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Hi everyone.

My name is Steven, and I'm from Brockport, NY. I currently work as the homeless outreach coordinator for the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern.

I'm attending NES for my Mdiv, and persuing chaplaincy and/or pastoral work.

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Hi,

My name is Billy K. Simbo. I live in Philadelphia, PA. from where I serve as Pastor of New Life of Hope Christian Church. Ours is an online congregation, our services are broadcast on Facebook and over a designated phone line every week.

I was born and raised in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and emigrated to the Us in 1983. My background is in Theological education. I taught at The Evangelical College of Theology in Sierra Leone and was Principal of the college for 5 years prior to coming to the USA.

After a 40-year break, I have decided to enroll in the D. Min program in the Spring of 2026, with a zeal for learning more. During my stay here in America, I followed a passion for church-planting amongst African immigrants, and by God’s empowerment I have started 3 churches in NJ and being a part of starting 2 congregations in Pennsylvania.

I come to Northeastern with a long career of doing ministry for over 50 years, and I am looking forward to learning more, and being a part of the Northeastern Seminary community.

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Hello All.

I am Leslie Fife, and I will begin the DMin program in Fall 2026.

I am completing my MDiv at Regent University in a few months. I also have an MA in Human Services Counseling from Liberty U, and a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Oklahoma.

I work in cybersecurity, which is how I pay the bills. I serve as an auxiliary chaplain for the U.S. Air Force and a part-time chaplain at the Utah State Prison. That is how I feed my soul.

My wife and I have 8 children and 14 grandchildren. I play the piano, cello, harmonica, and bagpipes. I was born in upstate New York and raised in Oklahoma. I served in the U.S. Navy as a sonar technician on ballistic missile submarines. I once wrote software for the F-16.

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Blessings!

My name is Tonya, and I am a retired High School teacher from New York City. I am the pastor in the A.M.E. Zion denomination, and I’m excited to be starting the D.Min. program this spring.

Attending seminary is an important part of honoring my “yes” to the Lord, and I look forward to seeing where He leads me along this journey.

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Greeting and salutations in the name of the Lord Jesus the Christ. My name is Joseph, I have been wanting to complete my Doctorate at Robert for several years. By God providence admissions reached out to me after I had started the process back in November and the rest is to the glory of God. I have spent 28 years in the military 22 years on active duty, I am currently a Chaplain with the 10th Mountain Infantry Division in New York and Senior Pastor of the installation Gospel service. That just means a mix of African American denominations with a jubilant style of worship. My passion is teaching and exegetical preaching that results in transformational discipleship experiences. This year I will have been married 20 years to my lovely and anointed wife who just began seminary.

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Greetings everyone,

My name is Jackie Ormsby, and I am excited to begin the MA in Spiritual Formation program here at Northeastern Seminary.

I was born and raised in Rochester, NY. After six major moves, including time in New Jersey, South Carolina, and over 20 years in Jacksonville, Florida.  I am happy to be back home in New York. I currently live in Avoca in the Southern Tier, where my husband Adam (a Roberts Wesleyan Alum) and I share a cabin in the woods with our 2 cats and nature all around us. It is a beautiful setting, second only to our camp on Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondacks. We are also blessed with seven adult children, ranging in age from 18 to 28.

Ministry and service have always been close to my heart. I have been involved in Family Faith Formation and Youth Ministry for over 20 years, and my husband and I currently volunteer at our church and serve as coordinators for The Ramp Guys in Steuben County. Professionally, I am a seamstress specializing in bridal and special occasion attire, though I have also worked as a medical receptionist, office manager, and within a school district for over 12 years. Additionally, I served as a longtime church volunteer and worked on a parish staff for over three years.

Although it has been 35 years since I was last in a college classroom, my goal of earning a master's degree began in 1990. In 2018, I considered starting a theology program in Boston, but God had other plans. This time, His call was loud and clear; I recognize that call and answered YES! Now is the right time because it's on God’s time.

I look forward to learning, studying, and growing in faith with all of you.

In Christ’s love & service

Jackie Ormsby

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Hello all, my name is Bryce Karafa, and I have been a youth pastor for the last six years. I currently live just outside Detroit, Michigan in a town called Royal Oak. I am taking a break from vocational ministry to seek some personal growth. I am really passionate about how God has used His transforming love throughout history and continues to transform us today. I am excited to start in the Theology and Social Justice program. I hope to use my education to be an example to others, specifically teenagers, of what it means to be made right with God and to fully buy in to His transforming love and grace.

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I am a technologist, pastor, and Bible teacher born and raised in Hyderabad, India, where I served as Youth Pastor and Assistant Pastor until 1997. Since moving to the U.S. in 1997, I have ministered at several small, primarily South Asian congregations, and now serve as an Elder at Trinity International Christian Church in Philadelphia, contributing to outreach, fundraising, and biblical counseling for multicultural diaspora communities. I am pursuing a D.Min. at Northeastern Seminary to study and explore a spiritual formation framework addressing honor-shame dynamics and mental health stigma among South Asian Christians

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Stoked to be joining all of you here at Northeastern Seminary! I'm working toward the completion of my Master's Certificate to move on toward my DMin. I have spent 30 years in ministry, teaching and preaching through God's word. I've also spent three decades in publishing as an author, editor, book designer and publishing consultant. I serve on the teaching team at my church in San Diego, and also teach weekly over Zoom to a church in Uganda, where I also travel to help in church planting, church planter assessments, teaching and other ministry endeavors. I've been married for 32 years, and have three grown children. My wife, Karla, is wrapping up her Master's in Art History, so there are now officially 5 college students at home!

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I am eddie greyfox Burgess and  a Chaplain at the local VA in Maine.  As I like to learn through lecture I am hoping this will be challenging of the mind so i can share more with folks !

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Hey y'all! My name is Amy Rogers, and I live in Eastern NC (born and raised!). I have a bachelor's degree in Business Management as well as a master's degree in Sociology, both from East Carolina University. Seminary was never a thought in my mind until a few months ago, when one of my non-Christian friends randomly told me she could see me in seminary (God can use anyone, right!?). I have worked for 9 years with the local Department of Social Services in Medicaid eligibility, and being an advocate for the less fortunate in my community has always been my heart, I just never realized that there was something that could combine my love for God and social justice until I found this program. I am excited about what is to come, and I look forward to meeting each of you soon!

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Hello everyone! Please forgive my glasses - my eyes are extremely light-sensitive. It’s a pleasure to meet you all! Because my history in ministry has consistently focused on the intersection of faith and doubt, equipping believers to share Jesus with their unsaved friends and drawing skeptics towards confident trust in Christ, the ministry organization Reasons to Believe (RTB) offered me a position on their staff. Prior to this role, I spent twenty years as a pastor of evangelism before accepting the offer at RTB a little over two and a half years ago. This position calls for someone who is strong theologically, culturally, and is intrinsically driven to engage the skeptical demographic with truth and compassion. To most faithfully steward the team God has entrusted to me, a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) is my next step towards growing as a pastor, leader, and evangelist. My goal is to be better equipped to support RTB’s evangelism teams, to strengthen the local church’s efforts to engage skeptics, and to become more effective personally by doing my part to open hearts to the gospel.

