Meet the Disciplers

Hi, I’m Dr. Mateus de Campos…

I’m the Director of Discipleship at the Discipleship Experience and an Assistant Professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell. I’m originally from Brazil where I served as a pastor for about ten years. During that time I learned the value of discipleship, not only as a tool for ministry, but most importantly, as a fundamental way to live the Christian life. Discipleship is about spiritual friendship with Christ and with others. It is an ongoing journey where we follow Jesus in community with the desire of being shaped by his character. I understand discipleship through the lenses of the Gospels, especially the Gospel of Mark, which is my main area of interest. I enjoy taking walks, reading, listening or watching a well-told story, and spending time outdoors with my family.

Hi, I’m David Broberg…

I’m the Assistant Director of Discipleship at the Discipleship Experience. Currently, I am doing New Testament doctoral research remotely at Trinity College of Bristol in the UK, specializing in the book of Acts. My first experience of discipleship came as a teenager in the form of mentorship when my Youth for Christ leader took me under his wing and invested his time into me. That mentorship was so formative for me, that I continued to seek out mentor figures throughout my college and seminary years, so that I would constantly have someone I could learn from and be vulnerable with. However, ever since college I have also benefitted from experiencing discipleship in the form of fellowship, where I have walked together with several people throughout the past decade in mutual commitment to sit at the feet of Jesus and be shaped by him together.

For me, the beauty of discipleship is that we are, in fact, all walking together as we follow Jesus. It is amazing to think that when Jesus sets out to disciple people, he calls us to be in intentional relationships with each other where we brush shoulders with people we would have never expected, so that we learn together, grow together, challenge each other, and support each other in our discipleship to him. When I’m not tending to the Discipleship Experience or soaking in the book of Acts, I love exploring all that the North Shore has to offer, from hiking trails, marshes, and beaches, to downtowns, coffee shops, and restaurants.

Hi, I’m Dr. Gwenfair Adams…

My specialties in Church History are focused on Medieval and Reformation studies. I have a special interest in the historical arc from late medieval Catholic England through the Reformation to Puritan New England. I have additional research interests on the impact of monasticism on Reformation spirituality; C. S. Lewis and mythology; the shaping power of story on theology; and the history of the expression of the gospel. In discipleship, I use LifeStory Exegesis™ (Story Spirituality™)—a model of spirituality of my own that can be used in spiritual formation, direction, discipleship, and counseling. Bringing together theology, historiography, and literary theory, it engages the structure of the Creation-Redemption meta-narrative. My goal in discipleship is to provide a framework that shapes the understanding and effective living of one’s life. A life-long Presbyterian, I enjoy engaging the church with my husband, Kevin Adams, the senior pastor of East Baptist Church in Lynn, MA.

Hi, I’m Dr. Jeffrey Arthurs…

I’m the interim dean of the Hamilton campus and my teaching area is homiletics and communication. I’m passionate about the local church and have been a pastor in years past. Currently I’m the interim pastor of Cross Bridge—the English ministry at Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston (Lexington). In the last three years I have discipled three groups of men at Gordon-Conwell. At my home church, North Shore Community Baptist (when I’m not serving as interim pastor), I developed a program for potential elders to help them discern God’s calling and feel equipped for that task. Discipleship is important to me because our Lord commanded us to “make disciples,” because I have been encouraged in the journey by my own mentors, and because I believe that the way to change the world is one person at a time. For fun I exercise a lot, playing disc golf, tennis, running, biking, and doing yoga. My wife and I enjoy watching old movies and traveling, and I love to read fiction but don’t have enough time to do so!

Hi, I’m Dr. Kenneth Barnes…

Prior to my academic career, I spent many years as a senior international executive for several multi-billion dollar companies doing business on six continents. I also served as a bi-vocational pastor in both the United States and the United Kingdom where I hold dual-citizenship.

In 2007, I began serving as a chaplain and mentor to international graduate students at Oxford University. As part of the Oxford Character Project, the Graduate Christian Union, Trinity Forum, and the Veritas Forum, I was thrilled to engage with skeptical students to consider the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition to engaging skeptics, my passion is to nurture Christian students in the integration of their faith and work.

My main areas of research and teaching are the intersections of theology and economics and faith at work.

My wife Debby is a singer, songwriter and professional voice-over artist. We have three grown children: Bernadette, Christian and Julia and three grandchildren: Luca, Mylo and Giovanni.

