alumni offer 10 pieces of advice to tmu’s newest graduates.
An Education for Every Journey TMU equips grads with a comprehensive foundation for any calling.
With All Her Heart A tribute to longtime staff member Harriet Ishii.
AS THE ACADEMIC YEAR IS WRAPPING UP, WE’RE TAKING A MOMENT TO LOOK BACK AT THE PAST TWO SEMESTERS. IN THE PAGES AHEAD, WE’LL SHARE KEY UPDATES, STORIES, AND PHOTOS FROM THE YEAR — ALL IN GRATITUDE FOR THE LORD’S CONTINUING FAITHFULNESS TO TMU.
We asked more than a dozen alumni what advice they would offer to this year’s graduating class. Drawing from their wisdom, we composed a letter with 10 pieces of guidance to encourage TMU’s new graduates as they pursue what the Lord has for them next.
TODAY
TMU’s official alumni magazine features stories of God’s faithfulness in the lives of alumni, faculty, staff, and students. This quarterly publication also includes the latest news from the University. You can sign up to receive the digital magazine at masters.edu/magazine-subscribe
Recent graduates might not know the name Harriet Ishii. But her 24 years of service to our institution left a lasting impression. Though she entered glory in 2023 and her years at TMU are long over, Ishii’s love for the school and commitment to serving those around her continue to energize those who knew her.
The Lord has been faithful and raised up a new graduating class, and I am thankful for your counsel to them in the cover story of this edition of TMU Magazine. It is pure gold, a reflection of godly character and the conviction of the need to live for Christ. As this new graduating class is commissioned to champion Christ and Scripture, will you join me in praying for them in the following ways?
First, pray they remember that everything in this world is for the glory of God. Before the foundation of the world, God designed an eternal and cosmic plan for the glory of His Son, ordaining history, the rise and fall of nations, revelation and prophecy, the coming of the Messiah to redeem, and for that gospel to intersect our lives so that we would join the ranks of countless saints before us to stand for Christ and Scripture. May these new graduates remember that glorious calling and never let the things of this world choke out what really matters (cf. Heb. 12:1-2).
Second, pray that they relish God’s providence (Rom. 8:28), as God has ordained our every step in His plan. Let us pray that instead of worrying about what they do not have and cannot control, they see all that He has provided. May they then be thankful, acknowledge His great faithfulness, rest in His sovereignty, and walk in those good works He has prepared for us beforehand (Eph. 2:10). May that be their perspective on the journey of life.
Third, pray that our new graduates see the value of faithfulness. While we do not control outcomes or opportunities (Prov. 16:1), we are accountable for output and obedience. So let us pray that our new graduates do not become discouraged by the uncertainties post-graduation, but boldly pursue what they need to do before the Lord. Pray that they would leverage everything — vocation, church, family, finance, friends, and the most mundane of tasks — to the glory of God. Pray that as they seek first Christ’s kingdom (cf. Matt. 6:31-33), they would not only find that “all these things will be added unto” them (Matt. 6:33), but also that they have walked worthy of the upward calling, having done all in God’s eternal plan (Eph. 4:1). That is why God sent them to TMU, what we have trained them to do, and why we are sending them out.
Dear alumni, these are the very things I have been praying for you also, and this recent volume makes me all the more joyous because I see the answer to that prayer. May the Lord continue to make us faithful to do our humble part in His eternal work.
In His grace,
Dr. Abner Chou PRESIDENT, THE MASTER’S UNIVERSITY
TMU's Alumni Association provides opportunities for alumni to connect with their alma mater — and each other.
events | communications | job listings
Some things haven’t changed on campus — but the signage certainly has! This photo from the 1985-86 school year captures what is now called the Reese Center for Science and Mathematics, on the east side of what was then called The Master’s College.
For TMU’s students, it’s been a busy year of studying for classes, building friendships, and establishing lifelong convictions. And the University as a whole has been just as busy. Read on for the latest on TMU’s academic programs, sports teams, and faculty and staff members.
We strive to make an education at The Master’s University as affordable as possible, offering academic scholarships and need-based aid, as well as specialized scholarships for musicians and athletes. Additionally, some students are eligible for a combination of grants and loans from the federal government. Learn more at masters.edu/financial-aid
$16M+
TMU students receive more than $16 million in financial aid annually.
98%
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial assistance.
94%
TMU had a fall-to-spring total retention rate of more than 94% for the 10th year in a row in 2024.
1%
TMU was in the top 1% of “Value for Money” in the Far Western U.S. Region, according to collegefactual.com in 2023.
The Mustangs took home top individual prizes in swim and indoor track and field this semester.
BY DAVE CALDWELL
The Master’s University Athletic Department added three more national championships to the trophy case this semester, as indoor track athletes and a swimmer stood atop the NAIA podium. The latest individual national championships bring the school’s total to eight over the last two years and 13 in total.
TMU sophomore Kylee Sears won the women’s 200-yard freestyle at the NAIA championships in Columbus, Georgia, in March, securing TMU’s first-ever swim national championship.
Sears finished in 1 minute, 50.28 seconds, nearly two seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
“I didn’t really care about my time,” Sears said. “I just really wanted to win.”
Last year, Sears earned four AllAmerican honors (three individual,
one relay) and was the national runner-up in the 500 freestyle. This time, she was a six-time All-American (three individual, three relays) — and a national champion.
In all, 11 different Mustangs swimmers were 2024 All-Americans. The men’s team placed seventh overall, with the women’s team coming in ninth.
The Master’s University indoor track and field teams walked away with two national championships and 11 AllAmericans at the NAIA championships this semester in Brookings, South Dakota.
Junior Hannah Fredericks won the women’s 3,000 meters (10:08.21), and she anchored the Mustangs’ distance medley relay team (DMR) to a victory and an NAIA Championship record of 11:38.20.
“I am so thankful for this team, both the people who traveled out to indoor and all of our sweet teammates who were cheering from back home,” Fredericks said. “God is so good, and He gets all the glory from this weekend’s accomplishments.”
Fredericks returned just an hour and a half after her win in the 3,000 to finish the Mustangs’ record-setting DMR victory. Ellen Palmgren took the lead at the midway point of the 1,200 carry, and Juliette Colunga and Suzie Johnson got the baton to Fredericks with nearly a 60-meter lead. Fredericks brought it home for TMU’s second national championship of the day.
In the team competition, TMU’s women’s team finished tied for sixth.
For more information, visit gomustangs.com
Alumni provide practical insights for students interested in physical therapy.
BY TMU STAFFDuring the spring semester, the Department of Kinesiology hosted an evening designed to provide insight into the field of physical therapy — specifically, the process of applying to, surviving, and thriving in physical therapy school. Alumni
Rachel Eley (Karle) (’17), Ian Saulog (’18), Joseph White (’19), and Stephanie Sutton (’22) shared their experiences and offered tips to students aspiring to pursue the field of physical therapy.
Current senior Eunice Fung, who was recently accepted into several Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs, also spoke at the event. She shared her experience of applying, interviewing, and seeking references to complete her application. At the time of the event, Sutton had also been accepted into multiple physical therapy programs and was working as a physical therapy aid for the Southern California Orthopedic Institute. White, an adjunct professor at TMU, explained his path into the unique hybrid DPT program he enrolled in. Saulog and Eley are both practicing physical therapists who spoke about the good and the challenging parts of the profession from their own experiences.
You can learn more about TMU’s kinesiology program at masters.edu/kinesiology
TMU has expanded the popular emphasis to further meet the needs of students interested in visual storytelling.
BY SOFIA BELTRANThe Department of Communication has now expanded the Cinema and Digital Arts (CDA) program from an emphasis into a major due to the increasing number of students at The Master’s University interested in the “seventh art.” In the past few years, CDA students have created cinematic projects ranging from short films to feature-length productions. The opportunity to write, direct, act, and otherwise participate in the creation of films is a distinctive feature of TMU’s CDA program, and as a result, graduates possess practical skills and experience that are valued in the media production industry.
Prof. Matt Green, the program’s director, says the foundation of CDA will remain Christhonoring storytelling. “It all starts with a story,” he says. “As a Christ–follower, your worldview will reflect in any story you tell, which is why we are training our CDA students to be excellent storytellers.”
For more information about the CDA major and its ongoing projects, see masters.edu/cda
TMU graduate and longtime staff member is leaning into his love for discipling computer science students.
BY KAELYN PEAYAfter almost 20 years of involvement with The Master’s University — first as a student and then as an adjunct professor and IT staff member — Jason Hendrickson (’07) has accepted a fulltime faculty position at the University. As an assistant professor of engineering and computer science, he’s leaning into both his love for people and his passion for technology.
“I’m more of a people-person than IT professionals can sometimes be,” Hendrickson says. “But I really, really like technical systems. I really enjoy bringing order to the chaotic world of technology. But I also love working with people and helping them use their computers better. So I have both of those sides to me.”
Since 2010, Hendrickson has taught computer science courses for TMU on an adjunct basis, using his experience as an IT professional to help equip students. But making the transition to full-time teaching wasn’t a decision he made lightly.
“It was something I was excited about, but I also approached it with great fear and trepidation, because I know how important that responsibility to teach is,” he says. “I think the main thing that made the decision for me is my love for working with the students and getting to disciple and encourage them.”
As a student, Hendrickson entered TMU as a history major, inspired by a love for the subject that continues to this day. But then he started hanging out with computer science majors.
“I’d always been into computers, but I never thought I was actually smart enough to do programming,” Hendrickson said. “It felt unattainable. It looks like a 100-foot-tall wall, and you’re like, ‘I could never do that.’ But knowing people who were doing it made it seem possible.”
In the end, he graduated with a major in computer science and two minors — one in history and one in music. As someone who performed in Chorale all four years, serving as president of the group and singing solos, a music minor just made sense.