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Peace and Joy! Nice to e-meet you all. I am honored to be a part of the Northeastern legacy (DMin). My name is Jamella, and I am from Rochester, NY. I graduated from SUNY Buffalo Law School, and serve as a deaconess at the historic Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church. Like all of you, I am in pursuit of knowledge and understanding. I believe the Most High God has put me on this path to continue my education in Him and His Law. I remain humble and grateful for all of the wonderful things He has done in my life and for my family. I am excited to see what unfolds from this journey of spirituality and obedience.

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Hi! My name is Anyah Lewis, born and raised in Detroit Michigan! I'm super excited to be merging both ministry and social justice together this fall! Both are my passions, and I'm grateful to God for this opportunity! Just two years ago I graduated with my bachelors degree ins Sociology, and I thought the next degree would be in Public Administration, however God had other plans.

I'm super excited to be here and to be on this journey with all of you. Whether we cross paths in classes, or we continue to interact on here, I'm praying for each of us as we further our education but, most importantly, as we continue to advance the kingdom!

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Hello everyone! My name is Eve, and I'm so excited to be joining you on this journey! I am a hybrid student and Rochester native living close to campus as I work towards my Masters in Divinity. An animal and nature lover, my journey to Christ has been deeply personal, and I hope to someday be a chaplain at a women's shelter and to also write a book. I look forward to taking this next step with all of you and getting to know you better!

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Hello friends! My name is Josh Brooker and I'm very excited to begin my journey at Northeastern Seminary. I pastor a church in rural Middle Tennessee and have felt a nudging from the Holy Spirit for several years to go back to school in order to pursue more theological training and guided spiritual formation for my next season of ministry.

I'm very grateful and eager to see what the Lord has for me in the days ahead in my time at Northeastern. I'm looking forward to meeting you all and learning together with you in the classroom. Blessings!

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Hey everyone! My name is Elle Emmert, and I am so grateful to begin my journey pursuing a MA in Spiritual Formation here at Northeastern. I am a Pastor's wife, the mom of (almost) three littles, and much of my life revolves around our family and church home. Over the past few years, I've had the privilege of serving alongside my husband in ministry, and walking with others through the many different seasons life has to offer. Those experiences have really deepened my love for helping people encounter God in the everyday moments, while recognizing the privilege it is to be a safe space for others.

After transitioning from my career in HR, and focusing on raising our daughters, I am so excited for this journey and to hear more about the ways God is moving in each of your lives!

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Hi, my name is Sharon Douglas. I live in Chester County, PA. I am entering the DMIN program to prepare for my next level of my calling. I am excited about reentering the DMIN program.

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Hi Everyone,

My name is Carline (pronounced Car-Leen). After a recent two-year mission stint in Montreal, Canada, my husband Brian and I now live in New York City.

We both sense God is leading us to be trained, refined, and prepared for the next season of ministry.

Entering seminary side by side is a personal and shared calling that will allow us to grow together in biblical training, discipleship, and preparation for future ministry.

Blessings to All

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Hi

My name is Brian Ansari and I am pictured here with my wife and fellow Northeastern Seminary student, Carline Ansari.

This is the current leg on our journey with the Lord, which has taken us many places geographically on mission trips and personal travels as well as spiritually as the Lord has grown us as followers of Christ together, as parents of six, grandparents of 12, leaders in our church, serving missionally in Turkey, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Phoenix Arizona, Montreal Canada and now in NYC, my place of birth.

We currently own BrianAnsari and Associates Inc. a management consulting firm focused on supporting the operational maturity of organizations, systems and processes. Last week we completed our 7 years anniversary in business and we have watched the Lord transform us on our business and ministry journey.

We are returning to school ,for me its been 32 years, and im getting reacclimated to not just school but the online classes and participation. We are in the certificate program, The The Advanced Certificate in Scripture, Theology, & Ministry, as a prelude to the DMin program.

We are embarking on this journey in full trust and confidence that this is where the Lord has led us and that this instrument he is putting in our hands will be used to bring him glory. We currently are attending two churches in NYC, SoulCry Church, in Astoria Queens and Bethel NYC in NYC.

We are enjoying the bounty of churches here in NYC and trusting the Lord in all things. We look forward to meeting all of you and bearing witness to the wonderful work God does with a submitted heart.

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Blessings! My name is Melodie Soto. I am excited to start this journey at Northeastern Seminary. It is an answered prayer, and I can't wait to see what God does through it. In this season, he has been stretching me and shaping me into the Woman of God I have been called to be. It has not been easy, but I am grateful for it all.

I live in Rochester, NY. I am married with 3 children, 2 girls and 1 boy. Our oldest just graduated from High School and currently attends Roberts. The two younger ones are still in grade school.

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Hi y'all! You guys are awesome, loved reading everyone's unique God-written story and push to be here. Well, peoples of God, I'm here because I got a call from God to ministry, and how beautiful it is to say yes to God! I also have a passion for the truth and Christ transforming lives especially the youth, so the opportunity to deeply study the Word of God is so exciting.

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Hello everyone, I am a volunteer hospice chaplain at a hospice facility in California. I am both excited and nervous about returning to school after so many years. My goal is to become a full-time chaplain after retirement. I am praying for God's grace as I embark upon this journey as a new student.

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Hello all, I am auditing Biblical Worldview in the fall. Attended Roberts Wesleyan for undergrad, and SUNY Brockport for my Masters. I have always had a joy for learning, so the idea of going to class but wriggling out of any term papers sounds like heaven! Cannot wait to chat with you all.

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Excited, albeit a little apprehensive, to be back in the classroom after working for so many years. My goal is to obtain an MDiv and serve as a military chaplain. I have been in the military in other capacities for the past 14 years. My fulltime job is as an operational consultant for an expeditionary healthcare company. My wife of 25 years and I live in a beautiful New Hampshire town called Lebanon. We have 6 kids. Two of whom are out of the house, one is serving a two year mission in Europe for our church, and the three younger ones are still in grade school. We belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My wife Katie owns and operates a successful cookie bakery in town. So grateful for her support as I jump headfirst into this program.

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My name is Ellen Brauza. I am auditing Dr. Middleton’s course, because he was one of my professors years ago at CRCDS in Rochester, and his subject matter is particularly applicable to these times.

I am a priest in the Episcopal Church; technically retired, but still active in parish ministry. I live in Buffalo, NY.

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Hello, my name is Dan Sheldon, and I live in Roscoe NY. I am married with 4 children. I am employed as a high school history teacher, where I currently teach Global History and Geography 1, and 2. I am extremally excited be be in the Masters of Arts in Theological studies program. I am interested in learning more deeply about the Bible not only to give me a better understanding, but as a teacher I want to be able to convey this knowledge to other people. I feel the the foundation of our Christian faith in first and foremost in Jesus Christ our Lord, and Savor. It is also to go out and make disciples of people bringing them the good news of the Lord. I believe this program will help me on my journey to bring people to the Holy Spirt.

