Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

FALL ’08 VOL.37 NO.1

Depression in the
Pew and Pulpit
Are churches “safe havens?”

s umme r 0 8 1

Dr. Pablo Polischuk discusses historical concepts of depression and describes
treatment modalities in his article, Depression Through the Ages on page 15.
Board of Trustees
Mr. Joel B. Aarsvold
Mrs. Linda Schultz Anderson
Dr. Richard A. Armstrong
Dr. George F. Bennett
Rev. Dr. Garth T. Bolinder
Rev. Dr. Richard P. Camp, Jr.
Mr. Thomas J. Colatosti,
Chair
Mr. Charles W. Colson
Rev. Dr. Leighton Ford
Mrs. Joyce A. Godwin
Dr. William F. Graham
Rev. Dr. Michael E. Haynes
Mr. Herbert P. Hess,
Treasurer
Mr. Ivan C. Hinrichs
Rev. Dr. John A. Huffman, Jr.
Mr. Caleb Loring III
Rev. Dr. Christopher A. Lyons
Mrs. Joanna S. Mockler
Fred L. Potter, Esq.
Shirley A. Redd, M.D.
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Jr.
2 s u m m e r 08
contents
THE MINISTRY MAGAZINE
OF GORDON -CO N WELL
T HE OLOGIC A L SEMIN ARY
FA LL ‘0 8 VOL.37 N O.1
3 Gordon-Conwell’s New President
Anne B. Doll
8 Learning from the House Church Movement
An Anonymous Graduate
12 An Overview of Depression
Karen Mason
15 Depression Through the Ages: “Sin” or “Sick-
ness?” Diagnosis and Treatment
Pablo Polischuk
18 Is Depression Normal?
Wendy Murray
22 When Depression Hits Home
Anne B. Doll
26 When the Pastor Suffers From Depression
Raymond Pendleton
27 Trustee Profile: Rev. Samuel Rodriguez
Michael L. Colaneri
28 Meet the Faculty: Dr. Alvin Padilla
29 Seminary News
38 Focus on Alumni/ae
David M. Rogers, Esq.,
Vice Chairman
Mr. John Schoenherr
Director of
Communications 47 Opening the Word
Mrs. Virginia M. Snoddy and Editor of Contact Haddon W. Robinson
Mr. John G. Talcott, Jr. Mrs. Anne B. Doll
Joseph W. Viola, M.D.,
Secretary Assistant Director of
J. Christy Wilson III, Esq. Communications
Rev. Dr. John H. Womack Mr. Michael L. Colaneri
William C. Wood, M.D.
Graphic Designer
Emeriti Members Ms. Nicole S. Rim
Dr. Allan C. Emery, Jr.
Mr. Roland S. Hinz Writer
Rev. Dr. Robert J. Lamont Ms. Ruth Robinson Illustration on page 6 by Cameron Colaneri
Mr. Richard D. Phippen
Rev. Dr. Paul E. Toms Photography
Dr. Robert E. Cooley, Ms. Nicole S. Rim Inquiries regarding CONTACT may be addressed to: Editor, CONTACT
President Emeritus Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary,
130 Essex Street, S. Hamilton, MA 01982 Tel: 978.468.7111
President or by publicrelations@gcts.edu
Dr. Dennis P. Hollinger www.gordonconwell.edu
Dean of Enrollment Management gordon-conwell theological seminary does not discriminate on
Mr. William Levin the basis of race, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, handi-
cap or veteran status.
Gordon-Conwell’s
New President

Gordon-Conwell Theological Semi-

nary has a new President, Dr. Dennis
P. Hollinger, who was appointed by
the Board of Trustees in June follow-
ing an extensive, year-long search.

Dr. Hollinger, who formerly served as President and

Professor of Christian Ethics at Evangelical Theological
Seminary (ETS) in Myerstown, PA, became the seminary’s
sixth President and Professor of Christian Ethics on August 1,
2008.

He succeeds Dr. Haddon W. Robinson, Harold John

Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching, who has led
Gordon-Conwell as President in an interim capacity since
May 2007 and will continue to teach homiletics and Doctor
of Ministry courses.

Commenting on Dr. Hollinger’s appointment, Board Chair

Thomas J. Colatosti, said: “We are thankful to God that
he has brought us a leader and scholar in Dr. Hollinger.
As a pastor, Dr. Hollinger brings a strong commitment to
the church. As a Christian educator, he is passionate about
quality theological education. As an administrator, he brings
the necessary experience and wisdom for the challenges
facing academic administration.

“Dr. Hollinger is uniquely qualified and gifted to lead

Gordon-Conwell for the next generation. We are thrilled to
have a person of Dr. Hollinger’s competence and character to
lead our preeminent seminary into the future.”

In an interview with Contact Editor Anne Doll, Dr. Hollinger

and his wife, Dr. Mary Ann Hollinger, described their lives,
their walks of faith and their passions. Meet them both in
the stories that follow.
s umme r 0 8 3
 Dr. Dennis Hollinger
When Dr. Dennis Hollinger and his wife, Dr. Mary
Ann Hollinger, arrived at Gordon-Conwell in early
August, they followed a sense of calling from God that
has long defined their lives.
Dennis grew up in a pastor’s home and accepted
Christ at a young age. He spent the first 10 years of his
life in the South, where his parents were engaged in a
church planting ministry. It was there that his parents
led him to Christ.
The family subsequently moved back to their home
state of Pennsylvania, and during the latter part of high
school, Dennis received the first inklings of a call to
ministry—principally through the encouragement of
adults he trusted and respected.
“Several of them, independently of each other,
approached me and said, ‘Dennis, have you ever
thought about going into the ministry?’” he recalls.
“That was really the beginning of sensing a call to
some form of ministry, of course not knowing where
that would lead or what that would include.”
After high school, like many of the young people in
his rural area of Pennsylvania, he headed off to Moody
Bible Institute in Chicago. “It was during the turbulent
1960s, and my first time in an urban setting with all
the attendant social problems,” he explains. “That was
significant in leading me into the academic pursuit of
ethics.”
Following graduation from Moody, he returned
to Pennsylvania to complete his bachelor’s degree at
Elizabethtown College while also serving as youth
pastor of the Congregational Bible Church in Marietta,
PA. He subsequently pursued a Master of Divinity
degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, was
pastor of an Evangelical Free Church in New Jersey,
and earned M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in Religion and
Society from Drew University.
During the next 11 years, Dennis served as an
Assistant and Associate Professor of Church and
Society at Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack,
NY, and Associate Professor of Church and Society
and Preaching at Associated Mennonite Seminary in
Elkhart, IN. He also pursued postdoctoral studies
during a sabbatical at Oxford University. In 1991, he
accepted a pastoral call to Washington Community
Fellowship, an urban church on Capitol Hill. In 1997,
he joined Messiah College as Vice Provost, College
Pastor and Professor of Christian Ethics, positions he
held until his call to ETS in 2004.
He has been a visiting professor or adjunct
professor at several seminaries in the U.S. and in
4 s u m m e r 08
“In terms of my faith, one of my
passions is holding together what is
often pulled apart: faith and life, the
inner life and the outer life, theology
and ethics, traditional forms and
contemporary forms.”
Ukraine, Russia and India, and he has delivered scores
of guest lectureships, plenary addresses and academic
presentations, frequently on ethical issues. His articles
and chapters have appeared in numerous scholarly
journals and 21 books.
Dr. Hollinger is the author of four books, most
recently, The Meaning of Sex: A Framework for the
Moral Life (Baker Books, forthcoming); Head, Heart
and Hands: Bringing Together Christian Thought,
Passion and Action (InterVarsity Press, 2005); and
Choosing the Good: Christian Ethics in a Complex
World (Baker Books, 2002). He was co-editor for
Eerdmans’ four book series on Critical Issues in
Bioethics.
He serves on the Board of Directors for The C.S.
Lewis Institute, Washington, DC, and is a Fellow
with the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity,
Bannockburn, IL.
Dennis’ gravitation to the field of Christian
ethics started when, as a young boy in the South, he
witnessed overt racism firsthand. “Obviously, as a child
you’re too young to process all that, but I had a sense
that the kind of racism so prevalent in our community
was wrong. Then, being at Moody in the late 60s,
which was the time of Dr. Martin Luther King’s
assassination, riots in the city and numerous social
upheavals, I began to wrestle with the question: How
does my faith relate to culture and society?
“I continued to wrestle with that into seminary,
and a number of my professors really encouraged me to
think about going on for doctoral work after Trinity.
One of them was Dr. David Wells (now Distinguished
Research Professor at Gordon-Conwell). By that point,
in the mid-70s, evangelicals were awakening more to
the whole issue of social responsibility and how we live
out our evangelical faith in the midst of culture and
society. That led me to enroll in doctoral work as soon
as I graduated from Trinity.”
Dennis’ conviction is that inherent in the Christian
faith are ethical commitments often at odds with the
larger forces of society. As he wrestled with how these
commitments play out in the culture, he ultimately
focused his study and research on sexual ethics and
bioethics.
“The culture pushes us to deal with these issues,”
he contends. “Churches have to grapple with sexual
issues. They can’t avoid them. And issues of bioethics
such as reproductive technology, euthanasia, and many
others, are realities in our culture. For a long time, the
church was silent on these issues. Christ calls us to be
salt and light in a way that reflects the spirit of Christ
and doesn’t capitulate to the standards and norms
around us.
“At the same time, we don’t try to impose a
Christian ethic onto the culture in a controlling,
Constantinian manner where we grab the reins of
society and direct it according to our own agenda. This
has often backfired, causing negative reactions against
the church and against the gospel message.”
Dennis has also served on the bioethics committee
at Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, PA, where for
several years he consulted on the floors with doctors
dealing with ethical crises. Many were exacerbated, he
says, by dysfunctional family contexts. “A family might
be trying to decide whether to pull the plug on Mother
or Dad; they haven’t spoken to each other in years, and
now they’ve been thrust into this very, very difficult
situation. A real positive in my work with a Catholic
hospital was that our bioethics commitments were very
commensurate because of their high regard for human
life.”
Why did the Hollingers choose to leave their full
lives in Pennsylvania to join the Gordon-Conwell
community?
“We have felt a real sense of the Lord’s call in
this process,” Dennis replies. “The search committee
seemed to feel that my gifts and experiences were a
good fit with the needs of the seminary at this time in
its history. Basically, I’ve done three things in my life:
the pastorate for 11 years, full-time seminary professor
for 11 years, and educational leadership for the last
11 years. My sense was that this background was very
much along the lines of what Gordon-Conwell wanted
and needed.
“I’ve also felt a real pull to Gordon-Conwell
because of the unique delivery systems of each campus.
Because I was an urban pastor, the CUME program
resonates with us. The adult education model of
the Charlotte campus is very timely and appealing.
Simultaneously, I’m at heart very much a classicist
when it comes to education, and that’s very much a
part of the Hamilton campus. The varied models of the
three campuses certainly played a role in being a good
fit with our own passions for theological education.
“And I have deep respect for the history of
Gordon-Conwell, particularly the significant role it has
played in New England evangelicalism.”
Asked about his passions, Dennis responded. “In
terms of my faith, one of my passions is holding
together what is often pulled apart: faith and life,
the inner life and the outer life, theology and ethics,
traditional forms and contemporary forms. So often in
the history of the church and in contemporary society
these sorts of things become unnecessarily polarized.
They are pitted against each other.”
This concept of holding things in balance, he says,
“has been central to my commitments over the years, in
the life of pastoring, teaching and administration.”
Dr. Mary Ann Hollinger
Dr. Mary Ann Hollinger, wife of Gordon-Conwell’s
new President, Dr. Dennis Hollinger, has served since
1997 at Messiah College, Grantham, PA, initially as the
first Assistant Dean of External Programs and Assistant
Professor of Family Studies. Since 2000, she has been
Dean of External Programs, guiding the college’s
extensive international and domestic offsite learning
opportunities for students. She will assist Messiah as a
consultant during the coming year.
Like her husband, Mary Ann grew up in a pastor’s
home and made her “childlike confession of faith” at
the age of four during one of the evangelistic services
her father periodically conducted for other churches. “I
made a more mature commitment at the end of junior
high, and it was shortly thereafter that I also sensed a
call to be open to some kind of Christian service,” she
recounts. “I wasn’t sure if that would be overseas or
exactly where that would lead me.
“I should also mention that my parents had a very
s umme r 0 8 5
 positive attitude toward ministry. Ministry was very
much a family project in our home. My brother and I
were often taken along when my parents visited people
in their homes, and I can’t even imagine how many
funerals and weddings we attended. My parents were a
wonderful role model for ministry. As a result, I have
always been open to ministry.”
Mary Ann holds a Master’s in Child Development/
Family Relations from Montclair State University in
New Jersey, and Ed.M and Ed.D. degrees in Family
Studies from Columbia University in New York City.
During the seven years Dennis was a pastor in
Washington, DC, she served as Executive Director of
the Center for Academic and Professional Services and
Assistant Professor of Sociology and Interdisciplinary
Studies at Mount Vernon College, also in the Capitol.
She previously was Visiting Assistant Professor of
Sociology at Indiana University in South Bend.
At Messiah, Mary Ann led a division that provides
an array of learning opportunities beyond the college
campus, from study abroad to internships, service- Dennis and Mary Ann are peo-
learning, urban immersion programs and the Latino ple of enthusiasm and passion:
Partnership. It was a position that took her to 24
countries. Some 450 students learn outside the country about their faith, the church,
annually, placing Messiah in the top 20 among all U.S. their family, theological educa-
bachelor’s degree institutions in the number of students
studying abroad. Some 84 to 86 percent of students tion, working with college
participate in at least one offsite program before they
graduate.
students, ethics and culture,
“Messiah is trying as an institution to become and more.
more thoroughly international and global in its
perspective,” she explains. “Part of the excitement is
L to r: Nathan and Naphtali Mitten, Daphne Hollinger, Dennis and Mary Ann at
that developmentally, students are at a point when they Daphne’s graduation from Fuller Theological Seminary.
are able to think more deeply about a whole range of
important global issues…yet they’re young enough to and more aware of themselves as World Christians.”
have many life choices ahead of them…By creating Many Messiah students spend at least one semester
opportunities for them at this critical moment in their in urban Philadelphia through a 40-year partnership
development, they are able to act on what they learn.” with Temple University. During the ferment of the
Mary Ann says that some students, as a result of 1960s, Messiah officials determined that students
exposure to challenges and needs they hadn’t even needed to leave their placid rural campus and learn
known existed, change their majors when they return. about the issues affecting inner city communities. So
“’Contextual learning’ is an active, hands-on approach they purchased a row of seven brownstones directly
to learning that provides a useful complement to across from Temple.
traditional classroom learning,” she notes. “Students… For Mary Ann, here’s where the story has a
start to see how what they’re learning in books and fascinating twist. Temple University was founded as
the classroom has relevance to their lives and how they Temple College by Dr. Russell Conwell, who served
might apply this learning in real world contexts…And as its President for 38 years. The Conwell School of
when they return, that just further globalizes the level Theology at Temple relocated to South Hamilton, MA,
of discussion in the classroom. when it merged with Gordon School of Divinity in
“It was so thrilling. Every time a group of students 1969 to become Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
came home there was payback. We observed how The brownstones Messiah purchased are all contiguous,
they’d learned, matured and become more self-confident except for one: Russell Conwell’s personal home.

