have been given to me. One of them is a series of debates that Lincoln and Douglas had in the
“That’s a hand-written copy of Lincoln’s second inaugural address. It’s the greatest theological speech that a president of the United States has ever delivered. The depth of it is absolutely striking. No one else has come close to him in his understanding of sin and the need to unify.”
AN
“Ernie Baker, who used to teach biblical counseling here, gave me this. He was a big Civil War guy. That’s a piece of a cannon shell from the Civil War.”Campus Pastor Harry Walls says that the kind of life that Jesus brings is “liberating — it’s meant to change you.” PHOTO BY ANNIE VLADOVSKA PHOTOS BY DOMENIC GHIORSO
Upcoming events will highlight both faculty and student efforts in the arts and sciences.
BY JOSEPHINE LEE
This fall, The Master’s University will welcome attendees to several memorable one-day events, including TheoTech and MUSE.
The third-annual TheoTech conference will take place on Oct. 28. The conference seeks to develop original scholarship and thought leadership around issues of technology in their relation to theology. This year’s theme will be “Intelligence. Creation. Evidence.” with sessions exploring the nature and origins of intelligence. The event will feature presentations from Dr. Abner Chou, Dr. John MacArthur, Dr. John Eickemeyer, Dr. Grant Horner, Jo Suzuki, Dr. Matthew McLain, Dr. Jordan Morton, David Crater, and Dr. Monica Vroman. Visitors can expect to reap encouragement and insight from this interdisciplinary and distinctly biblical exploration of technology.
Another not-to-miss event, the MUSE 2023 conference, will return on Nov. 11. According to Prof. Matt Green, “The Muse conference exists to encourage believers toward consuming and contributing to engaging and excellent media that influences culture for Christ.” The event will serve as the red-carpet premiere of TMU’s second full-length feature film, “The Descent.” The film — a suspense thriller set in the time of Revelation 9 — represents the efforts of over 50 dedicated students alongside a team of TMU faculty. It’s an ambitious, original project bound to inspire and challenge both creatives and consumers.
Registration for TheoTech and MUSE will be available at masters.edu/theotech and masters.edu/muse
“Dr. Gregg Frazer gave that to me as a gift for my 40th or 45th year here. It was a picture that Ronald Reagan sent to a donor and personally signed.”
“That painting up there was done by the wife of Jim Owen, who was a history professor here. This was probably done in the 70s or 80s, in the spot where the Jan Heidt Metrolink Station is. The building on the right is still there, but the area has all been developed now. That was when Santa Clarita was just beginning to really grow.”
“Habit” is a word we rarely hear beyond a few days around New Year’s Eve. But Dr. Greg Gifford, biblical counseling professor at The Master’s University, believes that a biblical understanding of habits is helpful in the believer’s pursuit of godliness.
This is why the Center for Thinking Biblically published a video series titled “Thinking Biblically about Habits,” featuring Gifford. Here are five key takeaways:
1. We must prioritize our habits.
Though many habits are beneficial, if we form them at the expense of something more critical, we have developed habits out of order. If someone were to publish thousands of books, but he hadn’t opened his Bible in a year, our concern for that
person’s scrambled priorities would be profound. We must work down the list of importance in order to have a good grounding for future habits.
2. Remember that we don’t develop good habits to “earn” our place with God.
A son or daughter of God will accompany their salvation with good works. But it can become easy for us to fool ourselves into thinking that God loves us more or less depending on our actions. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (LSB).
We follow what our habits drive us to do. But in order to develop those
habits in the first place, Gifford says that we ought to do what we want our habits to be. With discipline, the things we force ourselves to do will eventually be performed with eagerness as habits are molded into us by the Creator.
4. As Christians, we are called to pursue character traits.
Though the Holy Spirit does transform us closer and closer into the likeness of Jesus Christ, the role of a Christian is not to be changed passively. We are called to make an effort to change ourselves. We shouldn’t pray for habits to be formed within us while we do nothing to form those habits in the first place.
5. There are times when our bad habits are the cause of our problems.
Sometimes when we are experiencing problems in our lives, instead of only focusing on developing good habits, we should also be working to destroy the bad ones we have developed. Look at what is causing your problems: Is it something external, or is it happening because of your bad habits?
The Center for Thinking Biblically is a hub of digital resources from experts affiliated with TMU. Created by educators with a passion for exalting Christ in all things, these resources are designed to equip believers with a thoroughly biblical way of thinking about every aspect of the world. To watch Gifford’s full video lecture series (and many others), go to thinkbiblically.org.
BE AN EXPERT
Pick something, literally anything, and become the best. It could be a hobby, a sport, a skill, an interest. It could be personal or professional, could be massively popular or totally unknown. But master something and see what you learn from the pursuit of excellence.
Experts in electrical engineering, biblical counseling, biology, and music are joining the University’s faculty.
Smith has a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. She has taught at UCSB, Westmont College, and Pepperdine University, running the gamut from introductory courses to advanced cellular biology lectures and labs. She has a particular interest in guiding students through issues of ethics in the sciences.
Hamory earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, and he has extensive experience as a flight instrumentation and avionics engineer at NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center. He worked on the experimental NASA X-57 Maxwell aircraft, authored
and co-authored several technical publications, and has done design work with circuit systems, signal processing, and flight instrumentation. He is also actively serving at Valley Bible Church in Lancaster as an evangelism teacher.
Palmer graduated from The Master’s Seminary with a Master of Divinity and went on to earn doctoral degrees in biblical counseling from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He taught at TMU as an adjunct science professor for several years before becoming a pastor at Grace Bible Church in Granbury, Texas. During his service there, he has developed the church’s biblical counseling ministry, building curriculum and training counselors.
In light of the recent retirement of several long-time professors at The Master’s University, as well as continued growth in the student body, TMU has hired five new faculty members for fall 2023.
Every faculty candidate at TMU is evaluated not only for expertise in his or her field, but for knowledge of Scripture, agreement with the University’s doctrinal statement, and passion for ministering to students.
HERE’S A SNAPSHOT OF THE NEWEST ADDITIONS TO TMU’S FACULTY:
Bahnean studied choral conducting at the University of Massachusetts (Master of Music) and Louisiana State University (Doctor of Musical Arts). Across his career, he has directed music in churches and academic settings — most recently serving as associate professor and director of choral activities at Tennessee Wesleyan University, and as the music minister at Inskip Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Though conducting is his passion, he also performs with a range of instruments, including the harpsichord, mandolin, and trumpet. Bahnean is TMU’s new director of choral activities, leading ensembles like the Chorale and University Singers.
