Phi Alpha Chi 2024

I came to Gordon-Conwell in order to get a rigorous education. My hopes were to dive deeper into the background of Scripture. This is not only the historical background, but even more the languages of the Scriptures and their ancient translations.

My hopes for the future are to pursue a PhD in Old Testament. Ultimately, I hope to research and teach the Old Testament in an academic context.

A sense of calling to ministry brought me to Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee where I met my wife, Amanda. After college, we moved to southwest Virginia where I served in worship ministry for a few years before beginning my studies at Gordon-Conwell remotely. I came here to learn to read the Bible better and know God more by studying the original languages and its ancient world. I’m tremendously thankful for Gordon-Conwell and everyone I’ve had the chance to learn from here.

After graduating, I now serve as a worship leader at CityChurch in Bristol, VA where I am also completing a pastoral residency. I hope to help the church worship our Lord as beautifully and truthfully as we can, by drawing upon the riches of Scripture and the long tradition of the church as we rehearse and proclaim the story of the gospel through our liturgy and songs. I also love every opportunity to teach the Bible, and may be happy to find myself teaching in a classroom of some kind one day.

I decided to come to Gordon-Conwell as a stewardship of how God has wired me for learning—after twenty years of practical ministry, I felt a need for a season of nurturing the life of my mind. I also chose to pursue a graduate degree to honor the educational heritage of my family: each of my parents and grandparents were either teachers or had completed graduate or doctoral programs. Furthermore, through my time in ministry with Cru, certain contexts and ideas warranted deeper intentional exploration such as Asian church history, Asian American theology, honor and shame, and provision and dependence. Finally, in my role of training our staff, I hoped to be better equipped to serve them.

Presently, I will continue to serve on staff with Cru in the areas of leadership development, intercultural training, new staff training, and Asian American ministry. I’m also discerning the possibility of pursuing further education in topics related to Asian American theology.

I came to Gordon-Conwell mostly because I wanted to learn Greek and Hebrew so I could understand the Bible better. Other than that, I had very few goals or expectations; I did not even know if I would finish enough classes to get a degree!

I hope to continue working full-time in industry as to date I have not felt any particular calling to leave that context. I have, however, been gripped with a vision for theological education, particularly in contexts where the costs of that education cannot easily be borne. I hope that working full-time will allow me to make enough proverbial tents (a la Paul) to be able to freely minister to churches and pastors without needing any support from them.

When I began searching for a seminary, a friend suggested that I look at Gordon-Conwell because he heard it was a great seminary. After visiting, the more I talked and prayed about it, the more it became clear that this was where I was supposed to go for my MDiv. God blessed me greatly after I made that decision because the entire time at Gordon-Conwell, I had zero doubts that I was where God wanted me to be.

After graduation, I will be looking for my first pastoral call to a church in the LCMC (Lutheran Churches in Mission for Christ). I am open to a solo pastor, an associate pastor, or a youth pastor position. I am interested in where God will lead me next.

I was born in Puerto Rico, and at the age of twenty-one, I sensed the LORD calling me to pastoral ministry. Since then, I desired to pursue biblical training in a theological seminary. A few years later I moved to the states for a job opportunity, but the desire to study continued on. It wasn’t until later on that, through a conversation with a fellow student in church, I found about Gordon-Conwell and was delighted to start studying.

Although unexpected, after ten years of full-time work, the LORD’s hand brought me back to Puerto Rico. I am joyful for the opportunity to serve in various areas in the local church where the LORD has confirmed my calling. I have learned to trust in the LORD’s wisdom and hope to serve in a formal capacity in pastoral ministry in the future.

I met my wife, Hyesun, when we were campus ministry staff. We have two daughters (Sooah and Ahbin) and a son (Danha), building a family for the Kingdom of God. I majored in journalism and intended to become a journalist for Jesus. However, in obedience to God’s call to young souls, I served a missionary organization (JDM, Jesus Disciples Movement) for ten years and devoted myself to campus ministry in the Seoul area. I moved to the United States in the summer of 2020 to study for an MDiv degree at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and came to Maryland in the fall of 2023.

I was ordained by ECA (Evangelical Church Alliance). Since November 2023, I have been in charge of worship and pastoral care at the Church of Philippi in Maryland. My dream is to see a healthy, dynamic, biblical, evangelistic ministry happen in the local church. My keywords for ministry and academics are global, creativity, and next generation.

