Commissional Corner: Alumna Viki Amend

Viki Amend graduated from the MAGL program in May of 2020. She is currently working for Prestige Learning Institute in Houston, Texas. The institute empowers refugees and immigrants to thrive holistically in the United States. Viki states, "We know that people come to the United States seeking peace and prosperity, but these don't truly exist outside of the Prince of Peace. We offer services to meet academic, social, emotional, and spiritual needs."

Viki was born overseas and spent her childhood in Forney, Texas. She came to know Christ during her early college years. "I grew up very involved in church but didn't grasp the depth of the Father's freely gifted love. I encountered Jesus as the One who sets the captive free in a prayer meeting in West Texas a few days before my 19th birthday. He delivered me from fear, filled me with His Spirit, and showed me the magnitude of His sacrifice." If there is one word Viki would use to describe God in her life, she says it is "(My closest) Friend."

Viki utilizes the skills she acquired through the MAGL program to lead teachers hired from the refugee community. She believes the MAGL program has prepared her for this role by providing a solid foundation for understanding the community's background. Viki expressed how the MAGL program has influenced her worldview: "The MAGL program cracked my worldview open to how the Lord enters into each culture to redeem them. Participating in classes, conferences, and discussions showed me that '...the Gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is bearing fruit and increasing...'(Col. 1:6). I specifically remember attending a conference where workers gathered from all over the world and shared incredibly unique ways that the Lord led them to engage with their respective fields." One of the most essential lessons Viki learned in the MAGL program is that the Holy Spirit is the one who has the wisdom to help her apply information correctly. She said, "Learning about the different types of culture (honor/shame, fear/power) has helped me approach people more slowly and with a desire to understand them and their worldview. I've experienced a sweeter understanding of how Jesus meets the heart's desire of every nation, tribe, and tongue."

When asked to advise new MAGL students, she responded, "I would tell MAGL students to give yourself the freedom to be met by the Lord in class, while you're writing papers, and while reading your material. When I reflect on my time in the MAGL program, I most clearly remember feeling that I was completing the work with the Lord." She continued, "I'd also encourage them to pull from the wisdom and experiences of your classmates (that is something I wish I would have done more). Ask lots of questions and pay attention to the things that challenge you and that which piques your interest." She encouraged graduates to spend time with the Lord to reflect and praise Him for what he has done. "There is life in pausing before the Lord in a season of transition. Also, there is still so much to learn, and Jesus is the best teacher. Let your heart stay soft and yield to His lead, even if it seems He is taking you in a different direction. May you dwell in His love for you as you graduate! Congratulations!"

God has many opportunities to use someone in a ministry like Viki's. Viki expresses that more people must partner with them in prayer, resources, time, and talents. She explains, "We serve the refugee and immigrant population and mobilize local believers to serve the community. Therefore, we are always asking the Lord to send us staff members, interns, volunteers, and those who will sow spiritually and financially." She continued, "PLI serves in a very specific cross-cultural context, so it's a gift to be connected to like-minded people who have a desire to work alongside foreigners and sojourners, and if you've got a desire to empower the nations that the Lord has brought to the U.S."