Scholarship Recipients

Astrid Rios

Biography:

My name is Astrid Rando Rios, and I was born and raised in Guatemala. After earning a B.A. in Architecture and working in the field for several years, the Lord began redirecting my path. In 2019, I came to South Hamilton to pursue a Master of Divinity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, graduating in 2023—the same year I married my husband, Anthony, whom I met at GCTS. Through years of ministry in prisons, hospital chaplaincy, college campuses, and local churches, I became increasingly aware of the deep need for people to be accompanied with wisdom, compassion, and Christ-centered care. This led me to pursue training in spiritual direction and to return to GCTS to complete a Master of Arts in Counseling.

My husband and I share a calling to create spaces where people can experience healing, growth, and deeper apprenticeship to Jesus. Together, we have begun a private practice where he offers counseling and I provide spiritual direction. We believe that counseling and spiritual formation are deeply connected, and that God often brings restoration through attentive presence, meaningful relationships, and the grace-filled work of being known. Some of the Lord’s most transformative work in my own life has come through the loving presence of fellow believers who reflected His care to me. I am deeply grateful to be part of the Women’s Council and to continue preparing for a ministry of walking alongside others as they encounter the redeeming love of Christ.

Jimin Yeo

Biography:

My name is Jimin Yeo. I was born and raised in South Korea until I moved to Phoenix, Arizona at 16 yrs old. My parents trustfully supported my passion to learn the western culture and language by sending me to the U.S. for high school. During my college years, I had a personal encounter with Jesus and became a born again Christian. I studied Accounting in my undergrad and grad school and worked as a Certified Public Accountant. Now, I am married to a godly husband, Michael Son, and have two young children, Noah and Leah. After my first child was born, I prayerfully thought about what the vision and calling are in my life that God has for me. It was then God showed me the heart he implanted in me for the poor and weak. I am so thankful to be in the counseling program at Gordon Conwell. Through the program at GCTS, my goal is to experience God’s love deeper and be equipped to be a Christian counselor.

Ezrina Seo

Biography:

Ever since I was a young girl, I was adamant on becoming a physician. In high school, my love for biology and psychology highlighted the field of psychiatry. I became a determined college pre-med student, who did all of the typical “pre-med-y” extracurriculars– research, clubs, and jobs, etc. However, I was exhausted and burnt out. Just before graduation rolled around, I decided medical school was not right for me in this season of life. Additionally, my parents were going to move to Zambia for missions, I didn’t know where I was living, and I had no job in line. I realized that I had been holding on to the reigns of my life too tight, and I needed to let God lead me. What does God want for me?

With much prayer and waiting, God led me to apply for the MACO program at Gordon Conwell to become a counselor. Coming from a secular undergrad, I knew that I needed more education on how to integrate my Christian faith into the science and secular work field, and the MACO program at GCTS was the perfect place. With my time here, I long to deepen my relationship with God, know myself more clearly, and become someone who can walk with and care for the wounded and brokenhearted. This first semester here at GCTS has been such a blessing, and I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to grow professionally and to grow into a stronger Christian. Praise God!

Amanda Ward

Biography:

I am a Boston native, born here while my father was finishing his MDiv at Gordon Conwell. I met my husband Ryan in our college Intervarsity fellowship, and we fell in love while serving alongside each other in ministry at Bowdoin College. After graduation, God brought us back to Boston for Ryan’s law school and my call to ministry with the Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools (FOCUS).

For the last eight years, I have been serving high school students at independent and boarding schools in the Boston area through FOCUS, sharing the gospel with young people. FOCUS’s ministry partnership with Gordon Conwell allowed me to begin taking seminary classes early in my ministry career, and those classes stirred a love for further theological training in my heart. I want to faithfully follow God’s call on my life by taking this next step to train for further ministry to the church and the city of Boston through the MDiv at Gordon Conwell. Ryan and I now live in East Boston with our one-year-old son and worship at Church of the Cross in the Fenway area.

Esther Xiang

Biography:

I love people. I feel deeply drawn to people and their stories and struggles. I’ve lived in 6 countries, 6 provinces, 9 states, 18 cities, and attended 15 schools. I thought Harvard would give me everything I needed, but only Jesus will. He saved me! The more steps I’ve taken on this path of pursuing ministry, the more I am in awe at how God weaves a beautiful tapestry of our lives to tell a story that uniquely glorifies Him. I feel pressed to lay down my plans and take up God’s plans for me in ministry! After graduating from college, I spent my year pursuing missions in 5 countries through Youth With a Mission (YWAM). I trekked the Himalayas to meet unreached people groups, sharing the love of Jesus and witnessing incredible miracles.

I also got to memorize and share 2 hours of scripture from Genesis to Revelation! The Word has become alive in my heart! The cry is for Jesus to be exalted in every nation, among every people, and in every language. It’s been my greatest joy to go and make Him known in every way possible! I’m passionate about seeing people walk in God’s extravagant affection and live from that place of His love! I want to help spread the Gospel everywhere I go! I don’t want to live chasing after the wind. I want Jesus to use me in remarkable ways! I never want to be sleepy about The Great Commission. I love the nations! God has completely changed my heart since graduating from Harvard! He’s spoken to me that my dreams are too small, reminding me that He is my dream! GCTS is equipping me with an education rooted in God’s word with a family of fellow Christian leaders around the globe, helping to make His kingdom known on earth as it is in heaven!

Christian Shepherd

Biography:

Hello, my name is Christian Shepherd and I am a second year MA in Counseling student here at Gordon-Conwell. I grew up internationally as a missionary kid, living in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe until coming to the States for college. My family went overseas to work with and serve global workers and cross cultural Christian leaders, along with their families, on the field.
Growing up, we had many missionaries come and stay in our home, and they would tell stories of how hard it can be to live life and do ministry, especially in a foreign context. My heart always broke hearing about the pain and hurt these people bear. As I’ve grown, my heart for missionaries has not changed, but my scope in seeing them is expanding. Thankfully more and more resources are available for global workers and their families to help sustain them in their work. Unfortunately, not many of these resources are are directed towards the children of missionaries. As a missionary kid myself, I have great affinity for these kids who need someone to resource them. I speak their language and understand the unique challenges they face in their lives and context. My hope is to take what I’m learning here in Gordon-Conwell’s MACO program and offer it to missionaries and their families, particularly their kids, who need care.
When I’m not studying to pursue that goal, you will most likely find me at the beach, on the water, or under the water – I love to SCUBA dive when I can. And if it happens to be winter in New England, you’ll find me with my nose buried in a book, preferably about some great adventure. I love conversation, good food, and wrestling with new ideas from the classroom. It is my pleasure to be a Women’s Council Scholarship recipient, and I am honored by your consideration.