Throughout my adult life, I have been drawn to helping people experience the love and welcome of God. I especially love the place where brokenness intersects with Jesus’ mercy and healing. Now that my two daughters are entering their teens, I found myself with more time to pursue a degree in counseling. A close friend recommended Gordon-Conwell, and I am so thankful to have studied here. Through my classes, I’ve learned how to integrate a wealth of counseling skills and methodologies with Christian doctrine and my own theological perspective.

After graduation, I hope to work with adults and adolescents in the Asheville area, providing a safe space for my clients to experience mercy, healing and growth.

When I initially began coursework at Gordon-Conwell, my intent was to simply get some training to be a better Sunday school teacher. I began to understand the Word in a deeper way, and it changed my life forever. The community of believers I’ve met here have encouraged me to pursue all that God is calling me towards.

In the next year I plan to continue taking courses at Gordon-Conwell as we wait for our son to finish his senior year of high school. This will also help me to prepare for a potential PhD program in Fall 2025.

Inspired by my family’s deep roots in church ministry and their faithful service, I have long felt a calling and a pull to pastoral ministry, especially preaching and teaching. Though I was actively serving my local church, I was hesitant to pursue seminary because I had a young family and had just recently completed an MBA, so I understood the financial and time commitments required. However, after a providential encounter with Gordon-Conwell staff at a seemingly random and unrelated time management seminar, I was encouraged by the opportunities they shared over lunch and the doors God was opening for advanced theological study. The ability to pace myself so that I could continue my full-time job, do ministry, and care for my growing family while taking classes has been invaluable.

I have been extremely blessed and am very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Gordon-Conwell community. I look forward to continuing to serve as one of the pastors in my local church in Springfield, Massachusetts. Beyond administrative, preaching and teaching duties there, I hope to devote time to writing in the area of personal finance and stewardship. And, if the Lord allows, my longer-term desire is to continue my theological studies (ThM and/or PhD) and later teach in some capacity at the college or graduate school level.

In college I sensed a call to ministry because I realized I wanted to teach about God and His Word, did not want anyone to walk through life’s difficulties alone, and wanted to help others know the abundant life that God has for them. In my first year out of college, I was a year-long ministry resident at my church, and I decided to attend seminary so that I could be better prepared to serve the Church through vocational ministry. I chose Gordon-Conwell because I appreciated the school’s evangelical beliefs, academic rigor, and cross-denominational approach.

After graduation, I hope to serve the church in full-time vocational ministry, and I am considering ordination in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. My current ministry passions are missions, preaching, discipleship, and community care. Regardless of what I do, my hope is to share with others the riches of a joy-filled relationship with Jesus.

Before coming to Gordon-Conwell, I was with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Hawaii for about six years. In YWAM, I felt that God was calling me to teach the Bible. So I came to Gordon-Conwell to be better equipped for this calling.

I am continuing with my studies at Gordon-Conwell by doing the ThM degree in Ancient Cultures and Languages. God willing, I will be applying for PhD programs in Assyriology/Old Testament later this year.

I first enrolled at Gordon-Conwell as a campus minister working in the Boston area. I was seeking tools to help me answer the many questions I have had about my faith and to be trained to help others navigate their faith in a thoughtful way. I was also drawn by CUME’s focus on urban ministry and leadership skills.

I currently work as a data scientist for the State of Indiana. Next year, I plan to continue building my capacity to “seek the peace of the city” as a data professional in the public sector by pursing a Master in Public Administration at Harvard’s Kennedy School. In the future, I hope to teach adult formation courses in the local church and write in the area of theological ethics, especially on the faithful creating, maintaining, and reforming of institutions.

My journey to Gordon-Conwell began when my wife enrolled in courses there in Fall 2019. Following her, I joined the community by starting a certificate program at CUME in Spring 2020, eventually transitioning to the MDiv program in Summer 2021. Though I had long contemplated studying theology, I hadn’t anticipated beginning this early, yet the decision has proven immensely rewarding. The supportive environment of my church, Evergreen Church in Brookline, MA, played a pivotal role in guiding me toward Gordon-Conwell and fostering my academic pursuits.

In the immediate future, I aspire to deepen my ministry involvement at Evergreen Church while remaining open to whatever opportunities arise. Long-term, I’m uncertain of the specifics, but I feel called to continue serving in pastoral capacities, fostering growth and community wherever I go. I’m grateful for the enriching experiences and education provided by Gordon-Conwell, and I eagerly anticipate seeing how God will continue to guide me in His goodness.

