LBC Echo Fall 2022 - 19

D.C. wasn't any different than California,
however. Instead, Ahl describes that he
became a " part-time thug. " By age 25,
he was bouncing between the street life
and suburban life.
When he attempted suicide and his dad
walked out of the situation, Ahl decided
to care about himself " because no one
else was. " This also included starting to
listen to evangelists on television. He
often found they were speaking directly
to him.
He recalls one evening trying to read
from a gas station Gideon Bible as a
preacher highlighted Scripture. It was
that evening he closed the Bible and
accepted Jesus Christ into his heart
by repeating the evangelist's prayer.
Moments later, when he reopened the
Bible, his perspective and understanding
of the Scriptures changed.
" The power of the after and the memory
of before, " Ahl says. " God has been so
good to us. " That goodness has included
his wife of 34 years, Joan, their two
children and four grandchildren.
During his career as a car salesman
for over 30 years, he really wanted to
preach full time. At times, he was able to
share God's Word, yet his bi-vocational
role was limited to when churches
needed someone to preach or fill interim
needs. He was about to give up on his
desire when a full-time Senior Pastor
role opened in 2018 at The First Baptist
Church-The Plains in Virginia.
" I love preaching the gospel, " Ahl says.
He also loves his church congregation.
" Because my family was so dysfunctional,
I was so impressed (with the family
and heritage of the church and
congregation). " First Baptist in The Plains
is a church with deep family lines and
history spanning 150 years.
Even as he fulfilled his pastoral dream, he
was about to give up on his educational
dream to go to college. However, in
2021, Pastor Anthony Moore, Senior
Pastor of Carolina Missionary Baptist
Church in Fort Washington, Md., told Ahl
about Lancaster Bible College | Capital
Seminary & Graduate School. The two
have known each other for 20 years
after first connecting at an organizational
meeting. " And the rest is history, " says
Moore.
Ahl considered Moore's suggestion and
ultimately submitted his application, as
the funds for his education " just came
in. " The process hasn't, admittedly, been
easy for Ahl.
" I struggle with it, " Ahl shares. The
processes are all new to him. In fact, the
online digital aspect-and looking and
feeling incompetent-were his biggest
fears.
" What's most important is Timothy is
not a typical student, " Moore says. " In
spite of this, he attempts to prepare
himself to be a learner and equipper for
those he serves. "
Ahl has found he is not alone as he
walks this educational path. " LBC
encourages and supports through staff
that walk through patiently and are
persistent and available, " he says.
He was also encouraged when he
arrived at the college's Washington,
D.C. location, and " I saw people who
looked just like me. " He also praises the
diverse backgrounds within his classes
and enjoys hearing the insights of his
younger classmates.
Ahl acknowledges that his own
tendency through life had been to quit
and run away when things got tough.
He credits his commitment to his LBC
education to Dr. Michael Black, former
Dean and Site Director at the D.C.
location who recently returned to fulltime
pastoral ministry. Ahl remembers
Black said to him from the start,
" Promise me you won't quit. "
That promise has kept Ahl focused, as he
realizes he's achieving a personal goal of
being the first in his family with a college
degree, being an example to his family,
especially his grandsons, and preparing
to better serve his congregation.
" I've been able to overcome all these
obstacles because people are willing
to be honest and say, 'you can make it'
even if you feel you can't, " Ahl shares.
It has also been the little interactions at
LBC that have made a big difference.
He remembers Sherry Bell, MA, MEd,
Manager of Global Faculty Support and
Assistant Professor, who taught one of
his first classes. He remembers she said
his name-Timothy-in each interaction
with him.
" Just her saying my name made me feel
welcomed and valued, " Ahl says. " It said
to me 'you matter.' "
" Sometimes you never know how
deeply God has used you! " Bell says
about those interactions. " A word I
would use to describe Timothy is
'perseverance.' A couple of times
when Timothy became thoroughly
overwhelmed with life, he wanted to
quit. But God has been an ever-present
refuge and sustainer, and Timothy has
allowed God to order his steps in his
educational pursuit at LBC. His cheerful
demeanor and wise contributions in
class have been inspirational to his
classmates and professors. "
Ahl continues to trust God and the
people and processes surrounding him
within this educational pursuit. " I tell my
children, 'You are never too old to learn.
Just go through it,' " Ahl shares. " Embrace
the fear of what you don't know. Be
willing to find out what you don't know.
We didn't know how to ride bikes until
someone we trusted helped us. And
then they were close enough to help
us when we fell. "
And Ahl knows that that those important
to him at home, in his personal circles,
in his church and at LBC are right there
to help him whenever he may fall as he
rides through his educational journey.
Ready to explore the in-person, hybrid
and online programs at LBC | Capital -
Washington, D.C., like Timothy? Visit
lbc.edu/dc.
ECHO 19
23
http://www.lbc.edu/dc
LBC Echo Fall 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of LBC Echo Fall 2022
