Before I joined the MABC program, biblical counseling was the farthest thing from my mind! But God had a different plan. After an elder in our church led a troubled couple into a Christ-centered marriage relationship, he asked us when we could start our training to become biblical counselors in our church. At the time, we both adamantly said, “No! Not us!”

However, a year later as God would have it, we started the training process towards NANC certification (now ACBC certification) with Dr. Robert Somerville at his church in Visalia, California, and through God’s providence, once I obtained certification the Lord led me to start the MABC at The Master’s University. Little did I know, my husband had been praying all along that I would apply to the program, get accepted, and complete it!

My years in the MABC program radically changed everything in my life—my relationship with my husband, my relationship with our children, and even my personal relationship with the Lord. For the first time, I saw the gospel as central to all aspects of my life— the practical things, the messy things, even the wonderful things—it all came through the sovereign hand of our great God who is full of grace and truth.

When I finished my MABC degree, we partnered with a community counseling center in our local town and spent many hours meeting the needs of hurting, broken souls looking for hope that only Christ can give. My time and training at TMU prepared me so well for this time. The Lord eventually led me to become the Director of Biblical Counseling and Ministry to Women at Emmanuel Bible Church in Pratum, Oregon, where I currently serve.

My husband and I presently live and farm in Jefferson, Oregon, through which God is using us to develop and launch an undergraduate agricultural degree program grounded in a biblical worldview at Corban University, where I also serve on the Board of Trustees. The need for biblical training in this field at Corban was a burden God laid on my heart while I was attending The Master’s University. All the while, my husband and I continue to serve in our local church, using the training from TMU to equip others to look to God’s Word for everything pertaining to life and godliness.