Pekovich earned a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Vanderbilt University. He then went on to a post-doctoral fellowship there in pathology and enzymology. Over the years, he has researched and taught at several other institutions, including Northwest Nazarene University, College of Western Idaho, and Westmont College. More recently he has pursued entrepreneurial opportunities, establishing an auction house for sports memorabilia as well as American Family Research, a company that uses genetics to perform family research for adoptive children. Read more about TMU’s faculty at masters.edu/faculty.
Dr. Gregg Frazer (political studies) taught two seminars during Grace Community Church’s Sundays in July event. His seminars were a two-part series on the topic “The Religious Beliefs of America’s Founders.” He published a book of the same name on this subject.
Dr. William Varner (biblical studies) had a series of Passion Week devotionals published in the online ministry of Focus on the Family. The ministry also published an article related to Varner’s book, “Handbook for Praying Scripture.” The article was titled “Praying Scripture When It Hurts.” In recent months, Varner has been interviewed on multiple podcasts about two of his books, “Handbook for Praying Scripture” and “The Apostolic Fathers.”
This summer, Dr. Matthew McLain (science) became the interim dean of the School of Science, Mathematics, Technology & Health, and he participated in a dinosaur dig in Wyoming. At the International Conference on Creationism at Cedarville University in July, McLain presented three research papers with TMU students, was part of a panel discussion on dinosaurs, and gave an invited talk on the current state of creation education. He also led the annual origins meeting as president of the Creation Biology Society. At the end of last school year, McLain’s article on pterodactyls was published in The Journal of the Math3ma Institute.
In August, Dr. Tai-Danae Bradley (mathematics) presented the annual NAM David Harold Blackwell Lecture at MathFest, the Mathematical Association of America’s annual national conference. This year, she was featured in an article on The Brilliant, a STEM-focused media outlet that highlights science communication, and she gave the annual Tutte Lecture at the Tutte Institute for Mathematics and Computing in Ottawa, Canada. Besides co-authoring an article on category theory and linguistics for the Notices of the American Mathematical Society, Bradley also ran the first-ever Math3ma Symposium on TMU’s campus in June, which welcomed attendees from many different institutions across the U.S.
This summer, Dr. Joey Kim (engineering) became the new chair of the engineering and computer science department. Additionally, he and his wife Megan are looking forward to the birth of their first child in October.
Prof. Dave Larsen (kinesiology) was a guest speaker at Henry Mayo Hospital for its Sports Medicine Symposium on May 13, where he gave a talk titled, “Biomechanical Considerations of Flexibility Training.” In the classroom, Larsen has been able to fully integrate virtual reality into teaching anatomy and injury assessment using the VIVE platform and “Organon Anatomy Premium.”
Besides working on her Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance, Prof. Dawn Okonowski (kinesiology) is developing several new courses for the kinesiology department. Two of the new courses will be upper division electives: Cardiovascular Response to Exercise, and Orthopedic Neurology.
This year, Dr. John Eickemeyer (computer science) will be an organizer and speaker at TMU’s TheoTech conference. He was also a panel speaker at the first Math3ma Symposium this June as a result of his article in an upcoming edition of The Journal of the Math3ma Institute. Additionally, as a member of both the Grace Community Church Worship Choir and Madrigal Singers, Eickemeyer was involved in the soundtrack recording for “The Essential Church.”
The Master’s University Athletic Department is coming off its most successful year ever. Five NAIA individual national championships were won, another individual and a team were national runnersup, and another team made it to the semifinals of their national championship tournament.
This year, the department’s teams once again feature a plethora of talent and a shared focus — to honor Christ in everything. Here’s a preview of what you can expect from TMU’s fall teams on the field, the court, and the course.
As always, the best source for all things TMU Athletics is gomustangs.com, where you will find schedules, stats, and livestreams of games.
Zach Schroeder 18 TH SEASON OVERVIEW
Despite losing All-American and track and field national champion Davis Boggess to graduation, the men’s cross country team returns some of the best distance runners in the nation and has a legitimate opportunity to claim TMU’s 14th consecutive Golden State Athletic Conference title and firstever team national championship. Plus, the Mustangs will host two meets in Santa Clarita — The Master’s University XC Invitational on Sept. 23, and the GSAC Championships on Nov. 3.
Brint Laubach: finished 10th at NAIA National Championships; 2x AllAmerican Daniel Rush: 4x All-GSAC member
Zach Garey: part of indoor 4x800 national championship relay
After a historic year, TMU hopes to keep building momentum.
KEY NEWCOMERS
Jacob Fredericks: finished 28th at California state championships
Jacob Niednagel: CIF San Diego Section D3 champion
Emmanual De Leon: transfer from Menlo College; GSAC Freshman of the Year
LAST SEASON
GSAC Champions; 3rd at the NAIA National Championships
HEAD COACH
Zach Schroeder 18 TH SEASON
OVERVIEW
TMU Women’s Cross Country is coming off its third consecutive conference title, and the program doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. After finishing sixth at nationals and returning most of the team’s core, the women’s squad could crack the top five nationally for the first time in program history.
KEY RETURNERS
Hannah Fredericks: 2021, 2022 NAIA
All-American
Ellen Palmgren: 2021, 2022 NAIA
All-American
KEY NEWCOMERS
Rebekah Niednagel: 3x California state finalist
Cora McClain: freshman from Colorado Springs
LAST SEASON
GSAC Champions; 6th at the NAIA National Championships
HEAD COACH
Jim Rickard 33 RD SEASON
OVERVIEW
With a solid core of returners and a recruiting class that features some of the best talent in the country, the men’s soccer program looks to improve on
its 6-8-3 overall finish last season. The team will be tested early, with its first three games coming against NCAA Division 2 opponents. Two of those three matches will be at home.