In fact, when he graduated in 2007, he was still interested in music — specifically music ministry. He and his wife Dana (whom he married in 2006) moved to Fort Worth, Texas, so that he could study music ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Just to pay the bills, he took a part-time job at an IT company.
But as that first year of post-graduation life dragged on, he found himself
enjoying his IT work and wanting a fulltime position to better provide for his family. A conversation with Paul Sedy, TMU’s chief information officer and Hendrickson’s boss when Hendrickson was a student, led to a job offer.
So in 2008, Hendrickson returned to TMU as its new service desk coordinator. Over the next 15 years, his role continually shifted and expanded, until eventually his title was Director of IT Innovation. At the same time, he also served as an adjunct computer science professor, teaching a course or two every semester.
All along the way, he felt that he would love to teach full-time. In 2023, the opportunity came. And he couldn’t be happier about it.
“I want to help these students make as many good decisions now as they can,” he says. “Maybe they can learn from my mistakes, and I can share some wisdom with them. The conversations outside the classroom are just as important to me as what we do inside the classroom.”
Learn more about TMU’s computer science major at masters.edu/computer-science
The Master’s Chorale will be touring all over Texas and ministering to churches and schools with their music. The chorale travels every year, and they are excited to explore the Lonestar State. If you would like to donate toward the tour, visit masters.edu/music-give and select the “Chorale Tour” designation.
22-24
TRACK NATIONALS
The Mustangs will be in Marion, Indiana, for the 72nd annual men’s and women’s Track & Field National Championships. Get the latest news at gomustangs.com
The Math3ma Institute is hosting a professional conference at TMU for believers who work in or teach the sciences. Register to attend in person or online at masters.edu/math3ma
5-7
CARE OF SOULS CONFERENCE
This year’s Care of Souls Conference is titled “The Gospel in Counseling” and will feature Dr. Abner Chou, Dr. John Street, Dr. Stuart Scott, and many others as plenary speakers. Learn more at careofsoulsconference.org
6-7
BASKETBALL CAMP
This is the first of six basketball camps for boys and girls ages 6 to 14 scheduled at TMU this summer. For more dates and to register, see gomustangs.com/camps
SOCCER CAMP
This is the first of three soccer camps for boys and girls ages 6 to 14 at TMU this summer. The others are July 8-11 and July 22-25. For more dates and to register, see gomustangs.com/camps
SONGS OF SUMMER ADVANCED CAMP
TMU’s School of Music is hosting an advanced music camp for singers ages 12 to 18. Get details at masters.edu/songsofsummer
SONGS OF SUMMER BEGINNING CAMP #1
This is the first of three beginner camps for singers ages 8 to 12 hosted by TMU’s School of Music this summer. The others will both take place June 17-22. Get details at masters.edu/songsofsummer
17-20
BASEBALL CAMP
This is the first of three TMU baseball camps scheduled for boys and girls ages 6 to 14 this summer. The others are June 24-27 and July 15-18. For more info and to register, see gomustangs.com/camps
28
BEACH & INDOOR VOLLEYBALL CLINIC
Girls ages 9 to 13 are invited to TMU’s beach and indoor volleyball clinic. For more info and to register, see gomustangs.com/camps
8-11
TRACK & FIELD CAMP POLE VAULT
Boys and girls ages 13 to 18 are invited to TMU’s pole vault clinic. For more info and to register, see gomustangs.com/camps
Boys and girls ages 6 to 13 are invited to TMU’s track and field camp. For more info and to register, see gomustangs.com/camps
12-13
Girls ages 9 to 13 are invited to TMU’s youth girls volleyball camp. For more info and to register, see gomustangs.com/camps
15
SCIENCE CAMP
Dr. Matthew McLain is hosting a science camp for grades 5-8. The day will include a hike through Quigley Canyon and other activities designed to highlight a wide array of scientific fields. Learn more at masters.edu/camps
18-19
GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL CAMP
Girls ages 9-17 are invited to TMU’s girls beach volleyball camp. For more info and to register, visit gomustangs.com/camps
20
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL CAMP
Girls ages 14 to 17 are invited to TMU’s high school girls volleyball camp. For more info and to register, visit gomustangs.com/camps
22-25
TRACK & FIELD DISTANCE CAMP
Boys and girls of high school age are invited to TMU’s track & field youth distance camp. For more info and to register, see gomustangs.com/camps
25-27
ELITE BOYS VOLLEYBALL CAMP
Boys ages 14 to 18 are invited to TMU’s elite boys volleyball camp. For more info and to register, see gomustangs.com/camps
August
WEEK OF WELCOME
On Aug. 17, we will welcome our incoming class for fall 2024. New students will spend Week of Welcome getting to know the campus, each other, TMU faculty and staff, and the opportunities available to them in the years ahead.
26
FALL SEMESTER BEGINS
Aug. 26 marks the start of a new academic year at TMU.
Dr. Julie Larson is set to retire this May after decades spent serving TMU’s communication program.
BY JOSEPHINE LEESeveral months ago, a student paused before class to ask Dr. Julie Larson how she was feeling about her upcoming retirement. She laughed.
“I’m too busy to be sad,” she said.
But with the passage of time, the tears began to catch up. After what she’s described as a “marvelous forty years of teaching” in the communication department she helped to found, Larson is retiring from The Master’s University in May.
She described her career with a hint of wonder: “It’s a dream come true, and a fulfillment of my passion ever since I became a believer.”
The dream started during her last semester as an English student at the University of Southern California.
“I was sitting in the back row, just listening, and I said, ‘God, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to teach Christians at a Christian school how to think critically in order that they
might be able to better evangelize for you.’”
Larson’s singular mission statement never changed. It brought her to TMU in 1983, where she was first tasked with teaching general education spoken communication courses. The school only had about 250 students, and the previous communication degree — an interdisciplinary program helmed by a single faculty member — had been discontinued.
But in 1985, Larson was hired full-time — the
same year that Dr. John MacArthur came to head the college, which soon saw its enrollment numbers double and triple. Students began to ask for the resurrection of the communication major.
Larson finally took the query up to Dr. John Stead, then vice president of academic affairs.
“What should I tell the students?” she asked.
She remembers that Stead remained quiet in thought for several minutes.
“Finally, he turns around,
looks at me and says, ‘Well, the fastest way for us to do that is if you started it. Do you want to?’”
Larson, fresh off of earning a master’s degree in rhetoric and literature, didn’t have to think long. “I thought, ‘If he has enough confidence in me to start a program, then I'm going to give it a try.’”
Larson still calls Stead “one of the greatest mentors of my entire life.” With his support, she went on to develop the communication department from scratch. When the first students joined in 1986, there were
three emphases: speech, writing, and electronic media.
Since then, the department has bounded from one milestone to the next, adding new emphases, faculty, and resources.
Larson has worked with several department chairs in her tenure, even briefly chairing herself. But through the program’s expansion, she has vigilantly held to the national accreditation standards, a benchmark for student learning outcomes. Larson is dedicated to preserving what she
student two decades ago.
“She holds you to a higher level,” Shickle said. “She wants you to think for yourself. And I think that’s why her classes can seem to be a struggle, because people are not always used to being pushed that way.”
The fruits of Larson’s academic rigor are evident in the dozens of students who have transitioned from her classrooms into graduate schools and law programs across the country.
believes to be the crucial, classical foundation of academics: speech, writing, and critical thinking. Core courses she taught included heavy-hitters like Rhetorical Criticism, Argumentation and Debate, and Interpersonal Communication.
Pupils entering a Larson class for the first time often had to find their bearings when they encountered the intellectual demands of her coursework. Prof. Peter Shickle, assistant professor of communication at TMU, remembers sitting under her instruction as a TMC
As she retires, Larson believes it is most important for the program to remain a training ground for the essentials: teaching students “how to write well, how to think critically, how to do research and cite sources accurately, how to deliver a good speech, and how to understand concepts and ideas.”
It’s that passion for helping young men and women communicate for Christ, semester after semester, that is perhaps Larson’s greatest legacy.
Shickle said simply, “I would not be where I am today without her.”
Learn more about TMU’s communication department at masters.edu/ communication.
Grace Community Church celebrated 55 years of Dr. John MacArthur’s pastoral service earlier this year. In February, the church gathered for reflection and a Q&A with MacArthur, who shared what helped him stay faithful to the ministry. He said that, ultimately, it was his faith in the unwavering Word of God: “How can you get discouraged when the end is already written, and we win?”
He also reiterated his continuing love for the church after decades of pastoral service. “It’s the most precious place on Earth,” he said.
MacArthur’s years of faithful ministry and leadership have also had a tremendous impact on The Master’s University, where he served as president for more than 30 years and now serves as chancellor. Next spring, May 2025, will be his 40th commencement ceremony at TMU.
TMU’s chancellor rejoices in God’s kindness after over half a century of ministry.
BY LUKE FITZGERALD“This is called Kintsugi. I just love the idea behind it. When things are broken, they can be repaired. But that doesn’t mean they are restored to perfection. They use gold to cover the cracks, which tells the story of how it was broken and that it’s still useful.”
“These antlers are from my wife’s great-grandfather from 1972. I really like having them around because they remind me of the outdoors.”
“(Dr.) Greg (Behle) was my mentor when I was a student here through graduate school. And then that photo was on a staff Christmas tree, so I hung it in here and said, ‘This is going to stay in my office until you come get it.’ And he said, ‘Challenge accepted.’”
New pathway is ideal for transfer students looking to complete their degree online.
BY KAELYN PEAYThe Master’s University Online is adding a bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies this year. The program is designed to be as friendly as possible to transfer students, offering a clear path to degree completion and a wide variety of courses to choose from across TMU Online’s catalog.