6 s u m m e r 08

“We explored purchase of the
property, or a long-term lease, but
it has never been fully worked out,”
she says. “Russell Conwell has been a
large part of my life for the last eight
years. He’s buried in Founders Garden
at Temple, and they still speak of him
with great fondness and respect. His
famous sermon, Acres of Diamonds, is
on Temple’s website. It is interesting
how all of a sudden I see the next phase
in the evolution of that institution as it
defines Gordon-Conwell.”
Dennis and Mary Ann are people
of enthusiasm and passion: about
their faith, the church, their family,
theological education, working with
college students, ethics and culture, and
more. Asked about their two daughters,
Mary Ann laughingly responded, “We
have too many passions!”
Daphne, their eldest, is a graduate
of Gordon College, and received a
Master’s degree in Cross-Cultural
Studies from Fuller Theological
Seminary. She is currently on her second
trip to Nepal, working on food security
and sustainable development issues.
She served or studied abroad several
semesters, and traveled abroad nearly
every summer during college. Naphtali
graduated from Messiah College and
currently teaches kindergarten at a
public school in Gainesville, Fl. Her
husband, Nathan, is pursuing a Ph.D. in
mechanical engineering at the University
of Florida. His focus is alternative
energy.
Mary Ann says that her background
in a pastor’s home and her experiences
as a pastor’s wife have given her a
keen appreciation for the necessity and
value of a seminary education. “As I
sat around the dinner table with many
families, I heard the kind of questions
my Dad and my husband were peppered
with that ran the whole gamut,” she
says. “The average parishioner wants
and values a pastor who can draw from
a deep well of preparation…People
want to be challenged when they come
to church.”
Year-long Search Involved Broad Seminary Community
Dr. Garth Bolinder (D.Min.’99),
Trustee and Superintendent of the
Midsouth Conference of the Evangelical
Covenant Church, served as Chair of
the Presidential Search Committee that
recommended Dr. Dennis P. Hollinger
to the Board of Trustees. Summarizing
this process, he concluded: “As Gordon-
Conwell Theological Seminary moves
through this season of transition, we are
grateful for God’s continuing protection
and generous provision for the seminary.  in 1983 is still the defining document
“The first assignment given to the
committee in May 2007 was to fill the
office of President. God provided above
and beyond what we could ask or think
when Dr. Haddon W. Robinson agreed to
serve at a strategic time in our history. As
a gentleman and a scholar, Dr. Robinson
has prayerfully led the seminary with
wisdom, statesmanship and skill. Under
Haddon’s leadership, faculty, staff and
students have worked together to help
bring a ‘season of refreshing’ to the
entire seminary community. This good
will has helped prepare the seminary for
a bright future as we look forward to the
leadership of Dr. Dennis Hollinger.
“I am particularly grateful for the
hard work by the Search Committee. For
more than a year this group met several
times a month, either in person or
by conference call, to carefully and
collaboratively discern the Lord’s
leading. They included trustees Dr.
Richard A. Armstrong, Mr. Thomas J.
Colatosti, Dr. Charles W. Colson, Dr.
Leighton Ford, Mrs. Joanna S. Mockler,
Mrs. Joyce A. Godwin, Dr. John A.
Huffman, Jr., Dr. Shirley A. Redd, Dr.
William C. Wood and Dr. Richard P.
Camp, M.Div.’61; also, faculty members
Dr. Timothy S. Laniak, M.Div.’89 and Dr.
Gary D. Pratico, M.Div.’73; and CUME
student LeSette Wright, M.Div.’08.
“The assistance of our Search
Consultant, alumnus Glenn Weingarth of
the Weingarth Group, added expertise and
helped our confidence as a committee.  distinguished scholar, teacher, pastor,
“At the inception of the search
process, the seminary established a
section on the website through which
the committee could keep the worldwide
seminary community apprised and
involved in this important search.
Interested persons could enroll as prayer
partners, and many people prayed with
us during the search. Individuals could
also recommend prospective candidates,
and we received many fine suggestions.
Search committee members remain
profoundly grateful for the outpouring of
support and involvement in the search
process.
“The process involved five key
phases. During the first phase, selected
faculty and trustees clarified the mission
of the seminary, agreeing that the
existing mission statement formulated
for Gordon-Conwell. We also developed a
preferred presidential profile to guide the
committee in its search.
“Next, we endeavored to ‘cast the
net’ as widely as possible in order to
identify the best qualified prospects,
ultimately reviewing the credentials of
100 individuals. We then conducted
extensive interviews with three qualified
candidates, with the goal of prayerfully
discerning the one person to present to
the Board of Trustees.
“Subsequently, the entire Board
of Trustees extensively interviewed
the presidential candidate, and also
got to know his spouse. With mutual
discernment of the Lord’s leadership,
the entire Board of Trustees on June 10
selected the candidate to be the next
President of Gordon-Conwell Theological
Seminary.
“We then planned for a seamless
presidential transition as Dr. Robinson
concluded his ministry as President and
Dr. Hollinger began. It was our goal that
such cooperation would encourage the
new President in the first few weeks
on the job and help maintain positive
momentum in the seminary, as well as
encourage his family as they moved to the
Boston area.
“By persevering through a healthy
process, the Presidential Search
Committee is delighted to celebrate
the election of Dr. Dennis Hollinger as
the seminary’s sixth President. He is a
administrator and friend—a man with a
heart for God and a great appreciation
for the history and mission of Gordon-
Conwell. We thank everyone who
encouraged, exhorted and interceded
for us. As Gordon-Conwell stands on the
threshold of a new chapter, we proclaim
with you, ‘to God alone be the glory!’”
s umme r 0 8 7
 ON THE FRONTLINES

l e a r n i n g from the
hous e c h u r c h
m ove me nt in c h i n a

On Sunday mornings in Beijing, worship songs can be heard

coming from a high-rise apartment complex. Each week, more
than 50 people quietly file up three flights of stairs into a small,
two-bedroom apartment. Members are reminded to keep quiet
in the hallways, so as not to bother the neighbors. Once inside,
however, subdued demeanors transform into a room full of
smiling faces. Every seat in the room is filled with students and
young adults. Latecomers sit in hallways and bedrooms, where
they have to strain to hear the message.
by an anonymous g raduat e

