GSOM December Commissional Corner - Graduate Feature: Jessica Foster do Nascimento

It is December and time for another commencement ceremony! This December, DBU's Master of Arts in Global Leadership program celebrated two students who completed their degrees. With the knowledge they gained in intercultural studies and servant leader skills, the MAGL graduates are ready to take the next steps in missions and church planting to further God's Kingdom. Master of Arts in Theological Studies and Master of Arts in Global Leadership dual graduate Jessica Foster do Nascimento was delighted to share her MAGL experience and where she believes God is calling her to serve His Kingdom.

Discovering God's Will

Jessica is an international student from Brazil. In 2016, while attending an online missionary conference, God gave Jessica the thought of coming to DBU to get her master's degree. At the time, Jessica did not pay much attention to the idea because she was already serving the Lord as a missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) in Brazil. As her opportunities to serve college students grew, she felt she could not leave her ministry to come to DBU and stayed in Brazil. With encouragement from another Cru missionary, a DBU student, and an email from the MAGL program director at the time, Jessica realized that this was God's will for her. In Spring 2020, she was accepted into DBU and began her classes online.

Arriving in the States

Jessica arrived at DBU in 2021 with only a suitcase and a "heart full of expectations." After her arrival, Jessica began to feel the burden of how to pay for her education. She cried out to God for an entire week before hearing God tell her, "I will pay for everything!" Through the generosity of her partners in Brazil and the United States, her parents, and scholarships from DBU, God paid for everything just as He said He would. Jessica recalled, "I fervently sought God during the tuition payment seasons. At times, I would feel weak in my faith as the due dates approached, and other times, God would grant me faith to see His promise of provision fulfilled even before it happened." Indeed, God was faithful to His word.

Keeping Her Eyes Open

Through the practical teachings and encouragement from experienced professors, Jessica realized the importance of keeping her eyes open to opportunities to apply what she was learning. After taking Chronological Bible Storying, Jessica led some of the ladies from DBU's custodian crew in Bible classes. She also started a Bible study on campus with two DBU students. Jessica shared that she leaves DBU inspired to train church planters to serve their congregations excellently and bring others to know Christ. She hopes to find a job as a traveling assistant to a church plant trainer to gain more experience and to have the opportunity to add what she has learned in the MAGL program to their programs. Afterward, she wants to return to Brazil and train church planters.

Word of Advice for Current Students

For current MAGL students, Jessica offers the following advice, "Start living your calling right now and use every opportunity to point people to God. Pray for those who do not know Jesus and love them the way Jesus does. Seek God first. He will work all things for your good and His glory. Remember, God loves you and has wonderful plans for your life."

Congratulations, December 2023 Graduates! The MAGL program is proud of you and excited to see where the Lord leads you.