KEY RETURNERS
Prince Chingancheke: 2022 All-GSAC selection
Giorgio Martino: 2022 All-GSAC selection
Theo Kudlo: 2022 All-GSAC selection
KEY NEWCOMERS
Alexis Garcia: 1st Team All-Region 20 at Harford Community College
Peyton Gorans: Regional Olympic Development Program player
Trenton Rickard: All-CIF and 3x Foothill League MVP
Tyrik Trotman: member of Trinidad and Tobago U20 national team
LAST SEASON
6-8-3 Overall; 4-4-1 GSAC (T-6th)
ELLEN PALMGREN FAITH TARVER AUTUMN JENSENHEAD COACH
Esteban Chavez 1 ST SEASON
OVERVIEW
The big news for the Lady Mustangs was that Curtis Lewis stepped down after 16 years as head coach. Taking over is Esteban Chavez, an assistant with the team last season who brings a significant amount of success from the high school and club soccer ranks.
KEY RETURNERS
Hannah Burke: 2022 All-GSAC; team’s leading scorer
Autumn Jensen: 2022 All-GSAC
KEY NEWCOMERS
Cynthia Ramos: 1st Team All-Ventura County
Harmony Rohde: sister of TMU All-GSAC men’s soccer player Aidan Rohde
LAST SEASON
5-8-5 Overall; 2-2-4 GSAC (6th)
HEAD COACH
Annett Davis 4 TH SEASON
OVERVIEW
The Mustangs went from 5-13 in GSAC play in 2021 to 9-9 last season, making it back to the GSAC postseason tournament. With a core of key veterans returning and several high-level freshmen coming in, the Lady Mustangs will look to continue climbing the conference standings.
KEY RETURNERS
Faith Tarver: 2022 All-GSAC
Ruby Duncan: 2021 All-GSAC
Breanna Brooks: 2020, 2021 All-GSAC
KEY NEWCOMERS
Trinity Beers: 2x MVP Central California Athletic Alliance
Kaysa Brown: 2021 CIF Southern Section D8 Player of the Year
Cara Dunnigan: LA Mission College 2nd Team
All-Conference
LAST SEASON
14-12 Overall; 9-9 GSAC (6th)
EVERYTHING YOU LEARN MUST COME FROM UNDERSTANDING THE ONE WHO CREATED IT. NO MATTER YOUR MAJOR, OUR ONLINE COURSES ARE DESIGNED BY FACULTY WHO WANT TO EQUIP YOU TO PURSUE CHRIST IN ALL THINGS.
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This summer, Dr. John MacArthur sat down for an interview at The Master’s University to talk about “The Essential Church.”
The new full-length documentary — which numerous TMU students and alumni worked on — explores clashes between church and government throughout history and sheds light on events in 2020 in Southern California and beyond. In addition to sharing his reflections on seeing the final product, MacArthur also discussed his first-hand perspective on Grace Community Church’s legal conflict with California and Los Angeles County, which is highlighted in the film.
TMU’s chancellor visited campus for an interview highlighting the feature-length documentary.
BY KAELYN PEAY“As I look at the details put together in the movie, I am reminded again of God’s providence,” MacArthur said. “Our attorneys said that they believed we had a 1-percent chance to win and a 99-percent chance we were going to lose. And they were our attorneys.
“They were in court for weeks and weeks and weeks, and so they were coming to me saying, ‘Can you give a little bit? Because we don’t think this thing is possible.’ But the hand of the Lord was mighty, in that sense, because we were triumphant.”
MacArthur’s video interview was published just in time to highlight
the documentary’s national premiere in select theaters in July.
TMU alums Seth Bowling (producer), Nate Bonsell (director of photography), Ruth Hanthorn (gaffer), and Lucas Cardoso (gaffer/ grip) worked on “The Essential Church,” as did a number of other TMU alumni and current students as gaffers, camera operators, grips, and production assistants, among other roles.
The full video of MacArthur’s interview is available on TMU’s YouTube channel.
Students traveled to Cambodia, Uganda, and elsewhere as part of this year’s Global Outreach Teams.
BY BRAYDEN CAMPOS
helping to host its annual graduation and served the staff as they prepared for the upcoming school year.
Pogradec, Albania
(or villages) outside of Phnom Penh, including Takeo and Kampot, serving missionaries in their local church.
Here’s a brief look at this summer’s Global Outreach trips:
Anchorage, Alaska
Team Alaska partnered with Anchorage Grace Church, alongside a current TMU student and an alum of The Master’s Seminary. They helped
facilitate a vacation Bible school at the church and ran multiple youth camps for the Alaskan Native peoples. They were introduced to missionary aviation ministries as well as ministries working with men in prison, widows, and at-risk youth. The team also served Grace Christian School by
Team Albania served alongside a local church in Albania with a missionary couple who are TMU grads. The team was able to teach music and lead worship, run various sports camps, set up and lead a youth camp with over 50 junior high and high schoolers, and assist with church-planting efforts in the village of Lin. They participated in many outreach ministries, including a vacation Bible school camp with over 90 kids, a food ministry, and intentional time building relationships with people. The missionary family also moved houses during the summer, so Team Albania was able to help them paint, build, clean, and move.
Team Cambodia served local churches of Phnom Penh, as well as TMU alumni living there as missionaries. The team had opportunities to teach English, give messages to youth ministries, work on creating and translating resources, visit a medical clinic, facilitate sports and games, participate in building projects, and reach out to communities in need. They also got to spend time in provinces
Team Honduras assisted a fellow TMU student and the MEDA International Missions seminary, a school affiliated with The Master’s Academy International that focuses on raising up leaders in the church. The team was able to serve the seminary, its staff, and its local partners through photography and marketing, assisting at a medical clinic, teaching English and music, serving at a coffee shop, offering accounting-related support, and evangelizing. Several of the students spoke Spanish and were able to help translate for other short-term teams from the U.S.
TMU’s women’s basketball team partnered with Joni & Friends and SOS Ministries in the village of Kubamitwe, Uganda. The team ran basketball clinics, served those in the community who live with disabilities, and led worship at Legacy Christian Academy, a ministry of SOS Ministries and sister school of Legacy Christian Academy in Valencia, California. They served alongside two missionary couples who are all TMU alumni.
Every summer, The Master’s University sends students across the world to partner with missionaries, pastors, and church planters in sharing the gospel and serving local bodies of believers.BRAYDEN CAMPOS IS TMU’S DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVANCEMENT. LEARN MORE ABOUT GLOBAL OUTREACH AT TMU, AT MASTERS.EDU/GO-NOW
PHOTO BY MARK FINSTER
The spring 2023 IBEX group went on a night walk in Jerusalem, tracing Christ’s steps through the city on Good Friday and contemplating what He accomplished through His death and resurrection.
