Good News - August 2019

COVER STORY www.goodnewsfl.org 25 AUGUST 2019 DENNIS JACKSON II Miami Assistant Chief of Police Dennis Jackson is currently serving the community in several ways. As the Senior Pastor of New Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Miami and through the church’s non-profit, the Dream Center, he has been able to secure funding from the Department of Education which allows the ministry to serve the underprivileged children and families in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood. This area has been a source of enormous gun violence and poverty, which has plagued the community for numerous years. Through the efforts of Dennis Jackson II and his team, the non-profit has been able to secure $3.9 million over the next five years from the Department of Education and the Children’s Trust to provide an educational extensive af- tercare for free for children from the area. Their efforts in the community with the local elementary school have helped the school increase its letter grade which was a huge success supported primarily by children who were in the Dream Centers Aftercare program taught by their staff of teachers. Dennis received a Master’s in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2016. “I’ve enjoyed serving as an Assistant Chief of Police with the Miami Police Department the last several years. This position has allowed me the opportunity to model my belief in spiritual leadership in the work place. Not only am I allowed to serve in my position as an Assist Chief, but I have support by my City leaders in ex- ercising my faith. For example, I was honored to do the invocation for the swearing in ceremony for the current Mayor of Miami in my police uniform. Likewise, I’ve been supported by my department in lecturing at TIU on the Power of Spiritual Leadership in uniform. Thank you, TIU, for your support and guidance!” said Assistant Chief Dennis Jackson II KRISTAN TORRES Psychologist at Hope Christian Counseling Kristan Torres, LMHC, graduated from Trinity's MACP program in 2009 and opened Hope Christian Counseling in 2010 as a private practice. Her goal was to work with clients to find hope and healing from past hurts, trusting that "the Lord meets us and guides us in the counseling room." Ten years later, the company has grown, serving a larger clientele in both Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale. Kristan has since become an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) trained therapist and primarily focuses on working to help clients heal from past traumas. Kristan is a Qualified Supervisor, supervising several Registered Mental Health Counselor interns who are working toward their licensure. Kristan credits Trinity for giving her a good foundation from which to help people with compassion and depth of understanding, acknowledging that people are complex, and it is a privilege to enter into their lives in such an intimate way as therapy. Hope Christian Counseling offers community mental health talks on different topics such as anxiety, depressio, and the stigma of mental health. Kristan explained, "we're aware some people may never go to counseling, but if they come out to a community talk they will be informed, and we hope they walk away feeling hopeful that God is near to them in whatever they're going through." SARA COPELAND Psychologist at Hope Christian Counseling Sara Copeland, LMHC, graduated from Trinity in 2013 and joined the practice in early 2019. She came to Hope Christian Counseling with experience in crisis counseling, serving clients with severe and persistent mental illness as well as having ex- perience working in addictions. Trinity had a significant impact on her view of pain and suffering and the Gospel. By being able to process how God meets us in the midst of pain while in school she feels better able to serve her clients and not become dis- couraged by the weight of suffering we experience in this world. Sara's passion is to see healing and hope for her clients as they encounter Christ through the counseling process. “Our goal and prayer for the future of Hope Christian Counseling is to continue to help people who are hurting, to continue to grow, by adding more like-minded therapists, and to continue reaching out to the community through community talks about important and relevant counseling topics,” said Copeland. CARLA GINEBRA DE GARCIA Blue Line Angels Founder Carla Ginebra De Garcia is a follower of the way, the truth and the life, Jesus Christ. She is a wife to a police officer and a mother of two beautiful children. She also works full time as a police officer and is the founder/leader of a non- profit women’s ministry, The Blue Line Angels. A journey of faith led her to TIU to deepen her walk with Jesus. She humbly surrendered to God’s word, law and teachings in her roles as a police officer, as a ministry leader and as a parent of two beautiful angels to teach them as He has taught her. God has gifted her to lead a women’s ministry to honor His glory, The Blue Line Angels. The Blue Line Angels mission is to inspire, support and encourage women whose families and friends are bonded with someone working in the first responder world (police/ fire). This also includes women that are re- tired or currently working in the field of law enforcement. They accomplish this by promoting God’s principles of character through Bible study, prayer and fellowship, in order to reveal your true purpose on earth. “When I am patrolling the streets I am often dispatched into the darkness of domestic violence situations. I ask the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of His sons and daughters trapped in the darkness. That my words be from His law and His wisdom, so His will may be done. His kindness does not fail, the people are covered in His word so they may find hope in their storms,” Officer Carla Ginebra De Garcia said. God has a bigger purpose than just her being a police officer; it is to deliver God’s word. Learning at TIU allowed her to be filled with the scriptures of God, to lovingly deliver His message with knowledge and passion. “TIU is a catalyst for the work of Jesus Christ. They teach the students with love, faith and commitment one step at a time. Just stop in today and follow your calling,” said officer Garcia. INFLUENTIAL ALUMNI MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY