澳门心水论坛

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September 2024

Couple makes return visit to teach in Ukraine

Given today’s political climate, not many people would pick Ukraine to travel these days. But two things compelled 澳门心水论坛 graduate Bob Mathews and his wife Janis to make the overseas journey in July.

“We do it for the people, and following God’s calling. It’s very simple,” said Bob, a 1970 graduate

who is retired in Dallas. “I felt more of God’s presence this time than other times. Probably because we prayed more… we had to focus.”

The Mathewses spent nearly a full month in the country, working as volunteer teachers for the schools of English sponsored by the Michael Gott International ministry. Their 2024 venture represented the 13^th trip to Ukraine with MGI since 2010, with the first four trips featuring the Singing Men of Texas group performing and Gott preaching a gospel message.

The Singing Men group, of which Bob has been a member since 1976, first partnered with Gott to do evangelistic rallies to Austria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, then he invited them to Ukraine the next trip. After seeing 2,500 of the 7,000 in attendance over eight concerts make a decision to follow Christ, Bob said they knew they were onto something.

When Bob and Janis heard of the Schools of English that MGI sponsored, they were intrigued at the opportunity. In 2015, they made their first trip as teachers.

“Without a doubt it was a God-engineered calling. After our first in-person school of English, we were hooked,” he said. “The Ukranian people are highly intelligent and loving once they get to know

you. When they got their freedom (in 1991), there was great joy but still culturally there was a deep reservation for people they do not know.”

Bob explained that the School of English is built on a two-week format, with this year’s cut by one day to accommodate the extra challenges of travel to the different cities. Their first two weeks was spent in Kyiv, then the group traveled to Zhytomyr and held a school there as well.

The group holds registration on Friday and Saturday, intentionally setting team members up at

various checkpoints to build an enthusiastic and welcoming presence that begins to build relationships with the student participants from day one. Classes are held Monday through Friday with the team running four two-hour sessions each day to accommodate all the students, with some large-group time and small-group time built in. The singing team, which includes Bob, uses music to introduce some vocabulary and get the group relaxed and practicing the language.

After the first week of classes, the team hosts Super Sunday, inviting the students to bring their family and friends to see what they have been learning. They sing and share some lessons, then Gott answers any spiritual questions the students have submitted during the week. Classes resume

for two more days, then they celebrate graduation on Wednesday.

“In the second part on that Monday and Tuesday, Michael preaches a very clear gospel message. A

t the graduation, all the teachers get to share their personal testimony with all the students there, face to face,” Bob said. “The sharing of the gospel is a very natural outgrowth of first building a relationship of love and trust with our students. There is no hidden agenda; on the first day Michael introduces us as people who love God and are followers of Jesus. We are here because we love God, follow Jesus, love Ukraine and we love you. And we want to share something of worth.”

Bob said the schools see a rich harvest, in large part because the war has given the people a longing for hope. Of the 305 students enrolled that first session, a large number made commitments to Jesus. And that, he said, is not a coincidence.

“We pray so hard that Jesus will help us establish a bridge of communication with our students. This

is evangelism based first on loving people and establishing a relationship,” said Bob. “We were surprised because of the war how thankful they were that we would come over there. God provided

an atmosphere for Janis and I where we never felt afraid or in danger. All we were there to do was to be obedient and establish relationships with our students.”

Anyone at least age 16 is welcome to enroll, and Bob said the group runs the gamut from 16 to 65 or older even. Many are young professionals who need the conversational English skills to move ahead in their careers. And while Ukranians take English from first grade forward, Bob said it was more grammar and syntax based on Oxford English that really serves no purpose in the professional setting. The classes are attractive because they are more conversational.

While in Ukraine, the Mathewses had the opportunity to meet up with a group to whom they have been teaching English via Zoom since 2020. While they had bonded online, Bob said the group had never actually met in person and it was a special experience. 

Bob encourages anyone interested in participating in future endeavors to reach out to the Gotts at

 

Alumnus receives award as lifesaving trooper

Even during his days as a student and wrestler at 澳门心水论坛 Baptist University, Bryan Pena knew he wanted to be a Texas State Trooper one day.  Now, two years into his patrol duties, Pena said the job has changed his life.

And now, he’s had a chance to make a major impact on another as the first responder to a crash

back in March. On August 22, Bryan was honored in Austin by the state Public Safety Commission with an award for his lifesaving efforts that day in Dalhart when a car collided with a semi truck.

“Like most crashes, when they happen somebody calls 9-1-1. I just happened to be very close when it happened, maybe about 10 miles out. When I got on scene, I noticed a possible injury and knew she needed immediate aid,” said Bryan. “I grabbed my medical bag and ran to her. When I saw the first injury, I applied the tourniquet and made sure it was on correctly, then put her in recovery position so EMS and fire could do their job when they get there.”