Approaching its 30th year, IBEX continues to provide students with a uniquely immersive and Christcentered experience of Israel.
STORY BY MASON NESBITT
PHOTOS BY MARK FINSTER
One of the most significant developments in the history of The Master’s University was initially met with a collective yawn from the student body.
In 1995, the school launched the Israel Bible Extension (IBEX) campus, a semester-long studyabroad program and an ideal fit for a school committed to Christ and Scripture.
There was only one problem. Few students wanted to go.
In the first year, efforts to market IBEX — including the performance of Israel-themed skits in chapel — made little headway. Then, someone had an idea.
One morning, TMU (then The Master’s College) set up a live phone call with an IBEX student during chapel, broadcasting the girl’s voice across Bross Gym. She burst onto the phone and breathlessly raced through a long list of incredible experiences and new biblical understanding.
In the excitement, her words blended together and sentences ran on, but a theme emerged: You’ve got to come here, the girl insisted. When she finished, the crowd erupted with applause.
“It was pretty much all up, up, and away after that,” Dr. Doug Bookman, one of the program’s founders, wrote in a detailed history of IBEX. “As I listened to that young lady erupt with excitement and gratitude, I was once again confident that we were indeed doing the Lord’s work, that IBEX was going to do fine.”
Bookman was right. Today, TMU is the only Christian university with its own campus in Israel. And over the years, more than 1,000 students have attended IBEX, experiencing the Holy Land in a uniquely immersive and Christ-centered way.
As the program nears its 30th year, it continues to provide rich soil for friendship, discipleship, and deepened convictions about the historical accuracy of Scripture.
“IBEX helps our students learn the very point of education at TMU,” says President Dr. Abner Chou, “that Scripture is not just a bunch of stories, but the definition of history and reality, the very framework for everything they know and do.”
Dr. Jason Beals graduated from TMU in 2000 with a degree in biblical studies and one glaring hole in his experience. “My greatest regret from college,” he says, “was not doing IBEX.”
Beals, now a Bible professor at TMU, has since made up for lost time. He’s been on numerous short-term trips to Israel, and his faculty mentor, Dr. Greg Behle, was an IBEX co-founder. Beals even wrote his dissertation at The Master’s Seminary on the millennium-era temple.
Over time, Beals took on more IBEX responsibilities, and in 2021 he began overseeing the program stateside. His counterpart is John Black, IBEX’s field director and unquestionably an answer to prayer.
Black first traveled to Israel in 2007 with his alma mater, Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). As it happened, DTS had requested that Dr. Todd Bolen — a TMU professor and another IBEX co-founder — lead the trip.
“That trip changed my life,” says Black, who served as a senior pastor before returning to Israel with his family in 2017 to pursue a doctorate.
Four years later, when TMU was looking for an IBEX field director, Bolen recommended the man he’d met on that fateful seminary trip.
“You’re looking for a unicorn,” says Jason Beals, IBEX’s director. “It’s hard to find someone with the combination of knowledge and experience who theologically fits who we are and has a passion for impacting the lives of students. We’re in great hands with John.”
The same could be said of Beals.
Chou recently praised Beals for his “insightful” understanding of the logistics that come with running an overseas program for TMU, balancing the need for smooth operations with shepherding people.
These days, IBEX alumni would recognize much of what takes place during the program. They’d see students forming lasting friendships, participating in Bible studies and chapel, and attending a local church each Saturday before venturing into the Old City of Jerusalem.
Alumni would also be familiar with the program’s campus and curriculum.
Since its founding, IBEX has resided at Yad HaShmonah, a small settlement of Jewish and Finnish believers 10 miles outside Jerusalem. The community (called a moshav) includes a hotel that provides IBEX with a cafeteria, bungalowstyle dwellings, and a beautiful setting for evening walks.
As for class schedules, students still take Land and Bible, and Jewish Thought and Culture,
“He loves the land of Israel, loves students, and most of all loves the Word of God and the God of the Word,” says Chou.IBEX students may not be able to cross the Jordan on dry ground, but they do get an opportunity to raft down it.
both of which were offered in the fall of 1995, the program’s first semester.
Classroom lectures are complemented by 25 to 30 field studies. Some are day trips into Jerusalem, while others are longer ventures.
During a week-long Galilee trip, students stay at the Ein Gev Holiday Resort, traveling each day to sites such as Caesarea Philippi and Capernaum. An extended field trip to the Negev desert traces the lives of the Patriarchs.
At each biblical site, Black teaches in a way that’s not only academic, but also devotional. He wants students to understand the geography and history in a way that deepens their understanding of the text and their love for God.
For instance, during the Negev trip, students read Deuteronomy 8, where God reminds Israel of how He tested and sustained them in the wilderness. Black then takes the group on an extended hike into the desert, out of sight from modern
Every week, IBEX students enjoy unstructured time in Jerusalem. Often they use it as an opportunity to explore the Old City, where remains from the Byzantine period — and much earlier — abound. (Pictured left to right, Becky Sanchez, Abigail Cutts, and Zuriah Rust in spring 2023.)buildings and roads. There, students are encouraged to pray and consider their lives in terms of what they’ve just read. Am I really depending on the Lord and His Word?
The experience had a profound impact on Camden Specht in the fall of 2022. Specht had been dealing with what he describes as anger and anxiousness over his “selfstagnating” relationship with the Lord.
“I walked for a mile and came to sit under a tree
where I literally cried out to the Lord, begging for His forgiveness for my attitude and actions,” Specht says.
The aha moment differs by student, but the end result is generally the same — a deeper conviction that the Bible records real people, places, and events, orchestrated by a real God. Many who attend IBEX never read Scripture quite the same way again.
“It brings the Bible to life,” says Janet Canepa, who attended IBEX in spring
2023. “Instead of glossing quickly over locations, I can picture where passages took place because I’ve stood there.”
Justin Parsons had heard plenty about IBEX before attending last spring. In fact, he was the fourth Parsons brother to go, placing the family among the more than 70 sets of siblings who have gone to IBEX over the years.
“My brothers told me it was going to be the best semester of my life,” he says. “It absolutely was.”