8 s u m m e r 08

The service includes Chinese worship songs, mixed
with an occasional familiar Western hymn and praise
chorus. The speaker comes from a rotating roster
of local pastors, evangelists and lay leaders who
circuit through a network of a dozen congregations
throughout the city.
Jet, a pastoral intern and a graduate of one of the
top universities in China, lives in the apartment. He
preaches twice a month, leads Bible studies and prayer
meetings, organizes church activities and directs a
team of volunteer cooks. Bible studies and prayer
follow the service, while the volunteer cooks prepare a
family-style Chinese meal.
This is the growing unregistered house church
movement that started among uneducated peasants
in rural areas, grew rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s,
and more recently is expanding among students,
intellectuals and professionals in urban China.
While exact numbers are impossible to verify,
some estimate China’s total Christian population
to be from 75 to 130 million. While approximately
20 million1 are in the officially registered Three-Self
government churches, the remaining majority of
Chinese Christians worship in unregistered house
churches.
A similar house church movement in America is
on the rise. According to The Barna Group, there are
“new ways of experiencing and expressing faith, such
as through house churches.”2 George Barna estimates
that within the next two decades “only about a third
of the population” will be relying on conventional
congregations. As alternative forms of worship grow
in America, what are some invaluable lessons we can
learn from China’s house churches?
St r e n g t h s o f the House
Ch urc he s i n Ch in a
Chinese house churches are vibrant and inspiring.
Worshipping together in a small, crowded room
in China is an indescribable experience. Joy and
excitement permeate the room. Limited space and
fear of the authorities create a closely-knit, family
fellowship. Members are often discouraged to invite
visitors. For security reasons, seekers are invited to
a separate evangelistic meeting. Such an atmosphere
1 Tony Lambert, www.omf.org.uk How many Christians in
China. Aug-Sep 2005
2 The Barna Update, www.barna.org Rapid Increase in Alterna-
tive Forms of The Church Are Changing the Religious Landscape,
Oct 24th, 2005
ON THE FRONTLINES
produces an inspiring, authentic worship experience.
While preaching is often lacking in quality and
consistency, members are not necessarily coming just
to hear a message. The main attraction is the warm
fellowship resulting from an enthusiastic and inspiring
worship experience.
Still, the house church is not the answer for all.
Many intellectuals returning to China have a hard
time finding a spiritual home. While overseas, they
come to faith in a church with a vibrant teaching
and preaching ministry. These abundantly resourced
church conditions can produce a passive faith, which
inhibits their ability to adapt to a house church
environment.
Ming, a Beijing native, studied abroad in Australia
and came to faith in a Chinese church in Sydney.
After returning to China, Ming struggled with her
faith. She couldn’t find a church with the quality of
preaching and church life back in Australia. Neither
the larger government-sanctioned Three-Self church,
nor the house churches could meet her spiritual needs.
House churches, while alive, active and authentic, can
turn some away.
Another common characteristic of a house
church is its simplistic devotion to the basics. The
house church movement in China is similar to the
description of the early church in Acts:
“They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching
and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
prayer” (Acts 2:42).
Very little time and energy are given to extraneous
ministries. House churches have difficulty enough
keeping up with the basics of worship, fellowship,
Bible studies and prayer. Limited resources are
available for children’s programs, student ministry,
missions and community outreach. Even with the
Beijing 2008 Olympics in their country, sports ministry
was not a concern. While a network of house churches
may combine for missions, seminary training and some
specialized ministries, church programs in general are
limited by the lack of a critical mass.
Perhaps the most appealing characteristic of the
house church in China is that it can really be described
as a true movement of God. China’s current house
church growth is not the product of some great
personality, charismatic leader or strategic program. It
cannot be credited to a particular church, denomination,
mission agency, theological persuasion or charismatic
movement. Instead, the house church movement in
China is the result of a movement of God out of
s umme r 0 8 9
 ON THE FRONTLINES
persecution.
China’s house church movement is a living,
present day example of the first century early Church.
Just a decade ago, Beijing was home to only a
handful of house churches. Within the last 10 years,
an estimated 6,000-10,000 house churches have been
planted in the city. And it’s not just Beijing; church
growth is happening nationwide in China’s urban
centers.
Th e Te m p tatio n to Id ea lize
With such explosive growth stories in China, the
temptation is to idealize the house church model as
the model for all. While house churches are becoming
a worldwide phenomenon, there are substantial
differences between a house church movement in
China and one in the U.S.
What is driving the American house church
movement? Is it a reaction against megachurch
Christianity or a postmodern fad against organized
religion?
The most obvious difference of the house church
in China is that it arose out of necessity and not
by choice. House church leaders did not plan a
house church strategy from the start, but because
of persecution, the church was forced underground
into Christian homes. Many of China’s house church
leaders pray for the day of owning their own church
building and moving toward a large church model.
This persecution is also the greatest cause of
China’s church growth. A house church leader has
described how, when the police came to disrupt
a baptismal service, the added pressure actually
strengthened his church. As the police recorded the
names of these 40 new believers, the experience
challenged the candidates to test their newfound faith.
Some of these young believers were afraid, but their
faith deepened as a result. church, the house church in China is prone to cult-like
Persecution purifies the church and strengthens the
faithful. This authentic faith attracts and draws others
to join. Multiply that scenario in a home, and a house
church movement takes off.
Finally, house churches in China are not as
holy and pure as many have come to idealize. Like
any church, the house church model in China has
limitations and flaws. The house church movement in
China is not by choice, but out of necessity, and has
some real problems.
Li m i tat i o n s o f th e Ho u se C h urches
10 s u m m e r 08
A good description of the house church is that it is a
mess, an organizational nightmare. Many times, no
one knows who the speaker is or what that person’s
credentials are. Meeting times and locations are
switched at the last minute. While some strive for a
systematic rotation of speakers, church leadership is
often unstable or in flux. There is a lack of qualified
leaders. Churches often split or divide without
adequate preparation. As churches constantly grow,
divide and merge, it is a challenge to exercise biblical
worshipping together in
a small, crowded room
in china is an indescrib-
a b l e e x p e r i e n c e . joy a n d
excitement permeate the
room. limited space and
fear of the authorities
create a closely-knit,
f a m i l y f e l l o w s h i p.
accountability and to gain a sense of organizational
unity and stability.
It is also a theological mess. Just like the early
attacks and theological heresy. The Eastern Lightning
cult (which believes in a woman messiah) targets
house church leaders. They send undercover adherents
into churches for months or even years before ousting
the pastor and gaining control of the flock. Even
within the church, it sometimes is hard for church
leadership to distinguish between orthodoxy and
heresy. Divisions exist over the charismatic movement,
reformed theology, the “health and wealth”
gospel, the “Back to Jerusalem” movement and the
relationship with the official Three-Self church, to
name a few.
 ON THE FRONTLINES

L ac k o f Vi s i b ility and Diversity Body of Christ. Something is missing that cannot

be adequately fulfilled in a small home alone. It is a
Another challenge of house churches in China is glimpse of the future, the final ultimate global worship
a lack of visible presence to the community. The in the kingdom of God. Implanted in each citizen of
significance of a megachurch community presence the kingdom is the desire recorded in Revelation:
cannot be overlooked. It is an organizational “before me was a great multitude that no one could
challenge to combine the resources of multiple house count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,
church networks to have a similar impact. House standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb”
churches operate on survival mode and have difficulty (Rev 7:9). F
dedicating resources beyond its members. The “illegal”
status further hinders their ability to maintain a
visible presence in the community. However, Chinese
leaders pray for the day when they can emerge and
visibly be the “city on the hill” to engage the broader
community.
Lack of diversity is another problem facing a
small-sized house church. Beijing house churches
tend to attract younger members, mostly between the
ages of 18-35. Students gravitate toward worshipping
with students and professionals gravitate toward
worshipping with professionals. Due to the lack of
childcare and Sunday schools for children, families
with small children rarely attend. While some of the
more developed house churches are beginning to offer
children’s Sunday school programs, junior and high
school youth ministries are virtually nonexistent.
To compensate for these limitations, many house
churches relate to the wider body through a network
of house churches. While house church networks
in China have a variety of organizational structures
(some operate under one larger church banner, while
others are in an association of independent house
churches), it is at a network level where the overall
vision and direction, leadership training, larger
evangelistic events, missions and community outreach
can be more effectively accomplished.

L o n g i n g f o r Global Worship

Finally, probably most lacking in China’s house

churches is a “longing for global worship.” In an open
country, it is a privilege to experience a large worship
service. House church worshippers in China long for
this, a larger worship experience beyond their own
small group.
A few years ago, several house church networks
gathered for a day of prayer and fasting for the city
of Beijing. As hundreds of believers met for worship
and prayer in a secret, remote area, I could see the
excitement in their eyes. It was no longer 30 family
members, but a larger, more diverse worshipping

s umme r 0 8 11
Karen Mason, Ph.D.

