As we highlight new students this semester, I want you to remember how precious and vital each and every one of you are to God's directive and to this school -- Celeste
We have among us a well-educated Bachelor student who has spent some time overseas. While he/she grew up Catholic, and took some courses under the Pontifical Theological Faculty, his/her views became aligned with the churches of Christ in 1992 through devoted studies.
He/She believes his/her education here will "systematically and academically" enable him/her to better tell the story of Jesus Christ, and show his/her devotion to the studies, his/her faith, and the love he/she has for the knowledge of God's word. A "minister of the Word should be well prepared and devoted to studies" and he/she wants to be prepared and equipped for sharing it.
His/Her journey of more than a year to get here was not a pleasant nor easy experience. We are thankful for his/her fortitude and perseverance in his/her efforts to come to Austin Grad.
"The very idea of going back to school, while raising children and working seems like the very prescription for insanity. For someone like me, who has made a lifetime motto of taking the easiest path, the proposition should be discarded completely. However, I am convinced by recent events, self-study, counsel of my closest friends, and what I believe to be gentle nudgings from my Lord, that this opportunity has been placed firmly in my hands and has to be acted upon. Again, this pursuit is a little crazy to attempt with three children in private Christian school, a full-time job and a spouse who works largely on commission in an economy that is anemic at best. For once in my life, I am firmly convinced that the bureaucratic or administrative barriers to my to success will be overcome somehow and that I am meant to concentrate solely on studying what God would have me learn to serve Him in my next career.
After twenty years in government service, I have had the great blessing of high-quality training in all manner of disciplines. I see now that almost all of these experiences, many that I thought would come to nothing lucrative, will fit perfectly with pastoral care ministry. I spent eighteen years in environmental epidemiology as an investigator dealing with health effects caused by chemical releases. I dealt with people who were injured, afraid for their health and that of their children, angry and immovable in their perception of the situation. I have dealt with victims who were litigious and desired revenge. I have been in situations where families mourned the loss of loved ones through needless industrial accidents. I have dealt with public meetings where people from all racial, economic, and educational backgrounds had to be informed about serious long-term issues such as the discovery of highly toxic chemicals in the soil their homes were built upon. It is an unpleasant task to suggest to an entire neighborhood that the best thing for them is to leave their lives behind and relocate. I have participated in neighborhood surveys where behind each door, a whole different life had been lived than mine. I have navigated times when funding was nonexistent but work to protect public health still had to move forward. I’ve negotiated with executives at giant international oil conglomerates to realize the need and benefit of positive interaction with their residential neighbors.
Now I see that this job was a mission field in countless ways. It wasn’t deepest, darkest Africa or politically hostile China, but it was ministry all the same. I wish I had been better prepared for it. In all my years actually doing these tasks, I did not realize that one day the skills I was acquiring would lead me to take a narrower path. Usually folks in my position parlay their government experience and become consultants earning huge salaries for less time in an office. My intention, instead, is to parlay my skills into a new career for the second half of my life in which the 'management' I will report to has a whole different way of measuring success.
Born and raised in Austin, this New Student grew up in a non-denominational church and at the old age of eight decided to be a missionary. His/her dream came true, as he/she has already spent weeks of time in Mexico and Belize, even in remote villages, working and sharing the Gospel with many people there.
God has also opened doors to work in the church and for this New Student to be an intrinsic part of the children’s ministry at their home congregation. They also give out food in the name of Jesus Christ. His/her favorite thing to do is to tell people about Jesus and how much He loves them.
Two years ago he/she was told about Austin Grad. After visiting the school, he/she "was impressed with how joyful the students and faculty were." However, as happens to many of us, this New Student got busy - busy with working full-time and going to ACC full-time.
This last summer he/she completed their Associates Degree and received certification at Austin Community College. This New Student thought, “Now what?”