Hi, I’m Dr. Eun Ah Cho…

I am the Dean of the Ockenga Institute and an Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies at Gordon-Conwell. I find daily rest and strength in knowing that I can make my home in Christ, just as He does in me (John 15:4). In all that I do, whether it is an academic endeavor or a mundane task, I remain grateful in Jesus’ invitation to walk and work with Him in the unforced rhythms of grace (Matthew 11:28-30). I begin my days with the end in mind – that on that day a great multitude “from every nation, tribe, people and language” will stand before the throne and the Lamb and worship God (Revelation 7:9). Thanks to the guidance of those who walked before me, I have learned to rest in Jesus, work with Jesus, and hope in Jesus. With those whom God entrusts me with through the Discipleship Experience, I want to do the same.

Hi, I’m Dr. Katherine Horvath…

I am the Director of Career Services and Admin. Dir. of Mentored Ministry here at Gordon-Conwell.  I also teach the course, Conflict Management in Life & the Church based on my D.Min. research and previous MACO concentration.  Called to ministry fresh out of college, I was on staff with Cru for many years, followed by a stint in West Africa and a few years in Russia with the Navigators—where in each place discipleship has been a core value and activity.  Currently, I enjoy serving as deacon at my church and volunteer chaplain at our county women’s prison.  As a native New Englander (“born in Maine, raised in New Hampshire and grew up Vermont”) I love humor, hiking, nature, and the outdoors!

Hi, I’m Dr. Gordon Isaac…

I teach church history and serve as the director of the ThM program in Christian Thought. My special area of study is Martin Luther and the Reformation. His expression of the gospel has had a powerful effect on my grasp of Christianity. I have studied at a holiness seminary on the west coast, with the Lutherans in the upper Midwest, and I completed my Ph.D. at Marquette, a good Jesuit University. Sojourning with different expressions of the faith has informed my study of church history and my views of discipleship. In addition, I grew up in a church in Seattle Washington located just above the downtown that had outreach using community programs, a coffee house ministry, and a house for men out of prison. Discipleship can take a thousand forms, but is meant to shape an individual in the context of the Christian community. When not teaching, I love to cook, walk the waterfront in Gloucester, and follow the Premier League.

Hi, I’m Dr. Todd Johnson…

I am the Eva B. and Paul E. Toms Distinguished Professor of Mission and Global Christianity and Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. I enjoy studying Christianity in every country of the world and producing massive reference books! I was discipled and began discipling others in high school in my Lutheran church in my hometown (Minneapolis) but my own faith journey was quickly impacted by my contact with Christians in other countries. I feel that intercultural discipleship offers the most authentic Christian experience because of the global nature of our faith. As such I enjoy literature, art, music, and food from all around the world and gain the most from those Christians least like me.

Hi, I’m Dr. Carol Kaminski…

I am Professor of Old Testament and Chair of the Bible Division. Originally from Australia, I’ve taught the Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell for 20 years now! My passion is to help people understand the Bible—especially the Old Testament! I’m the founder and director of Casket Empty Media, which is a Bible series created around the acronym CASKET EMPTY, designed as a teaching tool to help people in the church learn the storyline of the Bible. In my earlier years as a Christian, I was greatly impacted by spiritual mentors who walked the journey with me and taught me what it means to live the Christian life—some continue to pray for me over 30 years later! My heart is to now be that spiritual mentor for other women during their time at seminary. Discipleship is important because studying the Bible needs to be done in community, as we grow together as followers of Jesus. In my free time, I enjoy hosting friends for a meal, kayaking on the Ipswich River, and since I’m an Aussie, anything in the sun is great!

Hi, I’m Dr. Angie Kim…

I am an assistant professor of counseling in the MACO program and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). My scholarly research is in the areas of defining barriers and factors that impact underutilization of mental health services by Asians and Asian Americans as well as examining the roles of churches and church leaders in increasing mental health awareness and care.

In counseling, building a genuine and authentic relationship with clients is the most important therapeutic factor above the counselor’s knowledge and skills. Without the therapeutic relationship, individuals cannot experience change, healing, and growth. Similarly, relationship was always at the center of my past discipleship experience. The Holy Spirit consistently worked through the discipleship relationship itself to teach, encourage, admonish, and grow individuals to emulate Christ. This type of relational discipleship, centered around the Word, is life-giving and purpose-giving for both the discipler and the one being discipled. I look forward to building enriching relationships with individuals through the Discipleship Experience as we study the Word together!

When I am not working, I enjoy conversing over coffee, traveling with my family, and taking my son to local farms.