An Overview
of Depression

12 s u m m e r 08
A n elderly man1 came to my office and said
that he had been depressed for several years following
retirement. He explained that he had written to ask
his church for help with depression, but he never
received an answer back. Why? One reason may be
that depression is not well understood.
Although this lack of understanding is fairly
common, depression is the most prevalent mental
health disorder in the U.S.2 More than 16 percent of
Americans will experience depression at some point
in their lifetime.3 In any given year, between seven
and 11 percent of American adults will suffer from
depression4—about 19 million adult Americans.5
In 2000, depression was the fourth leading
contributor to the global burden of disease, and is
projected to be the second leading contributor by
2020.6 Though two times more women experience
depression than men, men are not exempt.7 Many
famous people are reported to have suffered with
depression, people like Abraham Lincoln, astronaut
Buzz Aldrin, newscaster Mike Wallace, former
quarterback Terry Bradshaw, and Vincent Van Gogh.8
Winston Churchill called his depression “Black Dog.”9
Likewise, Christians are not immune. In 1866,
C.H. Spurgeon, the 19th century revivalist, told his
congregation: “I am the subject of depressions of
spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever gets to
such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.”10 Martin
Luther’s biographer, Roland Bainton, writes that
Luther experienced recurrent depressions.11 Luther
called these Anfechtung which Bainton describes as
“all the doubt, turmoil, pang, tremor, panic, despair,
desolation, and desperation which invade the spirit of
man.”12 A story is told of Luther’s wife who dressed
in mourning one day in the midst of one of his
depressions. Luther asked who had died. Her reply
was that no one had but with the way Luther was
acting she thought God himself must have died!13
Psalm 102 captures the despondent prayer “of
an afflicted man when he is faint and pours out his
lament before the Lord.” This man beseeches God not
to hide His face (v. 2); he described his
heart as “blighted and withered” (v. 4); he says that
he forgets to eat (v. 4), lies awake at night (v. 7), and
mingles his drink with his tears (v. 9), because his
enemies taunt him (v. 8) and because he feels God
has thrown him aside (v. 10). We read about the
despondency of Job (Job 3:24), Elijah (1 Kings 19:4),
and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:18).
If depression were like the common cold, the
incidence of depression would not be a problem; but
depression is disabling. In fact, the World Health
Organization has found that depression is the leading
cause of disability in the world.14 The daughter of one
of my clients asked me why her father couldn’t just
“snap out of it.” While we all have ups and downs,
the depressed person is engulfed in a “sustained feeling
of sadness”15 which affects people in their sleeping
and eating, their level of interest in life, energy levels,
or ability to concentrate. (See Signs of Depression
on page 20). Depression affects many aspects of a
person’s life because it is related to biological changes
in the brain. The National Institute of Mental
Health tells us that the brains of people who have
depression look different from those of people without
depression.16
My client’s daughter did not realize that it is very
hard for a depressed person to do anything. Getting
out of bed can be a monumental task. Playing with
a child or expressing affection to a spouse can be
unimaginable. Depression is truly disabling for the
depressed person and confusing and frustrating for
their family members. It can be especially confusing
and frustrating for Christians who believe that
depression represents spiritual failure.17
Adding to the frustration of all, sometimes
depression occurs with other mental health problems,
like anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder or abuse
of substances like alcohol. Sometimes depression
co-exists with medical conditions like heart disease,
stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and Parkinson’s
disease.18
The ultimate cost of depression is death.
Depression sometimes leads to suicide and even
homicide. About two thirds of people who die by
suicide are depressed at the time of their deaths.19
Though three times more women attempt suicide,
men are four times more likely than women to die by
suicide.20 With depression there are also indirect costs
in terms of lost productivity in the workplace, school
or home due to disability. The indirect costs of all
mental illness were estimated at $78.6 billion in 1990
(the most recent year for which estimates are available).
Most of that amount ($63 billion) reflects disability
costs—the loss of productivity in usual activities because
of illness.21
The good news is that depression responds well to
treatment, though less than one-third of people with
a mental health problem get the help they need.22 In
1997, only 23 percent of adult Americans diagnosed
with depression received treatment.23 Many of these
s umme r 0 8 13
 people do not know that treatments are available and
effective. A meta-analysis of 16 studies demonstrated
the advantages of therapy and medication,24 especially
for severe depression. Another obstacle for some may
be the stigma of depression—especially for Christians.
Though many depressed individuals worship God in
congregations throughout the world, depression is
rarely talked about, preached about or prayed for.
The U.S. government has set health goals for the
American population and has developed 10 leading
health indicators, including “increase the proportion
of adults with recognized depression who receive
treatment.”25 The goal of treatment efforts are
not just to eliminate depression but to help return
the depressed person to mental health, “a state of
successful mental functioning, resulting in productive
activities, fulfilling relationships, and the ability to
adapt to change and cope with adversity.”26 Churches
might consider how they could stand by depressed
people in their return to mental health.
The best news is that in the midst of depression
God is present even though He seems not to exist.
In the midst of his despair, the writer of Psalm 102
reminds us that “you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever”
(v. 12). We remind ourselves that God will never leave
us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6) and that He
loves us immeasurably (Romans 8:35-39)—even in the
midst of depression. Just as God is sovereign, present
and loving in the midst of diabetes or cancer, He is
sovereign, present and loving for us and our loved
ones in the midst of depression. F
Resources
Tan, S-Y., & Ortberg, J., Coping with Depression, revised and
expanded (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2004).
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance http://www.ndmda.org/
National Institute of Mental Health: Depression http://www.nimh.
nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-publication.shtml
1 Important details have been changed to preserve confidentiality.
2 American Association of Suicidology. Retrieved May 22, 2008 from
http://www.suicidology.org/associations/1045/files/Depression.pdf
3 Kessler, E. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., & Walters, E. E. (2005).
Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders
in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General
Psychiatry, 62, p. 593.
4 Mental Health: a Report of the Surgeon General (1999). Retrieved May
22, 2008 from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.
html
5 Healthy People 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2008 from http://www.
healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/uih/uih_4.htm
6 World Health Organization. Retrieved 5/21/08 from http://www.who.
int/healthinfo/boddaly/en/
7 Population Reference Bureau (2006). Retrieved May
22, 2008 from http://www.prb.org/Articles/2006/
DepressionaLeadingContributortoGlobalBurdenofDisease.aspx
8 Famous People with Depression. Retrieved May 22, 2008 from http://
depression.about.com/od/famous/Famous_People_With_Depression.htm
14 s u m m e r 08
9 Chance, S. (1996, January). Churchill’s Black Dog. Chance Thoughts by
Sue Chance, M.D. Retrieved May 22, 2008 from http://depression.about.
com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=depression&cdn=health&
tm=6&f=11&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.mhsource.com/
exclusive/chanceth0196.html
10 Spurgeon, C.H. (1866). “Joy and Peace in Believing” Sermon #692.
Retrieved May 23, 2008 from http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols10-12/
chs692.pdf
11 Bainton, R. (1950). Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther. New York:
Abingdon Press.
12 Ibid p. 42
13 Glover, S. Christian approach to defeating depression Retrieved May
23, 2008 from http://www.helium.com/items/723307-christian-depression-
depressionthe-famous
14 World Health Organization. Retrieved May 19, 2008 from http://www.
who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/
15 Mental Health: a Report of the Surgeon General (1999). Retrieved May
22, 2008 from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.
html
16 National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved May 22, 2008 from
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-
publication.shtml
17 Trice, P.D., & Bjorck, J.P., (2006). Pentecostal Perspectives on Causes
and Cures of Depression. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice,
37(3)
18 National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved May 22, 2008 from
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-
publication.shtml
19 American Association of Suicidology. Retrieved May 22, 2008 from
http://www.suicidology.org/associations/1045/files/Depression.pdf
20 American Association of Suicidology. Retrieved May 22, 2008 from
http://www.suicidology.org/associations/1045/files/Depression.pdf
21 Mental Health: a Report of the Surgeon General (1999). Retrieved May
22, 2008 from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.
html
22 Mental Health: a Report of the Surgeon General (1999). Retrieved May
22, 2008 from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.
html
23 Healthy People 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2008 from http://www.
healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/uih/uih_4.htm
24 Pampallona, S., Bollini, P., Tibaldi, G., Kupelnick, B., & Munizza,
C. (2004). Combined pharmacotherapy and psychological treatment for
depression: A systematic review. Archives of General Psychiatry, 61 (7), p.
714-719.
25 Healthy People 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2008 from http://www.
healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/uih/uih_4.htm
26 http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/uih/uih_4.htm
Dr. Karen E. Mason, Assistant Professor of
Pastoral Counseling, has taught and practiced
psychology for more than a decade. She
has practiced in community mental health
organizations and managed suicide prevention
activities at the state level. She holds an M.A.
degree in Old Testament from Denver Seminary,
and M.A. and Ph.D.degrees in Counseling
Psychology from the University of Denver.
 To diagnose and understand depression
involves a complex exercise of delving into
the human psyche. It requires identifying the
nature and cause of an individual’s injury
or dysfunction by evaluating a person’s
complaints, identifying the history of these
complaints and examining the person’s
background and current mental state. In some
cases laboratory and medical data can aid in
the process of evaluation.
As spiritual and believing people who seek
to understand this mysterious malady, it helps
to understand its history and how it has been
understood throughout the ages.
Depression is not new, nor exclusive to
our own times. Any attempt to identify and
diagnose depression today cannot ignore the
definitions and labels with which it has been
identified throughout history. Hippocrates
(fourth and fifth century B.C.) first mentioned
“melancholia” as black bile running through
the organism, producing undesirable effects,
such as an aversion to food, despondency,
sleeplessness, irritability and restlessness. Later
on, the prominent Greek physician, Galen
(second century AD), corroborated these
conclusions and elaborated on them.
In the Christian world, by the 3rd century
AD, leaders of monastic orders alluded to
similar phenomena in describing their attempts
to overcome evil and sin while striving to
live an impeccable existence before God. The
Christian mystic Evagrius Ponticus (ca. 346-
399 AD) and John Cassian (ca. 360-435 AD)
presented interesting accounts of the practices