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Hello my name is Kevin Stewart and I live in the Bronx, NYC. I am married for 34 years with 2 children. I am an assistant pastor and I’m employed as a Child Protection Specialist for NYC. I am always trying to learn as much as I can about God and Jesus Christ. I want to be as sure as I can about what a good Christian walk entails. If I can get closer to the Father and be able to lead others to him accurately I think that is worth spending time to accomplish. I’m excited to be joining you all. 

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Hello my name is Kevin Stewart and I live in the Bronx, NYC. I am married for 34 years with 2 children. I am an assistant pastor and I’m employed as a Child Protection Specialist for NYC. I am always trying to learn as much as I can about God and Jesus Christ. I want to be as sure as I can about what a good Christian walk entails. If I can get closer to the Father and be able to lead others to him accurately I think that is worth spending time to accomplish. I’m excited to be joining you all. 

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My name is Sandy-Ann Robs, and I live in Rochester, NY. I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Grenada ( a small island in the Caribbean). I have one daughter, she is almost 28 years old, and recently graduated from Brooklyn Law School.

I am a Certified Financial Planner, and I work at Fidelity Investments as a Financial Consultant.

One of the things I'm passionate about is teaching women the Word of God. In 2012, I established a 501 (C) (3) organization, Essential Women, Inc., whose mission centers around elevating the quality of women's lives by teaching them God's Word. I'm here to earn my Master's Degree in Theology to be better equipped to teach women.

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Hello Everyone! I’m honored to begin this journey in the Advanced Certificate in Scripture, Theology, & Ministry—the first step toward the Doctor of Ministry program here at Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University.

This next chapter represents both a personal and professional milestone. I’m pursuing this certificate to deepen my theological insight, strengthen my leadership capacity, and ultimately empower others through culturally relevant teaching, mental health advocacy, and restorative ministry.

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Hello everyone, my name is Mark Frink. Im a Student with the 3+2 program between Roberts and NES. Thus, I am starting my first semester of Master's work. By the end of the program, I will have both my Bachelor's of Biblical Studies and my Master's of Divinity. I greatly enjoy Learning about God and his word and have a strong calling towards ministry.

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Hello everyone! 👋 My name is Michele and I’m from Singapore. I’m excited to be starting my Doctor of Ministry (DMin) journey, and I look forward to growing in my understanding of God and of myself. I also hope to get to know more friends here as we share in this journey of growing and learning together.

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Hello, fellow travelers. My name is Tim. I live in sunny Arizona. I received a final resounding call from the Lord to be of service to others. I decided to listen to the call, this time, and venture out into the wilderness to learn the path that I’ve been asked to walk. While financial analysis is my career, service to our human community is my commission. There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. I look forward to being with you on this journey.

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Hello everyone,

My name is Toby and I am from Hawaii. I was recruited to Roberts to play soccer and I graduated this past May. During my time at Roberts I was drawn into the heart of the Christian tradition. Although I was not raised in the church, I began to spiritually seek while I was at a community college in Oregon. Through all the people at Roberts, I began to from a deeper relationship with Christ. The approach that the theology department provided gave me the freedom to explore different ideas which drastically helped me on my faith journey.

I am pursing a master’s degree in theological studies to continue to navigate the mystery of God. I believe that my education here will provide me with a strong foundation as I live my life. I’m not completely sure what I want to do after I graduate, but I’m sure that during this process I will be able to discern where God is calling me next. I’m excited to start this journey with all of you!

God Bless!

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Hi everyone! I'm excited to begin the Theology & Social Justice program this fall. I received a dual degree in Marketing and Management from Roberts in 2013 and worked in the healthcare field until 2020 when I became a mom. Since then, I've been the full time stay at home mom of my two little ones. With one off to kindergarten this fall and the other starting preschool, I'm looking forward to also being "back to school" :)

I've had the tug in my heart to pursue a seminary education since graduating with my bachelors degree, but it never felt like quite the right time. A few months ago, I felt the tug again and decided to listen. While I don't have any specific career goals associated with pursuing this degree, I do have the goals of learning for the joy of learning, diving deeper into scripture in a more structured way, and exploring how God can use me to serve populations in my community that typically get overlooked by the Church. I can't wait to get started this fall!

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Hi Everyone,

It’s been a while since I’ve joined a classroom but am looking forward to the experience of learning about God’s love for humanity and his creation in Richard Middleton’s Biblical Worldview online course.

I’m a part time pastor with the Mennonite Church Eastern Canada for the past four years in Elmira, Ontario, Canada.

I love meeting with new people who have a similar passion for studying theology/philosophy, and look forward to engaging in some interesting discussions about how to apply our knowledge practically in church ministry or elsewhere.

My hobbies are reading, hiking, crocheting, and spending time with my family.

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Greetings, my name is Jacob Yeary. I have decided to come to the seminary after several years of suicidal thoughts after leaving the military. I have tried to lead my own life over the years with applying positive affirmations, journaling, fitness, going to therapy, gaining an associate’s degree, and believing in myself by trusting my own thoughts.

Near the end of march of this year I decided to plan out how I was just going to end it all for myself and leave my family and everything behind. In April I started to distract myself by watching a movie but came across a show called The Chosen.

It pricked my heart and brought me to seeking Christ. I soon found a minister who has taught me the importance of applying scripture daily.

Ever since then my heart posture has changed and I have gained more peace by accepting Jesus Christ as my lord and savior.

I now volunteer at the church that I attend on the production and first impression team.

What I learned is that all the earthly accomplishments and things that I was chasing is not the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus Christ is. John 14 verse 6.

I don’t have a specific detailed end goal far as a degree plan but I would like to share the Gospel contextually with those who are still broken in spirit.

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Hey everybody! The Lord has brought me to this point in countless miraculous ways. I grew up as a Pastor's Kid and the youngest of 5 girls and a twin. Although I relished in this divine calling to be in relationship with my Creator since before I can remember, the enemy manifested in many traumatic experiences throughout my life. After a violent NDE, the Spirit of God swooped in and took over my dreams, my thoughts, and desires to be pointed to Jesus Christ alone. The Lord began healing my PTSD through hours of worship, and a Spirit-led journey back to piano after 25 years off. Now, I lead worship on Tuesday nights at our church and lead a church service at a local assisted living. My local church has been the example of encouragement and edification that Paul describes; the church should be.

I am quite honored to be among all of you, studying this amazing God to give our utmost for his highest.

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Hello my name is Rashid Williams and I live in Jacksonville, FL with my beautiful wife and two daughters. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing & Real Estate from Florida State College. I was in the real estate field for four years after graduating from FSU. During that time I accepted a call to ministry and was licensed and ordained. I attended seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA and earned my Master’s of Divinity. I went into the field of Education after graduating from seminary and taught middle school history for three years. From there I served in various school leadership roles. I currently work for a community health and wellbeing project as the School’s Lead where I have the privilege of working with school leaders to optimize the school environment to improve the health and wellbeing of students. This is year twenty-three for me in ministry and I currently serve as an Associate Minister at Higher Definition Church. I am pursuing the Advanced Certificate in Spiritual Direction because I have felt the nudging of the Holy Spirit to become a Spiritual Director. Looking forward to the journey!