“What I really like about this program is that you can study a wide variety of academic areas,” said Matt Frields, TMU Online’s director of marketing and enrollment. “For adults looking to complete their degree, this option allows for more courses to typically transfer in, allowing them to complete their degree faster.”
Learn more about all of TMU Online’s degree programs at online.masters.edu
“That’s a vintage label. They used to ship vegetables in boxes and slap those on.”
“This is an antique from England. In the show Downton Abbey, Mr. Carson is the head butler. He’s not part of the family, but he’s the steward of the house. I like it because it’s English, and I like pens and it’s cool because it reminds me that I’m a steward.”
“One of the missions trips I went on was to New Zealand, so it reminds me of that. Rugby is not a super popular American sport, but I dig it.”
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Slight Hall’s resident director moves on after faithfully serving the dorm.
BY LUKE FITZGERALD
In 2016, John Thomson started studying at The Master’s Seminary. He knew he wanted to teach the Bible to others but wasn’t sure in what capacity.
Then an opening for a resident director position at The Master’s University caught his attention. He wasn’t a TMU graduate, but the more he learned about the position, the more he saw how it aligned with his desires. He longed to invest in the lives of Christians, coming alongside them in the trenches.
“I saw a unique opportunity to disciple people who care about Christ, in an immersive environment,” Thomson said.
And that is exactly what he has done. Thomson came on as the RD of Slight Hall in fall
2016 and has ministered to college students in the dorm ever since. This summer, he is finally passing the baton — one of ever-deepening commitment to biblical discipleship.
When Thomson understood the mission and vision of student life at TMU, he says he was thrilled about the potential to serve. In the dorms, he had an opportunity to holistically minister to young Christians who were just beginning to live on their own.
“They’re trying to figure out why they believe what they believe and what that looks like,” he says.
Thomson hadn’t experienced any relational discipleship in his own life until he was out of high school. “The lack of it left me in kind of a spiritual
stupor,” he says.
But as he started meeting with an older believer after high school graduation, he saw growth. “It brought such great life to me when I started to see victory over sin,” he says. That transformation drove Thomson to pursue cultivating the same growth in others.
Now, Thomson’s passion comes from an everincreasing conviction that discipleship is central to his calling in life. He sees his task as a reflection of Paul’s goal to “present every man complete in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). Drawing on the Great Commission, he notes how all Christians are called to make disciples — followers of Christ who live in obedience to Him.
“I can just go through and show you probably from almost every book of the Bible, the call to be who you’ve been made to be,” he says.
Even as he prepared to move on from TMU in pursuit of pastoral ministry, Thomson made sure to finish his final semester in Slight on a Christ-honoring note.
“I’m working hard right now to leave a culture in the dorm that’s ready to receive a new RD,” he says, “because I fully believe that the unique opportunity offered by this type of life-on-life ministry is invaluable.”
To learn more about campus life at The Master’s University, visit masters.edu/campus-life.
1. THE MASTER’S CUP
Our annual Week of Welcome in August gives incoming students the opportunity to get to know each other and the campus. The week culminates in The Master’s Cup, an intense inter-dorm relay competition, the opening ceremony of which is pictured here.
2. A NIGHT OF WORSHIP
TMU hosted “Worship in the Canyon” this fall. Student musicians led those present in a mix of hymns and modern worship songs interspersed with devotional reflections.
3. THEATRE ARTS
TMU’s fall Theatre Arts production was “Emma,” the Jane Austen classic. The cast and crew put on six performances in October, as well as a special dinner theater showing for alumni.
4. CHAMPIONS – AGAIN!
The Master’s University men’s cross country team won its 14th straight Golden State Athletic Conference championship in November. The women’s team won its fourth straight GSAC title and finished second at nationals. These were just a few highlights from another successful fall for TMU Athletics.
5. A SYMPHONIC PERFORMANCE
In November, TMU’s School of Music put on a concert titled “Symphonic Masterworks.” The Master’s University Orchestra performed an assortment of symphonic pieces, including Alan Hovhaness’s “And God Created The Whales” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5.”
6. CHURCH FAIR
Church membership is a priority for the TMU community. Our fall Church Fair creates an opportunity for students to interact with representatives from faithful local churches and make plans to get involved.
7. COFFEE HOUSE
The Dixon Coffee House is an ongoing tradition hosted by Dixon Hall. Students enjoyed a mix of worship singing, musical performances, and comedy skits at this year’s open-air event.
how well do you know tmu?
How many athletics teams does TMU have?
A. 10
B. 11
C. 18
D. 13 01
D. THE GIDEONS 02
What was the original nickname of our athletics teams?
A. THE MUSTANGS
B. THE LIONS
C. THE TRUTH
Who is our student center building named after?
A. JOHN DUNKIN
B. HERBERT HOTCHKISS
C. JOHN STEAD
D. JOHN MACARTHUR
D. PEARL SCHAFFER 04
Who is our School of Humanities named in honor of?
A. PAUL PLEW
B. JOHN STEAD
C. JOHN MACARTHUR
answers on page 75
8. FALL FEST
Fall Fest is a highly-anticipated Student Life event in the fall. For TMU’s student body, it’s the perfect time to take a break from studying and enjoy Western-themed fun with their friends.
9. WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
In the fall, TMU’s Student Life team put on a one-day women’s conference called “Selfish” that explored how to pursue Christ-like humility. This was a wonderful time of worship, learning, and fellowship for the women of TMU’s community.
10. CAREER FAIR
TMU’s Office of Career Services hosts a Career Fair every semester, giving TMU students an opportunity to connect with prospective employers.
11. MONDAYS AT MASTER’S
TMU welcomes prospective students on campus regularly throughout the year, both for official view events and personalized tours. Mondays at Master’s is one such opportunity for families to get a snapshot of what TMU is all about.
12. DISCIPLESHIP AT HOME
During “Life on Life,” women in the TMU community invite female students into their homes to enjoy food and fellowship together in the spirit of Titus 2.
13. MUSTANG MADNESS
The basketball season kicked off with Mustang Madness, an evening that included a dunk contest, a game of one-on-one between Dean of Women Brianna Harris and Monty Mustang (pictured), and the opportunity for a student to win a $5,000 scholarship by hitting a half-court shot.
14. DEPARTMENT CHAPEL
Multiple times a year, the campus community sets aside chapel time for Department Chapel. Students gather with classmates and their program’s professors to worship together, build relationships, and hear department-specific updates.
15. INTERVIEW COMPETITION
In “The Master Interview,” students competed for a $2,500 scholarship. Participants created resumes and cover letters, delivered elevator pitches, met with mentors, and sat for mock interviews. The finale (pictured) took place in front of a live audience in Dunkin Student Center.
The 2024 Truth & Life Conference was titled “Heaven + Earth” and featured messages from Drs. John MacArthur, Ken Ham (pictured), and Harry Walls, celebrating Christ’s centrality from the beginning of history to the end.
This year, TMU Opera performed “Gianni Schicchi,” an hour-long comedic opera in English. After a semester of preparation in the fall, they put on two days of performances in January.
TMU’s distance medley relay team of (clockwise, starting top left) Hannah Fredericks, Ellen Palmgren, Juliette Colunga, and Suzie Johnson won an NAIA national championship in indoor women’s track and field in Brookings, South Dakota, this spring. Fredericks also won a national title in the women’s 3,000 meters. Elsewhere, Kylee Sears won a national title in women’s swim this spring.
The Monty’s is a favorite campus tradition hosted by Student Life every spring. This year, the red-carpet event was styled as an awards show, featuring a catered dinner, special drinks, and a lineup of student performances.
Over the past year, Dr. Todd Bolen (biblical studies) has released three new volumes in the Photo Companion to the Bible series: Genesis, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Organized by chapter and verse, the photographs illustrate the biblical text with landscape scenes, archaeological discoveries, ancient artifacts, and detailed models. Available from BiblePlaces.com, these resources include explanatory notes and are especially designed for pastors and teachers.
In January, Dr. John Beck (business and communication) was presented with a certificate for his participation at the annual conference of The United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) in Birmingham, Alabama. In March, Beck received a small grant from the Schulze Family Foundation for stimulation of entrepreneurship education and innovative thinking on campus.
In recent months, Dr. Ernie Baker (biblical counseling) had a book released by Shepherd Press, “Biblical Counseling and the Psychologies.” He is also the editor of a new series by Shepherd Press called “Critical Issues in Biblical Counseling.” The first two books were combined into a special limited edition to give to all the attendees at Shepherds Conference. In addition, he had a booklet released by ACBC titled, “Trauma-Informed Counseling: A Biblical Evaluation for Counselors.” There will also be an article in the next edition of The Journal of Biblical Soul Care titled, “Presuppositionalism, Common Grace and Trauma Theory.” Lastly, he had a wonderful ministry trip to the Philippines to teach a marriage and family class on behalf of Overseas Instruction in Counseling at Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Manila.
Dr. Ken Mays (professor emeritus) has seen four books of his piano hymn arrangements published by J.W. Pepper, and several of his music albums are now available to be streamed on platforms such as Spotify. Two of these albums were recorded on North Campus and feature TMU alumni. Mays has also presented at several hymn concerts in Idaho, Kansas City, the Dallas area, and his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Sarah Dixon (music) led a workshop on vocal health as part of the Sing! West Conference with Keith and Kristyn Getty. Dixon had the opportunity to talk through the basics of vocal technique, gave instruction on developing healthy habits when singing various styles in the church, and led discussion relating to several areas of church music involvement. Dixon continues to direct TMU’s Songs of Summer performance workshops for young singers each June. This year, these week-long workshops are expected to draw over 100 students between the ages of 8 and 18.