DE P R E SS ION
THROUGH THE AGES:
“SIN” OR “SICKNESS”?
DIAGNOSIS AND
TREATMENT
Pablo Polischuk, Ph.D. s umme r 0 8 15
 of monks in the community in Alexandria. Evagrius
at the time likened what today we call “depression”
with the term “acedia” in association with “tristitia”
(dejection, sadness, sorrow) and “desperatio” (despair).
He regarded acedia as a condition characterized by
symptoms such as exhaustion, listlessness, sadness or
dejection, restlessness, an aversion to the monastic
cell and the ascetic life, and a yearning for family and
former life. In that context, the devil was blamed,
specifically the “demon of noontime” (allusion made
to Psalm 19). Often, those who became depressed
experienced the pangs of acedia around the sixth hour
of the day: 3 p.m.
John Cassian (ca. 360-435 AD) elaborated on the
term acedia, placing it on a list of eight cardinal sins
that threatened the solitary, desert-dwelling clergy.
Interestingly, a well-documented antidote for such
malaise consisted in two behavioral prescriptions:
chanting unto God and gardening.
Later on, Gregory the Great (ca. 540-604 AD)
redefined acedia, identifying it with the sin of “spiritual
slothfulness” as noted in the “Seven Deadly Sins.”
Roughly defined, the malady carried the marks of
spiritual laziness, lack of spiritual zest for God, or
dejection of the things of God. Similarly, in the
later medieval period, acedia also conformed to the
Hippocratic term “melancholia,” with features such as
lassitude, weariness, inaction, carelessness and neglect.
The concept of acedia underwent a transformation
as a result of the Fourth Lateran Council (1215-1216),
which moved the emphasis beyond issues related to
the monastic life and vices of the clergy, giving more
attention to its manifestations among the masses. This
lent acedia, or depression, a more visible, concrete
definition, though it remained consigned to the
spiritual realm. As a result, confessors had to deal with
concrete external “sins” such as idleness, somnolence
and instability which, at the time, demanded remedial
punishment.
A decisive turn
It was Thomas Aquinas, during the Scholastic
period (13th century), who finally introduced the
possibility that depression might have physiological
and medical causes and could not of necessity be
reduced to moral failure. He suggested that, whereas
help could and should come from the local priest, it
also could come from the physician. The distinctions
between spiritual and physiological causes of acedia
were expanded also in the 13th century by the medieval
German mystic and theologian, David of Augsburg.
He made a clear distinction between involuntary,
16 s u m m e r 08
unreasonable despair (including suicidal ideation) and
spiritual sloth.
The 16th century reformers followed suit, facilitating
the acceptance of natural and/or medical causes for
acedia with the utilization of physicians to help treat
it. The writings of the physician Dr. Timothy Bright
(1550-1615 AD) reflect this trend, pointing to the
treatment of melancholy as a medical disease without
neglecting its spiritual connotations.
In time, the Puritan tradition addressed the issue
of diagnosis as well. The writings of the Puritan
preacher Richard Baxter (1673) alluded to cognitive and
spiritual factors as possible causes of self-punishing and
destructive thoughts. He asserted that such patterns
could arise from confusion due to poorly controlled
thought processes: scattered thinking and fantasy,
marked by weak reasoning and lack of self control. He
allowed that the causes could reside in some worldly
loss, or a cross to bear, or grief. But he also suggested
that dwelling upon deep fears; persistent, serious,
and passionate thoughts; and cares about the danger
of the soul apart from exploring the notion of some
heinous sin would likewise have a depressive effect
upon the conscience. In other words, while depression
might be caused by some form of external trauma, he
maintained that it cannot be rooted out without brutal
self-examination of the possibility of some unknown
sin. Modern equivalents to the quest for spiritual causes
of depression may be found in Lloyd Jones’ book,
Spiritual Depression, and popular approaches such as
Minirth-Maier’s Happiness is a Choice.
Depression today
In the early 1900s, Freud changed the entire
concept of melancholy by alluding to an individual’s
inner psychic, psychodynamic struggles and the
internalization of unresolved anger as causes for
depression. More recently, the emphasis has shifted to
include cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions, such as
psychiatrist Aaron Beck’s “cognitive triad” (negative
views of self, the world and the future) as a result of
etiological (historical) factors.
In the psychiatric field, depression has been
regarded as a medical illness and codified in the
Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Classification of
Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR). Current investigations
on this front emphasize biochemical imbalances in the
brain, the role of neurotransmitters, and physiological
aspects impinging on cognitive-emotive processes.
This manual (DSM-IV TR) remains somewhat of a
secular psychiatric bible. It presents different categories
for depression, such as Major Depressive Disorder
(otherwise known as unipolar, clinical depression);
Bipolar Disorders (involving depression and mania),
Dysthymia (lower level, yet more persistent and constant
depression); and Cyclothymia (lower level bipolar
disorder), in addition to depression associated with
medical illness or coupled with other mental disorders.
The following symptoms synthesize the classification
for a major depressive disorder:
1. For a major depressive episode, a person must have
experienced at least five of the nine symptoms below for
two weeks or more, almost every day, and that this is a
change from his/her prior level of functioning.
Depressed mood. For children and adolescents, this may be
irritable mood.
Reduced level of interest or pleasure in most or all activities.
A considerable loss or gain of weight. This may also be an
increase or decrease in appetite.
Sleep problems: Difficulty falling or staying asleep
(insomnia), or sleeping more than usual (hypersomnia).
Agitation or decreased energy (fatigue).
Thoughts of worthlessness or extreme guilt.
Reduced ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions.
Frequent thoughts of death or suicide or attempted suicide.
2. The person’s symptoms are a cause of great distress or
difficulty at home, work or other important areas.
3. Symptoms are not caused by substance abuse (alcohol,
drugs, medication), or a medical disorder.
4. Symptoms are not due to normal grief or bereavement
over the death of a loved one and continue for more
than two months.
Today’s treatments for depression include
pharmacology (medicines), cognitive-behavioral therapy
(aiming to change thought patterns underlying emotions),
dialectical behavior therapy (focusing on mind-matters,
interpersonal relationships, distress tolerance and
emotional regulation, so as to develop coping skills to
bear depression), and ECT (electroconvulsive shock
therapy). Counseling in conjunction with cognitive-
behavioral therapy coupled with proper medicines
has proved to be an effective method of managing
depression. The National Institute of Mental Health has
conducted research and continues to track such methods,
revealing promising results.
From a Christian perspective, treatment also
addresses cognitive processes such as thinking, reasoning,
perceptions, attributions of meaning, judgment, memory
and learning. These are reframed and dealt with through
interaction with Scriptural principles, in co-participation
with the person’s understanding, level of insight and
maturity. This process seeks to introduce faith and
hope through dialogical prayers and meditation in the
Word, which can provide cleansing and empowerment.
The process also encourages dedication to proactive,
behavioral endeavors that are positive and meaningful.
The aim of such treatment is to promote spiritual
growth through Scriptural knowledge, insight and
wisdom, coupled with a personal dedication to praise,
worship, thanksgiving and service to God in the context
of meaningful fellowship. Such aspects are engaged
as means to shift and change embedded patterns of
helplessness, negative attributions, and self-defeating
attitudes. The reliance on the person, presence and
power of the Holy Spirit is fostered, thereby establishing
a dialogical endeavor that shifts the depressed person’s
predispositions from a victim, survivor or martyr stance
to a fighting, yet peaceful and empowered posture so as
to live in freedom.
To conclude, the supportive, insightful care and
counseling from pastoral perspectives is undeniably a
major source of help, providing the empathic fellowship
in which depressed believers help “one another” along
the way. At the same time, medical causes cannot be
ignored and should not be discouraged in believing
communities. Connectedness to a group provides social
support, which everyone needs, especially the depressed
individual. Overall mental health also benefits from good
nutrition, relaxation and plenty of exercise, and the
common sense to seek medical help when needed. F
Dr. Pablo Polischuk, Professor of Pastoral Counseling
and Psychology, also directs the Willowdale
Center for Psychological Services in Hamilton, MA,
and worked for 10 years at Massachusetts General
Hospital. Dr. Polischuk has also been active in
pastoral ministry in Spanish-speaking and English-
speaking churches, and has evangelized and taught overseas.
He holds a M.A. from San Francisco State University and M.A.
and Ph.D. degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary.
References
Baxter, R. A Christian Directory, from The Practical Works of Richard Baxter in
Four Volumes, Vol. I. (Ligonier, PA: Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 1990, [first published
in 1673]).
Beck, A.T.; Rush, A.J.; Shaw, B.F;, & Emery, G., Cognitive Therapy of
Depression, (New York: Guilford Press, 1979).
DSM-IV TR. (2000). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association
Freud, S., An Outline of Psychoanalysis, (NY: Norton, 1949).
Jackson, S. W. (1985). “Acedia, the sin, and its relationship to sorrow and
melancholia,” Culture and Depression, A. Kleinman & B. Good, Eds., (Berkeley, CA:
University of California Press, 43-62, 1985).
Jackson, S.W., Melancholia and Depression, (New Haven, CT: Yale University
Press, 1986).
Lloyd-Jones, D.M., Spiritual Depression, (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1965).
Minirth, F. & Meier, P., Happiness is a choice: The Symptoms, Causes, and
Cures of Depression, (Baker Books, 2007).
Roth, K. L., “The Psychology and Counseling of Richard Baxter (1615-1691),”
Journal of Psychology and Counseling, Vol. 17, No. 4, 321-334, (1998).
Wenzel, S., The sin of sloth: Acedia in medieval thought and literature, (Chapel
Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1967).
s umme r 0 8 17
This article originally appeared in the summer 2008 edition of Contact, the
magazine of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. It is reprinted with
permission from the seminary.
everal years ago, “Jill,” a young teen girl, newly
converted, was facing a barrage of personal problems
that left her feeling depressed. During one Sunday at
the non-denominational church she attended, an older
female mentor-friend of Jill’s, “Mrs. Singer,” asked
her how she was. Jill admitted to feeling overwhelmed
and sad. Mrs. Singer smiled at her and responded,
“Just praise Him! Just praise Him! That’s all you need
to do.”
Jill went away that day feeling worse. As for Mrs.
Singer, who had appropriated “just praise” as the
antidote for Jill’s depression, she later left the same
church under the cloud of adultery and shame. She
herself, evidently, had been depressed and unhappy
and, rather than confront it honestly, buried it inside
until it otherwise surfaced in actions that damaged
many lives.
18 s u m m e r 08
18 summer 08
Is Depression
How churches can become
Wendy Murray, MTS ’85
Depression remains a troubling issue for the church.
On the one hand, some church traditions see it as
a spiritual issue propelled by sin or lack of faith.
This leaves many in their churches—including some
pastors—suffering from depression in a tortured world
of darkness, desperation, isolation and helplessness,
fearing to admit it in the fellowship group. On
the other hand, more and more congregations are
recognizing depression as a condition common to the
human situation and therefore a “normal” human
response to loss or trauma. Even so, they aren’t sure
how to address it.
Great strides have been made in recognizing that
depression is as real as the mumps. But, unlike the
mumps, there is no inoculation against it. Various
studies have shown1:
 “Normal?”
e “safe havens” for the depressed
• Depressive disorders annually affect
approximately 18.8 million American adults or
about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age
18 and older. This includes major depressive
disorder, dysthymic disorder and bipolar
disorder. [1]
• Everyone will at some time in his or her
life be affected by depression—their own
or someone else’s—according to Australian
Government statistics. (Depression statistics in
Australia are comparable to those of the U.S.
and UK.) [2]
• Pre-schoolers are the fastest-growing market
for antidepressants. At least four percent of
preschoolers—over a million—are clinically
depressed. [3]