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Hi all,

I'm not in a degree program but auditing Dr. Middleton's worldview class in the fall. My educational background is in engineering/computer science, and I live and work in Southeast Virginia. My real love is theology and philosophy, so I am excited about my first formal theology class minus the papers. :)

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Greetings! I currently serve as a conference pastor with the Wabash Conference Free Methodist Movement from Illinois. I am an Assistant. Pastor at Mt.Carmel FMC. Married 36 years, 5 adult children, 7.5 grandchildren

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Hello! I am Sarah; I am auditing a course this fall. It is actually one I took as an undergraduate student nearly 20 years ago, and I am excited and curious to see how I've grown and changed since then. I earned my Master's degree from NES 9 years ago, and just like to keep my toes in the classroom water so I don't lose my passion for learning.

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Joe Cleaves, M.A. Theology and Social Justice 

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Joe Cleaves, M.A. Theology and Social Justice 

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Hello everyone! My name is Joe Cleaves and this my daughter Palin. This was taken right before gameday. We are season ticket holders to our favorite team, the St. Louis Battlehawks. My wife Jane, Palin, and I live in Illinois. I go to Harvest Bible Church in Hannibal, Missouri. I am going to NES this fall and pursue my M.A. in Theolgy and Social Justice. I am a graduate of Lincoln Christian University. I got my B.A. in Christian Ministry. I work at a non-profit organization in my hometown, that helps the less fortunate. I try to help people find jobs so that they can get back on their feet. My organization provides clothes for interviews, gas cards, car repair, and rent assistance. We also help in a lot of other ways. This is where I feel like I am being called. I want to advocate for the less fortunate and share the good news of the Gospel. I am excited to start this fall at Northeastern Seminary!

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I came to Northeastern because I felt a deep calling in my life to care for others. Initially, I was skeptical about committing more time to my education, but God called me anyway. I am now fully immersed in the world of chaplaincy.

Currently, I am involved in the youth ministry at my church in Lake Elsinore, CA. When I’m not serving the next generation, you can find me homeschooling my five kids and sharing life with my husband of 12 years.

As many of the youth ministry leaders say, I am mothering (or ministering) to anyone God places in my path who needs a maternal touch in their life.

I’m eager to gain knowledge and experience alongside all my peers here!

HIS KINGDOM COME!! AMEN

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I currently work in the IT department at a hospital. But I would love to do more. I want to be able to pray for people when they go to the hospital. I want to sit with them as they wait for the test results. I want to be ther when they have no one else there. I want to be that person who sits with a grieving mother as she see the loss of her son in a horrible accident. I want to be the person who greets the person who is coming into hospice for their loved one. Oops, I have already done that. But, I lack the training. I want to be the best person for that moment. I believe that this training will help me be able to do all that better.

I work in the IT department of the hospital. I go over charts but I want to be able to see the people instead of looking at data. Hence I am on a path to become a chaplain.

Helen

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Hello all! My name is Hannah Ratliff. I work in higher education at University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, KY) as a Student Success Coordinator (advisor) and an adjunct professor. I am returning to seminary for a DMin degree to be better equipped for working in collegiate ministry and classrooms. I earned BS, MAEd, and Ed.S. degrees in Education and School Counseling from UC, and a MA in Biblical and Theological Foundations from Asbury Theological Seminary.

My husband, Rev. Dr. Jacob Ratliff, is the campus minister here at UC, and we work together to provide discipleship and spiritual community for our campus. We have been married for 10 years (this October!) and have been in ministry together for that entire time. We also serve with our local church - Cornerstone Community Church - in worship and discipleship ministries.

I am excited to take on this new adventure with the help of the Holy Spirit and God's people. Blessings to each of you!

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My name is Saundra, and I am from New York. I am married with children and grandchildren. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, and I am currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Theology. After retiring from law enforcement, I have always dreamed of furthering my education in this field. I am grateful to God for the opportunity to fulfill this dream. I am pursuing a degree in Theology for my personal and spiritual enrichment, driven by a burning desire to learn more about my Lord and Savior. I was raised in the Baptist faith and have attended a Baptist church most of my life. However, I still yearn for a greater understanding of God's word from all the books in the Holy Bible. This is how I ended up here at Northeastern Seminary.

As I continue on this path, I trust God to provide me with deeper spiritual insight and direction for my life.

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My name is Lizette and we are from Arizona 🌵 We live in the country and I homeschool our two boys. I am also an artist and a gardener. Since 2015 the Lord has been working on my heart and creating in me a heart for His Word and His people. I was raised SDA but we attend a local messianic congregation and have been part of Messianic home fellowships since 2016. I have a BA in anthropology and worked as a speech language therapist before I had kids. Now I am a stay at home mom and auditing a course through NES. Looking forward to learning much this fall!

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Hi everyone,

My name is Keith Tatum. I'm from Topeka, Kansas, where I live with my wife and youngest daughter. After decades of nonprofit and state government work, God has called me into active ministry. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Washburn University and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas. I am absolutely thrilled to begin pursuing my M.A. within the Theology & Social Justice tract and ultimately plan to pursue a D.Min, also from Northeastern Seminary.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you along this journey together!

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Raymond (Ray) Graham, PsyD Candidate at RWU

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Raymond (Ray) Graham, PsyD Candidate at RWU

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Hey! I’m Ray Graham, and I have just completed my third year in the clinical/school PsyD program at Roberts Wesleyan University, with two more years to go! Getting there! While I have always been interested in religion and spirituality, it has been a while since I have actively explored that area. Given my future career as a psychologist, I believe that deepening my understanding of religion from a multicultural perspective—one that is often overlooked in society—will greatly enrich both my professional and personal life.

Additionally, spirituality runs in my family; several of my relatives were reverends, including my grandfather’s four brothers, while my grandfather himself was an MD in Rochester. This background has naturally influenced my interests and fueled my curiosity.

Overall, find myself excited about this opportunity to broaden my horizons and take a break from the usual program material during our summer break. It is undoubtedly a refreshing chance to gain valuable insights that will complement my future work and personal growth. Much love!

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Hi everyone!

My name is Irene Ramirez. I was born in El Paso, Texas, but I was raised in Southern California. I’m an Ordained Elder in the Free Methodist Church, and I currently serve as the Executive Pastor at Chapel of Change, a vibrant and growing church in the greater Los Angeles area.

My husband and I have been married for 20 years, and we’re blessed with four sons Raymond Jr. (19), Ricardo (12), Roberto (10), and Rodolfo (7). I also part-time homeschool my boys, which keeps life both full and fulfilling!

I’m incredibly excited to begin this new chapter of my seminary journey. I believe God is continuing to shape and stretch me for His purposes, and I look forward to growing alongside each of you. See you in class!

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Hello! My name is Andrew Durso. I originally received my Bachelors Degree from Roberts Wesleyan in 2019 and am now an employee of the University! I am a Resident Director on campus overseeing mostly incoming first-year students. I am starting the Transformational Leadership Program this Fall! My father was a pastor my entire life and I always said that I was never going to get into the ministry, but God had other ideas. I am really excited to get started on this journey and see where I end up.

