STRONG AND COURAGEOUS
12 Week Devotional Series for Professionals & Students
WEEK 1: MORE THAN ONCE
Curtiss Gibbs
Curtiss Gibbs joined CVM full-time after 12 years of pastoral ministry in the local church, mostly focused on youth, college students, and missions. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and recently graduated with his Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. Curtiss loves connecting people to their calling and working to see individuals and groups thrive as they serve God. He and his wife, Shannon, have been married since 2003, and enjoy spending time outdoors and in the company of family and friends. He serves as CVM's Northeast U.S. Region Rep. Email: cgibbs@cvm.org
WEEK 2: COURAGE TO SAY YES AND NO
Dr. Glenn Gaines
Dr. Glenn Gaines was the South Central Region Representative for CVM. He is a 1982 Texas A&M graduate that had a mixed animal practice in Brenham, TX for 25 years. He and his wife Kathy have done many short-term trips and worked with CVM in Mongolia from 2007-2010. Email: ggaines@cvm.org
WEEK 3: BRAVE AND VULNERABLE
Krista Forseth
Krista Forseth is the US Ministry Director for CVM. She oversees the coordination of all of the student and professional outreach ministry strategies for the US and Canada. This includes managing the Regional Representatives and Event Coordinator. She also serves a local church with her husband Derek, who is the senior pastor. Email: kforseth@cvm.org
WEEK 4: STRONG LEADERSHIP
Dr. Elizabeth Mendoza, DVM
Dr. Elizabeth Mendoza is a 2005 graduate of the Univ. of Tennessee CVM. She practiced small animal emergency and general medicine in southern CA until 2014 when she and her husband, Jaime moved back to TN to raise their family and try their hand at farming. She serves as the North Central region rep for CVM. Email: emendoza@cvm.org
WEEK 5: MEMORIAL STONES
Dr. Lauren Charles, DVM
. Lauren Charles is a graduate of Auburn, CVM, class of 2005. She grew up in Louisville, KY and returned there to practice in a small animal clinic for 3 years. Then for a year, she practiced in Baltimore working for Banfield, while planting a church. After a number of short-term mission trips to Latin American countries she lived and served in Bolivia from 2009-2012, working primarily with veterinary students. Lauren adopted her daughter Angie, and her dog Ruby in Bolivia, and then married her husband Jon. They now also have two sons, Isaiah and Paul. She serves as CVM's Southeast U.S. Region Rep. Email: lcharles@cvm.org
WEEK 6: WHEREVER YOU GO
Dr. Karen Stoufer
Dr. Karen Stoufer grew up in California, attended veterinary college at Cornell University and practiced in small animal clinics in Buffalo, New York and the California Bay Area, including having her own house call practice until she and her family went to Nepal with CVM in 1990. In 2003 she returned to work in the CVM Seattle Office where she serves as the Asia Regional Director. She & her husband have two biological daughters raised in Nepal and three former foster daughters from Nepal raised in America. Interests include their two grandchildren, third culture kids, refugees, Guide Dogs and camping. Email: kstoufer@cvm.org
WEEK 7: NOT WEAK AND BROKEN
Dr. Monty Mathis
Drs. Monty & Shelley Mathis are WSU veterinary graduates (’86 & ’88 respectively). They both came to Christ one year after graduating. WSU’s CVF group played an important role in their coming to Jesus. After having their own practice for 10 years Monty & Shelley plus their daughter & son moved to the Himalayas with CVM. 15 years later they returned to the US where Monty is CVM’s Mission’s Coordinator and Shelley has returned to clinical medicine. Interested in long-term missions – drop Monty an email: mmathis@cvm.org
WEEK 8: COURAGE IN THE FACE OF POWER
Stephen Cowden
Stephen Cowden holds Masters degrees in divinity and music. His passion is using his thoughtful creativity to empower people to participate in God’s redemptive work. He currently serves as CVM’s eLearning Coordinator. Email: scowden@cvm.org
WEEK 9: FAN THE RIGHT FLAME
Dr. Fred Van Gorkom, DVM
One month after vet school graduation (WSU,1983), Fred Van Gorkom went to Ethiopia with Christian Veterinary Mission. While working in veterinary projects, famine relief, refugee and discipleship ministries he met Vicki, also a veterinarian (OSU, 1982). They married in 1986, returning immediately to remote southwestern Ethiopia where they raised their four children while doing community development and church planting. In 2008, they moved to CVM Seattle where they both serve to help mobilize others for the privilege of international missions. Email: fvangorkom@cvm.org
WEEK 10: CLIMBING THE WALL
Dr. Debbie Hoffele, DVM
Dr. Debbie Hoffele is an OVC 1988 graduate and she has been involved in small animal practice since graduation in Ontario and Nova Scotia. She is married to Dr. Stephen Cheung (Environment Ergonomist at Brock University) and mom to 2 teenage boys. She is involved in missions through the local church and has been on previous CVM trips to India and Honduras. Debbie has served with CVM as STM trip participant, STM trip leader, CVM Canada advisory board and now CVM Canada Executive Director. Email: dhoffele@cvm.org
WEEK 11: NEXT STEPS
Dr. Kit Flowers, DVM
Kit is a 1978 graduate of Colorado State University. He served as a veterinarian in the US Air Force and in private practice in Panama City, FL before going with his wife Jan and daughters, Molly and Missy, to serve with CVM in Kenya from 1985-1990. Kit then returned to Seattle to serve in the CVM home office and has served as the Executive Director since 1993. He and Jan are the proud grandparents to seven grandchildren and are blessed to walk their calling out in the CVM family. Email: kflowers@cvm.org
WEEK 12: THANKFUL FOR THE SCARS
Debbie Roadruck
Debbie Roadruck is the U.S. Ministry Event Coordinator for professional and student conferences, Short Course programs, and communication logistics to speakers and volunteers. This includes support of CVM US Ministry Director, Region Representatives, State Representatives, and Student Leadership. Debbie and her husband, Doug, serve within multiple church ministries and enjoy backpacking in the Pacific Northwest Email: droadruck@cvm.org