When they aren’t out exploring the land, IBEX students can be found on the program’s campus, engaging with lectures or studying in the library. It looks like Michael Spencer (IBEX spring ’23) has a question.
After participating in IBEX as students in 2015, Zack and Christine Harris longed to return to the land of the Bible and be involved with the program again. But they never guessed that they would return in 2021, with Zack hired to serve as associate director and student activities coordinator.
Read this story at masters.edu/harris-family
Dr. Todd Bolen uses his experience in Israel — and his camera lens — to bless others with glimpses of the biblical world.
Read this story at masters.edu/bolen-magazine
Barely a week goes by in IBEX without an excursion to some corner of the land — whether it’s wandering the deserts in the south or navigating green fields up north at Bethsaida.
Alumni of TMU’s Israel Bible Extension program share memories from a semester in the Promised Land.
BY KAELYN PEAY
For this edition of the magazine, we got in touch with nearly 20 alumni who shared their favorite memories from the program and reflections on what they took away from their time in Israel.
For those who have experienced IBEX, we hope reading their words will bring back priceless memories. And for everyone, we hope that these reflections stir up fresh joy in the geographical and historical reality of Scripture.
During our week in Galilee, we enjoyed the sunset each night along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. One evening I recall sitting on the beach with my feet in the lake, talking with friends about future plans for ministry. That moment captures several ways IBEX was a blessing. Not only did we get to study and experience the very places Jesus walked and taught, but we also developed lifelong friendships in the process. I’m grateful for the investment of the professors and other students in such a unique place.
Perhaps the greatest lasting impact of walking where the Word became flesh has been in contemplating the incarnation. British General Edmund Allenby, upon victoriously arriving at Jaffa Gate in the Old City in Jerusalem during World War I, famously dismounted his horse and reportedly said, “I will not ride where my savior walked.” I think he had it right. Being in the land of the Bible should humble us and lead us to worship. That’s what it has done for me.
Ask an alum of the Israel Bible Extension (IBEX) program at The Master’s University, and odds are good you’ll hear something like this: “IBEX was a life-changing experience.”
If you’re an IBEX alum yourself, you know exactly why that is. If you aren’t, nothing better communicates the program’s heart than hearing from those who’ve experienced it firsthand.Ryan Boys (third from the left) and other members of the fall 1997 crew leaping in the ruins of Hazor. Matt and Alison (Fremont) Cooper, who were dating during their time at IBEX.
Semester at IBEX: Spring 1999
memories that have never faded and are pillars in my mind as I listen to a sermon or read God’s Word.
Spending a semester at IBEX to attend classes in the Holy Land is one of the top two things I have ever done in my life. Even 20 years later, I feel the same. It was great getting to know my group of students — eating, sleeping, traveling, and learning together about the land and its role in biblical history. I made many
Memories I loved: staying at the moshav, running in the morning on a dirt path by a grove of olive trees and later that afternoon hiking to an old Roman fort nearby. Riding a small Arab horse in the valley where David’s tomb used to be as I waited to enter the narrow, wet, pitch black of Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Excavating 1-inch beige mosaic tiles in an archaeological dig by Ai. Singing in the Roman amphitheater in Caesarea only to be echoed by another group singing the same hymn in German, and realizing our great God is not only transcendent across time, but cultures.
The classes, the hikes, the professors, the people, and the land all made IBEX one of the most memorable times of my life. However, I will always remember sitting on top of Mount Arbel thinking about the fact that our Savior probably retreated to this same mountain, looked out, and saw pretty much the same view. It made reading Scripture come alive in a deeper, more personal way than I had ever experienced before.
In fact, IBEX gave me a more full view of Scripture. Although it is the inspired Word of God, it was written by real men who lived real lives in a real land. Now having the context and the understanding of where Scripture was written, I can better understand what I am reading.
Semester at IBEX: Fall 1999
IBEX Volunteer for Fall 2000 + Spring 2001
There are so many wonderful memories of my time at IBEX, but it was not just the locations I traveled to and the things I learned. It was also the people with whom I got to experience it. Although I may have arrived in Israel only knowing a handful of people, it did not take long before I realized that my classmates, professors, and their families were a precious gift from the Lord.
IBEX also gave me a deeper love for the Lord and for Scripture. There is nothing magical about the land, but studying the Bible, geography, and culture, along with seeing and experiencing it, gave me a much better understanding of Scripture. Passages that I had skimmed before were now exciting to read, and I was able to understand them more clearly. The more I understood Scripture, the more I understood who God is, which deepened my awe and love for Him. My time in Israel still impacts the way I read and understand God’s Word, and it also helps me as I talk with others about God and as I teach God’s Word to kids.
Semester at IBEX: Fall 1999
Semester at IBEX: Fall 1999
Early one morning, we made our way to the north end of the Sea of Galilee to an area known as the Cove of the Sower. As our professor, Todd Bolen, made his way to the shoreline, the rest of us scattered ourselves throughout the amphitheater-shaped hillside, an area that could easily seat thousands. Far from all of us, Todd began to read the Parable of the Sower, and with crystal clarity we could hear his every word.
In that moment my sanctified imagination erupted. Scenes from the Gospels flooded my mind. I envisioned the multitudes crowding the hillside, listening with eager curiosity, marveling at Jesus’ capacity to bring to life the truths of the kingdom with the imagery of their ordinary lives. I had never doubted the gospel accounts, but neither had I grasped how scenes like this could be possible. On this day, though, all that changed.
The 40 of us who went that semester became one large family. Professors such as Todd Bolen and Randy Cook became like parents to us. Not only did they instruct us in the classroom, but they hiked alongside us, ate with us in the dining hall, worshiped with us in the miklat as we celebrated Shabbat each week, and even opened up their homes to us for Bible studies and family celebrations.
I should also mention that for 23 years I’ve taught middle and high school Bible classes at Mingo Valley
Christian in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hardly a day goes by in the classroom where I am not drawing on my experiences from IBEX. Being able to explain firsthand what it is like to hike the barren Judean wilderness or to walk the streets of Jerusalem during the Feast of Sukkot keeps my students captivated with the exciting truths of the living Word of God. My confidence in teaching the Bible with cultural and historical accuracy is largely attributed to my time spent in the IBEX program.
