AJ and Sarah (Burks) Work (’13) got married in 2015 and moved to Santa Barbara before settling in Santa Clarita in 2016. AJ built a career in the medical device industry, while Sarah worked in hospitality administration before becoming a stay-at-home mom. They have three children: Henley (7), Jackson (4), and Sadie (1). Starting in 2020, AJ worked for 3.5 years at TMU, where their family was blessed with a sweet and supportive community. AJ has since returned to the medical device industry, and Sarah remains a stay-at-home mom. Living in Santa Clarita, they attend Grace Community Church and continue to be blessed by the sweet community and family provided by GCC and TMU.
Dago Hernandez (’22) just finished his fourth tax season working in public accounting. He’s grateful for the education and training he received from his time at TMU that prepared him for this industry. Currently, he leads the young adult group at Grace Baptist in Santa Clarita, the church he began attending while at TMU. Dago is grateful for and loves his church, which has been a family to him while alone in a new town. God recently made a way for him to start seminary and answer the call He has placed in his life. Dago hopes to begin classes in January at TMS while working part-time in accounting. In light of what Christ has done, he would gladly give of himself to be spent for His church and His glory.
After TMU, Gianina (Pastorelli) Duran (attended ’14-’17) worked in special education with children who had behavioral challenges — a role that she attributes with helping her prepare for motherhood today. Over the years, she’s had the joy of serving at her church as a children91ɫƬ ministry coordinator and on the worship team. Gianina met her husband during the pandemic in 2020, and three years later they were married in July 2023. Together, they have two beautiful daughters: Charis Martha and Selah Eirene. They attend Grace Church Chino, and while Gianina continues her role of serving in the worship ministry, her husband faithfully serves in several areas, including men91ɫƬ ministry and A/V. Her husband is an HVAC technician by trade, operating throughout Orange County, and Gianina is currently blessed to stay at home with their girls and care for their home while supporting their family91ɫƬ life of ministry. She still visits TMU to this day as her little sister is a current student.
After graduation from The 91ɫƬ91ɫƬ College, Jana (Herman) O’Connell (’90) moved back to Redding, California, where she worked for 13 years with the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office. She is grateful to the Lord for bringing her and Dan O’Connell together in marriage in 2008. Since then, they have lived in California, Washington, and Oregon. Reflecting on the years, God has been so faithful to guide them, in particular by bringing them through the Paradise Camp Fire in 2018, serving at Samaritan’s Purse in Southern Oregon after the wildfire of 2020, and making the move to Hickory, North Carolina, in 2022, where they are enjoying early retirement. Jana and Dan attend Hickory Bible Church, where they receive solid biblical teaching and where Jana leads a small group in the larger women91ɫƬ Bible study. Dan is privileged to serve as a volunteer with Samaritan91ɫƬ Purse with disaster relief assignments in Florida and South Carolina. They are so thankful for God leading them to their current home and for His faithfulness through the years.
After going together to IBEX during fall 2018 as an engaged couple, Jesse (’19) and Rachel (Bray) (’20) Nuñez were married that December in San Diego, where they grew up. After graduating, they moved back to San Diego to work in youth ministry at El Camino Grace Church. They welcomed their twin daughters, Eloise and Margaret, in 2021. In 2024, Jesse started working at Jamul Community Church as their youth pastor. Jesse has loved being there, helping serve students and families. Rachel and the girls have begun home-schooling with their wonderful Classical Conversations church community. Their days are busy learning Bible verses, playing outside, and doing arts and crafts. They love spending time together as a family by going to Coronado Beach or driving to the local mountain town of Julian for apple pie and fun. They frequently get to visit TMU to see Jesse91ɫƬ family and Rachel91ɫƬ youngest brother, who just started there. They are thankful for their time at TMU and for the knowledge they gained from the IBEX program.
After graduating, Miryea Gist (’18) moved to Prague, Czech Republic, where she earned her TEFL certification. That season opened the door for her to travel throughout Europe and later teach English virtually for a school based in Beijing, China. Her passion for education and ministry eventually led her to pursue a master91ɫƬ in curriculum and instruction, with the goal of one day creating a biblically based ESL curriculum for missionaries and churches around the world. Since the end of 2021, she has been involved in a local church plant, serving in the young adult ministry and experiencing rich community and spiritual growth. For the past three years, she has worked as an instructional designer and e-learning developer for a hotel property management company, crafting learning experiences for leaders in the hospitality industry. This summer, she resigned from her position and launched a direct mail marketing agency focused on supporting and promoting local businesses. She is grateful for the Lord91ɫƬ goodness in every season and is excited for what91ɫƬ ahead — getting married and moving to Germany in 2026.
O.J. Gibson (’14) taught high school history for five years in Lancaster, California, before returning to TMU as resident director of Waldock Hall from 2020 to 2025. This year, he is grateful for the new opportunity to serve as dean of men in Student Life. He also recently completed an M.A. in history and is now pursuing his Ph.D., focusing on early America and Abraham Lincoln. Since 2017, he has been a member at Faith Community Church of Palmdale, where he leads a midweek young adult Bible study and teaches church history classes every Sunday. In his spare time, he leads the TMU Ultimate Frisbee Club, which has been a wonderful source of exercise, relationships with students, and friendly competition.