I grew up in Brewster, Massachusetts, where my dad is the pastor of Brewster Baptist Church. After studying philosophy and poetry, working as an English teacher and oysterman, and serving in my local church, I discerned a call to pastoral ministry in New England. I chose Gordon-Conwell because I wanted a school that was both evangelical and in-person here in New England. I was blessed to meet my wife, Marci, during seminary.

After graduation, my family and I are moving to Manchester, New Hampshire, where I will serve as pastor of the First Baptist Church. We hope and pray it is the beginning of many years of fruitful ministry here in New England.

I currently serve as an Associate Minister at Morning Star Baptist Church (MSBC) in Mattapan. Our Pastor is Bishop John M. Borders, III.  At MSBC, I have served and/or am serving on the ministerial team, past leader for the Ambassadors (New Members) Ministry, past chair the Nominating Committee, and I am currently serving as the founder and lead teacher for the WISE Women’s Adult Sunday School class. This year, I also took on a new role as head of the Missions Department. I came to Gordon-Conwell so that I could expand my knowledge, understanding, and experiences with God’s Word and His people. Through this experience, I hope to better understand and articulate God’s Word, minister to His people, and assist in the building up of the Kingdom of God.

My immediate plan is to apply and enroll in the DMin track, Pastoral Theology in Practice. I hope to start the program at Gordon-Conwell in the fall. Long term, I see myself engaged with my local church ministry; however, I am also interested in teaching or administration in a seminary context, as well as faith-based non-profits.

I came to Gordon-Conwell seeking answers to challenges to my faith that I experienced in my undergraduate. It also came out of a general, yet undefined call to ministry at the time of my entrance into the seminary. My time at Gordon-Conwell has clarified both my faith and vocation.

I plan to continue my education to get a PhD in New Testament studies. I hope to teach in a postsecondary educational setting, ideally in a public university.

In 2020, my family and I moved to Massachusetts from South Africa, drawn by the MACO program’s impressive reputation for integration of faith with clinical care, academic excellence, and its intercultural-interdenominational environment. During the twelve years prior to Gordon-Conwell, I lived and served cross-culturally, gaining experience and insight into the challenges faced by those in ministry around the world. This increased my awareness of the need for mental health support for families and individuals in ministry and is what inspired me to pursue a career in counseling.

After graduation, my wife, Amanda, and our three boys, Will, Sepi, and Jona, plan to travel to Michigan for a month where I will intern with a missionary retreat center. We will then move to Washington state where I will pursue licensure as we continue to discern our path towards caring for those in ministry.

My journey to Gordon-Conwell was anything but straightforward. I ended up here following the encouragement of my peers and mentors, hoping to find that the pursuit of theological education resulted in a state of peace for my soul. Gordon-Conwell has thus participated in my continual discernment of the unique person God has created me to be and the particular gifts he has bestowed on me.

My sense of call is very simply to be faithful in each present moment, with whatever has been placed into my hand for the current season. At the moment, this includes being a good listener and friend to all I hold dear, as well as being attuned and attentive to the needs around me.

I previously studied at Gordon-Conwell and enjoyed the theological formation I received. Thus, in considering pursuing professional/pastoral counseling training, Gordon-Conwell was my first point of call.

I am looking forward to utilizing the tools and skills that I have acquired from Gordon-Conwell’s theological and psycho-counseling formation to serve those whom the Lord of mission will position me to serve. I want to serve people with substance abuse disorders and be involved in ministry to diaspora populations in the United States.

I was brought to Gordon-Conwell through experiencing a years-long call to attend seminary. At the encouragement of friends, family, church community, and mentors, I applied to Gordon-Conwell to fulfill this perceived call. Through much discernment, I felt like Gordon-Conwell would best speak to this call due to its rich theological heritage and its multi-denominational community.

After graduation, my wife and I will be moving to Chapel Hill so that she can pursue a PhD at UNC. After an initial year in the RDU area, I plan to begin a PhD as well.

After my father fell ill, I started helping more with church and enjoyed preaching very much. After he got better, we decided to come to America to pursue further preparation for ministry. An acquaintance from ministry then mentioned Gordon-Conwell, and my wife, three daughters, and I came, right before the pandemic. Now, we are serving at Grace Chapel Watertown, buying our first home, and helping Brazilian immigrants in a variety of ways, both in and outside the church.

My immediate goals include engaging more with musical worship ministry, an area that is close to my heart and pastoring in some capacity according to what God allows. Pursuing a doctorate is something I’m also considering, as it would allow me to teach and write, but I long to first understand my specific theology and ministry through practice.

