Meet the Leaders
Our Semwives' leadership come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and we welcome you to meet our leaders:
Barb Barrick, Delphine Bates, Karen Busenitz, Colleen Craigen, Louise Essex, Betsy Harris, Kim Holland, "B" Mayhue, Missy Mehringer, Janice Osborne, Donna Shannon, Pam Snider, Teri White.
B Mayhue
"B" has been married to her husband, Dick, for 43 years; they reside in Newhall, California, where Dr. Mayhue is the Senior Vice President and Dean of The Master's Seminary. They have been a part of TMS since 1989. God has blessed them with two children, a daughter and a son, and their families which include two grandsons. At this time the Lord has both of those families living nearby in southern California.
Being a help-meet to Dick, co-leading the Seminary Wives Fellowship and teaching/discipling women are “B”’s primary occupations. She also enjoys “grandmothering,” singing, reading, collecting airships, decorating and dreaming up remodeling projects (which seldom take place). “B”’s life verse is Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Karen Busenitz
From the beginning of The Master’s Seminary, the Busenitz have been here, Irv as a founding faculty member and Karen as a leader of the Semwives Fellowship. Dr. Busenitz is now the V.P. for Academic Administration as well as a Professor of Old Testament. Karen continues in a leadership role, including being a prayer warrior for the women, as well as being a group leader, because of the desire the Lord has given her for this ministry and the opportunity to pursue it. She is also actively involved in ministering to her husband and family, the Seminary and its families, and serving in their Sunday School class with her husband. Dr. Busenitz is an Elder, primarily involved with the Missions Council that gives both of them opportunities to minister to the missionaries of GCC. Most of those are also TMS grads, and their wives are former Semwives.
The Busenitzes have been married for 40 years and have two grown sons and their families, including six grandchildren. Making their home now in Santa Clarita, they originally came from the Mid-West, Irv from Kansas and Karen from Oklahoma. They enjoy snow skiing together though it doesn’t happen very often. Karen loves spending time with their family including the grandchildren and also enjoys having people in their home. She occasionally speaks to women’s groups. One of her current favorite verses is Psalm 44:8, ”In God we have boasted all day long, and we will give thanks to Your name forever.”
Colleen Craigen
Colleen, who is also on the TMS library staff, serves here with her husband, Dr. Trevor Craigen, recently retired, Associate Professor of Theology. They have been at TMS for 14 years and Colleen has enjoyed working with Semwives all of that time to help equip women going into the ministry. They also serve with the UCLA Bible Study, through Grace on Campus. The Craigens came to America from South Africa and the UK via Europe where they were missionaries for 12 years, so they also enjoy working with the international students. Building on her years doing Child Evangelism work in several European countries, Colleen also enjoys teaching children and training people how to teach children with visual aids.
The Craigens have been married for 43 years and have two children and seven grandchildren. Colleen enjoys taking care of her terraced garden and planning remodeling projects for their home. She also enjoys teaching women as the Lord gives opportunity. Her favorite Bible character is Hannah and her favorite passage is Psalm 37 which includes: “Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. ”
Barbara Barrick
Barbara is the wife of Dr. Bill Barrick, Professor of Old Testament and Director of Doctoral Studies at TMS, who is now in his 13th year. The Barricks came to TMS after 16 years of missionary service in Bangladesh where Bill was a Bible translator and Barb was a teacher. Barb remembers her own busy days as a seminary wife with small children and desires to be an encouragement to other women as they grow spiritually during their husband's years in seminary. She has been a TMS Semwives leader for ten years. In their local church she enjoys working with women's ministries and managing the church's library.
The Barricks, who make their home in Santa Clarita, in the Saugus area, have been married 43 years, have 4 adult married children and 14 grandchildren that they enjoy as much as possible. She has many hobbies including reading, collecting, computing, politics, and enjoys traveling with her husband. Having moved 39 times in her life, Proverbs 3:5-6 is a constant promise: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.”