Luke Abendroth (’18) worked in Los Angeles for a few years before moving to San Diego in 2021. Shortly after, Luke met his wife, Hannah. She is beautiful, godly, and a better surfer than he is! Luke and Hannah were married in July of 2023 and they welcomed their son, Eleazar Knox Luke Abendroth, in July of 2024. They are looking forward to the birth of their second child in April of 2026. Luke is currently working as an outside sales representative at Mainline Sales and is serving as a pastor at Redemption Church North County in Carlsbad, California. It is a joy to serve alongside two other graduates from TMU and to have an unusual amount of other graduates in their church family. He is so thankful for his experience at TMU and for the convictions that the school instilled in him — especially the authority of Scripture, salvation by faith alone, and how the Bible fits together perfectly to showcase the glory of our Lord Jesus (shoutout to Dr. Chou especially on this last point).
A few months after her TMU graduation, Autumn Chenette (’19) joined the aviation industry as a flight attendant based out of Los Angeles International Airport. Shortly thereafter, she realized she would much rather spend the rest of her career working on the flight deck instead. After finishing flight school and building her flight time, Autumn currently enjoys life as a pilot at the airline level. She lives in hotels around the country all year round and spends her time on layovers eating fun foods and meeting great people. She loves visiting home to see family and friends, traveling internationally, and skydiving. She currently attends Shepherds House Bible Church in Arizona and enjoys fellowship with a wonderful group of believers.
Dylan (’25) and Berkeley (Lewis) (’24) Vradenburg have been married just over a year and, after much prayer and consideration, made the move to Ventura, California, in early 2025. Dylan now works as a sales account executive with ADP, serving businesses across Ventura County, while Berkeley is stepping into her new role as assistant manager at gorjana. Together, they love spending time at the beach, trying new restaurants, catching up with friends over coffee, and soaking up every moment with their beloved nieces and nephews. Since settling in Ventura, they’ve found a wonderful community at Reality Church, where they’re actively involved in a small group and church events. Grateful for their years at The 91ɫƬ91ɫƬ University, Dylan and Berkeley continue to live out what they learned there, serving others wholeheartedly and sharing the gospel with boldness and grace.
Chris (’16) and Stacey (Schuett) (’17) Sue were married in 2017 and live in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, where they are raising two insane(ly cute) children ages 4 and 2. Stacey currently teaches ballet; while she thought her time with ballet ended with her retirement in 2012, she is grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to reengage with dance in a way that is healthy and Christ-centered. Chris serves as a financial advisor, helping business owners and families provide well through stewardship, faithfulness, and generosity. They lived in Santa Clarita for the first five years of their marriage before moving to Minnesota in 2022. They are attending Park Community Church, where Chris plays drums and Stacey sings as part of the worship team. Chris and Stacey enjoy spending time outside, playing board games, and trying to find a decent cup of coffee (there91ɫƬ no Simon Ogg in Minnesota). They love and miss their friends and family back in California but are grateful for how the Lord has provided in this season.
Andrew (’18) and Ellie (Daugherty) (’24) Hartung got married in April 2024 and live in Encinitas, California. They have been blessed to be a part of a church plant called Redemption Church North County. At Redemption, God has graciously built a church that is both strong and full of life. Andrew and Ellie have felt the love of Christ displayed through the congregation and a genuine desire amongst members to serve one another. Some of their weekly commitments include home groups on Tuesdays, youth groups on Sunday evenings, and various women91ɫƬ, men91ɫƬ, and church events sprinkled throughout. Andrew works part-time for Redemption, currently teaching through the book of Genesis for adult Sunday school and leading a home group. In addition, he is a student at Union School of Theology in Wales, pursuing a master91ɫƬ in theology. Andrew and Ellie are seasonal swim instructors for Alli Jo91ɫƬ Swim School, and during the off-season Ellie works at Sur La Table while Andrew continues with his church and seminary responsibilities.
Sean (’92) and Becky (Stanford) (’99) Harrelson met while serving in junior high ministry together while Becky was studying at TMU and Sean was finishing his M.Div. at TMS. They married in 2000 and since then have lived in the Seattle area, where they have raised their four children (ages 22 to 16), one of whom currently attends TMU. Sean has served in pastoral ministry for 26 years — the last four as a pastor of leadership development, launching a discipleship institute, training elders, and overseeing pastoral residents. Becky has loved teaching high school family and consumer sciences courses for 13 years and actively serves in their church, discipling high school girls. By giving them a son with autism, the Lord has also given them opportunities to serve other families impacted by disability. Sean and Becky remain grateful for their many friendships through TMU and enjoy maintaining those friendships. They are thankful for any excuse to visit Santa Clarita and TMU91ɫƬ campus.
Sergio Arechiga (’15) was a resident director for five years at TMU, then moved to Peoria, Illinois, and then back again to California. Life is not what he expected it to be; however, in those struggles, he has experienced the love of Jesus deeper than ever before. Sergio serves and works at his church, Reality LA, as a service coordinator and on the worship team, while he witnesses their service to the city in their commitment to seek the renewal of Los Angeles through the good news of Jesus Christ. He also works as support for an adult with special needs and enjoys the simple days of hanging out and enjoying life with him. In the midst of hardships, Sergio recalls the truly good and beautiful life God has given and is thankful for the ordinary days with his family and dog. In every moment, both rejoicing and sorrow, he has Jesus and can rest in Him.
Daren and Jodi (DeNeui) Beck (’90) have served with Action International Ministries in Cambodia for the past 25 years. They have recently transitioned back to Los Angeles, where Daren continues to serve as the associate international director with ACTION. It is a privilege for them to see the gospel proclaimed in hard places, especially among the least-reached peoples of the world! They recently celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary and are blessed with five young adult children.
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