During your time at college, it is so important to have relationships you can depend on where you can unplug from the rigors of academic life and receive mentoring, prayer support, and spiritual formation all through deep friendship.
The Discipleship Experience at Gordon College is a two-semester opportunity, where students experience discipleship through life-on-life relationships with trained seminary students from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Students who sign up will journey together in a group of 2-3 other students, as they share life together on a weekly basis during the fall and spring semesters.
Julia
Master of Divinity
Master of Arts in Counseling
“In my hardest seasons of life, it was disciplers who gave me both the space to feel angry with God and the assurance that He was still worth serving.”
“[Discipleship] is the passing down of the culture of Christ in the very Spirit of God from one believer to another. I want to maintain it as the core activity of my life.”
“[Discipleship] is important because it assures me that I am not alone in this journey. It also provides accountability to walk with Christ and with others.”
If you would like additional information, please contact us at [email protected]
Hi, I’m Julia Bondi…
Where are you from?
I am from Virginia Beach, Virginia. My favorite place that I have lived is Charlottesville, Virginia. I think the weather is perfect in Virginia—you get all four seasons, but none of them is too extreme. What I love most about Virginia, and Charlottesville specifically, is that the people make it feel like home.
Why is discipleship important to you?
Discipleship is important to me because it is one of the reasons that I know Jesus the way that I do today. In my hardest seasons of life, it was disciplers who gave me both the space to feel angry with God and the assurance that He was still worth serving. Another reason that discipleship is important to me is because it seemed to be important to Jesus! I don’t think that you can model the way of Christ without including discipleship of some variety.
What makes you excited to disciple at Gordon College?
The prospect of getting to play a helping role in a young woman’s pursuit of Jesus excites me! Primarily, I am convinced that a life lived for Christ is the best life you can have and so I can fathom no greater gift than leading someone else as they encounter Christ. Secondly, I think college is such a formative season of life and I would consider it a privilege to be able to speak truth into the big decisions that arise during college such as what to do as a career and who to be as an adult. Lastly, having been in long-term Christian education myself, I would be excited to disciple a student who is in that context as she sifts through all of the cerebral information and habits of convenience that can be present in Christian education, in order to protect and foster the treasure of knowing Christ personally.
How have you been discipled in the past?
I have had the privilege of being discipled by several different women of God from high school until today. All of these discipleship experiences have been deeply formative to my walk with Christ. My high school disciplers taught me how to love Jesus amidst hardship; my college discipler walked me though making life and career decisions that led me to Gordon Conwell; and my current discipler constantly inspires me to prioritize my relationship with God above every other demand of life. Without these women I would not have known what faithful obedience to God looks like or how to embody it.
What are your favorite things to learn about?
My favorite things to learn about are theological truths, biblical tools, and people’s stories. I am most fascinated by people and how where life has led them. This is true of both biblical characters and new friends.
What do you like to do for fun?
For fun I like to be with people—either going on a walk, playing games, chatting over coffee, or watching television. I also like embroidery, thrifting, dancing, and reading. Lastly, I have recently discovered my love of karaoke as well (though I am not a good singer).
Hi, I’m Seth Gladysz…
Where are you from?
I’m from Northern British Columbia. I’ve lived all over North America and must say that California is my favorite place I’ve lived in the whole universe.
Why is discipleship important to you?
It is the passing down of the culture of Christ in the very Spirit of God from one believer to another. I want to maintain it as the core activity of my life.
What makes you excited to disciple at Gordon College?
I love working with college students. I loved college and think that it is a very important and consequential stage in life. To disciple in this time of life brings some of the greatest joys.
How have you been discipled in the past?
I’ve been discipled by various people through the years. There were times where it was meaningful and other times which felt like wasted time. The most meaningful time were when we could be honest about the things going on in our lives instead of just formally meeting up.
What are your favorite things to learn about?
I love learning about the diversity of cultures and nations. I have an interest in the different social realities of groups of people whether in churches, cities, or countries.
What do you like to do for fun?
I explore new places nearby, watch movies, listen to music, and read good literature and journalism.
Hi, I’m Daniel Lee…
Where are you from? What is your favorite place where you have lived?
Originally from South Korea. Tioga County in PA was/is my favorite place where I lived the last 10 years.
Why is discipleship important to you?
It is important because it assures me that I am not alone in this journey. It also provides accountability to walk with Christ and with others.
What makes you excited to disciple at Gordon College?
Although Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell are both on the North Shore, the environment is different. I love to connect with people in different environments than my own and to see Christ work between us.