Louise Essex
Louise Essex has been a Semwives leader for 13 of the 15 years that her husband has taught here. Doctor Essex teaches Bible Exposition at TMS. He is also the assistant director for the Doctor of Ministry degree program. Louise serves in Semwives to help and encourage the ladies, helping them with accountability in spiritual things and helping them become accustomed to Southern California. She serves on the missions committee at her home church. Having a deep love for children, she has previously served for 12 years as an AWANA commander and continues to love to challenge others in Scripture memory. Louise is currently the Santa Clarita Valley coordinator for seven Good News Clubs for children which are held in the public schools as an after school club. She is frequently looking for additonal help as the opportunities for this ministry are great.
Keith, an immigrant from England, but raised in Southern California since age 10, and Louise a native Californian, have been married for 40 years and make their home in Canyon Country. They have six children which allowed Louise to be a home school mom for 16 years. The Essexes also have eight grandchildren. Louise likes to relax by reading Christian novels and loves neighborhood evangelism, a topic about which she also does speaking. In addition, she enjoys helping both her family and others organize things or events. She and Keith have been blessed to travel extensively within the United States and overseas. Among many favorite passages, a favorite is Psalm 5:1-3: "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice you shall hear in the morning I will direct it to You and I will look up."
Betsy Harris
Betsy Harris is the wife of Dr. Greg Harris, Professor of Bible Exposition and they are in their fourth year at TMS. The Harrises arrived at the school in somewhat a circuitous manner. Having both grown up in North Carolina, they moved to the LA area for three years for seminary (where she was previously involved in the seminary wives fellowship as a student’s wife), then to Dallas for three years, the DC area for four, back to the Raleigh area for thirteen, and then one more move back to the LA area, where they presently live in Santa Clarita.
Dr. Harris has been a professor and a pastor at several places, including currently serving as Teaching Pastor at Lake Hills Community Church in Castaic. Betsy has enjoyed serving behind the scenes rather than being upfront and has made the home a vital part of the ministry. The Harrises have been married for twenty-six years. They have two children in college, Lauren and Ben. Betsy enjoys reading, studying the Word, gardening, baking and teaching young children. This past year Proverbs 3:5-6 have been favorite verses: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Teri White
Teri has been a Semwives leader since shortly after their arrival here at TMS in 1992. Her husband Bob White is the Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice-President and the Dean, Director of Pastoral Internships, and Director of Development for the seminary. The Whites enjoy many opportunities of sharing the vision of TMS with friends of the school. Teri enjoys serving in Semwives because it is a place of likeminded women who sometimes need encouragement as their husbands study long hours in preparation for ministry. She’s also involved with her husband in college ministry, home Bible studies (in their home), and pre-marital discipleship.
The Whites have been married for 20 years, share three children and six grandchildren. Teri enjoys hospitality and also likes stamping greeting cards. Her life verse is Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Another favorite is related to the current Semwives study of Proverbs, in 31:26, “She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
Pam Snider
Pam is another of our leaders who has gone from being a sem wife when they came in 1997, to now being a Semwives leader. Dr. Andy Snider, who's been on the faculty for seven years, teaches theology. Pam loves ministry with women, particularly those going into full-time ministry and enjoys the encouraging and small-group discipleship opportunities with Semwives. Pam is a blessing with her music ministry of piano [Every Hour, Doxology, Christmas Offertories, Offertories: Volume Two], of singing and writing music, and is involved with various music ministry opportunities like “Vortex.” The Sniders serve in the college ministry at Grace, called Crossroads and lead a couples Bible study in their home each week. They enjoy doing pre-marital and post wedding counseling with young couples.
The Sniders, married 21 years, came to TMS from Ohio and New York, and now live in the Saugus area of Santa Clarita. They have three daughters, Emily who is getting married in September, Kendall 16, and Abby,12. Pam loves to read, cook, fix up their home, and spend time with their girls. Her current favorite verse is 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
Missy Mehringer
Missy, and her husband Ray, who is Director of Admissions and Placement for the seminary have been at TMS for 11 years and Missy’s been a small group leader for 7 years in Semwives. She loves the women and the opportunity to mentor young wives in their relationships to their husband and family and in their preparation for being a ministry wife. During 18 years in the Air Force, Ray and Missy also worked with young adults doing engagement counseling and ministering to young marrieds. At Grace Church they are involved in Children's Ministry where Ray supervises 2nd hour Sunday School program, assisted by Missy who also serves in the resource room.