• The rate of increase of depression among
children is an astounding 23 percent per
annum. [4]
• 15 percent of the population of most
developed countries suffers severe depression.
[5]
• 30 percent of women are depressed. Men’s
figures were previously thought to be half that
of women, but new estimates are higher. [6]
• 54 percent of people believe depression is a
personal weakness. [7]
s umme r 0 8 19
s umme r 0 8 19
 Warning Signs of Depression Pablo Polischuk, Ph.D.
How is the church family generally,
and church leaders specifically,
to address an issue that seems so
Can I recognize the symptoms of depression in myself or others?
intangible and nebulous but is at the
Observing the most salient signs may help shed light in such a quest. None of these same time so dark, debilitating and
should be taken in isolation, but rather in the context of a persistent experience pervasive?
beyond occasional feelings (“the blues”).
Dr. Rod Cooper, Professor of
A person who is depressed will experience several symptoms which cause problems Leadership Development at the Gordon-
in social or occupational functioning and are not due to a medical condition or Conwell—Charlotte campus, concedes
substance-induced mood change.
that as recently as 10 years ago, general
Dr. Karen Mason and Dr. Pablo Polischuk provide the following list of symptoms: attitudes in the church were more
- Persistent sadness most of the day (can be irritability in children/adolescents); “gloom” problematic, deeming depression a “sin”
mixed with anxiety or feelings of “emptiness”
problem. “Now we’re seeing more of
- Manifested feelings of pessimism and/or hopelessness (“doom”)
- Restlessness, irritability experienced for any or no apparent reason a fifty-fifty split. Some denominational
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness groups deal with it, and others don’t.”
- Fatigue and decreased sense of energy Part of the problem, Cooper says,
- Loss of interest in activities once pleasurable
- Loss of sexual desire (except in the manic phase of Bipolar Disorder) arises from a tradition of training
- Loss of appetite or overeating (weight loss or weight gain) pastors and church leaders in the art of
- Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness or excessive sleeping (hypersomnia) preaching and teaching while neglecting
- Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that resist treatment
- Difficulties in concentration, attention, memory for details and decision-making the messy human side of ministry.
- Rumination, thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts “Often we have dichotomized the
person in training. We minister to their
If experiencing these symptoms, consultation with physicians and mental health
providers is recommended, in addition to pastoral care. head but not to the heart.”
Cooper himself insists in his courses
For help locating a mental health provider in your area, you may want to consult these on pastoral leadership that ministry
resources: American Association of Pastoral Counselors http://www.aapc.org;
American Association of Christian Counselors http://www.aacc.net/
candidates “confront their dark sides,
their hang-ups, their issues. A lot of
ministers don’t deal
• 41 percent of depressed women are too with that, seeing it as less important
embarrassed to seek help. [8] than preaching and teaching Scripture.” This
dichotomizing, he says, can cause great harm
• 80 percent of depressed people are not not only to churches but also to pastors
themselves. Before they can help others face
currently receiving any treatment. [9]
dark issues and problems that debilitate them,
“it is very important for a pastor to know
• 92 percent of depressed African-American how he or she ticks.”
males do not seek treatment. [10] When this kind of rigorous self-
examination is left unattended, Cooper says
• 15 percent of depressed people will commit that seminaries “produce individuals who
suicide. [11] can preach and teach, but who live with
suppressed anger. They feel great pressure
that they have to be all things to all people.
• Depression will be the second largest killer It may be the Elijah Complex (‘I am alone
after heart disease by 2020. Studies show in this’) or the Messiah Complex (‘Only I
depression is a contributory factor to fatal know it all’). Either way, they’ve adopted a
coronary disease. [12]

 very flawed view of ministry and it becomes
all-consuming. It builds incredible anger that
• Depression results in more absenteeism than seethes under the skin, so they get depressed.
almost any other physical disorder and costs This can lead to pornography addiction,
U.S. employers more than $51 billion per year in adultery, divorce and failure in ministry.”
absenteeism and lost productivity, not including In addition, congregants themselves often
high medical and pharmaceutical bills. [13] come to worship as damaged people who,

20 s u m m e r 08
 in some cases, fear disclosing their inner
struggles for fear of spiritual judgment.
Cooper maintains that, despite the rampant
and increasing numbers of depressed people in
the pews and in the pulpit, the pastor—whose
powerful tool is that pulpit—can go a long
way to help his or her congregation become a
“safe place” for the depressed individual. “The
church is, after all, a bastion of hope.”
First, he says, pastors can adopt a
sensibility in their preaching that integrates a
counseling aspect. He or she can share openly
about what it means to be human: “We are
spiritual beings, but we are also physical and
emotional beings. And we are flawed,” he
says. “That is part of depression.” The pastor
needs to “quit walking around the elephant”
and create a climate in the church that allows
people to feel safe in their brokenness. This
includes pastors.
Second, while steering this “attitudinal
shift” (that is, that it is alright to talk about
depression), Cooper asserts that leadership
and ministry teams ought to make resources
available to their congregants, such as bringing
in guest counselors and speakers and holding
seminars about depression. “Once you’ve
opened this thing up, you’d better have
resources, because people are going to come,”
he says.
Helping Someone with Depression Pablo Polischuk, Ph.D.
How can I help myself or someone else with depression? What would you say to such
a person?
1. Encourage the person to seek professional help; for the more critical cases,
sooner rather than later.
2. Follow the advice and recommendations of that professional.
3. Engage in exercise, three times a week, one hour at a time as a start (walking,
jogging, swimming, playing a sport).
4. Avoid isolation; seek fellowship, the company of friends and significant others.
5. Eat well, a nutritious diet, paying attention to taste, aroma, temperature, type,
etc.
6. Practice a form of relaxation daily (meditational prayer, deep muscle relaxation).
7. Read Scripture, dialoguing with God, the Author, as you soak up the Word.
8. Pray existentially, at any place and anytime, anywhere, besides engaging in
formal prayer as a discipline.
9. Help someone else in his or her misfortunes, problems or troubles; take your
focus away from your own dilemmas, deeming yourself as a person who has
something to give.
10. Have fun and experience pleasure: At the beginning, be aware of the effort, and
behave in spite of feelings; then, appraise these behaviors cognitively and give
yourself a break (be nice to yourself); finally, let feelings follow.
Cooper also suggests that it is dangerous
for pastors and congregants alike to think in
terms of “overcoming” depression. Some
people simply won’t overcome it, he says.
“As we go through life, we have losses. Losses
cause depression. Some people experience
trauma, which can create a longer-term
depression. Depression is not abnormal.
“Too often we tend to think people ought
to get over it. But what we need to talk about
is how to manage it. We need to step back,
help people understand it is not taboo to talk
about it, help people learn that depression is
real and that we all aren’t going to get over
it.”
Depression is not new to the believing
community, he says. Many great Christians
have faced serious gloom. “Kierkegaard,
Spurgeon, and Calvin all suffered with
depression. These are spiritual giants. And
part of what made them that way was their
deep inner struggle with depression,” he says.
“Our challenge as pastors and as the
church is to find a way to embrace it for what
it is, and to ask what God is going to do with
it in my life.” F
Alumna Wendy Murray, MTS ‘85, has been
a regional correspondent for Time magazine
and an editor and senior writer at Christianity
Today. She has published extensively in
publications such as Books & Culture and The
Christian Century, and on Beliefnet.com. Two
of her essays were included in John Wilson’s
The Best Christian Writing, and Brill’s Content
listed her among the nation’s leading religion
reporters. She has written 10 books, including
the recently released A Mended and Broken
Heart, the Life and Love of Francis of Assisi
(Basic Books, 2008). Wendy has also served
as Artist-in-Residence at Gordon College and
taught at the school’s international studies
program in Orvieto, Italy.
1 For sources of these statistics see http://www.upliftprogram.
com/depression_stats.html#1
s umme r 0 8 21
 When
Depression
Hits
Home
How pastors
can help
themselves