An Associates degree only strengthened this person's decision about continuing an academic pursuit. He/she "could not be more pleased with [Austin Grad’s] passion about the exploring the Bible." Only taking one class now, he/she hopes to be here full-time by next year and still work in areas of missions.
His/her consistent vision has helped to never lose sight of "serving the Lord and learning more about our awesome Savior." The Associates Degree received at ACC has provided a much needed skill set that could support a missionary in a foreign country, as tent making did Paul.
"Sometimes it takes years and a lot of patience."
Baptized at 13 in Arizona, this New Student grew up in the Church of Christ. His/her first college experience was attending Lubbock Christian University for a year and a half before marrying a genuine cowboy/cowgirl.
However, en route to their honeymoon, they were T-boned by a vehicle 4 times bigger than the car they were in. He/she sustained a traumatic brain injury which took close to 8 years of recovery.
Moving to Austin in 2010, this student even attended an area Church of Christ. He/she heard about AGST on the radio station Spirit 105.9, and sat in the Registrar's office applying for admission soon after. However, it wasn't until then that the "association with the churches of Christ" connection was made. This confirmed the application was the answer to prayers. He/she appreciates the location, quality and affordability Austin Grad has to offer.
Having had some unplanned and unwanted life experiences, this new student feels a call to minister to God's children, working closely with abused women, special needs children, and recovery programs. He/She is open to God's direction and wants to be used as His instrument in reaching others.
This MATS student graduated from UT with a degree in Music Theory, where he/she was named a UT Distinguished College Scholar for four consecutive semesters. His/Her final paper merged strands of research centering around hermeneutics, myth, religion, and musical structure to describe how mythic archetypes produced expressive meaning in the music of George Crumb.
He/She also has a passion "to help church leaders unleash the richness and power of the Word" and wants, ultimately, to teach in a seminary setting much like Austin Grad's, sharing his/her passion that scholarship and faith go hand in hand.
Studying concurrently in UT Middle Eastern Studies, he/she is enriching his/her knowledge of Old Testament times as he/she delves into Ancient Near East languages and history.
In the fall of 2007, this student enlisted in the United States Navy. In March 2008, he/she received a "Letter of Commendation" for finishing Number One in the class as an Aerographer at Keesler AFB in Mississippi. Most of this student's naval career was spent aboard the nuclear-powered supercarrier, the USS George Washington, where he/she was stationed in Japan and went on several cruises in the Pacific Ocean to exotic and dangerous places, including Korea, China, and Guam. The USS George Washington was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be forward deployed.
Along with the other 6,000 members aboard the ship, this student lived and operated at the highest level of efficiency necessary to defend our country. The cruise to Korea was undertaken during a time of great tension between North Korea and the United States.
While in port on one of the assigned cruises, a commanding officer asked this student to watch his children while he spent time with his wife. Of all 6,000+ members of the ship's crew, he/she was entrusted with the safety of the officer's children while in a foreign port.
This student has a desire to "dig deeper into God's word and to build my stores in heaven by following Him and learning His ways .... I know not the plans He has in store for me, but I trust in His will and His ways."
This student also just tied-the-knot in August, and is pursuing the MATS degree here at Austin Grad. Be sure and thank him/her for their service to our country!
A`er`og´ra`pher - noun; one versed in aëography: an aërologist. I guess we'll just have to ask him/her. Soon we will have a THEOLOGICAL AEROGRAPHER. Watch out, world!
My current profession is a Stone Mason. I do not wish to continue that into my 70's. I wish to be an instrument of God's will, and be used to further his Kingdom.
Blessed with three boys, and one daughter, I am married to a beautiful person whom I met at the University of Maryland. There I played Tuba in the Wind Ensemble.
We have lived as missionaries in Russia and Montana extensively, and just in the last year moved to rural Texas to further my education here at Austin Grad.
I have goals to serve in China, and to teach at an institute of higher learning (like Austin Grad).
Last but not least, I am a wonderful bass singer for an international acapella choral group.
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