The Mehringers, married 30 years and residing in Canyon Country, have four children, two married adult sons. one married daughter, and one daughter(19) who is student at TMC. They look forward to welcoming their first grandchild in March 2010. Though she no longer home schools ( after 21 years)-- she likes to encourage young moms in that area, and she now tutors students in math. She enjoys walking, reading, and camping. Each Spring, for several years, the Mehringers have led a seminary camp out. Watch for the announcements if you'd like to join that outing.
Missy has recently begun speaking to women’s groups and is involved in personal discipleship. Psalm 70:4 is a special verse to her, “Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, "Let God be magnified."
Janice Osborne
Although she's a native Californian, Janice and her husband, Kelly, spent 19 years in Michigan, where Kelly taught Classics at a private college and served as an elder in their church. For 17 of those years Janice taught 5th grade in the local public school—an opportunity to serve both children and their families. As a couple, the Osbornes enjoyed a ministry of friendship among college students (many of whom became their “kids”) as well as coming alongside elderly believers. Janice enjoys reading, gardening, baking and having tea with friends. She can explain (rationalize?) the nutritional benefit of almost any dessert, especially those that contain chocolate!
Psalm 34:3, “O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together,” has been a special verse to Janice and Kelly throughout their 28 years of marriage. This continues to be the desire of their hearts.
Donna Shannon
In 1980, Bill and Donna Shannon moved to LA. Eventually he became part of the first class of TMS twenty years ago, and Donna became a part of Semwives. It ministered so much to her that she wanted to continue to be a part and to do the same for others and has ever since. She loves discipleship and enjoys ministering to women in other situations such as to individuals or in the Shannon's fellowship group where she oversees the women’s ministries or in discussing the Word with other women. Her special verses are Psalm 73:23-28. "Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works."
Bill Shannon is a pastor at Grace Community Church over Discipleship Counseling and oversees the adult fellowship group, FaithBuilders. The Shannons have been married for 33 years and have two married daughters and three granddaughters. They make their home in North Hills, where she enjoys sharing her skills in homemaking and cooking. In her spare time Donna likes hiking, outdoor activities, studying the Word, journaling, writing devotionals, and helping others with needs. She also does retreats and speaks to women's groups.
Delphine Bates
Delphine and her husband, John, have been members of Grace Community Church since 1969. John serves on the Board of Elders. Over the years they have served in many areas including Junior High, Young Marrieds, EWG, Elementary Sunday School, and FOF II. Delphine has been a Semwives table leader for five years. Married in 1962, the Bateses have been blessed with four children. The Lord called one of their children home, a 21 year old son, in 1990. After they raised their children in Glendale, California, in 1991 they moved to the Santa Clarita Valley where they and their three married children now reside. Reflecting on Psalm 128, they have lived to enjoy their grandchildren, all 13 of them. A very special verse to Delphine is 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus”.
Kim Holland
Kim is the wife of Dr. Rick Holland, Director of the D.Min Program at TMS and Instructor of Expository Preaching for the last twelve years. Rick also serves at Grace as the Executive Pastor and Pastor to Crossroads Ministry. Kim’s family started attending Grace Community Church when she was seven years old. She met Rick when he came from Tennessee to go to TMS in 1988. They married in 1994 after his graduation, so she was never actually a seminary wife, though she did type several papers for him. Kim and Rick have three sons and live in Castaic. Kim’s ministry is primarily to her husband and children. She also serves alongside Rick in his pastoral roles in the areas of hospitality, counseling and discipling. She has been serving in Seminary Wives for four years. She enjoys hiking, traveling, playing games, baking, eating, and most of all, reading. She is especially interested in church history. Her favorite passage right now is 1 Corinthians 8:6 – “Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”
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