What an enterprise! It is hard to believe that the divinity program has come to completion! I want to thank my gracious Lord for my very supportive wife, Rachel, for her joyful encouragement through all these years. She has been God's gracious instrument in my life to help me do all that I had to do throughout these five years (Prov. 18:22). I want to thank my dear brother, co-elder, and proctor Dr. Brian Ray for his many hours spent journeying with me through this degree. Thank you very much Brian! I am very thankful for my faithful friend, deacon, and proctor Luke Nachtigal for his many hours spent supervising me in my exams. Thank you Luke! I thank my God for all the members of Gracious Cross Reformed Church who always supported me financially, emotionally, and spiritually throughout all these years, without them I would not be able to accomplish this program. Thank you GCRC! I am extremely thankful for Reformed Baptist Seminary (RBS), this seminary has allowed me to fulfill a dream. I want to thank in particular Dr. Robert Gonzales who, besides pushing me to grow in all the rigorous academic requirements, became a trustworthy brother and helped our local church in some delicate issues with wise counsel. Thank you RBS and Bob! I am truly humbled by God's providence in all His glorious, painful, and joyful details in bringing me to complete this marvelous and difficult Master's of Divinity! For those who are reading this and are pursuing the M.Div., may the Lord Jesus give you the wisdom and strength to complete it! I know this is not an easy task, especially when, as was my case, you have a family, are already in ministry (preaching every Lord's Day), working outside the church in order to support your family, and you face the "beast with seven heads" called Hebrew I, II and Hebrew Syntax (seek out in-person classes with you need help with the biblical languages). Discipline yourself and keep up the wonderful work, He will enable you!
Once again, thank you RBS!
All glory be to Christ our King!
May His peace be with you all!
Gustavo Barros