Hi, I’m Dr. Karen Mason…

I teach in the area of counseling. I am a psychologist and a counselor but first a Christian. My special interest is how faith communities help prevent suicide. My first meaningful experience of being discipled was in my freshman year of college in a small group. Next was a Renovare group with six others, all traveling together on the road to becoming more like Christ. Both were formative in helping me build a personal relationship with God. I have also had two spiritual directors that have walked with me through the ups and downs of life while helping me develop spiritual disciplines that have been crucial in my life. Through discipleship God has moved from being a far-off person to being my Father, one who delights in me and I delight in him. In my free time, I love to do anything outside—skiing and hiking a mountain are especially fun.

Hi, I’m Dr. Sean McDonough…

I came to Gordon-Conwell in 2000 from Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji, where I had served as the Chair of the Biblical Studies Department and as a lecturer in New Testament. Throughout my time teaching at Gordon-Conwell, I have enjoyed staying active in ministry. I have been a Sunday School teacher and occasional preacher at First Congregational Church in Hamilton and am a speaker for Medair, a Christian relief organization based in Switzerland. My research interests include creation/cosmology in the Bible and the Ancient Near East, Hellenistic Judaism, Greek philosophy and religion and the Book of Revelation. I am happy to walk in discipleship with students as part of the Discipleship Experience. When I’m not teaching you might find me supporting Boston’s sports teams, spending time with my family, traveling or hiking.

Hi, I’m Dr. Donna Petter…

I am the Director of the Hebrew Language Program at the Hamilton campus and Associate Professor of Old Testament. I am originally from Pittsburgh, PA but have traveled extensively as a result of my involvement in Youth with A Mission (YWAM), a short-term missionary organization. YWAM’s vision and mission statement, “to know God and to make Him known” reflects discipleship as a core value. I was discipled in YWAM by the Word of God and a community of Christ followers who shared this common vision for discipleship and evangelism. It changed my life. This is how I understand discipleship. In my free time, I love to cook, bake, and entertain. I especially enjoy all things Italian or French!

Hi, I’m Dr. Thomas Petter…

As an associate professor in Old Testament at the seminary and a pastor in a Congregational church in the Boston area, the intersection of discipleship, worship, and the study of the Gospel in the Old and New Testaments are primary interests of mine. One of the most formative experiences of my life was to participate in a Discipleship Program in Youth With A Mission (1984). The six-month program was an immersion in the study of God’s character, principles of intercession, evangelism and doing “life-together” as followers of Christ gathered from many parts of the world. The lecture-phase was followed by a hands-on outreach in Tanzania. There we experienced the power of the Gospel together through hardships, tough living conditions, and the sweet fellowship of the Spirit with our brothers and sisters in East Africa. Authentic discipleship always includes humility and teachability. But it’s never at the expense of the study of His Word. Jesus’ disciples “continue in His Word.” In a culture constantly vying for our attention, the Word of God (His will for our lives) remains our sure foundation and the true pathway to being disciples (Romans 12:1-2). In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and day-dreaming about sharing my time between Hawaii, Lakeside MT, and other undisclosed locations around the world.

Hi, I’m Dr. Autumn Ridenour…

I am the Mockler Associate Professor of Christian Ethics. I enjoy teaching about foundational approaches to ethics and find that union with Christ through the Spirit plays a fundamental role in shaping virtue or character ethics. I’m also interested in a theology of aging to consider not only ways we physically grow, but also our capacity for spiritual and moral development through the human life span. For this reason, I find intergenerational relationships, fellowship, and discipleship to play a critical role in the body of Christ. Significant mentors and relationships have invested in my own spiritual growth since my youth. As an adult, I find practicing the gospel through authentic community to be one of the most life-giving activities we can participate in for our flourishing and development in Christ. Much of my time beyond the classroom is spent with my family and church community. With two young sons, our family enjoys spending time outdoors, walking, reading, learning, and laughing—lots of laughing. Our most recent family addition includes a bearded dragon named Admiral Ackbar.

Hi, I’m Dr. Jim Singleton…

I am the Associate Professor of Pastoral Leadership and Evangelism and have been at Gordon-Conwell since 2012. Prior to that I was a pastor for 30 years in Texas, Washington, and Colorado. I also lead a project called Thriving in Ministry which is for alums in New England and their friends. I have been involved in Discipleship every year since 1983. My own life was touched by key relationships around God’s Word—both with mentors and with peers. An early reading of The Lost Art of Disciple-Making by Leroy Eims, put me on a path of being in these kinds of relationships for years. When not working, I love to exercise and walk. I especially love baseball and played competitively until I was 55. Too many brain cells are devoted to trivia about baseball.