I was involved in Bible teaching ministry through Youth With A Mission (YWAM) for five years prior to Gordon-Conwell, and studying and teaching the Bible has deepened my desire and the need to study more properly in a theological education program. YWAM’s ministry partnership with Gordon-Conwell as well as Drs. Tom and Donna Petter’s continued efforts with YWAM made Gordon-Conwell an obvious and right choice for where to pursue my education.

I want to continue my teaching ministry along with discipleship no matter what context God brings me to. I want to incorporate art in Bible study, whether that be publishing Bible study guides, leading small groups at church, or continuing my teachings in YWAM.

While working overseas for a couple years, I began to feel the pull towards pursuing my education further. After turning down the opportunity to enter an MFA program I returned to the states and worked in ministry for a while. All that time I could not shake the pull of a proper theological education that all the solitary reading, podcasts, etc. could not offer. At a trusted friend’s suggestion, I looked into Gordon-Conwell, came for a prospective student tour, and soon thereafter knew that this was going to be the right school for me.

In the fall I will be applying to PhD programs with the aim to work in Syriac scholarship. My hope is to highlight this often neglected portion of the Church’s larger story and identity.

My husband and I and our eight children have lived on Boston’s North Shore in the shadow of the Hamilton campus for nearly fifteen years. We have fellowshipped with many dear seminarians and their families over the years. I never dreamed I’d be one of them! During the COVID lockdown, God called me out of two decades of stay-at-home motherhood to pursue spiritual motherhood in ordained ministry.

My calling is justice-driven discipleship and evangelism. After graduation, I will embark on a two-week silent retreat to mark the transition from full-time student to full-time minister. I will return from my trip to the honor of continuing to serve in the local congregation where I received and grew into my call.

As I was completing my MBA back in Lebanon, I started auditing classes at a local seminary, and I was interested in studying biblical Greek, so I took two semesters of Greek. The following year, I took two semesters of biblical Hebrew, and I fell in love with the whole process of using the grammar to better understand and interpret the Bible. During that time, I felt the Lord directing me and my passion for teaching in a new direction related to biblical languages, so, I prayed about it and decided to look for a master’s degree in that field. After observing the different programs in several seminaries, the one at Gordon-Conwell was the most appealing and satisfying to me. I applied, got accepted, and I can say that the program here not only quenched my thirst for languages, but added more value and increased my desire to search deeper into that field and use it for God’s glory!

I feel called by God to serve His people and church in the Middle East using the gifts He has given me. I also plan to teach biblical languages and give seminars on other Ancient Near East languages at seminaries. Finally, I want to write biblical Hebrew and Greek grammar books in Arabic to be used in Arabic-speaking countries, and maybe translate them to English as well!

I came to Gordon-Conwell seeking training to become a competent, ethical, and trauma-informed mental health counselor within my community. The MACC program has provided a safe and challenging educational setting for me to develop as a mental health counselor and prepare me for clinical work.

With my degree and licensure, I plan to provide clinical mental health counseling to individuals from all walks of life. I am particularly passionate about specializing in Child-Centered Play Therapy to help children process challenges in a developmentally appropriate way, and in working with adults who have experienced a history of trauma.

My family (husband, Dan, and three children, now teenagers) and I moved to the Charlotte area in 2015 after almost fifteen years of service on the mission field in Papua New Guinea and Cameroon. At the encouragement of my pastor, I became involved in the teaching ministry at my church and quickly felt that I had finally found my true passion and calling. I began working towards my degree at Gordon-Conwell in 2019 to be better equipped to serve the church through my gift of teaching. I also began to pursue ordination and was ordained as a Deacon in the Anglican Church of North America in 2022.

I am currently serving as part of the Interim Pastoral Team at Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Cornelius, NC. In the future, it is my hope to pursue ordination to the priesthood and to find a more permanent pastoral staff position and continue to serve in parish ministry. Whatever form that takes, it is my greatest desire to use what I have been given to nourish and strengthen the church to live faithfully, courageously, and with hope in the midst of a broken world.

After completing my doctoral studies at Ashland Theological Seminary, I recognized that many of the mental and emotional struggles of those being referred to me exceeded my capacity to help. I enrolled at Gordon-Conwell with the hope to increase my skill set to benefit the body of Christ. God invites us to love Him and others with all of our selves. My training at Gordon-Conwell in conjunction with my prior theological training will equip me to partner with the Holy Spirit more effectively to empower those who are hurting to heal so that they are better able to accept God’s invitation and live as beings of active love in the world.