One of my favorite memories from IBEX happened in the wilderness. Our bus had been making its way through the Negev for hours when our instructor (Todd Bolen) asked the driver to pull over on the side of the road. Todd stood up and asked us all to get off the bus. Outside, he talked to us about the fact that God often chooses to meet with His people in the wilderness. Then he invited us to
walk out into the desert to spend some time with the Lord.
I had been wrestling with God for a few years about what He wanted me to do with my life. In the wilderness, in that hour that I spent with the Lord, He confirmed my call to the ministry. Twentytwo years later, I am profoundly grateful to Todd and the IBEX program for sending me into the wilderness that afternoon.
Dr. Todd Bolen always encouraged the IBEX students to explore Israel completely — knowing it was our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he said. So during our week in Galilee, I decided to bike around the Sea of Galilee, asking my friend Bryan Vaughn to accompany me. We rented a couple bikes early in the morning, wind in our faces as we whizzed down the Golan Heights.
Simply riding around the sea put into perspective a place that figured so significantly in Jesus’ ministry. It isn’t huge. It is still a fairly agrarian landscape. Now when I read the Gospels, I think I grasp the distances and comprehend the geography so much better than I did in my flannelgraph childhood days. The land is as real as the historical man who was born and raised, walked and sailed, and lived and died there.
Each biblical site we visited was memorable, whether it was walking through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, trying to sleep in the caves of Adullam, or taking a rather rough ride down the Jordan River. We inserted ourselves into the Purim festivities on Ben Yehuda Street, participated in a Passover seder, and woke up for a very early sunrise service at the Garden Tomb.
My life changed completely because of IBEX. I met my wife, Anne (Lawrence), during our semester at IBEX, and it seems unlikely that our paths would have crossed at the University apart from that semester. Beyond that, my knowledge of the Bible is still informed by the experiences we had that semester. Anne and I have been blessed to travel the world together since IBEX, but we both point to that semester as unique and pivotal for how God has shaped us into who we are today.
Hiking in the Holy Land stands out as a profound way IBEX changed us. This time without the distractions of everyday life, along with meditating on God and His Word, grew our love for the Lord. These hikes deepened our knowledge of the Bible, grew our confidence in the Scriptures, and expanded our understanding of God’s character. They were also instrumental in creating friendships based on the truth as we discussed what we were learning together.
Some of our closest and deepest friendships came from relationships formed at IBEX. Many in our group married each other (including us). The ladies in the group started praying together, and though the group got smaller as people graduated and moved, 10 years later there was still a group meeting and praying. This last Thanksgiving, 19 years later, a group of us spent the holiday together.
A great memory is standing on the Temple Mount with Prof. Randy Cook instructing us. The guards began to shout at us in Hebrew. According to Prof. Cook, they wanted us to leave. But Prof. Cook did not want to lose the opportunity to teach us on the Temple Mount. He continued to teach as he slowly moved toward the exit. The guards were not happy with his speed, so they came back angrier and louder. Then Prof. Cook said, “I guess we really need to go now!” I’ll never forget that moment, or the fact that I had an opportunity to stand and learn on the Temple Mount.
Experiences like these at IBEX forever fixed in my mind the reality of Scripture. Scripture is tied to real places, real people, and a real history. I walked where Jesus really lived and died and was resurrected. I stood where David and the prophets really stood. I climbed the same real hills and descended the same real valleys that the people in Scripture did. There is something to that tangible reality that confirmed the truth of Scripture in my heart. As I’m sure many others will say, you can never read Scripture the same.
We took an overnight trip to the Dead Sea for our History of Ancient Israel class, led by Todd Bolen. We hiked into Nahal Arugot, found and played in the hidden waterfall, then went up and over into Nahal David. Walking the land was so important for my understanding of biblical maps and places.
That History of Ancient Israel class was the best class I took in all of my undergraduate education and in my Master of Divinity program. The integration of facts, dates, names, places, stories, and The Story stays with me to this day, and it sparked interests I didn’t know I had.
Andrew Gilmore with his now-wife, Amy Gilmore (Godwin), on the Mediterranean coast at Caesarea Maritima.
Left to right: Tommy Bosworth, Brian Henderson, and John Russell, overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
What is my favorite memory from my semester in Israel? I have many to choose from, like celebrating Passover in the land, being surrounded by the people originally saved and redeemed out of Egypt. And then there’s sailing across the Sea of Galilee and being on the Temple Mount, reminded of God’s truth and faithfulness to fulfill what He has promised and all that He has already fulfilled and made possible through Jesus. Then there’s excavating part of the Pool of Siloam, reading the Bible in the wilderness, exploring Jerusalem and many other biblical sites while having New and Old Testament biblical accounts come alive before my very eyes.
Because of IBEX, my Bible reading and studying has gone from black and white to an explosion of color. IBEX was my favorite semester, and I made friendships that will last a lifetime.
One memory that will always stick with me is from an evening walk through Jerusalem. We spent the walk following Jesus' steps leading up to His crucifixion. The night sky was amazing and full of stars. I was hit by the immensity of sitting in a place where Jesus had been, under a sky of stars that were created through Him. He is powerful enough to create those massive stars and humble enough to walk through man-made gates.
The incredible humility and kindness of our Creator and God became so real to me. It was a newfound recognition of how truly incomprehensible it is that He allowed Himself to be beaten and killed by the people He created. And He did it for the sake of the very people who were beating Him.
Semester at IBEX: Spring 2017
One memory from IBEX that I often dwell on is when students shared their testimonies in the miklat on different evenings. People opened up about how the Lord had graciously saved them. I was not yet truly saved when I went to IBEX, but the testimonies I heard had a great impact on me. I also loved all the new friends I made and the new experiences I had during the program.
Though I did not give my life to Christ until one year later, I learned so much through this trip about the historical realities of the Bible and the spiritual darkness of those who choose not to put their faith in Jesus as God. Many people across the world put their faith in different religious ideas, but only true believers in Christ have real joy and assurance.
Semester at IBEX: Fall 2022
I was struck by how many of the cultural and religious issues we encountered appear directly in Scripture. We met a Jewish rabbi who rejected Jesus as the Messiah because He failed to bring political deliverance, like many in Jesus’ day (Matthew 27:22). We listened to a Samaritan explain how worship ought to take place on Mount Gerizim, rather than Jerusalem, which Jesus addressed in John 4. I heard accusations that the Gospels and the New Testament are an attempt to abolish the pure Jewish religion of the Old Testament, which the book of Hebrews explores in detail.