Dr. Tai-Danae Bradley (mathematics) co-authored a paper that was recently published in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society entitled “The Structure of Meaning in Language: Parallel Narratives in Linear Algebra and Category Theory.” It describes a mathematical framework for natural language motivated by today’s large language models, like ChatGPT. She was also invited to be the featured speaker at the annual Michael E. Moody Lecture at Harvey Mudd College in April. Her talk was entitled “Category Theory: The Mad Libs of Mathematics.” And she is excited to be organizing the Math3ma Symposium — two days of fellowship and encouragement for Christians working in the sciences and technology — at TMU, May 31 and June 1.
Jay Street (Bible) wrote his thesis on Romans 7, “Looking with New Covenant Eyes at an Old Covenant Problem: Resolving the Romans 7 Riddle” for his Master of Theology degree at The Master’s Seminary. He had the privilege a few years ago to publish an article about it in The Master’s Seminary Journal (Volume 30, Issue 2). He is currently working on turning the thesis into a book.
Edward Wilde (biblical counseling) will be speaking at the annual ACBC conference, as well as a biblical counseling training conference in Chile. He has also been invited to give a conference on the general legal issues confronting ministry work, which will be hosted at Redeemer Bible Church in Temecula, California. In addition, Wilde has represented Christians and Christian organizations as amici before the various federal appellate courts and the Supreme Court.
Lucas Gomes teaches classes in TMU’s math and science departments — including Hydrogeology, College Algebra, and Trigonometry — while studying at The Master’s Seminary. Gomes recently had an article published by the journal Territorium on the relationship between extreme rainfall and debris floods on Madeira Island.
alumni — we're here for you.
utilize our cover letter and resume guides and scan an exclusive job board, with listings like these: get started at alumni.masters.edu/jobs or
TMU’s student employment program enhances classroom learning while developing skills that can shape future careers.
BY JOSEPHINE LEE
Across The Master’s University, about 400 student employees play some role in the activities that keep the institution running smoothly — from marketing to campus events to career services. But on-campus employment does more than provide infrastructural support for departments, or financial support for students. It’s also a training arena for young adults to prepare for their life post-graduation.
Elise Aydelotte, who has helmed the Office of Student Employment for a decade, has helped set the program’s direction, building a work culture that students are more eager than ever to participate in. At the core of Aydelotte’s efforts is a desire for students to benefit from a reciprocal relationship between work and academics.
“Students who also work — whether on or off campus — up to 20 hours
a week tend to perform better academically,” Aydelotte said. “And the reason is that students are able to take what they’re learning in the classroom and apply it in a very practical, realworld way in the workplace.”
Aydelotte said that she wants every job on campus to provide some sort of learning opportunity for students, whether personally or professionally. In pursuit of that focus, TMU restructured student employment four years ago to reflect the real-world job market. The goal was to create work opportunities that would better interface with student ambitions and passions.
The program now functions through a competitive hiring process that requires students to create professional resumes, fill out job applications, and undergo interviews.
As a result, both employers and employees have become increasingly invested in the work opportunities on campus. “The supervisors are so encouraged and excited to see what their students are showcasing,” Aydelotte said, “and I think students have learned how to market themselves better.”
Mariah Hildebrandt (’23) is one example of how student employment can set the stage for post-graduation life. As a business major, Hildebrandt began helping the administrative and recruiting efforts of her cross country and track and field teams.
“I saw how much I loved working with people and loved working in an administrative, communicating role,” Hildebrandt says. “Student employment gave me a chance to see that.”
The experience inspired Hildebrandt to join TMU’s admissions staff fulltime after graduation, giving her the opportunity to continue interfacing with new and prospective students.
Hildebrandt is just one of many students who have benefited from the program in the last few years. But Aydelotte sees student employment as investing in a purpose far beyond the University’s campus.
“We are emissaries of the kingdom,” she said. “It’s not just about their education here. It’s also about the small part we get to play in equipping them to go to all the different corners of the Earth and make an eternal impact through their work.”
Learn more about TMU’s Office of Student Employment at masters.edu/student-employment
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A few of TMU’s most memorable chapel messages from the year.
These and other chapel messages from the past year are available on TMU’s YouTube channel.
EPHESIANS 4:25-29
On Oct. 11, Costi Hinn exposited Paul’s imperatives in Ephesians 4, reminding students to lay aside the old self and forsake sin, instead walking righteously out of love for Christ. PHOTO
On Oct. 30, Dr. Paul Twiss preached from Jesus’s words, “Come to me … and I will give you rest.” Twiss explained that Jesus’s command offers complete freedom from the self-imposed burden of validating our existence.
On Nov. 27, Dr. John MacArthur preached on the precondition to the abundant and fulfilling life offered by God: assurance of eternal salvation. He described the hope and joy possible through Christ’s intercessional work, which secures our perseverance.
On Feb. 5, Tim Challies gave students a primer on “how to live well” amid the hard trials of life, using four key words: serve, sleep, rest, and rise. He said, “The best life of all is one that’s lived to serve God’s purpose, a life of knowing and enjoying God even in the darkest times, and out of the overflow of that delight to love, bless, and serve others.”
On Feb. 19, Dr. Abner Chou spoke on the necessity of holding biblical convictions about creation as described in Genesis. Chou emphasized that a literal, six-day creation is a foundational doctrine asserted clearly and consistently throughout Scripture.
One key indicator of student satisfaction is a school’s fall-to-spring retention rate. In other words, what percentage of eligible undergraduate students who enroll in the fall return after winter break?
For the 10th year in a row, The Master’s University’s most recent number in that category was greater than 94%.
TMU’s expanded program offerings, housing options, and financial aid opportunities, brought about by generous donors and scholarships,
For 10th straight year, school sees more than 94% of eligible students return in spring.
BY TMU STAFFhave undoubtedly contributed to the school’s retention rate. Most of all, Dariu Dumitru, TMU’s vice president of enrollment and marketing, stressed the spiritual foundation that continues to attract students seeking a thoroughly biblical education.
“The main and most important thing is the uncompromising commitment to Christ and Scripture,” he said.
“This is the heart of everything that we do. We don’t shy away from this.
That’s what this university is all about; it’s committed to the sufficiency, inerrancy, and authority of Scripture.”
Dumitru also emphasized the interpersonal connections that develop at TMU.
“It’s the relationships that keep students here — friends and professors and the community they’ve built up,” he says. “You’ve got small class sizes. You build personal relationships with professors who know you and care about you and invest in you. It’s very hard to walk away from that. Nobody here is just a number.”
See more stats and rankings related to TMU at masters.edu/statistics.
every year, tmu offers exciting youth summer camps on its campus in placerita canyon. we’d love to serve your family!
camps vary in the ages they serve, from elementary through high school.
learn more at masters.edu/camps
When you tell a high school student, “You should go to TMU,” that phrase is powerful. You’re encouraging them to attend a university where everything they experience is uncompromisingly committed to Christ and Scripture.
Every summer, The Master’s University sends Global Outreach teams across the world to partner with missionaries, pastors, and church planters in sharing the gospel and serving local bodies of believers. Please partner with us in praying for these precious students and those with whom they engage for the glory of Christ.
LATE-MAY TO EARLY-JULY
MID-MAY TO MID-JUNE
learn more at masters.edu/go.
LATE-MAY TO MID-JULY
JUNE TO JULY
The view on this walk up Placerita Canyon Road has continually morphed since the school moved to its Newhall campus in 1961. But stories from across the years demonstrate that TMU’s mission remains the same.
Wisdom for what’s to Come Wisdom for what’s to Come
alumni offer 10 pieces of advice to tmu’s newest graduates.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Recently, we asked more than a dozen alumni what advice they would offer to this year’s graduating class. We used their answers to compose the following letter.
first of all, congratulations.
You graduated from The Master’s University, which is no small feat. You dedicated countless hours and energy to hitting deadlines, passing tests, and writing essays. You grew in your love for Christ and Scripture, and, if you’re anything like us, had the time of your life along the way.
Before we get started, you should know something: We don’t have all the answers.
Even those of us who graduated five, 10, or 50 years ago still don’t have life all figured out.
At times, we still feel uncomfortable and uncertain. Life’s ups and downs can catch us off guard. In truth, we are not so different from you. God is still refining us into the image of His Son, and we still have much to learn.
But with the passage of time and experience, the Lord has granted us a measure of wisdom. As you graduate, we’d like to pass some of it along, in hopes of helping you navigate the days and years ahead.
It feels obvious to encourage you to read your Bible and pray. But you already know how difficult these simple yet profoundly impactful activities are to maintain. At TMU, your time alone in the Word was supplemented by chapel, class, and required church attendance. Those safety nets are gone now. You’ll feel the effects of neglecting these spiritual disciplines more than ever. So, pick a place and a time to be alone with the Lord and build consistency. Don’t worry if you don’t always feel different afterward; know that God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11) and that your thinking is gradually being transformed. Scott Baughman (’74) says, “Sit and read His Word, asking the Holy Spirit to impress on you the matters and guidance He wants to.
I can’t say I did this every day of my life, but the days I did went a lot better than those I didn’t.”
As you know, involvement in the local church isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity. After graduation, that reality will become even more evident. So whether you move away or stay close to campus, commit to a local body of believers. You need faithful brothers and sisters
to worship alongside, to hold you accountable (it will be easier than ever to hide your sin otherwise), and to help you grow in godliness. Also, they need you as much as you need them. You have gifts, time, and energy to offer the church. Stack chairs, serve in children’s ministry, pray for and meet the needs of others. One more thing: Don’t wait for a church that operates exactly like the one you attended in college. Find one that faithfully teaches and obeys the Scripture and exalts Christ, and commit to it. “The believer is meant to be plugged into a vibrant church body that lives out the one another’s,” says Parker Price (’11). “Don’t compromise here.”
