Meet the People at IBCS

Sam was born and raised in a pastor’s home in Wisconsin. He recited the sinner’s prayer at a very early age, but didn’t make a true profession of faith until 2014. He attended Fairhaven Baptist College in Indiana studying secondary education. After attending and graduating from trade school with a Travel and Tourism Professional Certificate, he began a career in the travel industry that lasted for 20 years. In 2020 God led Sam to leave his career in travel and take a position as the Food Services Director of Tri-City Baptist Church Ministries, where he has been a member since 1998. Sam met his wife Rachel at Tri-City Baptist Church, and they have three children. Sam and Rachel have served in a number of different ministries over the years at TBC.

Mrs. Eliza Mayoral started going to church when she was eight years old after attending VBS. Her brothers and she started going to Sunday school and, eventually, her whole family got involved in the church. She had heard the Gospel many times and understood it but never wanted to put her faith in Christ because she didn’t want to give up her sin and would always tell herself that she would do it tomorrow. At a youth event, the speaker was talking about the brevity of life and how we are not guaranteed tomorrow. The Lord used this message to help Mrs. Mayoral realize that she could not keep pushing salvation off till tomorrow, so at 13 years old, she finally put her trust in Jesus. Both her husband Emilio and she graduated from IBCS. She graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts Bible and Christian Service: Church Music emphasis. Mrs. Mayoral handles all of the financial aid and billing at IBCS. When she’s not working, she enjoys reading, Microsoft Excel, and spending time with her family and her dog, Moose. She and her husband Emilio recently became first-time parents.

Angelina was born in Greenville, South Carolina, to Christian parents who were called to the mission field of Yap, Micronesia. At four years old while on deputation with her family, she accepted the Lord as her Savior. While growing up on the tropical island of Yap, Angelina enjoyed gardening, snorkeling, and singing with friends. In 2017, she graduated from Bob Jones University with an undergraduate degree in Health Science and in 2022 from Liberty University online with a Master of Public Health. Angelina and her husband, Pastor DJ, the college pastor at Tri-City Baptist Church, are excited about the outreach to students at Arizona State University. Angelina enjoys teaching general science and nutrition for IBCS as well as interacting with students as the Women’s Residence Hall Supervisor. Pastor DJ and Angelina welcomed baby Joel into their family in June of 2023.

Pastor DJ was born in Asheboro, North Carolina. He began a personal relationship with Jesus Christ at the age of 6 years old. In his junior year of high school, DJ surrendered his life to God at The Wilds Christian Camp. After this turning point in his life, God led him to serve in various roles within the church directing children’s and youth ministries as well as serving in two pastoral internships related to college ministry. Pastor DJ has a Ph.D. in Nanoengineering from North Carolina A&T State University and a Ph.D. in Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering from the Arizona State University. Pastor DJ taught as an adjunct professor at Bob Jones University for one semester until he knew God was calling him next to college ministry at Tri-City Baptist Church. Pastor DJ is currently serving as the men’s residence hall supervisor at International Baptist College and Seminary and as the college pastor of Tri-City Baptist Church, lead the Re:Vive college ministry both at IBCS and at ASU. Pastor DJ and his wife Angelina welcomed baby Joel into their family in June of 2023.

Mrs. Linda Shumate was raised in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in a non-Christian family. She met her husband, David, while in college in Tennessee. Both she and her husband were saved while they were graduate students in Boston, Massachusetts, while Linda was pursuing a graduate degree in science. After David was called to the ministry, she changed her focus to raising a Godly family while David was in seminary and eventually on staff at a church and at a Christian college. Linda has been a pastor’s wife and a missionary and has been involved in music ministry. She has been involved in education through homeschooling her children and teaching math at a Christian school for several years. Currently she serves in the admissions office and as Office Manager at IBCS and is involved in the music ministry at Tri-City Baptist Church. The Shumates have six adult children and nine grandchildren (so far).