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Hello Everyone,

My name is Mathew Leis and I have just finished my third year in the PsyD program at Roberts Wesleyan University, studying clinical and school psychology. I am taking this course to enhance my multicultural awareness in the context of religion and to deepen my understanding of diverse belief systems, practices, and values. By exploring different religious traditions, I aim to develop greater empathy and respect for perspectives that differ from my own, which is essential in our increasingly interconnected world. This knowledge will help me engage more thoughtfully with people from various cultural backgrounds and foster inclusive environments in both personal and professional settings.

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Hi everyone,
I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, where I now live with my husband Derrin of 20 years and our two amazing teens, Jett (17) and Georgia (15).

In 2019, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, which led to several years of intense treatment. By God’s grace, I am now cancer-free. During that season, I encountered the peace, love, and healing of Christ in the most tangible ways. It was through that valley that the Lord drew me into deeper intimacy and a hunger for spiritual formation. I began seeking to center my life around the disciplines of faith and sensed a clear invitation to walk even closer with Him.

I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of the Dallas Willard Institute’s School of Kingdom Living as well as Northeastern Seminary, where I’m pursuing a Master’s in Spiritual Formation and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction.

Currently, I serve as the Executive Director of a local non-profit breast cancer center in Fairbanks that provides screening mammograms regardless of insurance or income. We operate both a clinic and a mobile mammography unit that travels throughout Alaska, including rural villages—ensuring access to care.

While I feel a growing pull toward full-time ministry, I know the Lord has me exactly where He wants me right now, serving the women of my community. I’m looking forward to learning, growing, and walking alongside all of you in this sacred season.

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My name is Brian Warth from Los Angeles/Long Beach CA. I've been married to my wife, Laura, for 27 years. We have 3 kids - Nathaniel 16, Sarah 14, Sofia 11. We co-pastor Chapel of Change in Los Angeles/Long Beach. We are both Free Methodist elders. I've been blessed to represent the Free Methodist Church in a number of nations: Guatemala, El Salvador, Egypt, Kenya, Philippines and England. I can't wait to go to New York to see where Bishop BT Roberts ministered.

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Hello yall! I am from Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Near Tulsa! I have a Masters in Biblical Studies. I pastor a house church alongside my husband (3 years strong). We were children's pastors for 5 years in a non-denominational church. We have a 7 year old spunky red-headed kiddo. I work in supplement sales and I am a holistic health practitioner. I love to garden organically (creation care is my jam). I love Biblical context and original language and learning the Bible on its own terms. I have scoliosis that i've been working to heal without surgery (my largest curve was a 66, its now a 50). Going for walks fills my soul.

I am pursuing my 2nd masters, specifically a MDiv because I want diversity. My last degree came from a university that had very strict views that I mostly did not agree with (read the Bible literally, women cannot be in leadership positions, etc.) and I wanted to pursue the opposite thought of that university to create a wholeness for the members of my house church and to expand my own thoughts and belief systems. Though I did not fully agree with my last university I learned a great deal and had wonderful professors who impacted me for life! I'll be forever thankful for that experience. I am looking forward to this new experience and the growth that will take place in community!

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I am beginning an MA Theological Studies with a Chaplaincy focus!

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Nancy Richmond                                   M.A. Spiritual Formation

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Nancy Richmond                                   M.A. Spiritual Formation

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Hi from Lake Tahoe, CA. It's a privilege to join this community at Northeastern Seminary. I am a retired Spec. Ed. teacher of 24 years and a professional horse trainer. My husband and I enjoy ranch life with our beautiful animals, travel and adventure. This past year offered me the opportunity to enroll in the Dallas Willard School of Kingdom Living that works in conjunction with Northeastern Seminary. Spiritual Formation is currently my interest of study in both schools. It has been over 40 years since taking a college course and the new "on line" learning curve is quite interesting but with the Lord's grace, we will master this! The journey of faith offers many new and interesting roads, this being one of them. Never in my wildest dreams did seminary seem a reality.....But God!

I welcome the journey with curiosity, gratitude and great enthusiasm.

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Hello everyone! Very happy to be here. My name is Blake Costa, and I'm presently a software engineer for NYS.

Pursuing my M.Div. has been something that's been weighing on my mind for a long time. As you may infer, I come from a technical background; but I have worked lots of different roles. From a Farm Hand, to a Corrections Officer, to Head of Technology.

I've witnessed and done many different things. But after feeling lost for a number of years, it became abundantly clear that serving a greater vision through our Lord Jesus Christ was a major part of my path. I hope to leverage my M.Div. for a prospective military chaplaincy, and to use my M.Div. as the foundation for my own business/ministry initiatives. I plan on eventually making a lateral transfer towards cybersecurity to focus on cybercrime, trafficking & privacy concerns.

We need more Christ centered leadership within cybersecurity, AI, QIS (Quantum Information Science), and other autonomous agent systems. I'm a hidden logistician at my core, but I love the lord and I love people. I just hope to serve just a small part in this greater ideal.

My wife and I live in the rural Catskill Mountains, with lots of chickens, turkeys, pigs and animals to boot. Feel free to reach out to me, as I love talking with new people and learning their journey's.

Be strong, be courageous, and God bless.

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My wife and I are associate pastors at Chapel of Change, a Free Methodist church in Southern California, as well as assistant directors at the men and women’s homes affiliated with the church.

We were both homeless and addicted before Jesus saved our souls. Today we are praying and fighting for building His Kingdom in churches and movements of God in Southern California and all over the world.

We are looking forward to gaining the wisdom and guidance that Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan has to offer and are eager to build the Kingdom with you!

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Hi there! I'm Jared Fischer a 40-year-old husband, father of two daughters, and retired Navy veteran. After my military career, I answered the call to ministry, earning my Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Luther Seminary. I have a passion for sharing the gospel and pastoral care. I serve as pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lockhart, Texas, committed to proclaiming God’s word, fostering community, and guiding others in their walk of faith.

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Dennis Nichols, Advance Certificate in Spiritual Direction

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Dennis Nichols, Advance Certificate in Spiritual Direction

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Hello Everyone,

I am returning to seminary after a completing my Ed.D in Organizational Leadership in 2016. Currently I work as a Chaplain and CPE educator candidate for Sutter Health in Northern California. Sue and I have been together for 46 years; raise two daughters; and enjoy our granddaughters whenever possible. Having served in the military, pastoral ministry, and higher education, we decided this certificate would be a great augment to my current work and calling. I look forward to this next chapter.

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I earned a Master's in Leadership and Management from Seminary and was a guest lecturer at Christian post-secondary institutions. Additionally, I have served in various ministry positions and worked with both church and parachurch ministry organizations over the past 25 years. I also have a Master's degree in Strength and Conditioning and have coached amateur, collegiate, professional, and Olympic athletes. I am a board gaming enthusiast and have competed in board game tournaments at the local, regional, national, and international levels for 20 years. Lastly, I am interested in transformational leadership as my DMin focus.