More than ever, the path ahead may seem unclear. For most of your life, you’ve known exactly what comes next. After eighth grade, you proceeded to high school; after that, college was the next logical step. Now, the possibilities are seemingly endless, and with freedom comes a sense of uncertainty. That never really goes away. Fight the temptation to worry, and entrust your plans to the Lord (Prov. 3:5-6). True success
isn't a result of making all the right decisions. It’s God who ultimately does the work, allowing you to fulfill His purpose for your life through His grace. So don’t obsess over the future. Planning is important, but don’t place your hope in a new job, a spouse, or a move across the country. Instead, be present, focusing on the opportunities God has placed before you. Who can you encourage today? How can you improve the organization you work for? How can you serve your church? Be faithful today, and trust the Lord with tomorrow (Matt. 6:34). What would Stephanie Beals (Reed) (’99) say to her younger self? “The Lord is going to direct your steps. You don’t need to be afraid.”
Trials will come in relatively minor ways, like a challenging coworker, and more significant ones, such as an illness or the death of a friend.
Remember that even as your plans unravel, God is working all things together for your good (Rom. 8:28).
He’s increasing your dependence on Him, and you’ll often grow the most in these challenging times. Over the years, many of us have endured heart-wrenching tragedies, and in not a single case has God abandoned us, or has the pain been wasted. Curtis Lewis (’01) says, “So often we run from pain and suffering, but God uses these moments to draw us close to Him and for the greater purposes of the gospel. We can cling to the promises of our good Father.”
The Master’s University has never produced a perfect graduate — only men and women striving to follow Christ and grow increasingly into His likeness. You will fail the Lord many times in the coming days. In these moments, confess your sin, repent, and move forward (Phil. 3:13). Don’t wallow in self-pity or try to punish yourself. If you’re in Christ, God
has paid for your sin, and His grace is sufficient for you (Gal. 3:3). “Live life near the cross,” says Amanda Popadics (Mothershead) (’15). “That’s the only hope for encouragement, endurance, and most importantly, for reconciliation (Psalm 86:5).”
It’s easy to think you will never fall into grievous sin or, worse, leave the faith. But the Bible is clear about taking heed lest we fall (1 Cor. 10:12) and working out our
salvation (Phil. 2:12-13). As you enter this new stage of life, don’t take sin lightly or presume on God’s grace. And if you find yourself wrestling with doubt, don’t do so in isolation. Bring believers you trust into the conversation early, and let them help you work through it (Ecc. 4:9-12). John Hotchkiss (’67) warns new graduates: “Only a few of you will walk away from your Christian faith after a reasoned rejection of it. More likely, this will occur after a gradual cooling of love for the Bible, for Christ, and His church. This drift can lead to just ‘dropping it all’ as the vital center of your spiritual life.”
Like us, you don’t have all the answers. Let that drive you to humility and curiosity. Start by finding a mentor, a mature believer with whom you can be transparent. Ask them to be honest about areas where you need to grow. Pepper them with questions about their own walk with the Lord. Finding someone further along the career path you’re pursuing can also be helpful. Bounce ideas off them, ask for tips on how to
improve your skills, and learn what pitfalls to avoid. Take advantage of other learning opportunities, too. Read books, listen to podcasts, and engage in meaningful conversations with people smarter than yourself. One more thought related to humility: You are going to sin against others, and they are going to sin against you. You’ll help safeguard your relationships and honor the Lord if you learn to say, “I’m sorry,” and quickly forgive others.
All of us are called to do our work with excellence, as unto the Lord and not to men (Col. 3:23). But that doesn’t mean you should expect to master your craft right away. As you progress in your career, you likely won’t feel prepared when you start a new job. Give yourself time. Don’t grow frustrated, and don’t try to prove yourself. Focus on learning from every experience, and start with the little things: Keep a calendar with upcoming meetings and deadlines and a list of tasks you’re responsible for. Reread emails before clicking send, checking for grammar, formatting, and tone. Embrace being uncomfortable, and whatever task you’re assigned to do, do it with all your might (Ecc. 9:10). God isn’t looking for perfection; He’s looking for faithfulness.
Live l ife near the cross. That’s the only hope for encouragement, endurance, and most importantly, for reconciliation (psalm 86:5).
amanda popadics (mothershead) (’15)
You’ve probably developed amazing friendships at TMU. After graduation, those relationships will change. You can’t drop by their dorm room for a midnight chat anymore, and they won’t be accompanying you on daily errands. But don’t let these friendships go. Start a texting group chat, plan trips, put reminders in your phone for significant life events, and faithfully pray for them, providing accountability and encouragement. Some of us have used FaceTime or Zoom to keep friendships going from across the world. Also, understand that the relationships you form
after college may take longer to develop. You may only see these people once a week as you go about your busy schedules. Don’t be discouraged. “Focus on loving people and living out the one another’s, and pray for and seek out godly friendships,” says Josiah Neeley (’14).
We know what it’s like to just be starting out. A promising future lies ahead of you, but the first steps aren’t always obvious. Know that you aren’t alone. We would love to provide mentorship, help open the door to a job opportunity, or simply pray for you. Know, too, that God is directing your path. He hasn’t brought you this far to leave you now, and He never will.
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TMU’s biblical liberal arts education prepares graduates to answer any calling God has for them.
by Josephine Lee
When Tim Danninger came to The Master’s University, he hadn’t envisioned becoming anything other than a trauma surgeon.
“What if God doesn’t have trauma surgery for you?” his roommate asked.
Danninger remembers saying, “Well, God’s gonna have to change His plans.”
Danninger is a litigation lawyer now, and has been for the last 20 years.
You can’t always draw a direct line between what TMU alumni studied in college and what they’re doing now. Some discover new passions during their time at the University; others change course after graduation.
Some, like Danninger, score in the top 6% of the LSAT and trade what they thought was their dream job for a new path.
But no matter how their careers develop, these alumni
possess hard and soft skills that transcend professions, and even more crucially, they have a biblical foundation that prepares them to faithfully honor Christ in any calling He has for them.
Peter Goeman (’10) came to TMU for one core reason: to play baseball. But in between his junior and senior years, Goeman began to feel convicted. He decided he needed to serve the Lord — not later, after an illustrious sports career, but now. So Goeman started a Bible study with some of his teammates, and as the group grew spiritually, his desires began to shift completely.
“All of a sudden, not only could I imagine life without baseball, I desired a different life than that,” he says. “I wanted to be involved full time in the church somehow.”
Goeman had been a business management and finance major — the fallback plan for his pro baseball career. But ultimately after graduation, he decided to pursue his new mission, leaving behind plans for athletic and business success to attend The Master’s Seminary.
He says, “There may have been a passing thought here or there, like, ‘Oh, yeah, I used to love baseball.’ But there was never any regret. There was never any second guessing.”
Goeman — now a professor of Old Testament and biblical languages at Shepherds
Theological Seminary and ministry leader at The Shepherd’s Church in Cary, North Carolina — has earned several seminary degrees since graduating from TMU. But that doesn’t mean his undergraduate education was wasted. In fact, Goeman believes that effective ministry and leadership utilize the managerial skills needed in business.
“It’s very, very valuable to have some business acumen,” he says,
Peter Goeman was a standout baseball player during his time as a business student at TMU.
“where you can understand how things ought to work, how good meetings ought to be run, and how to deal with people on a managerial level. In fact, I think the best business models are basically modeled after Christ and His servant leadership.”
Stephanie Beals (Reed) (’99) knows all about corporate leadership. She’s currently a lead organizational effectiveness consultant at Kaiser Permanente in the greater Los Angeles area. And like Goeman, she’s seen her goals shift in a significant way. A history major with an emphasis in secondary education, Beals had always planned to teach teenagers. Her parents, both alumni of TMU (then Los Angeles Baptist College), were teachers themselves. Beals recalls her dad taking them on family vacations and educating them about historical landmarks, events, and people — making the past come to life.
But in her senior year, Beals came to a crucial realization: She didn’t want to teach history. Rather than pursuing her credential, she began working in
human resources through a temp agency.
Eventually, Beals discovered that her strengths were meant for another form of education – leadership development. It’s a career her history training has tangibly served. Instead of putting together lesson plans, Beals now develops curricula and leadership programs. Her affinity for visualizing information with maps and dates became an administrative superpower for choreographing planners and calendars.
But most importantly, TMU helped to develop her gift for teaching, which she now wields in her mission to “help bosses become better bosses.”
Beals says, “I loved my classes. I loved my professors – their enthusiasm, how they think about the world. I could never get away from my love of history. And my education classes were good because they gave me insights into how to teach people.”
Beals and Goeman illustrate a favorite principle of many
corporate coaches: the idea of transferable skills, which are jobindependent qualities that help one to excel in any role.
Unsurprisingly, critical thinking and problem-solving are crucial elements of these fieldindependent skills. Danninger believes they helped him become a successful lawyer.
“One thing that I’ve reflected on a lot is the science classes and the science education with Dr. (Ross) Anderson (at TMU),” he says. “We really learned how to think logically.”
Travis Dalton, now a financial crimes investigator at TikTok, graduated with a degree in history in 2007.
Jesse Sanchez (Sloan) (’11), a double major in spoken communication and Bible and now a homemaker with two children, reiterated the value of such groundwork.
“Even if you study something specific, the skills you acquire studying it prepare you for other jobs as well,” she says. “The homemaker dichotomy is a false one. An education is never ‘wasted.’ The skills a woman learns from her major or even from a career will have applications in her work at home.”
Sanchez has a full schedule between homeschooling her children, serving as a biblical counselor at her church, and working part-time as a program facilitator for the Poverty Encounter at Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF) in Los Angeles.
