Success Stories - Sean Gysen '92
The Spirit of Power and Love
Many UBCS graduates have served in the armed forces and have sacrificed to protect our country. UBCS would like to highlight one fine officer, Sean Gysen who is a Captain in the US Army, Judge Advocate General Corps. After graduating in 1992 from UBCS, he went to Villanova University in PA and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in 1997 and stayed at Villanova to graduate from their School of Law in 2000. He currently is stationed at Fort Polk, LA. He and his wife Melissa married in 2000 and he is the proud father of son, Lee Jackson (4) and daughter, Louisa Claire (2).
Captain Gysen holds 2 Timothy 1:7-10 close to him: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (8)Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; (9)Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (10)But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” He feels this verse reminds us that “having a strong Christ-centered life will bring assurance in a troublesome world.”
“Although I always knew that the Lord was guiding my life, it was a trip half way around the world courtesy of Uncle Sam that opened my eyes to how real His presence is in my life, and what peace it can give you. Most likely to the surprise of my English teachers, I am a lawyer for the US Army. The Army Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG Corps) is the judicial arm of the Army, and is responsible for supporting all levels of command with a wide variety of legal services.
So far, I have had the privilege of serving in the 1st Calvary Division (at Fort Hood, TX) as a prosecutor. After that, I had the unique honor of serving in the 82nd Airborne Division (Fort Bragg, NC), as the Chief of Administrative Law and then as Chief of Operational Law (advising commanders on military operations and application of US Law and International Law). During this time I was deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our mission required us to regularly leave our Forward Operating Base and travel throughout western Iraq to towns like Fallujah and Haditha. Waiting for me at home was my lovely wife Melissa, who was pregnant with our daughter, and my son, who turned 2 while daddy was away “fighting the bad guys” as he learned to say while I was gone (although I really did not do much fighting). I wanted nothing more than to return safely to my family, and every time I would give or participate in a convoy brief and discuss “actions on contact” (what we would do if our convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) or attacked with small arms fire) the danger of what we were about to do was sobering. I would always say a prayer that if it was God’s will, we would return safely at the end of our mission. The Lord gave me peace that many have described as “peace that passes all understanding.” This was a constant comfort to me, and also to my family at home (not to mention when we do an airborne operation - jump out of a perfectly good airplane- since I am deathly afraid of heights). The Lord also met our need for fellowship by bringing together many believers in our unit. I was blessed to have a boss who was a Christian and other fellow paratroopers who were believers. Their example in the face of adversity was a testament to the other soldiers and paratroopers who worked with them. In that manner the Gospel was spread, shared and received by many who would never have heard it otherwise.
By the grace of God, I was able to return home and am now currently stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana at the Joint Readiness Training Center. We conduct military exercises that are, in many cases, the last training a unit will receive before deploying to support Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Lord has blessed me by bringing me into a strong Christian home with parents who showed me and my sister how to be Godly parents. He has further blessed me with a wonderful wife, who has raised our children in my repeated absence.”
When asked what Christian Education and UBCS means to him, Captain Gysen comments that “I am thankful that my parents loved me and my sister and cared about our spiritual welfare to sacrifice many worldly things to send us to a Christian school. Their Godly example and the Biblical foundation I received at UBCS helped prepare me for life as a Christian. I was not the stellar student, just ask my teachers. Through it all, the Lord had a plan, and no matter how much I bumble and think I know what to do, I continue to turn to God and he continues to bless me. Now that my son is going to be starting school, Melissa and I know how important it is that our children also receive a Christ-centered approach to teaching. We know that the Lord will lead us to the right school for our children, no matter where the Army sends us. If you look to the Lord he will guide your path.”