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Hey there! My name is Kaye Genin, and I am church planting in Madison, WI with my husband and three boys. It's a scary, yet exciting time following Jesus into the unknown! I am the co-senior pastor alongside another awesome woman in ministry. I decided to go on to seminary because I wanted a broader and deeper view of theology, and I believe education is so important for ministers as we endeavor to lead people well. I always tell my kiddos that God could use Daniel because he was well-educated, and worldly kingdoms looked on him with favor. I am excited to continue in the model of Daniel here!

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Hello, I am Andrew Bauer. I live in Bathurst, New Brunswick Canada with my wife Pam. We have 3 kids and 3 grandkids. We have been married and in pastoral ministry for 31 years and it has been an amazing journey of trusting God through many adventures. In 2018 I finished a Masters of Ministry in Theology and Culture from a small Canadian university and thoroughly enjoyed doing studies at a graduate level. I love investing in the lives of young leaders in formal and informal ways. Before the war started, I spent time in Ukraine teaching emerging leaders in a seminary there. I am beginning the DMin program because I believe that in whatever years I have left on this planet I want to do what I can, both in my country and around the world, to contribute to healthy, strong leaders being raised up for the kingdom of Jesus to advance!

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Hello! My name is Lana Varela. Continuing my education at NES is a life long dream come true. I am currently serving as a pastor of women's ministry and want to expand my education to help in my current and future roles. I live in Southern California and am a mom to 5. My husband and I work together to juggle our careers and homeschool for our three youngest kids. It's humbling and fun to be back at school at the same time as my two oldest children are attending college. Education is such a gift and I'm excited for what God has ahead here at NES.

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Kristin Gilmore, Advanced Certificate in Chaplaincy 

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Kristin Gilmore, Advanced Certificate in Chaplaincy 

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Hello! I am Kristin Gilmore, and I am cautiously, optimistically, excited about continuing my educational journey with Northeastern Seminary. I am currently a co-vocational pastor, chaplain, and mother of three. My husband and I are co-lead pastors of a church plant in Wichita, Kansas where I also serve as a hospital chaplain at a Level 1 Trauma Center. I coach club soccer, avidly support a theater kid, serve as a taxi cab for extra curricular activities of all kinds, and teach pastors-in-training across Kansas for the Church of the Nazarene. To say I am busy is an understatement. But when the Lord calls... So here I am, continuing my education in order to pursue Board Certification through the APC. I enter this season with much trepidation, and yet I know that the learning and experience will be life-changing and invaluable to the journey ahead! I look forward to getting to know you all!

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Hello, my name is Kevin Sizer. The Lord blessed me with 21 great years to serve and protect as an police officer with the Rochester Police Department, NY. I was blessed to retired earlier this year. The Lord allowed me to learn more about myself as well as the community that I served in. The past four years the Lord has been doing some amazing things within my heart, causing a fire within me that I've never felt before. This year I have been a transformed inside and out. When I first gave my life over to Christ, back in the late 90's I felt a call to do something, but being a baby in Christ I wasn't sure. Now since, I have matured in life and spiritually, I have accepted the call and have truly surrender my all to Him. I know it's not going to be a easy journey, but I am looking forward to what He has in stored for me.

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Hello, I'm Zach Thorp, I am excited to continue my education here at NES. From a young age, I have always been interested in learning and growing. I have a personal motto: Grow daily or die gradually. I apply this to all aspects of my life. I am a husband, a father of soon to be 4 boys and a full time pastor. I went to UVF and received my under grad in Pastoral ministry. I then went not to get my masters in Organizational leadership from Crown College. And now I desire to continue to grow deeper in my understanding of the Word of God and my faith as I grow with Jesus.

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James D'Angelo, Advanced Certificate in Chaplaincy

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James D'Angelo, Advanced Certificate in Chaplaincy

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Hello fellow servants of the Most High God! I felt the call to ministry when I was younger, ignored it, and as the Lord is oft to do, He got my attention through a series of significant changes and challenges in my life. About four years ago I completed my undergraduate studies in Organizational Leadership and Christian Ministries at Bethel University in Minnesota. Now I'm blessed to minister to the broken, homeless, and addicted as an advisor, instructor, and case manager for a Gospel Mission. To personally grow and be better at what I've been called to do requires that I drill the well deeper, refresh my soul, and gain the knowledge and skills to minister more effectively, more compassionately. This is the why behind my pursuit of the Advanced Certificate in Chaplaincy, with the desire to continue towards a Masters in Theology and Social Justice. I currently reside in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

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Hello everyone! My name is Steven C. Woodcock and I am very excited to be joining the Northeastern Seminary community this Spring. I have been serving as a Chaplain with palliative care and hospice patients for the past 8 years in Detroit, Michigan, and have been thankful to God for this ministry opportunity. I thought I’d serve for a year or two and now it’s been almost a decade and I’ve enjoyed every challenging minute of it. I have been happily married to my wife Haley for 7 years, and we have a sweet little puppy named Tilly who is our whole world. I have always wanted to go to seminary after graduating from Spring Arbor University in 2016, but work, marriage, and ministry put that dream on pause. It was about a year ago when I really felt a pull to go back to school and pursue seminary. After lots of prayer, speaking with my wife, and some great conversations with a former professor and current mentor of mine from Spring Arbor University (he went to Roberts for his undergrad), he recommended checking out NES and after reading through the website, watching the faculty/staff testimonials, and after some more prayer I knew this is where God was calling me. I look forward not only to deepening my theological understanding, but am incredibly excited for the spiritual formation that will occur as well as this qprogram highlighted both the academic and personal formation beautifully. All that I want to gain from this experience is a deeper knowing of the Lord. I don’t want to just know more about God, but I want to know him more deeply and intimately. I will be taking just one class this Spring to get my feet wet again, but plan I starting full time in the summer and further on with the Masters of Arts in Theological Studies. Looking forward to getting to chat, learn, and grow in peace and love in Christ with you all.

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Hi everyone. I'm joining the NES community with a vision for deepening my spiritual formation and creating a structure for a not-for-profit I'm creating (Christian Community Experiments (CCX)) focused on mission, prayer, and justice issues in the context of Christian Community. I left my role as CEO of a mental health non-profit (I'm also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) to focus on creating CCX but I also created a mental health for-profit organization designed to both provide innovative therapy and to fund the CCX (I'm not a big fan of fund raising). I'm currently in the midst of completing the Dallas Willard School of Kingdom Living (with which NES has a partnership). I did my psychology graduate work at California Baptist University, which I followed with an internship focused on family therapy in a juvenile hall facility. I focused much of my clinical career on Wraparound Children's Services, an innovative set of strategies for serving severely challenged kiddos in their family/community settings. I live in Cedarpines Park, a resort community suburb in the San Bernardino Mountains (Southern California). In 2023, I took vows with the Order of the Mustard Seed which allows both connection with an amazing global community of Christ followers and opportunity for intensive apprentice experiences in prayer, justice, and mission. Finn is a therapeutic adjunct, as well as being a great social connector.

