The Bible describes a virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. It paints the image of a remarkable woman involved in all facets of her community, active in the marketplace, involved in charity and managing the affairs of her household well. “Strength and honor are her clothing…She opens her mouth with wisdom and her tongue is the law of kindness… Many women do noble things… but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Proverbs 31: 25-26, 30). Once again, in conjunction with Mother’s Day, Good News presents our third annual feature applauding four Women of Distinction who are leaders in our faith community. Here are their thoughts on God’s calling along with a few words of advice.
Ginger Martin
President and CEO
Ginger Martin has been president and CEO of American National Bank for 26 years. She began her career as a CPA with Deloitte on the audit side for four years, then switched to banking where she has worked ever since. A small community bank, American National Bank was instrumental in helping small businesses and non-profits obtain PPE loans during the pandemic. Under Ginger’s leadership, their team did $100 million worth of PPE loans, making them the number one PPE lender in South Florida for their size and preserving the livelihoods of thousands. “It was just a really great way to support our community in a time of crisis and there are a lot of organizations and businesses that have stayed open because of it,” she added.
Outside of the bank, Ginger serves on the board of the National Christian Foundation of South Florida, promoting charitable giving through donor advised funds and serving as a Lifework Leadership Coach for many years.
Most recently she was appointed to the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, where she plays a role in establishing monetary policy for the country. “It’s a huge honor,” said Ginger. “It’s really been an amazing experience, especially in the times we’re living in… I’m very prayerful about it, asking God to give me wisdom and direction.”
Though she has never married, Ginger became a foster parent to her nephew Travis and niece Ashley, and formally adopted Ashley as her daughter. “Being a mom is definitely a big deal,” said Ginger, adding “It was the hardest thing I’ve done and the most rewarding.”
What is God’s calling for you?
In this season, it is to be a light in the in the business world.
Do you have a favorite charity and/or do you have a hobby?
I am on the Board of the Broward College Foundation, which is really trying to reach out to a more underprivileged population of students in the poorest zip codes whose families have never had anybody go to college. I’m also on the Board of AWANA, an international child discipleship program. And we have to mention human trafficking because I have not stopped doing the Freedom Challenges. Last year I did three regional hikes and the big one was Mount Rainier to base camp.
Ginger has a passion to end human trafficking and has climbed Mount Kilamanjaro and scaled many other peaks as part of the Freedom Climb in conjunction with Operation Mobilization to raise funds to combat human trafficking.
Did you have a family mission statement?
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). That was the verse I tried to keep in mind as a parent.
What Bible verse has encouraged you?
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5).
What was your most challenging time as a mother?
The most challenging time was in the teen years. I made the difficult decision to put my daughter in Teen Challenge at the age of 17 because I loved her and knew what was best for her and she needed help. When I dropped her off, she was hating me… Once she turned 18, she could leave the program on her own, but when I visited her at Christmas just weeks before her 18th birthday, she said, “Mom, my Christmas present to you is that I’m staying” and she completed the program.
What was your most rewarding time as a mother?
My proudest moment is when she graduated from the Navy Boot Camp, which was very hard, and she served our country for four years in the Navy. And then she went on to get an associate degree from Broward College on her GI Bill.
What advice would you give women or mothers?
Both as a businessperson and as a mother, it’s Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Kim Boland
Administrative Coordinator
Kim Boland serves as administrative coordinator at Cross Community Church, where her husband Dr. Tommy Boland is the lead pastor. It is the church they founded together in Deerfield Beach, having originally served at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.
The Bolands have been married for 30 years and have four adult children. With a bachelor’s degree in management, Kim worked as a claims adjuster for an insurance company after college. When she met Tommy, he was opening a Fitness Center, and the two operated the business together for 11 years, with Kim handling the business affairs behind the scenes. When the couple began having kids, Tommy started working on his degree at Knox Theological Seminary, eventually teaching at Westminster Academy and serving on staff at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Kim served with him, also coming on staff as his ministry assistant. Together they launched out from Coral Ridge to plant Cross Community Church in 2012.
“Since 1992, we’ve always worked together in some capacity whether it was as volunteer or me being on staff,” said Kim. “I’m not an out-front kind of person. I’d much rather be in the background and supporting the details”
Kim is also heavily involved in supporting women in the church, often developing relationship with them in which she can be a listening friend and mentor.