Week by week, she’s pairing her knowledge of the Bible with the skills needed to communicate effectively with her young children, helping them to understand Scripture and their schoolwork, along with sharing the gospel with visitors at CHF.
“I use my major all the time,” she says.
That doesn’t surprise Dr. Mitch Hopewell, TMU’s provost. He says that a quality liberal arts education seeks to produce “well-rounded citizens.”
“It prepares them to think, reason, and problem-solve by presenting a curriculum that stretches across many disciplines,” he says. “Analytical skills, the ability to clearly communicate, and, perhaps unique to a distinctly Christian liberal arts degree, the conviction to think and act in God-honoring ways, set our
graduates apart from a sea of confusion. This makes them an excellent fit for a variety of roles across a wide range of industries.”
When Travis Dalton (’07) applied to become a police officer, the interviewing officer asked him an unusual question. “You’ve had a life full of light,” he said. “Law enforcement’s very dark.
How do you think you’ll handle that?”
Dalton grew up on the mission field in Pakistan. Like Beals, he was a history major who realized he didn’t want to pursue teaching. He did, however, still want a career that involved helping others and resolving conflicts. So he pursued law enforcement in California.
As a detective leading fraud and corruption investigations, Dalton confronted some of the ugliest parts of humanity. But Dalton believes that his biblical worldview — reinforced at TMU and vastly different from many of his colleagues — became his strength in these secular
environments.
“Somebody who has the foundation that I have understands that humans are capable of evil,” he says. “So when I encounter evil, it doesn’t undermine what I believe about humanity. It validates that even people you would think are ‘normal’ are capable of great evil and need a savior.”
Dalton, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, is now a financial crimes investigator for TikTok, where he helps keep the media platform safe from money laundering and other criminal activities. Despite the unforeseen changes since his graduation, he looks back on
TMU with appreciation.
Dalton says, “I think there’s immense value in going somewhere where you’re not just studying the material that you’re interested in, but you’re getting something that’s foundational, that will apply to whatever you’re doing.”
A commitment to Scripture is crucial to that foundation. Not all students transition from TMU into seminary or full-time ministry, but they leave with the spiritual acumen to build up their local church body.
Dorian Smallman (’13) was a Bible major. Like many of his classmates, including Goeman, he was passionate about the Bible and expected to pursue seminary. Instead, he landed a job with the Canada Revenue Agency back in his home country.
Today, Smallman is a senior solutions advisor at AuditBoard, a software company that supports audit, risk, and compliance professionals. On paper, he couldn’t be further from his degree. But Smallman, who leads a weekly men’s group at his church on Prince Edward Island, believes his biblical training has served him and others.
“In terms of spiritual development, I think it’s a benefit to our local congregation. Those classes gave me the tools to think through the different dynamics of interpretation and learn how to read the Bible,” he says.
Cliff Kvidahl (‘07), a biblical
studies major, expresses the value of his education similarly. When he came to TMU, he already had a great enthusiasm for the scholarly study of Scripture.
He says, “TMU helped my love and curiosity for studying Scripture grow, and it gave me the tools to do it.
“Learning Greek and Hebrew opened up a lot more for me because I was able to follow some of the more academic journal articles or books. It became a stepping stone in a lot of ways.”
Though Kvidahl’s day job is now in sales, his passion for studying Scripture hasn’t waned. Kvidahl uses his biblical training regularly as the co-founder of Fontes Press, a Christian publishing company dedicated to biblical scholarship. As the academic acquisitions editor, Kvidahl’s familiarity with the original languages is fundamental as he guides authors through the publishing process, from idea to finished book.
“My education at Master’s, specifically with Dr. Varner, was really formative in my Christian walk,” he says, “but also in the things that I love to do.”
If career paths can change, how should students approach their college years?
Goeman, the seminary professor, would advise them to consider college as a time of exploration.
“You don’t want to limit yourself too much,” he says. “One of the great things about college is that it exposes you to a lot of different things. A lot of students that I’ve talked to, as well as myself, didn’t know what we were passionate about, because we just didn’t have the experience. So the counsel that we got — and I think it’s just great wisdom — is to try a lot of things.”
Sanchez, the homemaker and Children’s Hunger Fund employee, emphasized that college was an opportunity to strengthen her own convictions.
“I look back on this as a time where I was just really able to dig deep, to study — not just for what happened in the classroom, but to round out my theology. I was able to dive into the aspects of the faith I hadn’t studied before and come to my own convictions. I think that’s a wonderful thing,” she says.
TMU’s provost agrees.
“A student’s time here is about more than just what takes place in the classroom, as indispensably important as that is,” Hopewell says.“These are critically formative years. Students forge life-long friendships and establish personal convictions and habits that set the trajectory for their lives. We want to do everything we can to prepare them for everything God has for them to do.”
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HARRIET ISHII’S VIBRANTLY JOYFUL SERVICE TO LABC AND GLOBAL MISSIONS LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON THOSE WHO KNEW HER.
by KAELYN PEAY
EDITOR’S NOTE: THE MASTER’S UNIVERSITY (PREVIOUSLY LOS ANGELES BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, LOS ANGELES BAPTIST COLLEGE, AND THE MASTER’S COLLEGE) IS NEARING ITS 100TH YEAR. AS WE APPROACH THE MILESTONE IN 2027, THIS IS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF STORIES ABOUT MEN AND WOMEN USED MIGHTILY BY THE LORD IN OUR HISTORY.
Students honored Ishii and spoke of her as a mother figure during her farewell chapel.
“The First Fifty Years of LABC” is a booklet that tells the story of this institution’s opening decades. Its narrative centers on key administrators and faculty members who shaped LABC’s trajectory and whose names remain wellknown today.
But there is one rare exception: a woman whose name few people on campus now would recognize. She wasn’t a professor or executive. She was, in fact, a secretary.
“Secretaries are many times forgotten in their patient efficient toil while those whom they serve receive credit and plaudits which could never have been theirs without the understanding service of their secretaries,” records the booklet’s author, Carl Sweazy, before writing a paragraph to honor one such secretary.
Harriet Ishii has no buildings or programs named after her, but ask anyone who was around LABC during the years she served as an administrative
assistant, and their eyes light up with immediate recognition.
Ishii served at what became TMU from 1966 to 1990, an assistant first to President John Dunkin and later to Bob Provost, who was the first executive vice president at the school after Dr. John MacArthur became president. Though she entered glory in 2023 and her years at TMU are long over, Ishii’s love for the school and commitment to serving those around her continue to energize those
who knew her.
“We’ll only know the extent of her service if we’re allowed to see her at the bema seat of Christ,” says Dr. John Hotchkiss, professor emeritus at TMU and a 1967 graduate of LABC. “She was a dear, dear soul. Talk about somebody with a servant’s heart. She was exhibit A.”
Ishii was born in Seattle on Oct. 7, 1932 — the daughter of Japanese immigrants
and the sixth of seven siblings. Her upbringing was chaotic, upended first by the death of her parents and then by World War II, which brought a forced relocation to the Midwest.
By the time Ishii was in eighth grade, she found herself holed up in a twobedroom apartment in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her stepmother and two youngest siblings.
Harriet's family had a largely Catholic background, but their new apartment was only one block from Garfield Avenue Baptist Church. Soon, Harriet and her brother and sister made a practice of walking there on Sunday mornings, and all three became gripped by the truth of God’s Word and came to trust in Christ.
Soon after she was saved, Harriet read straight through the Bible. When she came to 1 Samuel 12:24, it became her favorite verse: “Only fear Yahweh and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for see what great things He has done for you.”
The spirit of that verse colored the rest of her life.
Once Ishii was independent, she moved back to Seattle and found administrative work. Then, through her pastor, Dr. Forrest Johnson at Tabernacle Baptist Church, she met a man who was visiting from California. Impressed by her professional skills, the man asked if she would consider moving to California and working as his secretary at the school where he was president.
The man was Dr. John Dunkin. Ishii said yes.
Ishii moved to Santa Clarita in 1966,
and for the next 18 years, she served as Dunkin’s right-hand lady. And because every employee at LABC wore multiple hats in those days, her service extended far beyond keeping the president organized. At times she lived in Hotchkiss Hall and functioned as what would be considered a “resident director” today. In the summers, she even traveled with LABC’s music groups, which performed at camps and churches up and down the coast in order to raise awareness of the school.
Pete Reese, who joined LABC as athletic director a year before Ishii arrived, says that if something was happening on campus, Ishii was always involved. It didn’t matter if it was music or athletics or academics.
“She was amazing,” Reese said in a 2023 interview. “What a lady. She always had a positive attitude, and students loved her. I don’t think I ever talked to a student — or anybody — who didn’t like her. I heard a lot of students say, ‘She doesn’t have a negative bone in her body.’ She was the epitome of a true servant of God, and just a refreshing person to be around.”
Ishii also became a member of Placerita Baptist Church at a time when the congregation only had about 30 members and met on the upstairs level of Rutherford Hall, which then housed LABC’s cafeteria.
Between work and church and student life duties, much of Ishii’s life revolved around campus. Her red Mustang convertible was an iconic feature of the canyon.
“She was not there for personal advancement, or financial gain, or prestige,” Hotchkiss says. “And she
Ishii’s love for the school and commitment to serving those around her continue to energize those who knew her.
Between work and church and student life duties, much of Ishii’s life revolved around campus. In this instance, she opened an office door to discover a prank.
Vibrant joy characterized Ishii’s life.
was so knowledgeable about the workings of the school. She was a tireless worker and saw her work as a major ministry.”
Hotchkiss says that Ishii learned a “careful and precise” way of working from her earlier years in the banking industry. “She had the perspective of, ‘You don’t make mistakes, because bad things happen when you do. Get it right.’ And that she did,” he says.