How have you been discipled in the past?
I was discipled by an executive pastor (Randy), a spiritual director (Bob), and Old Testament professor, Dr. Kaminski, at Gordon-Conwell.
What are your favorite things to learn about?
Languages! Right now, I’m self-studying German.
What do you like to do for fun?
For fun, I enjoy going to the gym (blink), photography, and going on a hike.
Hi, I’m Seong Min Nam…
Where are you from?
I am from Daegu, South Korea. My favorite place that I have ever lived in would be Osaka, Japan, where I grew up from the ages five to ten.
Why is discipleship important to you?
Discipleship is the foundation of faith journey for all believers. It is the very heartbeat of the church and it is the purpose of all who have been called by Christ.
What makes you excited to disciple at Gordon College?
I am elated to walk in the light with young adults and create space at the table for the weary and lost so that they may ultimately, build other disciples and light-bearers. My life calling is to be a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19) and I am most excited to live out my calling through this experience.
How have you been discipled in the past?
I have been discipled by numerous spiritual leaders in the past. Despite many spiritual storms, it is because of discipleship that I am here today walking with Christ at seminary.
What are your favorite things to learn about?
I love to learn various languages, arts and crafts, storytelling, instruments, and sports. Additionally, I enjoy learning about different ways to do the same thing and ways to improve my efficiency on completing certain tasks.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love to paint, bullet journal, knit, cook, and watch animated movies. I recently watched “Bubble” on Netflix and it was highly captivating. Another hobby of mine is reorganizing my room and space. I have rearranged my dorm room five different ways since last September.
Hi, I’m Mary Sedler…
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Massachusetts but have spent lots of time in New Hampshire as well. I attended Gordon College for my undergrad, so I have been on the North Shore most of my life. I love learning about new places, but I will always love my hometown near Newburyport.
Why is discipleship important to you?
Discipleship allows Christians to walk alongside one another just as Jesus intended. I have been so blessed by being discipled as well as discipling others. It has been a critical part of my faith journey. Discipleship allows for deeper, more meaningful relationships as we pray for one another and worship God alongside one another.
What makes you excited to disciple at Gordon College?
College is such a pivotal time in life and the people that discipled me in that time made all the difference. I want to make a difference in college students’ lives. I have worked alongside middle school, high school, and college students for many years and I see that college students are at such a turning point in their faith and their life. God has put college students on my heart as I pursue my seminary degree and I am so excited to be back at Gordon College, now as a discipler.
How have you been discipled in the past?
I have been discipled by the high school youth directors at my church, not only through high school but even through my college years and beyond. They trained me for ministry and walked alongside me no matter what life brought along. I was also part of the Gordon-Conwell Discipleship program last year and learned so much through my discipler and the other people in my cohort. God used the other people in my group to speak to my heart and help me grow tremendously in my faith. The diverse experiences of the people who have discipled me has shown me the beauty of diversity in the kingdom of God.
What are your favorite things to learn about?
Currently I love learning about how mental health and Christian faith interact. That is why I chose Gordon-Conwell—to integrate faith with counseling practice. I also love learning biblical history and geography as well as anything about other cultures and how to understand people better. I am also on a constant pursuit to know more about God and my faith.
What do you like to do for fun?
Taking walks, having coffee with friends, doing crosswords and sudoku puzzles, watching movies, listening to podcasts or audiobooks, reading, and finding places to try something new.
Hi, I’m Joseph…
Where are you from?
I am from China, and my hometown Lanzhou is my favorite among the places I have lived, It has the best barbecue and beef noodles in my opinion!
Why is discipleship important to you?
Because discipleship training is actually a process in which the trained disciples and disciplers walk with Jesus together, everyone is constantly renewed and growing during this process.
What makes you excited to disciple at Gordon College?
I am from China. I have studied and lived in Korea for the past 6 years. All I have learned is the culture of East Asia. Therefore, I am very curious about what kind of collisions I will have with the students of Gordon College under different cultural backgrounds, and I am looking forward to it.
How have you been discipled in the past?
In the past, I had the opportunity to receive discipleship training in South Korea. During that time, we would gather together to share meals, study, read scripture, and pray. We also slept and rested in the same dormitory at night. This immersive experience of studying and living together allowed me to witness firsthand how a disciple of Jesus Christ can actively live out His life in all aspects.
What are your favorite things to learn about?
Currently, I like to study the original languages of the Bible. In my spare time, I also learn to cook various dishes.
What do you like to do for fun?
Basketball, popping, watching anime, talk shows, movies, chatting and walking are all my favorites.