I plan to work with those who have suffered severe and repeated trauma, known as complex trauma. These individuals are among the “least of these” having suffered tremendous relational betrayal often from very young ages. I will work with the Holy Spirit to empower these individuals to heal and grow so that they can experience themselves as beloved children of God within a clinical setting and through my own non-profit Christian practice that combines psychological practice with deliverance ministry and healing prayer.

I have been happily married to my wife, Laura, for nine years and love being the father of my four kids, Ruen (20), Rain (14), Trinity (5) and Haddon (2), and I certainly couldn’t have completed this degree without their encouragement and support. I worked with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), primarily as a Bible teacher in the School of Biblical Studies, for 15 years before enrolling at Gordon-Conwell.  Being able to do my degree online and in the context of ministry was a tremendous blessing.

I hope to always be involved in teaching God’s word to God’s people, whether in the church or in the academy.  I plan to pursue a ThM next and, Lord willing, a PhD in Old Testament Studies.

I was born and raised in Argentina to South Korean parents, which made me a third-culture individual. This unique upbringing, coupled with my experience as an immigrant kid, has deeply influenced my outlook and sparked my passion for comprehending and assisting individuals from various cultural backgrounds. Motivated by my commitment to serving this diverse population and my aspiration to integrate clinical and theological formation, I enrolled at Gordon-Conwell. My journey at the seminary has been transformative, fostering not only academic growth but also spiritual, emotional, and relational development.

After graduation, I will begin my doctoral studies in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte in the fall. Due to my cultural background, I feel passionate about topics related to multicultural counseling and the significance of promoting awareness of culture, values, and beliefs to deliver competent and ethical services to clients from diverse backgrounds. I am enthusiastic about undertaking research that delves into the intricate connections between culture, identity, and mental health. My particular focus lies in exploring topics related to immigration, the effects of acculturation, the development of cultural identity, third-culture individuals, racial trauma, and the influence of cultural factors on therapeutic interventions throughout one’s lifespan.

I came to Gordon-Conwell to pursue my calling in pastoral ministry. I came to develop my skills in accurately exegeting Scripture and faithfully preaching God’s Word. I came at the encouragement of my local church leadership and with their prayerful affirmation of my calling.

After graduation, I will serve as a lead pastor and church planter in Indian Land, SC. I look forward to serving the mission of God by making disciples who know Christ, live like Him, and make Him known. I intend to use the gifts of church leadership, teaching, and evangelism to bring Gospel transformation to our community and beyond.

Hello! I live in Brooklyn, NY with my husband, Ben, and our two sons, Ellington and Orin. After over two decades of working in education, publishing, and curriculum development, I felt God’s call to pursue counseling for the second half of my career. This led me to the MACC program at Gordon-Conwell—Charlotte, and I’m so grateful for my time here.

Upon graduation, I plan to continue serving clients as a faith-based licensed mental health counselor. I’m also charting a path of ongoing training and mentorship to specialize in Christian sex therapy for individuals and couples here in New York City. As a part of this, I hope to use workshops and events to help normalize conversations and education about sex and sexuality explored through the lens of faith.

As a full time pastor and missionary, I was looking for a higher education opportunity that would provide a solid foundation on theology and Christian thought. After visiting different institutions, I chose Gordon-Conwell because it offered a sound biblical and evangelical education, with high academic quality, a strong practical component, and a variety of perspectives in the faculty. I chose the Charlotte campus because our family lives in the area and for its focus on adult education.

I have been involved in pastoral and missionary work for over 15 years now. Additionally, I have been teaching at different seminaries in Latin America for almost the same amount of time. After graduation, my immediate plan is to continue both works, now better equipped to do so. My long-term dream would be to earn a PhD degree.

Gordon-Conwell has a been a beautiful respite of peace and hope the past few years as I’ve pursued my Masters in Christian Counseling. I learned from a former graduate what a great place GCTS was for her and was excited to get to be a part of this community. It has proven to be an incredible place to further my education and pursue my calling.

I’m currently working full-time counseling children, adolescents and adults. My hope is to work towards specializations in play therapy and trauma work, to give those of all ages and developmental levels a safe space to experience healing and growth on their level.

After discerning and answering a call to pastoral ministry while in college, I chose Gordon-Conwell because of its prestigious evangelical and multi-denominational identity. Through the counsel of trusted spiritual leaders in my life and thanks to the influence of Tim Keller (MDiv ’75), Gordon-Conwell quickly became my clear top option for theological education. It has been such a blessing to be refined intellectually and spiritually during these three years!

Upon graduating, I will be pursuing pastoral ministry (location TBD) and ordination with the PCA, and I hope to continue a lifelong ministry in the Reformed tradition.