Then, in 1984, Dunkin resigned the presidency. The next year, MacArthur took his place, and Ishii stayed on as the assistant to Bob Provost, the new executive vice president.
But as it happened, Ishii and Provost shared a desire for greater involvement in missions. And in 1991, Provost learned of an opportunity to work with a missions agency called SEND International. He asked if Ishii would be willing to follow him to Michigan to continue as his secretary. She said yes, agreeing to leave LABC and her home of 25 years to help equip missionaries.
was set aside to honor Ishii in light of her upcoming departure. The retired Dunkin was there, and he took the microphone to speak about his long-time assistant.
“It’s a very real privilege for me to be able to share in this, because this woman has meant so much to the college,” Dunkin said. He then went on to quote Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”
“Harriet has illustrated that better than almost anyone I know,” he continued. “Now, there are an awful lot of dedicated and committed people in this institution. But I think that over the years here, it would be hard to compete with the investment of life that this lady has made.”
Dunkin went on.
“She has given her life to this institution. She has given her time, her energy, and her tremendous abilities. She’s given her kitchen and her automobile to it.
have Harriet Ishii here.”
Three students also spoke. They highlighted Ishii’s love for the Word of God and for the people around her, along with her unfailing joy, her ministry of prayer, and her enthusiasm for sharing Christ with others.
“She’s just like a mother to us,” said Lorin Jones. “I just want to say I love you and I appreciate you.”
Afterward, Ishii stood to say a brief goodbye. “I thank you,” she said. “I’ve had many, many happy memories here. I go knowing that it is the will of God for me to take on this new adventure before He takes me home to heaven.”
And indeed, she spent all of her final years before glory in service to global missions.
facilitate communication between churches in SGA’s target countries and American churches interested in providing support. She also helped arrange travel for the organization, and she even led short-term missions teams herself at times.
As the years wore on and she entered her 80s, Ishii continued to serve — both at SGA, through tasks like writing letters to donors, and at her church, where she taught a women’s Bible study for two decades. Even when she moved into an assisted living facility in Rockford, Illinois, she continued to work parttime.
Ishii passed away on August 6, 2023, at the age of 90.
On April 2, 1990, the morning’s chapel meeting at The Master’s College
She has been a chaperone for gospel teams. She’s attended practically every sports event and music event and social event. Only the Lord is able to compute what it has meant to this school to
For the first couple of years, Ishii and Provost worked out of Michigan. Then they moved again, this time to Illinois, where Provost became the president of Slavic Gospel Association (SGA), a missions organization that supports churches in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
For the next three decades, Ishii worked with SGA. She helped
Her obituary, in part, reads, “Harriet lived life as a true Christian witness, showing unconditional love to everyone she met, never ever sitting in judgment of anyone. She was greatly loved by family and friends and her warmth, joy and giving heart will be truly missed.”
Hotchkiss agrees: “She loved the Lord and served her church and her workplace. She was a very, very special lady.”
Dixon Hall’s new courtyard and firepit are just one example of recent campus renovations. Students now have more communal spaces available to them than ever — whether to study, put on an event, or simply socialize.
Erik Lutz, a senior education writer for Accountable2You, sees at least one problem with fighting sin and temptation alone.
“If you’re being deceived, you don’t know you’re being deceived,” he says.
That’s one reason Accountable2You wants to help its users build Christ–honoring relationships where heart issues are addressed and true spiritual growth takes place. Recently, the Kentucky-based company has focused on partnering with local churches, the God–ordained place for such relationships to occur.
Through Accountable2You’s partnership program, churches can offer their members discounted access to the company’s software — which monitors device activity and sends real-
time reports to a trusted accountability partner — and printed material. The company is also working on providing more specific materials geared toward helping the church create a culture of accountability.
Notably, Accountable2You strives to serve as a tool for the church — not as a replacement for it. The software is meant to help church members invest in each other’s lives.
The company believes that if people simply send weekly reports about their screen usage to an accountability partner, without engaging meaningfully outside of the software, that won’t lead to lasting change. There needs to be a relationship outside of the tool for effective accountability.
Lutz highlights this truth in Hebrews
10:24, which commands Christians to consider how to stir up others to love and good deeds.
“That requires knowing the other person and being able to speak into their life,” he says.
The common alternative, Lutz says, is for believers to try to fight sin on their own because they are afraid of reaching out to others for help. But this isn’t how Christians are called to live, Lutz says, citing Hebrews 3:12-13, where believers are commanded to encourage one another every day so that no one will be “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Harry Walls, TMU’s campus pastor and vice president of student life, agrees. He says that growing in Christlikeness requires community.
“I cannot become who Christ intends me to be if I’m isolated,” Walls said. “I must be in biblical community, which means I am known and I know others. I am in a relational community that gives people the opportunity to observe me, and I enjoy enough trust in those relationships for people to be honest with me. A gift you cannot give yourself is perspective.”
Unfortunately, Accountable2You cofounder Ben Lawrence says that not all churches understand that these kinds of transparent relationships are for everyone.
“People assume that this software, or this book, or purity as a whole, really applies to a small segment that we know is struggling,” Lawrence says. Rather, he sees accountability as an every-member exercise — whether they are the ones being restored or the ones doing the restoring.
“It’s actually a Galatians 6:1 issue, where those who are spiritual in the church are to restore such a one,” he says.
Accountable2You hopes churches will see that accountability should be practiced by all their members as a spiritual discipline. Cofounder Alissa Lawrence, Ben’s wife, says, “We want the church to get excited about accountability and to promote it to families and individuals as a good thing.”
A good thing, and an essential one.
“Accountability in the church is essential for healthy growth as we minister to each other through heart-level relationships,” reads a blog post on Accountable2You’s website. “While each of us must watch ourselves, we should also seek to be transparent and answerable to others.
“We need all the help we can get in our fight against temptation and sin.”
Accountable2You, a program now used by more than 100,000 men, women, and children, is a corporate sponsor of The Master’s University. You can find the company’s free illustrated guide on living with integrity and learn more about the app at accountable2you.com
In the Gospel of Mark, the father of a demon-possessed boy famously said, “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).
What a strange statement. But we all understand that. We understand believing doubt, or doubting belief. And that father’s testimony is the testimony of most of us. I do believe; help my unbelief.
That is to say, “I believe, but my faith is incomplete. My faith is assaulted and fraught with doubts.”
Astonishingly, that is exactly the situation in Luke 7 — not with just a passing stranger such as the father, but with the greatest man who had ever lived up until his time, John the Baptist (Matt. 11:11). Here is a prophet of God, the forerunner of the Messiah, the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, who is struggling with doubt.
If you had been there during the events of the life of Jesus, you would have plenty of reason to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. If you had any association with the family of Jesus, or with the family of John the Baptist, you would know of the affirming
evidence that Jesus was the Messiah.
But here, we find doubt on the part of John the Baptist.
Doubt is very real for people who believe. It is a reality, but it is not an acceptable reality, and it needs to be addressed.
Moses doubted God. Gideon doubted God. Elijah doubted God. Jeremiah even expressed doubt. The apostles doubted, and here John the Baptist doubts.
We understand that. Coming face to face with doubt is coming face to face with ourselves. And that's why this is an important passage, because it’s going to help us deal with doubt.
Now, what do we mean by doubt? Let me give you a simple definition: Doubt is a struggle to believe. It is something that prevents me from fully believing. It can be momentary. It can be prolonged. It can be permanent.
But I want you to understand how the Gospels deal with doubt. Whenever Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John deal with a doubting person, it’s always a believer.
There is one occasion in John 10:24 where it says the Jews were saying to Jesus, “How long will You keep us in suspense?
If You are the Christ, tell us openly.” But that wasn’t honest doubt. That wasn’t a struggling to believe. That was just their unbelief trying to put Jesus on the spot. Every true expression of doubt in the four Gospels relates to believers.
Doubt is something that is part of being a believer. So we again go back to what the man said: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” You can identify with that, and so can I. There have been times in all of our lives when, in the midst of our believing, we struggled with doubts.
Doubt is presented as a believer’s problem. So we shouldn’t be surprised to find John the Baptist, a godly prophet, struggling with doubt. If he had some doubts, then maybe it’s understandable that we have some doubts as well. DO
This post is based on a sermon Dr. MacArthur preached in 2001, titled “Why the Believer Doubts, Part 1.”
Find more posts from Thinking Biblically at masters.edu/TB
Get your copy at a2upress.com “
This booklet is a much needed and extremely helpful tool to provide a map to regaining sexual purity.”— Dr. John D. Street Author, Passions of the Heart: Biblical Counsel for Stubborn Sexual Sins
Highlighting Alumni Serving the Lord in Vocational Ministry
Kyle (TMU, ’13) | Christine (TMU, ’14)
Jeremiah (8) | Jonathan (6) | Amelia (3) | Aneta (<1)
Kyle and Christine met at The Master’s University, where they both studied biblical languages and became close friends while attending IBEX in 2012. They were married in 2013, and Kyle continued his studies at The Master’s Seminary. Throughout seminary, it was Kyle’s desire to go to a place where biblical teaching was hard to come by. One day at lunch, he met a seminary student from Poland who explained the great need for biblical teaching and training there.
The Ricedorffs moved to Poland to begin ministry in the summer of 2019. They serve a local church outside of Warsaw. Kyle is one of the pastors and is involved in teaching, preaching, and discipleship. He also serves in the Logos Bible Institute, where students from all over Poland come to learn the Scriptures. The goal is to help train up a future generation of pastors and church planters so that the gospel will go forth mightily in Poland by God’s grace.
In this country dominated by Roman Catholicism, the need of the hour is two-fold: evangelism and training. Kyle and Christine hope and pray that they are helping to meet those needs.