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Hi everyone! My name is Justin. I graduated from Alliance Theological Seminary with my Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies. That in and of itself was a testimony of following the Lord in faith. As an undergraduate student, I can admit that I wasn't the best student and vowed that I would never go back to school. Much to my surprise, in the year 2019, I sensed the Lord calling me to go to seminary. With this, I started at ATS in the beginning of 2021. I graduated there in 2023, but wouldn't have imagined that I would now be starting my D.Min degree. I am beyond grateful to following the Lord's lead to education so that I can better serve Him and His people. I have been an associate minister for the past 11 years. I currently serve as the Minister to Young Adults and Congregational Care. I sense God also calling me into further ministry as a lead pastor. I am grateful for my seminary education at ATS and now, the opportunity to go deeper here at NES. I live in Easton, Pennsylvania with my wife Lydia.

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Hello from Henderson, North Carolina! What a joy it is to join you all on this journey. I work for The Salvation Army, managing its Social Services department at my local Corps while also attending weekly Holiness Meetings. I made the jump from Catholicism to the Wesleyan-Holiness movement a little over a year ago. When I am not participating in Salvation Army events, I am most often found on a hiking trail, or at home enjoying a mug of coffee with my favorite felines, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Cat Stevens. Admittedly, the last year has presented challenges, including a family suicide, along with dementia-related challenges with aging family members. At times I have felt a bit selfish pursuing any form of study as I navigate this phase of life with my family. I am heavily leaning on the Lord as I take this leap of faith. I have long sought a theological education, and I am grateful for the patience and support I have found in the team at Northeastern Seminary. I look forward to joining with you in classroom discussions, as we learn and grow more deeply in our faith together!

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Nathan Nedopak - MA Transformational Leadership

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Nathan Nedopak - MA Transformational Leadership

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Hello! I have been desiring for many years to go back to school for my master's degree. I believe this program will equip me with the tools needed for the current and upcoming seasons of life and ministry.

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Hello. I am incredibly thankful to God and to Northeastern seminary for the opportunity to do my doctorate. I am originally from Cameroon. I am from the Catholic tradition and I have been teaching theology in a Catholic high school for about 6 years now. I am excited to deepen my theological knowledge especially on the scriptures. There is a famous statement in Catholic theological circles that scriptures is the soul of theology. It is my dream to be able to better share the word of God with others; help others fall in love with the scriptures so that they can in turn become closer and build a better relationship with our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, for St Jerome who translated the Hebrew Scriptures is noted for saying that ignorance of the scriptures is ignorance of Christ. And Yes, Jerome is right. How can I know Jesus more without meeting him in the scriptures? I am confident that this program will help me in that.

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I am grateful for the opportunity to be surrounded by a community of faith, purpose driven, obedient, worshippers of the living word. After graduating from New York Theological Seminary in 2019, with my MDiv., and being in divine isolation. God took the time to heal and repair me, my family and my community. I am excited to meet, learn and grow with my fellow seminarians. Northeastern Seminary is my new beginning and my continuous journey toward my healing and gifting in healing and development.

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“You know it’s inevitable, right?” This was the sentence that finally sank in and started to shift my thinking and my life. I had been told by my parents God had big plans for my life and God was calling me to serve Him. I had people say things to me about the potential they saw in my life, but I never really knew I was called to ministry until one of our youth leaders asked me if I was willing to share one of the evening devotionals for our biweekly outreach events. Looking like a deer in headlights, I quickly muttered out, “No.” Then he responded with that life changing statement. “You know it’s inevitable, right?" For some reason it took until then to realize I was called into some form of vocational ministry.

Ever since then, whether working as a camp counselor or program director, to attending Bible school or attending conferences, to now serving as a youth pastor with the Free Methodist Church for 10 years and in college ministry with InterVarsity for 5 years, I have been chasing after that call of God on my life. The next step that makes the most sense (and one I have desired to do for several years) is attending seminary. In the process of figuring out where to take this next step, Northeaster made the most sense. I have friends and work alongside people who attended here and loved it. Every interaction I had with admissions was helpful and they seemed to genuinely care about my calling and what worked best for my life, not just to “close the sale.” It helps that are also the closest seminary, while also having the online option for greater flexibility. I also love the emphasis on transformation and information while being rooted squarely in Scripture and our historic faith. It has felt like God was in this each step of the way.

I have always loved digging into God's Word and learning in community, so I am quite excited to do that with all of you over the next several years.

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Hi lovely people, my name is Antu Castillo, saying hi to you from Guatemala. I majored in Theology (Biblical Studies, and Ministry) while at Greenville University in Illinois, where my eyes were opened to the vastness of the Christian faith. I dream of the possibility of ecumenism and informed orthopraxy, through theology that is mindful of "the least of these". My long-term hope is to add my "grain of sand," as we say in Spanish, to Church spaces that have not yet embraced academia as a way of building the Faith and knowing God.

I'm super excited to embark on this journey at NES, where various streams of thought, tradition, and backgrounds will surely help me better navigate the modern, ever-changing world and Church.

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Hey everyone! I've had a sense for the past couple years that the Lord was calling me to pursue a Master's degree at some point--but I didn't realize just how soon that would be after leaving undergrad! I graduated in May 2023 with my Bachelor's in Mass Communication from Colorado Mesa University. My husband and I have been married for 3 years now live and in Grand Junction, Colorado. We serve as youth pastors at our church, bivocationally: I'm a wedding videographer, and he's a barista at Starbucks (which I'm thinking will come in handy here very soon with all the late nights of studying and writing I foresee in my future :).

As soon as I stumbled upon Northeastern's website, I had no doubt it was the seminary I wanted to attend. Spiritual formation is something that has interested me for some time now, and it began when I read John Ortberg's book, The Life You've Always Wanted. I love to read and listen to podcasts, but I'm so excited to be pursuing formal education at Northeastern.

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Hello! It took me several years to decide to begin seminary and begin exploring God's calling on my life. I have been passionately serving in the church for over a decade. I am very excited to begin seminary this fall. I am excited to learn, and to discuss questions with others. I am also excited to see what God is going to do in and through me because of this experience.

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After getting my ministry certificate (EmpowerOne) a few years ago, going to seminary to study spiritual formation became a dream of mine. I’m excited to start this new journey in my mid-40s, confident that God is calling me into deeper waters at NES! I live near Williamsport, Pennsylvania and serve as the worship leader at my C&MA church.

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I am a senior pastor outside of Pittsburgh, PA with the Free Methodist Church. I thought it was time to get some more formal training!

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I am starting MDiv in the fall. I decided to go to seminary because I wanted to grow as a pastor and teacher. I aspire to teach healthy Biblical interpretation skills and wisdom to churches in my community and shepherd youth and their relationship with Jesus and the scriptures. I am excited to be in classes with fantastic people and incredible professors.

#InPerson #Let'sGoNES #BringOnDr.Carr

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Hi.

I am from the Czech Republic where I serve as a pastor. I am glad for the oppurtunity to study theology online at NES. I am beggining this journey with the advanced certificate program.