Not long afterward, other emergency personnel arrived and the woman was transported by helicopter to the hospital, where she has undergone several surgeries on her arm but is expected to recover.  Bryan noted that while DPS troopers are not medical professionals, their extensive training in the Academy focuses on situations just like this where they can help citizens in a trauma and “buy time for that person.”

A dream realized

A native of Lubbock, Bryan wrestled at Lubbock High and continued his time on the mat at 澳门心水论坛, competing in the 141-lb division and majoring in criminal justice. Since he always had his eyes on the trooper’s uniform, Bryan applied just after he graduated from 澳门心水论坛 in May 2021. After completing the rigorous physical test, polygraph and medical tests, he finally learned he had been accepted.

“My career started after graduating 澳门心水论坛, but it was the classes I took that opened that opportunity for me. They were almost guiding me towards a career in law enforcement, and it’s really what set up the open door for that. I put in the application but knew how hard it was to get in,” he said, noting he felt incredibly blessed to be chosen so young.

Bryan went through the DPS academy from October 2021 through May 2022 and was assigned to Dalhart, up the in Texas panhandle. He was grateful for the chance to be back close to family in Lubbock. This past June, he was reassigned to Amarillo after marrying his high school sweetheart, Abbi, in April 2023 and deciding they were ready to settle in a bigger city.

Though the job itself has been a dream fulfilled, he does admit he was surprised that he got so

attached to the people of Dalhart during his service there. But as a trooper who believes heavily in community policing and building trust among citizens, it really is no surprise.

“The work can be as proactive as you want to be as well as responsive. In the proactive sense, you are out for a presence, patrolling, looking for criminal activity, and in the community going to schools, making visits and talking to people, eating breakfast with farmers and going to the big events all over to meet people and get involved,” he said, noting that some of those activities are on the clock while others are just his personal nature.

“To me, it is our job to be part of the community. We are public servants, and I work for the people of Texas. It is very important to me and every trooper I’ve met that we are out there and being known. You can’t hide in this day and age. Be out there and be yourself and be a good person,” he said. “Being the example is the biggest thing for me. Being around kids and students at the schools, I want to be an example for them. It takes time with students for them to understand the approachability of law enforcement but it won’t happen if you don’t try.”

Changing perspective

Bryan said the career as a trooper has changed his perspective on life as he encounters many traffic crashes and other instances of people in traumatic situations. He is grateful for his extensive training that made him prepared to be a lifesaver that day in March.

“I’m grateful for the work. This career has changed my life. When you are given a badge and authority, you have a lot of responsibility. It’s grown me up, and every day, I have to make decisions. At the end of the day, you have to ask did I make the right decision and do the right thing. I’ve been much more appreciative of life and those around me.”

Bryan is also thankful for the recognition that affirms his calling from God to serve people in the DPS capacity. He said he and his wife’s strong faith keeps him grounded and able to set aside the difficult days and find true rest.

“I’m just real grateful. To do this job, it’s not easy sometimes,” he said. “Just knowing the community recognizes actions like that, it makes me feel good. But I know whether I’m being watched or not, I still have to do the right thing and I always will.”

   

Devotional: Counting Our Blessings: Recognizing God’s Grace in Our Lives

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."
—Psalm 103:2-5 (NIV)

In our fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook the countless blessings that God pours into our lives every day. We often get caught up in the stresses and challenges, forgetting to pause and reflect on the goodness that surrounds us.

Psalm 103 is a beautiful reminder of the many benefits and blessings that come from God. David, the psalmist, encourages us to "forget not all his benefits." This implies that we must actively remember and acknowledge the blessings in our lives.

1. The Blessing of Forgiveness

One of the greatest blessings we receive is forgiveness. Despite our flaws and mistakes, God is always ready to forgive us when we repent. This forgiveness is not just a one-time event but a continuous blessing that we can count on throughout our lives.

2. The Blessing of Healing

Whether it’s physical, emotional, or spiritual healing, God is our healer. He knows our deepest wounds and offers healing in His perfect timing. We may not always understand the process, but we can trust that God is working all things for our good.

3. The Blessing of Redemption

God redeems our lives from the pit. No matter how far we have strayed or how deep we have fallen, God’s redeeming love reaches down to lift us up. He gives us a new purpose and crowns us with love and compassion.

4. The Blessing of Satisfaction

God satisfies our desires with good things. He knows what we need even before we ask. When we delight ourselves in Him, He aligns our desires with His will, and we find true satisfaction in His provision.

5. The Blessing of Renewal

Life can be draining, but God offers renewal. Just as the eagle renews its strength, God renews our strength when we wait on Him. He gives us the energy to continue the journey, no matter how difficult the path may seem.

Reflection: Take a moment today to count your blessings. Write them down, speak them aloud, or share them with a friend. As you do, you'll find that even in the midst of challenges, God’s blessings are abundant. Let this realization fill your heart with gratitude and praise.

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