Prayer Request
Please pray that God will strengthen them and bless their ministry efforts.
Boldman met at TMC in 1988. They have lived in Kirbyville, Missouri, for the past 26 years. Lori is a stay-at-home mom with 14 kids, six of whom are married, with seven grandkids thus far. Aaron is
an elder at their church, Branson Bible Church, and is the founder and director of Future Men, a Christian boarding school for struggling young men ages 14-21. In addition to helping the struggling boys, the school also has an in-house discipleship-training course for college graduates looking to work
with young men. The Boldman family enjoys living in the Ozark Mountains and participating together in outdoor activities and wildlife rehabilitation. Lori works with the younger kids with farm animals and wildlife and can be seen in action at “All Creatures Farm and Rescue” on YouTube.
Webb (’94) has worked for 19 years at the United States Department of Veteran Affairs service, where he currently serves as an operations captain with the VA Police. He and his wife Kristine (celebrating 33 years of marriage this July) have been blessed with two children, Hannah and Jeremiah, who are both
married. Nathaniel and Kristine are enjoying the rich blessing of being grandparents to their 2-year-old grandson, Adonis McReynolds III. Nathaniel and Kristine love serving the Lord together in children’s ministry at Grace Community Church, where they have experienced the profound grace and lovingkindness of their great God and Savior as members since 1991.
were married in 2011 and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2015. Amos and Jennica are active members of Tulsa Bible Church and are involved with the missions team, their Sunday school class, and men’s and women’s Bible studies. Amos serves on the tech team and was recently installed as an elder, and Jennica serves as the administrator for
the missions team. Amos works as a system design engineer and estimator for an audio-video integrator and earned his AVIXA CTS-D certification in 2022. He also volunteers with FamilyLife as a technical director for the Weekend to Remember marriage conferences. Jennica works part-time in human resources at a local community college. She is also the leader of a Christian arts group and the instigator of weekly adventures with the Muslim Afghan kids in their apartment complex.
attended IBEX together in Spring 2013. They now live in Meade, Kansas, where Jaden currently works part-time as an associate pastor at Countryside Bible Church and works on the family farm. He
is involved in youth and music ministry at church, and he occasionally fills the pulpit. On the family farm, which consists of about 8,000 acres, they raise wheat and sorghum crops as well as care for a 200-head cow calf herd. Jennifer is a homemaker and does an excellent job at caring for her husband and their four little ones.
Ethan Brandt (’18) has worked for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for three years, first as a fish research biologist and most recently as a district fish biologist.
After graduating from TMU, he went to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he earned a master’s degree in fisheries. He and his wife, McKenzie, whom he met in Wisconsin, are expecting their first child in June.
Dorcas Kim (’13)
is serving as a Grace Ministries International missionary. She works in the Philippines at The Expositor’s Academy, a member school of The Master’s Academy International, providing free counseling sessions and teaching biblical counseling to women. Wherever she goes, she loves to witness and testify what the Lord does in people’s lives through His faithful Word.
Emily (Patrick) Kane
(’17)
graduated from TMU with a degree in history. She then worked for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in the Education Department and ultimately began her teaching career at Oaks Christian High School. Emily met her spouse, Taylor, in 2021 through church friends, and the two were married shortly after. Taylor works in aerospace as an engineer, and the two welcomed their son in the fall of 2023.
Luke Kinzel (’14) worked in Albania and then Australia after graduating from TMU, returning to the Los Angeles area in 2016. Since then, he has worked at Princess Cruises in Santa Clarita. He is a logistics analyst in the supply chain department. He and his wife, Julia, married in 2019 and have two children, ages 4 and 2. Luke and Julia attend Grace Community Church and host a home Bible study. Luke also serves in local jail ministry and in short-term missions.
Makayla
Hildago (’18) moved to Connecticut and worked as a math interventionist for four years, helping struggling elementary students while rooming with two other TMU grads. During the summers, she works as a guide for Matanuska Glacier in Alaska and has recently moved to Ohio to be a first-grade teacher at Mentor Christian School. She misses her roommates but still keeps in touch and counts the friends she made at TMU as some of the closest to her heart.
MacGregor and Rebekah (Johnson) (’17) Reed met at TMU in 2016 and were married in the winter of 2020. MacGregor has been with Lithia & Driveway since 2021, where he works as an internet sales manager. The Reeds were blessed with their first child, Heather Rhys Reed, in May of last year.
are
expecting their second daughter (Daisy Grace) in April, and their first daughter (Saylor Marie) is now one and a half. In the past year, Keegan has been working as a home loan officer as well as a sales specialist for Red Rhino Leak Detection. The Scotts continue to be encouraged by their local church body in Florida, Grace Immanuel Bible Church.
after completing a standout four-year soccer career at TMU, returned to his home in Lilongwe, Malawi, where he is involved in his local church, International Bible Fellowship, teaching the youth on a weekly basis. He is using his degree in international business as a platform for missions, helping struggling families and young people to become economically independent.
TMU CONNECTION
Philip graduated in 2006 with a degree in communication. Brianne (maiden name: Yahn) graduated in 2007 as a liberal studies major with an emphasis in elementary education.
CHILDREN
Leighton - 12 | Beau - 10 | Halle - 8
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Puyallup, Washington
ON THE JOB
Philip is an area sales manager (Arthrex orthopedic devices). Brianne is the event and brand manager for Knutson Farms.
FAVORITE MEMORY OF TMU
Philip loved spending time with his teammates on the baseball field. He says, “It wasn’t just the time spent with the boys and Monte out on the diamond, but everything that came along with it. The meals, road trips, service projects, devotions, shared success, and brutal failure gave me brothers for life.” Brianne’s favorite memories came from being part of the women’s basketball team. She says, “The hours spent with my incredible teammates and playing under Coach (Ken) Sugarman’s leadership changed the trajectory of my life. The spiritual growth that occurred is a testament to the quality of people that I was blessed to be in fellowship with for four years.”
HOW CAN THE TMU COMMUNITY PRAY FOR YOU?
“Please pray that our three kids would witness our lives lived out daily for Christ, and that Christ would become the King of their lives forever.”
TMU CONNECTION
Caleb graduated in 2006 from TMU’s business administration program with an emphasis in accounting. Trisha (maiden name: DeSimone) attended TMU.
CHILDREN
Laila - 16 | Levi - 14 | Liam - 11
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Tucson, Arizona
ON THE JOB
Caleb is the vice president of finance for UNS Energy/ Tucson Electric Power, an investor-owned utility company in Southern Arizona. Trisha is a homemaker and part-time preschool teacher.
FAVORITE MEMORY OF TMU
Their favorite memory is meeting each other during Week of Welcome their freshman year. Caleb loved his experience playing for the basketball team all four years and the lifelong friends he made through playing sports. Trisha loved her experience playing for the softball team her freshman year and the lifelong friendships she made in that time.
HOW CAN THE TMU COMMUNITY PRAY FOR YOU?
“That our kids will continue to grow in their relationship with Christ and be lights in this dark world.”
Justin Klopfenstein is the president of Victory Builders, a commercial and residential construction company. He graduated from The Master’s University in 2005 with a degree in biblical studies. Recently, we asked him for some advice for those looking to start a home remodeling or renovation project.
Don’t start a project before you have a good overall vision and plan in place. If you’re not up to it yourself, hire the right contractor, architect, or designer who can help you “see” your project before you get in over your head. Don’t just base decisions on pictures that look “perfect.” Know how the materials you want to use perform and work before you purchase and install. Try things out (products, layout, etc.) before you move forward. Research the products. Ask those in the industry for advice. Look at (and smell!) other spaces that utilize the same products to confirm if you like them or not. Know the possible maintenance and upkeep involved for certain material selections. The more you plan, the better the end result.
Most people can’t do everything they want all at once. You have to select which part of your overall project you want to tackle first, and so on. Is having a functional kitchen more important than a room addition? Or does your growing family need the extra space? Make your decision wisely.
Get it done right. Having to constantly fix or repair things that weren’t done right to begin with is a waste of your time and money. Get it done in a timely manner. Having a project extend longer than it should only causes unneeded stress and prohibits you from reaching your other goals. Get the right people involved. If you’re confident you can do it yourself and aren’t lawfully required to hire a licensed contractor for your project, great. Otherwise, hire professionals who are licensed, insured, and have the reputation to get it done to proper code and quality. You get what you pay — or don’t pay — for.
You can learn more about Victory Builders at victorybuilt.com.
Take a moment to guess where this photo from 1981 was taken. If you didn’t say “the John R. Dunkin Student Center,” we don’t blame you. Dr. John Dunkin himself, the building’s namesake, is on the far left. To his right, in order, are Randy Murphy (development), Ed Stanley (controller), Dr. R. W. Mackey (faculty member), and Ross Marzolf (development).
answers to the quiz on page 21
AMOUNT: $16,000 awarded as $4,000/year for up to 4 years.
Awarded to full-time students who demonstrate need and 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/CHURCH
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/GRADS
AMOUNT: $14,000 awarded as $3,500/year for up to 4 years.
This scholarship is for new, incoming traditional undergraduate freshmen or transfer students. The student must be a member or regular attendee of a partnered church and provide the pastor’s recommendation from the listed church in their application for traditional undergraduate admissions.
LEARN MORE AND APPLY AT MASTERS.EDU/CHURCH
AMOUNT: VARIES.
This is a need-based scholarship applied for and awarded on a year-by-year basis. To be eligible, a student must either be an international student with a proven affiliation to TMU, a student originating from a church with a long-standing relationship with TMU, or a child of a TMU alum.
LEARN MORE AND APPLY AT MASTERS.EDU/CHURCH
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
JUDE 24-25, LSB