Hi, I’m Dr. Adonis Vidu…

Knowledge of God and knowledge of self go together, as Calvin saw. I teach theology in a way that makes it clear that one’s very identity is at stake in what you believe and how you live it. Seminary is a place where a student can be guided to discover for herself the enduring truth of the Gospel and its multifaceted significance. In teaching theology, a professor is also a spiritual guide. Theology must be studied in an attitude of discipleship, in full awareness that a student will be called to imitate the teacher, as the teacher imitates Christ. When I am not doing all this, I like to spend my time watching science-fiction shows, reading biographies, historical fiction (especially Middle Ages and 1776), taking long walks with my wife and fishing for striped bass off Crane Beach, to name just a fraction of my hobbies.

Hi, I’m Dr. Xiyi Yao…

I am Professor of World Christianity and Asian Studies. Originally from China, I spent my college years there, worked there, and got converted there. I then went on to complete my theological education (MA in Theological Studies and Doctor of Theology) in the United States, and taught in a seminary in Hong Kong before I came to Gordon-Conwell in 2012. Even during the past ten years at GCTS, my teaching has been done in diverse cultural contexts.

In my two decades of theological teaching, I have always firmly believed theological education is not so much about knowledge-delivering, but more about the total transformation of students’ lives and the wholistic preparation of workers for the Church. Therefore, discipling should stand at the core of our theological training. With that conviction, I led student small groups throughout my time at the seminary in Hong Kong, mentored two Chinese students through an early iteration of the Discipleship Experience here at Gordon-Conwell, and have been involved in mentoring the next generation of Chinese Christian scholars through the Veritas Forum and other platforms.

I am honored to be part of this program. What I bring to this program is my enthusiasm for helping young people grow spiritually, my love for relation-building, and my rich cross-cultural discipling experience. 1 Peter 2:11-12 reminds us: we are all strangers embarked in a journey together in this world. I really look forward to walking alongside of you in this journey of joy, challenge, growth, and service.

Hi, I’m Dr. Gina Zurlo…

I am the Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell, which is an academic research center on campus. I received my MAR from Gordon-Conwell in 2009 and my Ph.D. from Boston University in 2017. I’m an interdisciplinary scholar, crossing between history, sociology, and World Christianity. I’m very much interested in trends related to gender and race in the church (locally and globally) from both historical and contemporary perspectives. I’m participating in the Discipleship Experience partly because I completely lacked discipleship at a formative period of my youth, contributing to quite a spiritual and theological mess to clean up as an adult. I think it’s important for people to have trusted friends and mentors to walk beside, share life with, and explore faith together. My clearly interconnected hobbies are fitness of various kinds and cake decorating.

Hi, I’m Pastor Kevin Adams…

I have been in full time Christian ministry since 1981 when I left Bangor University North Wales with a degree in Theology. With the backing and support of the Evangelical Movement of Wales I worked for 5 years in Evangelistic ministry including local missions, University outreach, youth work, and regular pulpit ministry.

In 1986 I became a full time pastor at Ammanford Evangelical Church, South Wales where I ministered for 18 years. During this time I continued my research into Welsh Evangelicalism and published two books and a documentary film on the one hundredth anniversary of the 1904 Welsh revival.

This work brought me to the United States, where I met my now wife Dr. Gwenfair Walters Adams. For the last seventeen years I have been the senior pastor at East Baptist Church at Lynn MA. This position, along with close ongoing links with the seminary, has enabled me to continue mentoring students both officially through the Mentored Ministry program and unofficially with students who chose to attend at East Baptist.

I believe that spiritual growth and discipleship best occurs in the context of community. We are not” stand alone” spiritual gladiators but rather an essential part of the multifaceted body of Christ.

My influencers in spirituality besides the Bible include late medieval devotion, the English Puritans, German Pietism , Welsh Calvinistic Methodism, and many others. My current interests and studies include “Understanding Classic Secular Fiction as a Bridge for the gospel”, “Christianity’s Confrontation with Totalitarianism” with a fresh look at the German churches’ attitude towards the Third Reich. I also continue to speak and advise on Revival History.