In regards to an accomplishment she’s proud of, Kim said, “Certainly, just being a mom is my greatest joy, but in terms of a particular project, stepping into anything new and unfamiliar and feeling accomplished with that draws me and excites me. For example, two years ago we did a building project at the church, and I ended up with the project manager’s hat. I learned the ins and outs to make it happen and that’s really rewarding to me. Learning is a big thing for me and not being afraid to learn something new.”
What is God’s calling for you?
My true passion and gifting has been administration, so that’s where I continue to serve. Whether it’s Tommy’s vision or the leadership’s vision of the church, it’s how can I help support what it is you all want to accomplish, and what God has given you for this church?
Do you have a favorite charity and/or do you have a hobby?
With much of the family’s time wrapped up in church service I don’t have a particular charity outside of the church. One passion of mine is watching sports, and it doesn’t matter which one. Most recently it’s been baseball. Earlier both of our daughters played volleyball, the boys played football and baseball and I’ve missed having a child that’s immersed in playing sports.
Did you have a family Mission statement?
We took the thematic approach to faith with our kids that God is in everything we do. He’s in every thought. He’s in every action. He’s in everything little thing, and that’s the most important thing you can carry with you through your life.
What Bible verse has encouraged you?
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
What was your most challenging time as a mother?
Our son Zack was diagnosed with a chromosome duplication, so he has special needs and went to Calvary Christian Academy for their exceptionalities program. He’s worked hard to overcome and he’s incredibly gifted in a lot of ways, especially musically. We know he’ll do fine in life, but that’s been our hardest thing is dealing with Zack’s condition and understanding his academic and physical limitations.
What was your most rewarding time as a mother?
The most rewarding is just seeing any of our kids do hard things and do them well. Especially as young adults, watching them reach for God in their challenges is pretty encouraging to see as a mom.
What advice would you give women or mothers?
Definitely cherish their younger years and really enjoy their childhood. Working in ministry can mean 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 the work and church service and given more time to just them.
Laura Bishop
Executive Vice President of Advancement
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Laura Bishop is Executive Vice President of Advancement at Palm Beach Atlantic 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 and work in Washington, D.C.
A graduate of Oral Roberts University, Laura began her career as the marketing director for Cypress Gardens Theme Park. As a young mother, she began working for Westminster Academy eventually directing the school’s development and communications for over 10 years. During this time she also hosted a live radio talk show, “Homeroom” on WAFG 90.3 FM. Switching into the nonprofit charity sector, Laura joined Habitat for Humanity 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 resources God has blessed them with to positively 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 from Germany. It is so amazing to see God’s hand at work and fully acknowledge that it’s him moving 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 Kingdom opportunities to 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 Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach on the weekends and ocean swimming as well. That’s a big part of my weekend, which is like therapy, and I especially love my prayer time during my ocean swims.
Did you have a family Mission 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’m grateful we had the opportunity to travel together internationally on my husband’s film jobs, experiencing different cultures and getting to know each other more deeply as a family. I was also thankful to spend so many years working where they went to school, so I never really felt like a working mom. 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?
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 your most 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 your most 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 or mothers?
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 Bible College there in 2000, Mary said she has watched 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, then going through the accreditation process in 2004.
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. Joe Guadagnino, 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 (the Association 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 the ABHE.
“I’m grateful for Dr. Guadagnino and, of course, my husband supporting me 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 Farm Ministries (an addiction treatment center). If they complete the 10-month program at Faith Farm, they can receive a Restoration Scholarship at South Florida Bible College. They get nine credits for completing the program at Faith Farm, most of them will qualify for the Pell Grant and we’ll cover the rest of their tuition here to help them. We’ve had quite a few graduates from Faith Farm, and some have become valedictorians.
What accomplishment are you most 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 and making 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 your most challenging time as a mother?
It’s through those high school years and when children have to make 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 your most rewarding time as a mother?
It’s seeing our children successful and doing well and having the grandchildren.
What advice would you give women or mothers?
Time flies way too fast, so spend as much quality time with your kids and your grandkids as possible. Make memories with them, especially around Christmas because they’ll forget toys, but the memories with them will last a lifetime, and those are irreplaceable.
Feature/Cover Photo by Justus Martin www.justusmartinphoto.com
Read more articles by Shelly Pond at: https://www.goodnewsfl.org/author/shelly/
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