22 s u m m e r 08
Clergy are not immune from depression. more faith, your outlook would be brighter and your
problems would all disappear–all you have to do is
In the following conversation with Contact read your Bible and pray.’ So the pastor has layers and
editor Anne Doll, Gordon-Conwell— layers of guilt and hopelessness. The person thinks he
Charlotte counseling professors Dr. Sidney should be able to take care of the problem. The sense
of helplessness and hopelessness is at the core of
L. Bradley and Dr. Kelly Breen Boyce discuss
depression and simply compounds an already desperate
helpful steps pastors can take to prevent and feeling of despair.
deal with depression.
The problem of depression is accentuated for pastors
because the pastor is viewed as the leader of the pack…
Is depression common among pastors?
the shepherd of the flock. He or she is supposedly
taught how to avoid such problems. And most pastors
Sid: I have seen a number of pastors in counseling. They
are the only pastor; the whole church is on one person’s
don’t always recognize it as depression. They see it as
shoulders. In addition, every church has several people
discouragement, or generalize it as burnout. Or they say
who are ‘clingers.’ They need a lot of help, and they
they’ve run out of passion and enthusiasm. They’ve lost
latch onto the pastor. They become leeches who add to
their vision. We can say a person is depressed when the
the enormous load already on the pastor and drain the
person has a negative view of oneself, of the world and of
the future. This is the well-known trilogy that Aaron Beck emotional life out of him or her.
first described.
Kelly: For people in the helping professions, there
is a term called Compassion Fatigue, which refers to
Kelly: Burnout is a useful term. While burnout shares
the emotional impact of working with people who are
some commonalities with depression, it is a separate
hurting.
phenomenon and therefore requires different treatment.
It describes a combination of things that converge, such
Do pastors’ families suffer depression?
as fatigue, and emotional and psychological factors.
Burnout can be defined as a loss of pleasure in work-
Sid: Only more so. Studies by the Barna Group have
related activities, possibly along with a decline in job
shown that 10 percent of pastors’ families are very
performance.
seriously impacted by their role in the church, and about
40 percent are somewhat impacted. The pressure and
Burnout can affect cognitive processes, causing the
stress appear to take an enormous toll.
pastor to become more cynical and bored. Burnout can
also produce emotional changes such as despondency
A lot of pastors make a serous mistake by taking
and irritability, as well as reduced productivity, sleep
Mondays off. They are coming off an emotional high;
disturbances, fatigue and muscle tension. Relationships
they are drained, emotionally spent and no good to
tend to suffer. A person withdraws, isolates, and
anyone. It would be better for them and their families to
interpersonal conflicts increase. Persons can even get
go to work on Mondays and push papers around or do
into addictions or compulsive behavior as a means of
similar light duty, and take a day off in the latter part of
coping.
the week when they are more refreshed and able to be
meaningfully engaged with the family.
While no one factor is the sole determinant, burnout
likely results from an interaction among the personality
How can pastors prevent depression?
traits of the pastor, such as being overly driven; societal
pressures and attitudes; and unrealistic expectations
Kelly: Pastors should engage in intentional
from a church or denomination.
replenishment weekly or monthly. They should seek
spiritual direction, meeting regularly with another
Does being a pastor add to the problem of depression?
pastor who ministers to them. Because pastors give of
themselves so much, they need to be on the receiving
Sid: It definitely makes it worse. It gets layered. A
end as well. They shouldn’t wait until the problem
religious person thinks, ‘I shouldn’t feel this way,’ so
reaches a crisis.
there is a tendency to feel guilt as well. And then you
have ‘super Christians’ around who tell you, ‘If you had

s umme r 0 8 23
 In addition, they should establish boundaries that they
are not available 24/7, and get real with expectations—
set more realistic expectations. Jesus did not heal
everyone, even though it was within His power to do so.
No one is capable of successfully ministering to every
person in need.
Sid: It helps for pastors to do stress inoculations. They
have very stress-laden roles. They need to follow the
basics of eating correctly and making sure they get eight
hours of sleep per night. That’s very critical. They need
a constant routine at bedtime and should not stay up
any later than necessary. Most critical is a good exercise
routine. Nothing fortifies you as much. In addition to
the physical benefits, exercise provides psychological
benefits. Being in top-notch physical shape is the best
thing we can do to build up our tolerance for stress.
Moreover, there is a benefit that comes from being
proactive and taking charge of this significant area of
your life. It gives an overall sense of self esteem and self
mastery.
Kelly: For depression in particular, cardiovascular
exercise is very beneficial, because it boosts the level of
serotonin, which is the neurotransmitter that regulates
mood. Engaging several times a week in exercise during
which the heart rate is elevated for at least 30 minutes
has been shown to be as effective as anti-depressants for
most people. At the same time, in some cases, medication
is both beneficial and necessary. If depression is causing
problems in their lives, pastors would be wise to contact
a medical doctor or psychologist.
Sid: Stress inoculations can also head off serious illness.
The famous Holmes-Rahe Study investigated what
happens if people are overloaded with stressors for a
one-year period. The study found that if people exceed a
certain point value, it’s almost guaranteed that they will
have a major illness within a year. Even things you would
consider pleasurable can be stressors, such as Christmas,
vacations with young children, having to choose which
relatives with whom to spend holidays, etc. Major
stressors would be the death of a beloved spouse, loss of
a job, a bankruptcy or having a home burn.
Meaningful relationships outside the church are also
important. Pastors need to cultivate friendships they can
enjoy that enable them to step away from their pastoral
roles. There is another intentional piece to preventing
and managing stress as well. In order to take care
of themselves, pastors need to take regular vacations.
For example, one pastor who has children goes away
24 s u m m e r 08
for a weekend with his wife once a quarter. It’s on the
calendar. Another takes a whole month off once a year.
These are preventive steps that stave off depression.
If pastors suffer depression, is it wise to share the
problem with their church?
Sid: A decision to share the problem with the church
depends on the enlightenment of their scenario—how
trustworthy the leaders of the church are. There are
churches that would handle it in a very enlightened
way. A lot depends on the region of the country and the
education level of the congregation. I would hope that a
pastor could take the top leadership into his confidence.
Within their churches, pastors can normalize the problem
of depression by teaching about it. This can help people
understand it, and dispel the idea that Christians are
immune from depression.
Pastors also need to take their spouses into the equation
in trying to resolve issues. Pastors are notorious loners in
taking others into problems. They have been conditioned
to solving problems alone. They shouldn’t try to do that.
Spouses can see more clearly than they do. Spouses can
be their best advisors, their best supporters. They can
help them come up with an alternative plan.
Kelly: If pastors go to a professional therapist, they
should remember that the hallmark of therapy is
confidentiality.
What can happen if depression goes untreated?
Sid: It’s very serious. I have seen pastors totally
debilitated for as much as six months. I’ve seen pastors
who because of fatigue were susceptible to moral failure.
Depression is also linked with heart disease and other
medical problems. In worst cases, depressed people even
attempt suicide.
Women are far more likely to attempt suicide, but
successful suicides are four times more prevalent in men
than in women. Tragically, the older men get, the higher
risk for suicide they become. Depression is not just an
inconvenient illness. It is potentially very serious.
Is depression a treatable condition?
Kelly: There are very hopeful aspects related to treating
depression. Research has shown that when therapy
is combined with medication, there is a 90 percent
successful treatment rate. Depression is very, very
treatable. There is another potentially positive outcome to
depression. People who experience this common condition
often develop greater compassion and understanding for
others who are hurting.
Christians are not immune from experiencing sadness
and depression. Reducing the stigma among Christians
regarding mental health issues could be a great gift that a
pastor could give to his or her church.
Dr. Sidney L. Bradley, Senior Professor of
Counseling and former Dean of the Charlotte
campus, spent 27 years as Psychological
Consultant and Principal Evaluator for World
Missions of the Advent Christian General
Conference. He was also Administrator and
Psychologist at Advent Christian Village in
Preparing Students for Counseling Careers Bonnie Prizio, LMHC
The Master of Arts in Counseling program offered on
the three campuses of Gordon-Conwell Theological
Seminary educates students for ministry as licensed
counselors and as good Christian counselors and
therapists.
At the South Hamilton campus, this training
includes preparation for licensure as Mental Health
Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists. In
Boston, students prepare for service as Mental Health
Counselors and at the Charlotte, NC, campus, as
Licensed Professional Counselors. The academic tracks
closely follow the requirements for licensure required in
each state.
Students also take required core courses in Old and
New Testament, theology, church history and ethics.
Perhaps the cornerstone of the counseling program is
its “Integrative Seminars.” These two courses enable
students to integrate their knowledge of psychological
Dowling Park, FL, a counseling center, retirement center and
facility for at-risk children. While there, he founded and directed
centers for outreach to pastors and families. An ordained Advent
Christian minister, he has pastored churches in Maine and Florida.
He holds an M.S.W. from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D.
from the University of Florida.
Dr. Kelly Breen Boyce, Ranked Adjunct Assistant
Professor in Counseling and Associate Director of
Graduate Programs in Counseling at the Charlotte
campus, has provided clinical services in a variety
of settings. She currently works with individuals
and couples with the Carolinas Counseling Group
of Charlotte, Inc. She has taught continuing
education seminars for mental health professionals and courses
in psychotherapy, psychology, psychological assessment, marriage
and domestic violence at a variety of universities. She holds an
M.A. from Gordon-Conwell, and M.A. and Psy.D. degrees from
Rosemead School of Psychology.
principles and counseling techniques. Students are
joined by professors from both the counseling program
and other areas of the seminary who share on topics
such as “the nature of personhood,” “psychopathology
and/or sin,” “redemption, restoration and wholeness”
and “the meaning of suffering.” Students, thus, have
the opportunity to view counseling not solely through
the lens of psychology, but also with an awareness of
the Holy Spirit’s work in the healing process.
Those who complete this training program in counseling
may expect significant growth in their professional
development as well as growth spiritually. Students will
be well-prepared for employment in either secular or
Christian settings after graduation.
Bonnie Prizio, LMHC, is Administrator of the seminary’s Masters
in Counseling program. She received Masters of Counseling and
Masters in Religion degrees from Gordon-Conwell and is a licensed
mental health counselor.
s umme
s umme r 0 8r 025
8 25
 When the Pastor Suffers from Depression
Dr. Raymond Pendleton
Recently, I had the privilege of reconnecting with
an old friend and former student. As we sat at lunch,
he told me what had taken place in his life during the
past few months. He is a man in his early fifties, married
with children, and a pastor for many years since he
completed seminary. As I listened to his story, it became
all too familiar.
In his most recent pastorate, he had served for
several years with a good measure of success and
satisfaction. He recounted that for most of his life he
had experienced bouts of depression but had always
been able to put his head down and charge forward.
Eventually, the depression would lift, and he would
be able to go on as before with the work of ministry.
However, this time it was different. After a long holiday
season that seemed to require more energy than usual,
he experienced a return of the depression that was more
serious and debilitating than any previous episode.
In conversation with the lay leadership of the
congregation, they agreed together that he should take
some time and get some professional help to work
through the depression. He found a very helpful
counselor who was able to help him identify a series of
traumatic losses and disappointments throughout much
of his early life. He described several “breakthrough
experiences” that became the source of relief and
healing. He was feeling free and able to move forward
with ministry again. In fact, he felt that he was more
ready than ever before to engage the tasks of the
pastorate.
The bombshell came when he sat with the leadership
of the congregation and they asked him to resign, feeling
that they wanted a more energetic presence in the pulpit
and as a leader of worship. He was stunned, to put it
mildly, but he had no choice but to capitulate to their
request/demand. As a testament to his recent healing
experience, he was able to deal with this body blow
with a sense of balance and reasonable calm but without
sinking into a depression.
It would be a wonderful thing if this pastoral
experience was unique, but it is not unusual for
untrained people to see depression as something to be
avoided and to be judged as a malady that disqualifies
a Christian from service. A mythology is often extant
that Christians should not be depressed. These folks
should not read the life of Haddon Spurgeon, the famous
26 s u m m e r 08
English preacher, or the lives of many biblical characters
who suffered from this mood disorder.
As a teacher of Pastoral Counseling, I spend a
significant portion of the introductory course talking
about depression, its etiology and the various approaches
to treatment. Students need to be prepared to deal with
depression in their own lives as well as the experience
of depression in the lives of the congregations to whom
they minister, since it is clear that pastors are a primary
source for caregiving. When a person comes to consult
with a pastor, it is important that the pastor be able
to recognize the issues with which this individual is
struggling and be able to make appropriate intervention.
At the same time, I tell my students that they are always
responsible for the spiritual nurture of those in their
care.
In their recent book, New Light on Depression,
David Biebel and Harold Koenig describe four types of
depression: (1) situational depression, (2) developmental
depression, (3) biological depression and (4) spiritual
depression. David Biebel is a teacher, speaker and
seminary graduate with a Doctor of Ministry degree.
Harold Koenig is a board certified psychiatrist. Their
book is a very helpful treatment of the varieties of
depression and the possibilities for help that are
available.
The reality, I tell my students, is that anyone
can become depressed. The issue is to recognize that
depression is not a statement of spiritual failure.
Depression happens!
Pastors, lay leaders and those who provide counsel
to individuals and families must be well trained to
recognize the symptoms of various levels of depression
and have sufficient knowledge of the resources available
to respond to the particular needs of the person. F
Dr. Raymond Pendleton, Professor of Pastoral
Psychology and Director of Mentored Ministry,
is President of the Willowdale Center for
Psychological Services in Hamilton, MA.
He chairs the board of FOTOS (Fish On The
Other Side), a ministry to people struggling
with gender identity, and is a board member
of Hagar’s Sisters, a ministry to families
experiencing domestic abuse. He teaches on marriage and
family life for conferences and congregations. He holds an M.A.
from Auburn University and a Ph.D. from Boston University.
 TRUSTE E P ROFI LE

