COVER STORY 33 MAY 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition What advice would you give women ormothers? Definitely cherish their younger years and really enjoy their childhood.Working inministry canmean 24/7 availability. Especially now that mine are older, I look back and think if I could do it over again, I would have put some healthy boundaries on thework and church service and givenmore time to just them. Laura Bishop Executive Vice President ofAdvancement PalmBeachAtlantic University Laura Bishop is Executive Vice President of Advancement at PalmBeachAtlantic University, where she is responsible for planning, organizing and implementing the University’s fundraising,marketing, communications,planned giving and alumni relations efforts. Laura and her husband, David, a film producer originally from Scotland, have been married for 30 years and have two adult children, Emily and Jeremy, who both live andwork inWashington, D.C. AgraduateofOralRobertsUniversity, Laurabeganher career as themarketing director for CypressGardensTheme Park.As ayoungmother, shebeganworking forWestminster Academyeventuallydirecting the school’s development and communications for over 10 years. During this time she also hosted a live radio talk show, “Homeroom” onWAFG 90.3 FM. Switching into thenonprofit charity sector, Laura joined Habitat forHumanity of Broward as their director of development and communications before stepping in as executive director of the National Christian Foundation of South Florida. When the opportunity came for her to return to her alma mater, Laura accepted a position as vice president of development and alumni relations at Oral Roberts University, rising to vice president of advancement. After six years, she returned to South Florida, stepping into her current role at Palm Beach Atlantic University. “I feel like one of the best ways I can serve South Florida, is to help produce more PBA graduates who are equipped to lead with conviction and to serve God boldly,” said Laura. “I am also honored to encourage our community to live generous lives, using the resourcesGodhas blessed themwith topositively transform our community. It's fun to encourage people to support Christian education; specifically in scholarships, then get to know the specific students who receive those scholarships… I was working with a student from Germany who came to the university on faith because she felt God had called her. She needed scholarship money. Then I met a woman who wanted to give a gift specifically to a student from Germany because her mom just passed away and was fromGermany. It is so amazing to see God's hand at work and fully acknowledge that it's himmoving in people’s lives to make this significant difference.” What is God’s calling for you? I feel I have an amazing opportunity to be able to uniquely bless this generation of students and to present Kingdomopportunities for those who have resources to give. I love to encourage people to give to organizations where there will be eternal dividends paid. Do you have a favorite charity and/or do you have a hobby? Yes, I am on the board of EMA (Every Mother’s Advocate) and I am incredibly proud of Charlee Tchividjian, its founder. We attend Family Church here in PalmBeach and enjoy it very much. I'm a little obsessed with my Peloton, not just the rides but also the strength training. I also love cycling the streets of PalmBeach on the weekends and ocean swimming as well. That's a big part of myweekend, which is like therapy, and I especially love my prayer time during my ocean swims. Did you have a familyMission statement? While we didn’t have a formal mission statement, it was our goal to include our children in our travels and family adventures. I’mgratefulwe had the opportunity to travel together internationallyonmyhusband’s film jobs, experiencing different cultures and getting to know each other more deeply as a family. I was also thankful tospendsomanyyearsworkingwhere theywent toschool, so I never really felt likeaworkingmom. We were able to talk on the way to school and pray over our day and reconnect well on the way home. What Bible verse has encouraged you? Conceptually one of the things I’m grateful for as believer is that we have the Holy Spirit, which gives us creativity and gives us our instincts. That helps me more boldly walk into every day, knowing that as a child of God my steps will be ordained and directed, and even if I feel as though I've made a mistake, that can be redeemed. What was yourmost challenging time as a mother? Just the quantity of homework, the games, the plays and social engagements - all the driving was challenging, but God gives you grace for all that. What was yourmost rewarding time as a mother? We honestly enjoyed every stage, but now that they are adults, it is really fun and such a gift to be able to process life together, come to each other for council and enjoy friendship with our children. What advice would you give women ormothers? Let’s find what we as believers can do together to make our community a better place to live in a region where there's so many people coming here who are broken hearted and seeking a new start. How are we being intentional to do life together to encourage each other? Dr. Mary Drabik President South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary Dr. Mary Drabik is president of South Florida Bible College, having been with the college for 34 years. Having earned her bachelor’s degree in education and Master of Arts in theological education at South Florida BibleCollege there in 2000,Mary said she haswatched the college evolved and grown into the position. “I believe it’s God’s call on my life,” she said. Mary also holds advanced degrees in post-secondary education management from Whitfield Theological Seminary and a doctorate in Christian education from Cohen University in California. South Florida Bible College started as a Bible Institute and in 1997 became the Bible College and Theological Seminary, thengoingthroughtheaccreditationprocess in2004. Beginning as a volunteer, Mary has served on staff in the admissions office, registrar’s office, academics, was Provost for several years, then senior vice president for seven years and in 2016 she became the second president of the institution after Dr. JoeGuadagnino, the founder and original president, stepped down from the role to now serve as the honorary Chancellor. As the first female president of an accredited Bible College and Seminary within their accrediting body (theAssociation for Biblical Higher Education), Drabik said her selection initially received much scrutiny during reaffirmation for accreditation but was strongly supported by Dr. Guadagnino and ultimately widely accepted. There are still only three female presidents out of about 300 colleges accredited by theABHE. “I’mgrateful forDr. Guadagnino and, of course, my husband supportingme all these years,” she said. Mary has been married 40 years to Tommy Drabik, who works beside her at South Florida Bible College as an adjunct professor and financial aid director. Together they have two adult sons and four beautiful granddaughters. What is God’s calling for you? I feel called to educate people in a biblical worldview, which is so vital in our day and age. Christian education is so important to be able to know the True North. Do you have a favorite charity and/or do you have a hobby? I am on the board of Faith FarmMinistries (an addiction treatment center). If they complete the 10month program at Faith Farm, they can receive a Restoration Scholarship at South Florida Bible College. They get nine credits for completing the programat FaithFarm, most of themwill qualify for the Pell Grant andwe'll cover the rest of their tuition here to help them.We've had quite a fewgraduates fromFaith Farm, and some have become valedictorians. What accomplishment are youmost proud of? My children and grandchildren! Did you have a family mission statement? We were very involved in ministry and church. We just tried to raise them to make sure that Jesus is their Lord and Savior and to serve God. Fulfilling the call of God on their lives is so important andmaking sure they had a good Christian education. What Bible verse has encouraged you? “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). What was yourmost challenging time as a mother? It's through those high school years andwhen children have tomake difficult decisions that will affect the rest of their life - helping to guide them and praying that they make the right decisions for their lives. There are a million challenges, but God has always been faithful seeing us through everything. What was yourmost rewarding time as a mother? It's seeing our children successful and doing well and having the grandchildren. What advice would you give women ormothers? Time flies way too fast, so spend asmuch quality timewith your kids and your grandkids as possible. Makememorieswith them, especially aroundChristmas because they’ll forget toys, but thememorieswith themwill last a lifetime, and those are irreplaceable. David Bishop, Laura Bishop, Emily Bishop, Jeremy Bishop. Pictured from left to right: Thomas Drabik, Joshua Drabik (redhead), Mary Drabik and Daniel Drabik
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