Hi, I’m Pastor Jon Conant…

I’m  a 2017 Gordon-Conwell graduate. I was born and raised in Portland, Maine—it seems a large part of my heart is still there—but after coming to Gordon College to study music, I’ve now been on the North Shore for about twenty years. At Gordon-Conwell I did the M.Div. and MACO tracks because I’ve always been drawn to the interplay of theology, spiritual formation, and mental and emotional health issues. It wasn’t until seminary that I realized I had never been regularly and systematically discipled by someone. Thankfully, Jim Singleton graciously agreed to walk with me through that process. That year formed much of the way I think about discipleship and what it looks like to walk with someone through scripture, to listen, reflect, exhort, and help fan into flame the gifts God has given them. I’ve taken part in the Discipleship Experience every year because it was such a formative part of my seminary experience, and a significant part of my role as a pastor now is dedicated to discipleship. I enjoy working on cars, having heart-to-hearts over good coffee, singing renaissance choral music, going on outdoor adventures with my wife and three kids, and watching Patriots football.

Hi, I’m Pastor Manny Cumplido…

I’m  a 2018 graduate of Gordon-Conwell (M.Div). I grew up in Rhode Island with faithful parents who raised me in an immigrant, pentecostal church. In college, I had my own coming to faith where I first experienced discipleship through the love of campus ministers. Several years after that, a handful of brothers in Christ walked side by side with me through a recovery program that drastically overhauled my day-to-day relationship with God: prayer, scripture, and other spiritual disciplines were all integral to that process. At Gordon-Conwell I was fortunate enough to be discipled in ministry with Pastor Doug Whallon, and in study with Professor Adonis Vidu, whose encouragement to do theology “on our knees” helped ground difficult questioning in devotion to Jesus. All of this shapes how I see discipleship today. Discipleship has taken different forms in my life, but the constants have always been growing in Christlikeness, submitting to Scripture, and authentic relationships.

Alongside the joy of teaching & leading, I try to be intentional with young adults in our community, remembering how transformative that season was in my own life. I love hiking, & aspire to visit every national park with my wife and two children. I’m also perfectly content with a quiet room, decent chair, and a couple books about metaphysics.

Hi, I’m Pastor Sharon Dhavale…

I’m a pastor in residence at Grace Chapel’s Watertown campus. I’m excited to be part of Gordon-Conwell’s Discipleship Experience! As someone who has grown up in a missionary home and has had the opportunity to live in five countries, I’m passionate about the shapes that Christian worship and lived experiences take around our globe. I love being part of the rich glimpses of Revelation 7:9 we get on earth—“After this I looked, and beyond, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the lamb…” It’s an amazing view into how big God is! As I’m going through my pastoral residency, I’m also growing a sweet love for pastoral care and community outreach in the local church context. God cares so deeply about His children and the Church has a beautiful others-centered role to play in demonstrated God’s loving care. When it comes to discipleship, I’ve grown up being freely and generously poured into (including during my time at Gordon-Conwell!) I’ve been constantly encouraged to pursue God with my whole heart, mind, and soul. I wouldn’t be where and who I am today without this gift! Two hobbies of mine include reading and traveling.

Hi, I’m Pastor Andrew James…

I am the Lead Pastor of First Church Congregational Boxford, which is a 320 year old church about 20 minutes from Gordon-Conwell’s Hamilton campus. I have been at the church for about 6 years now. It has been a great challenge and joy to seek the Lord in this role to pour into His people. It was prior to my time at the church (very thankfully) that I learned the incredible value of discipleship. I was discipled through the ministry of Cru in my early 20’s and then for 8 years I was on staff with a ministry to the workplace called CBMC. It was in this time that I was poured into by a gentlemen about 40 years older than me on a weekly basis, and I saw in him the value of tremendous intentionality. Ever since, I have sought to implement that same intentionality while pursuing my M.Div at Gordon-Conwell, while discipling others, and while participating in the Discipleship Experience over the past 2 years.  I love spending time with my wife and three kiddos, learning about history, playing basketball and town softball, relaxing in the sun, sharing the Good News with seekers, and of course rooting out my beloved alma mater, the Alabama Crimson Tide winning college football national championships which is a nearly annual event!

Hi, I’m Pastor Brigham Lee…

I am the Danvers Campus Pastor and Service Production Director at Calvary Christian Church. I am passionate about raising up leaders and ministers of the gospel. Intentional discipleship is crucial to equipping believers for the fulfillment of Christ’s call by the power of the Holy Spirit. I was discipled in my home church from a young age by men and women of God. I was then mentored at Calvary by my senior Pastor as I prepared to enter full-time vocational ministry. The model of Godly leadership with a personal touch made all the difference in my walk with Christ, and walking with others on a similar journey is the most effective way for us to reach the North Shore of Boston with the gospel, and the world. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, golfing, and reading. I also enjoy travelling to eat amazing food – you’ve got to go where the food is!