Those experiences of a culture that values tradition, location, history, law, and genealogy so highly helped me understand the original context in which the Bible was written. I was encouraged to see how clearly Scripture addressed the issues of its time, as well as its sufficiency to instruct us in our lives today as we continue to witness the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan.
Semester at IBEX: Spring 2013
IBEX Administrative Assistant FA2016 - SP2019
One of my favorite memories from IBEX was the camping trip we all took the last week of our semester, including the professors and their kids. It was a great way to close out the best semester of college. Overall, IBEX impacted the way I read the Bible. I think most alumni would agree on that. I’m a visual learner, so getting to be in the land, on site, reading the Word, was huge. IBEX really helped me to understand the Bible in a deeper way.
PHOTO BY BO JANHO
TMU’s intercollegiate beach volleyball team spends an afternoon on the school’s beach complex, located between the dorms and Placerita Bible Church.
Each year, hundreds of students from around the world apply to The Master’s University, desiring a biblically rich and spiritually nurturing educational experience. Scholarship aid plays a vital role in making a TMU education attainable for these students.
The Contreras siblings are just one example of the many students who are impacted each year by your generosity. To learn more about how you can partner with TMU in advancing its mission through scholarship aid, please visit masters.edu/give.
99%
BY TMUS STAFFIf you run into Rodrigo, Olivia, or Ana Contreras on the campus of The Master’s University, there’s a good chance you will find them with each other.
Most school days, they commute to campus together, even if one of them needs to be there earlier than the other two. During breaks, you might find them studying together at Trophy Coffee. During chapel, they enjoy sitting with each other. And all three were enrolled in Dr. Abner Chou’s class on hermeneutics during a recent semester. Spend any amount of time with these three, and it becomes obvious they are not only siblings — they are also friends.
countries represented by TMU students.
“We have always prioritized family and community,” Olivia says. “That’s part of our culture.”
on-campus population.
38% 1,200+ 40+ of students receive financial aid, with roughly $16 million disbursed overall.
increase in school enrollment since 2018.
The Contreras kids were raised in Mexico City. Their parents, who met at The Master’s University, have ministered in Mexico’s capital and largest city for decades — their father, Luis, teaching at the pastoral training center connected to The Master’s Academy International (TMAI). Because their mother is American (Luis was born in Mexico), Rodrigo, Olivia, and Ana are American citizens, yet they have always embraced Mexican culture, particularly its emphasis on family.
This trio’s time at TMU has been made possible, in part, by The Master’s Global Scholarship.
Of course, their relationship has grown even stronger over the years as each of them embraced Christ and developed similar passions to serve His church. All three are currently majoring in either biblical studies or biblical counseling, so they anticipate a lot of shared homework and time in the classroom.
“It’s such a wonderful time of life, to get to share this all together at TMU,” Rodrigo says. “We are so grateful.”
The Contreras siblings are particularly grateful to be recipients of The Master’s Global Scholarship, which is funded by the John MacArthur Trust. This unique scholarship provides financial aid to children of The Master’s University and Seminary alumni, or students of employees at The Master’s Academy International, Grace to You, or Grace Community Church. Students whose pastors are TMU or TMS alumni are also eligible for this scholarship. It helped pave the way for Rodrigo, Olivia, and Ana to attend TMU and prepare for a lifetime of ministry.
Recently, the Contreras siblings shared what a typical day is like for them on the campus of TMU. Their schedule allows them to enjoy some of the remodeled buildings, classrooms, and facilities that the John MacArthur Charitable Trust has invested in. This is a unique, precious time for these three siblings, and as a day in their life unfolds, it shows how the Trust has helped make it possible for them to enjoy an environment where their family and hundreds of young people like them can continually grow spiritually, academically, and relationally. You can learn more about The Master’s Global Scholarship at masters.edu/global-scholarship
Olivia, Ana, and Rodrigo typically arrive together just before 8 a.m. during the school year since Ana has a morning class.
Olivia and Ana studying together at Powell Library, a favorite study spot, particularly for Olivia. The library was recently renovated, an improvement made possible in part thanks to a gift from the John MacArthur Charitable Trust.
In between classes, the Contreras siblings often meet each other and friends at Trophy Coffee. Since it opened in 2018, Trophy has become one of the most popular gathering spots on campus.
Rodrigo, Olivia, and Ana sit together during Dr. Abner Chou’s Hermeneutics course on the second floor of the Biblical Studies Center. This classroom was remodeled two years ago to add more technology and create a more effective learning space.
Rodrigo is an intern in the enrollment office at TMU. He greets prospective students and gives tours of campus, among other responsibilities.
8pm
A few days a week, Ana works in the cafeteria. Her main responsibility is to check in students as they arrive for dinner.
Can we go to the Bible and find in it that which is sufficient for all of life and conduct?
The answer, I believe, is a resounding yes. And the proof is the testimony of the greatest authority in the universe, none other than God Himself. I want us to look at some passages that will strengthen our understanding of this vital truth. A good starting place would be 2 Corinthians 3:5. Listen to what it says: “Our sufficiency is from God.”
Our sufficiency is not from men, from human wisdom, from human resources. That means our capability for living life in God’s plan to the maximum is from Him. In other words, because we are Christians, we live in an environment in which the resources for life are divine.
Now I want you to understand that I am not saying that there’s nothing outside the Bible that has any value. There are many things in the world that have value, that are helpful
because of God’s common grace. But when it comes to the matters of spiritual life, all we need to know is revealed in the Word of the living God and ministered to us by the Spirit through that Word. And we do not have to look for a sufficiency that is not provided in the Scriptures.
So we don’t say, “Well, this is a problem that we can’t handle. You’ve got a spiritual problem the Bible doesn’t deal with. You better get into actualization or visualization or psychotherapy or psychoanalysis.” If it is a spiritual issue, if it has to do with the life of a believer, the life of the church, the soul of man, the struggles of man, the Bible can deal with those things and does. It is sufficient.
Now let’s widen our understanding of that basic idea. I believe that the resources God gives to us come through the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Listen to some of the testimony of Scripture as we consider this thought. First of all, when Jesus
spoke of the total sanctification of a believer, He said this to His Father in John 17:17: “Sanctify them by Your truth.”