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Hi all, I've considered gaining some formal theological training over the years, and now that I've retired from a long IT career and am just working part time with a ministry to international students here in Buffalo, this seems like the right time and the right school for me. I've read a bit over the years and have amassed a number of unanswered questions and changed perspectives a few times, so I'm looking forward to gaining new insights, sharing ideas, being challenged, and growing in my understanding and relationship with God in Christ

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After 20 years in academia and some major life transitions, I finally admitted God's calling in ministry. I've served as a worship leader since my teens and am currently helping with a prayer ministry at my church. I'm a wife and mother of two, and my oldest has been on a cancer journey for the past three years. As our family travels together on this path, my heart has been opened to those experiencing significant illness and suffering. I'm excited to pursue an MA in Spiritual Formation--an area that I have been interested in for some time.

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Hello! I work for a Christian non-profit in Rochester, and am starting back up my seminary studies. I graduated with my Adv. Cert. of Spiritual Direction in 2022, and am back to complete the Masters.

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I am the ministry leader of CR at our church. I am pursuing a degree in spiritual formation to complement my volunteer work and expand into different opportunities in the future.

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I'm a husband, father, pastor, and professor serving in Worcester, Massachusetts. I completed my M.Div. ten years ago, knowing that I would pursue a doctorate at some point, but it never felt like the right time until now. When I began exploring my options, I wanted to find a seminary located in the Northeast that offered a fully-online program with a strong emphasis on spiritual formation, rooted in the Christian faith (at an affordable price). That brought me to Northeastern and I'm excited to get started!

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Hello. I'm Serena, and I'm excited to start the MDiv program in the fall. I am from Southern California (born and raised) and an ordained pastor in the Free Methodist Church. I work for FMCUSA and Aldersgate School of Ministry and am a volunteer pastor at our church, The Avenue, in Riverside.

My husband, Jeff, and I have been married for over 35 years and are the proud parents of five adult children. (Wow, that's the first time I've written somewhere that they are all adults, but yep, they are all now adults.) Our three oldest children are married and blessing us with grandbabies. So far, I am "Mimi" to three beautiful grandchildren. Our two youngest children joined our family through adoption from the foster care system when they were toddlers. Our youngest son has Autism as well as some other special needs, and keeps me on my toes. It has been a rollercoaster, but God is good all the time, and I can't imagine life or our family being any different.

Over the years, I found myself spending a lot of time sitting in hospital rooms, walking the halls, and having multiple follow-up appointments a week. Combining those experiences with a passion for justice, it wasn't long before I found myself sitting on multiple hospital boards advocating for patient and family experience. Originally, I planned to use my MDiv for hospital chaplaincy; I say "originally" because when I started this journey that led to me going to NES for an MDiv, the goal was to use the degree to become a chaplain in the hospital. It may still be God's plan for me, but late last year, I accepted a position with FMCUSA and would never have imagined how much I love and value my job.

Ultimately, what I know for sure is that God has clearly orchestrated this path for me to pursue an MDiv at NES. I am excited and grateful to be here, embracing this new chapter He is unfolding, and I will be drinking a lot of coffee while I organize my life as a full-time student around family, ministry, and work.

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I'm starting an advanced certificate in Spiritual Direction. I'm very excited to be back in the classroom!

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Hi, I'm Jenn! I'll be testing the waters of going after a master's degree with a summer class here at Northeastern. The Spirit has been putting seminary on my heart for a while, and when I saw the class "The Ministry of Writing for Publication," I felt like he was clearly opening a door. My first book came out last year, and as I continue to write and develop in my faith, I want to take the next step in confidently teaching about God and his Word, and being led by him. I grew up going to church and have my own background with the scriptures, but I'm feeling a pull to learn more about different faith experiences and expressions. I'm especially interested in the process of spiritual formation. I live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and three children.

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Hi Everyone, I am just beginning my Masters in Divinity. Deciding to get an MDiv has been a winding path. I will try to shorten the story as it gets very long. It all started with me being disgruntled with a sermon and wondering why no one else felt like they could get up in front of the church and give a better sermon. I had the chance to talk to a Military Chaplain and I asked him, when he flipped the question on me and asked me why I didn’t feel like I could preach. I told him I did but that I was a female, and he asked me if that really mattered. Then he asked me if I had ever thought of becoming a Chaplain. To become a Chaplain in the military, you need an M.Div. That is the shortest version of why I am at NES.

I have two rambunctious boys with all the hard questions. I live on a farm with my husband (Who gets to hear more preaching from me than he ever wanted. I’m pretty sure I know where my boys inherited the trait for hard questions.) I work HR in the Army National Guard and have 4 years left before potential retirement. I enjoy reading, coffee, knitting, quilting, baking, and pursuing curiosity (and all the research that entails).

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Hello, my name is Vincent! I am from Fort Lee, New Jersey. It's about a five minute drive from New York City. I'm excited in being a new student at NES and look forward in taking classes in this coming summer semester. I will be pursuing a MA in Divinity. What has interested me most to come to seminary is social ministry. I have received a BA in sociology in the concentration of social service and so have a relative interest in serving others in my community. For the longest time I have had a fascination with theology and thought I would like to include this in my endeavors. It should be most rewarding and helpful in establishing a good foundation within social ministry.

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Hello Everybody, I am excited to enter this summer as a new student at NES! I currently live in Jacksonville, FL with my 15 year old tabby cat. I'm in the process of relocating back to the Tampa Bay area closer to family. For the past 25 years, I have worked in Human Resources for multiple manufacturing and consumer products companies as well as spent time in the US Army. I am excited to begin a new journey in ministry as I pursue a STM Certificate. I look forward to studying with and learning from everyone.

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Hey all, my name is Aaron! I committed my life to Christ in 1990. I got a BA in mathematics after I graduated high school in 2001. I went on to work in banking. I Married my wife Kim in 2006 and we now have 2 kids-- Ava and Judah. In 2007 I started my own retail business in Canton NY, it continues to run well to this day although I am not overly involved. I joined the staff of my local church, New Hope Community Church, in 2020 right before COVID hit. I helped them navigate the nuances of the pandemic. In 2021 I was brought onto the pastoral team overseeing service orchestration, doing some teaching, and leading worship. In 2023 our head pastor resigned and I was elected to serve as the church's new head pastor which has been a real joy! In order to better serve my community I decided to pursue an MA in Theological Studies. Excited to be tying into the Northeastern Seminary Community.

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My husband and I are Free Methodist pastors in Cleveland, OH. I received my MSW in 2007 and have been working in mental health care and the church. I'm excited to be pursuing a MA in Theological Studies and learning with all of you!

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Hi! My name is Dominique and I live in Bakersfield, CA with my husband Bill, our 7 kids, son-in-law. Later this year grand baby number 1 will be joining us. I have recently entered a new season of life and ministry and am excited to be pursuing my M.A. in Spiritual Formation.

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Hello, my new friends! I'm returning to NES for the Summer 2024 semester, after graduating with a M.A. in Theological studies in 2018. I'm excited to come back to my brothers and sisters and enjoy this Christ-loving community.