A Changed Life Changing Lives
A Testimony from Ronaldo Ghenov, M.Div. student

Dean's Notes
Dr. Howard Bixby, Th.M., Ed.D.

Could you tell us a little about yourself?
I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and spent my childhood there. Brazil instilled in me a passion for soccer, a love affair with warm weather, and a complete disregard for looking at my watch to make sure that I arrive somewhere on time (I don’t even own a watch). Then my family moved to the United States when I was 11, and we have been here since. The impact that my father had on my life is close to inexplicable and greater than I will ever understand. We wrestled; we laughed; we did life together; he taught me that no matter what happens in life to always keep my eyes on Christ. He did not teach me that with his words; he taught me that with his life. Right as I was about to start seminary, he passed away, which delayed my start by a semester. I love deep discussion, white chocolate mochas, hot wings, Penn State football, not so deep discussions, laughing, and reading the New Testament Greek.

Where has God led you to minister?
I just finished my first year of Seminary, and there is still a long way to go. So determining the geographical location or specific type of ministry where God is leading me is quite difficult. Here is what I do know. There is nothing that I want to do besides teach the Word of God. It changes lives. It changes souls. I love teaching the Word of God. I cannot imagine life apart from that. The specifics of where that will take place is more than negotiable; I will wait for God in that. Yet simultaneously, I love the American university. I love the big, secular state schools. Millions of young minds live in that world, and they thirst for something more. They seek life in all the wrong places. I would like to change some of that.

Why did you choose the M.Div. program at BBS?
In a sense, I didn’t. Maybe I’m too Calvinistic, and it chose me. Haha ... But seriously, right out of college, I joined a college ministry organization, and because I was a part of this organization, the opportunity arose to attend a different seminary for a third of their price. I started really considering this, and I talked to my pastor about it. He told me that if I really wanted to go to Seminary and if I went to BBS, our church would pay for it. My pastor is someone that I truly look up to as a student of the Word; if he is this sold on BBS, it must be a good school. I have loved it this far.

How has BBS influenced your spiritual and personal life?
Keeping first things first, I long for my spiritual life and my personal life and all of my life to be one and the same. I hope I don’t fragment my life so that a part of it is spiritual and a part of it is not. With that background in mind, I will say two things concerning the influence that BBS has had in all of my life. The first is that seminary is hard when you combine seminary and all the work that goes along with it with work and ministry. It can become overwhelming, and that can happen fast. It is crucial to remember that the reason I am here is because Jesus is deeply in love with me and because I want to continually grow in loving Him. I want ministry and service to God to flow out of a love relationship with Him. As soon as I lose sight of that, seminary can be draining. The faculty has been inspiring and helpful in directing me back to this love relationship. Secondly, I am not here learning data; I’m here learning life so that things that I learn in class become real to me in the everyday work world. When I look at people, I must see them as created in the image of the Incorruptible, Infinite, Almighty God.

What caused you to invest your life in ministry?
Pick up any newspaper, turn on your television set, log on to the Internet, or just talk to somebody at your local coffee shop. You will undoubtedly realize that it is a brutal, awful world out there. Sin has tainted everything. People are broken, desperate, hopeless, and they don’t have a shot at peace, joy, hope, or love. Jesus changes people’s lives. He changed my life. He loves me. He is crazy about me. He loves everyone out there, too. I want to invest my life in ministry because I want to change the world. I want to live life as it was meant to be lived. Jesus is the only One that can bring real change. But honestly, I don’t want any of that apart from an intimate relationship with my Lord and my God. If ministry does not flow out of my love relationship with Jesus, sign me up for whatever else.

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