Now the word “sanctify” means “set apart from sin, holy, separated unto God.” It has the idea of spiritual perfection, spiritual completion, that which we should be in Christ. And He says, “God, make them pure, make them holy, set them apart from sin unto Yourself and do it by Your truth.” Then He says in the same verse, “Your Word is truth.” We conclude then, very obviously, that the full holiness of the believer is the work of the Word of God. It is not the Word of God plus something else — that’s what the cults have been saying for years. The full holiness of the believer is the work of the Word of God.
This article is based on a sermon Dr. MacArthur preached in 1985, titled "The Sufficiency of Scripture, Part 1." Find more posts from Thinking Biblically at masters.edu/thinking-biblically
Dave and Stacey Hare graduated from The Master’s University almost 20 years ago.
At TMU, Stacey studied under Brad Buser, who thoroughly persuaded her to seek a life in missions. After getting married, Dave and Stacey both earned Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where the Lord led them to pursue Bible translation. Along the way, they adopted four children from Ethiopia.
They then connected with World Team, a churchplanting organization, and in 2014 they moved to a Kwakum village in Cameroon, Africa. Since then, they have
helped the Kwakum people develop a written language, taught literacy, translated around 28 Bible stories, evangelized, and discipled new believers.
Recently, Dave and Stacey were encouraged when God transformed the lives of a young couple. Since coming to know Christ, the couple has gotten married, brought orphans into their home, and started caring for a blind woman in the village.
The Hares ask for prayer for the growing Kwakum community of believers. There is no historical Kwakum church and no older believers who can help show new believers how to live as Christians. Please also pray for Dave and Stacey’s children. One is already a believer, but the other three have not yet trusted in Christ.
Learn more at haretranslation.com.
TMU CONNECTION
Jeremiah graduated from TMU in 2013 as a business and marketing major. Sami Jo (maiden name Allen) attended until 2013 as a Bible major.
CHILDREN
Jesse - 9 | Jack - 7
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Denton, Texas
ON THE JOB
Jeremiah has worked for the past year as senior category manager at Bertolli. Sami Jo serves as a stay-at-home mom.
FAVORITE MEMORY OF TMU
Jeremiah cherishes the friendships he built while “goofing off in the dorms,” as well as “learning how to live in intentional Christian community.” Sami Jo’s favorite memories include meeting Jeremiah, taking courses with Dr. Grant Horner, and exploring the canyon.
HOW CAN THE TMU COMMUNITY PRAY FOR YOU?
“Prayer is appreciated for us as we parent our boys in the ways of the Lord (and for their salvation) and that we would faithfully serve the Lord and our neighbors in our church and community.”
TMU CONNECTION
Jason graduated in 2014 from TMU’s biblical languages program.
CHILDREN
Joseph - 11 | Jane - 8 | Joy - 6
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Wilmington, North Carolina
ON THE JOB
Jason has served as the office services director at Cranfill Sumner LLP for five years.
FAVORITE MEMORY OF TMU
“My favorite memories are the ones that continue to bless and encourage me today, namely an understanding of and love for God’s Word, and friendships that began at Master’s which have grown through the years as we’ve added spouses and children.”
HOW CAN THE TMU COMMUNITY PRAY FOR YOU?
“Pray that God would use our family to bring Him glory.”
“However you drive sales — in a store, on a website, over the phone, or in the field — think about this: Your customer is guaranteed to be a human. Start by considering the human element of your customer, because people buy from the seller they know, like, and trust.
Tell your story. Ask your customer for their story. Communicate about what you both do, how you got into the business, what you each offer, why it’s different, what you are working to achieve. Build the skills to communicate verbally. Digital messages are just that — digital, meaning eventually a machine can handle that message. Only a human can verbalize empathy, care, and sincerity, so do what only you can do to create impactful relationships.
Hunt for goal alignment. You should be able to look at every order and visualize mutual benefit between you and your customer — your earnings and their receipt should be well balanced. Pushing a sale for your overwhelming benefit will drive customers away. Figure out what your customer wants and why, then work your way into serving their needs the best you can at a competitive price. People like that.
Do what you say. Yes, trust is based on honesty, but it also keys on reliability. You build trust first in your truthfulness, second in your execution. The reputation you accrue over many years can be undone by a single failure, because what you say matters, and what you do matters more. So follow through on what you promise.”
Starting Sept. 1 When Fall 2024
Undergraduate Applications Open
$16M+ available in overall financial aid. 99% of students receive financial assistance. 150+ programs offered, including new emphases like Criminal Justice.
Dr. Will Varner is shown here teaching at IBEX in the spring of 2018. The students are sitting on Mount Precipice (the traditional setting of Luke 4:29-30) outside of Nazareth, overlooking the Jezreel Valley.
AMOUNT: $72,000 awarded as $18,000/year for up to 4 years.
Five new students each year are awarded this highly competitive academic scholarship. Full-time incoming freshmen applicants must have a weighted high school GPA of 4.00 and an SAT I score (Critical Reading and Math sub-tests only) of 1,350 or ACT score of 30 or CLT score of 91. Renewable with a college GPA of 3.5.
LEARN MORE AND APPLY AT MASTERS.EDU/PRESIDENTS-SCHOLARSHIP-APPLY
AMOUNT: $20,000 awarded as $5,000/year for up to 4 years.
These legacy scholarships are available to new students whose parents hold a degree from The Master’s University, The Master’s College, Los Angeles Baptist College, or The Master’s Seminary.
LEARN MORE AND APPLY AT MASTERS.EDU/ALUMNI-SCHOLARSHIPS
AMOUNT: FULL TUITION COVERAGE.
Recipients of this scholarship pay zero tuition. This unique scholarship, which honors Dr. John Stead, combines all existing financial aid that a student receives, then supplements the remaining amount to offer a full-tuition scholarship. Ten scholarships are awarded each year.
LEARN MORE AND APPLY AT MASTERS.EDU/STEADFAST.
AMOUNT: $16,000 awarded as $4,000/year for up to 4 years.
Awarded to full-time students who demonstrate need and who are dependents of full-time pastors or missionaries who provide their family’s primary support and whose ministries are consistent with the mission of TMU.
LEARN MORE AND APPLY AT MASTERS.EDU/PASTOR-MISSIONARY-DEPENDENT