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez Michael L. Colaneri

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Jr.,

Hispanic evangelical experience in America,” Samuel
has a passion for the church. A
explains. “I am the President, and Dr. Jesse Miranda, who
leader in his denomination and
might be called the ‘godfather of Hispanic Evangelicalism,’
the Hispanic-American church,
is the CEO. We are committed to a multi-generational
he wants to build bridges so
presentation of the gospel as well as a kingdom-culture
that American evangelicals of
presentation that is multi-ethnic.”
all ethnicities bow down to
As NHCLC President, Rodriguez travels extensively,
worship God together.
speaking in educational environments like Princeton
A Gordon-Conwell
and Yale, and in political environments as well. “Both
Trustee since 2006, Rev.
Republicans and Democrats call upon our organization
Rodriguez is currently President of the National Hispanic
for advice on issues that affect the Hispanic-American
Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), the largest
population, particularly regarding faith and family issues.”
Hispanic Christian organization in the U.S. The NHCLC
Samuel has also spoken in many media outlets such
serves more than 18,000 churches and 15 million Hispanic
as CNN and Fox; writes a column for the Washington
evangelicals and is, according to Rodriguez, “the Hispanic
Post, and has written editorials for major newspapers,
NAE (National Association of Evangelicals).”
including the San Francisco Chronicle. “But our ministry
Rev. Rodriguez, a first generation American of Puerto
extends not only to the corridors of Washington, but also
Rican parents, was born into a Christian home in Newark,
to ecclesiastical corridors,” he emphasizes. “We work
NJ. Participation in the church was a high priority in
diligently to present a kingdom-culture ethos and also
the Rodriguez family. Samuel’s grandfather had been an
transmit our Christian heritage to the next generation.
“evangelical pioneer” in the church in Puerto Rico, and his
“We want to build bridges. Historically, the white
parents were involved in the church, both in Puerto Rico
evangelical church has been the standard-bearer for life and
and Pennsylvania.
marriage issues. The African-American evangelical church,
Samuel had his first personal encounter with Jesus
on the other hand, has been involved in issues like poverty
Christ when he was nine. He received his denominational
and education. We want to say it is not ‘either-or,’ but
credentials when he was 16, and has been active in the
‘both-and.’
Assemblies of God ever since. His wife is also a minister in
“In a nutshell, [the NHCLC] is like Billy Graham and
the denomination, and Rev. Rodriguez currently serves in
Martin Luther King, Jr., blended, with salsa sauce on top!”
the General Superintendent’s Cabinet.
Rev. Rodriguez joined the Gordon-Conwell board,
He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from
“largely because of [long-time Trustee] Dick Armstrong.
Kutztown University and received a Master’s Degree from
He and I serve on the board of World Relief together, and
Lehigh University, where he is also pursuing a Ph.D.
he was instrumental in bringing me on at Gordon-Conwell.
in Organizational Management and Behavior. During
Dick is someone committed to prayer and speaking with
his undergraduate years, his commitment to Christ was
God.
reaffirmed through an interesting historical figure: Isaac
“I am on the board because I want to make Gordon-
Newton.
Conwell the seminary of choice for next-generation
“It was the late 1980s, at the beginning of the software
Hispanic-American leadership.”
revolution,” he recounts. “A friend and I were creating
According to numerous sources, the Hispanic church
a program as part of a class, and in doing so, we were
is growing, both in the U.S. and around the world.
incorporating theorems of, for examples the expanding
“There are large Latino churches in London, Australia,
and collapsing universe. It was during this time that I
France, Holland, etc. Wherever Latinos are, you have the
was struck by Newton’s own search for veritas, for truth,
evangelical faith there. Also, all things being equal, come
through mathematics. I then began to see the wonder and
2020, 50 percent of all evangelicals in America will be of
beauty of mathematics. I was amazed at the complexity of
Hispanic descent.”
the universe and that we have this incredible designer and
Rev. Rodriguez is married and has three children
architect in God.”
between the ages of 12 and 17. In addition to participation
After graduating from college, Rev. Rodriguez served
on Gordon-Conwell’s board and the AG Superintendent’s
as a pastor in a New York congregation. He has also
Cabinet, he also serves on the boards of World Relief, the
written a book, Are You a Third Day Christian (Strang
NAE board’s executive committee, Evangelicals for Human
Communications), and founded an international network of
Rights, Alliance for Marriage and the National Campaign
churches, the Third Day Believers Network. At NHCLC, he
for Preventing Teen Pregnancy.
steers an organization that provides leadership, networking
and partnerships which advocate for social justice, with a
For more information about Rev. Rodriguez, or the
commitment to justice from a biblical worldview.
NHCLC, please visit www.nhclc.org.
“Our organization contextualizes the narrative of the

s umme r 0 8 27
 Meet the Faculty Michael L. Colaneri
Dr. Alvin Padilla’s passion is preparing
students to preach the Gospel in the city
and minister incarnationally amid the
often hemorrhaging problems of urban
communities.
The Dean of Gordon-Conwell’s Boston
campus, the Center for Urban Ministerial
Education (CUME), is convinced that
“just as the Son of God became human
and lived among us, we need to be present
within the needs of our communities. It’s
the Gospel in action, and is a very strong hallmark of the CUME
program—to see that our graduates do that.”
Al’s passion took root as a youth growing up in Haverhill,
MA, as he observed the mounting needs of its people. Haverhill
was becoming increasingly multicultural while also losing
its economic base for the working class. And Al was dealing
with issues of being an ethnic minority in an increasingly
economically depressed area of the country.
As a student at Villanova University, he began organizing
community groups and became an advocate for community
services. After college, he founded a group called Latinas Unidos
(Latinos United) in Haverhill.
“I saw the need,” he recalls. ”It was all around me, and I
felt very much that I couldn’t ignore it. I couldn’t turn my back.
I could be an influence for positive change in the community
where I grew up.”
Al’s passion ultimately propelled him to Gordon-Conwell
and a Master of Divinity degree in 1984. He subsequently
earned a Ph.D. from Drew University Graduate School, founded
and taught for seven years at the Spanish Eastern School of
Theology in Swan Lake, NY, and taught biblical studies for five
years at Nyack College.
An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he
also served as pastor of Fort Washington Heights Presbyterian
Church in New York City—a Spanish-speaking congregation.
In 1997, he returned to Gordon-Conwell as Assistant Professor
of New Testament, and ultimately became Associate Professor
and Dean at CUME—a campus located in Roxbury, MA, at the
heart of Boston’s inner city.
Al views Gordon-Conwell’s commitment to the city as
much the same journey he has been on since childhood. “As a
seminary, we felt we could not ignore the needs of the city,” he
says. “It is viewed as a calling…a responsibility. We were an
urban seminary originally. We could not move on and ignore
what lies around us.”
The needs at stake, he points out, are the “hallmark of social justice:
• Systemic poverty that continues from one generation to
the next. It is very difficult to break the cycle.
• Chronic at-risk youth issues—young people without
jobs. It is a breeding ground for gangs.
• Educational disparity between the suburbs and the
inner city.
• Churches trying to meet all these needs without
financial resources. Others have to help.
• A brain drain and a financial drain. When a young
person is able to break out of that cycle, he or she
generally moves away, so we have churches that are
always stuck.”
28 s u m m e r 08
Within this context, he explains, “the mission of CUME is to
prepare women and men for ministries in these communities—
people who will live and remain there and give evangelical
answers to the needs of the city. They receive an academically
rigorous, biblically-centered education that defines Gordon-
Conwell, and express it in a tangible, hands-on way.”
Students from around the country now enroll at CUME,
and 130 students from the South Hamilton campus this year
took advantage of cross registration across the seminary’s
campuses. They are taught by white, Hispanic and African-
American professors and study among students from nearly 50
nationalities and all races. Classes are taught in six languages.
If the make-up of the population changes, such as the
growth in recent years of Cambodians, Asians and Hispanics,
CUME offers programs specifically for these groups. “CUME
sits in the middle of the urban community,” Al explains. “We
are continually reorganizing the seminary. We are continually
re-contextualizing.”
Students also learn side-by-side with many individuals
already in ministry. Al explains that in ethnic minority
communities, men and women are called to ministry, but often
have not gone to seminary first.
“They reach the point in ministry where they see the need
to strengthen their calling. They’re not able to meet all the needs
in their church and community. Because they have experience
in ministry, they get a more refined seminary education. It’s
both theological and practical. Professors can also offer helpful
feedback to students on what they’re doing in the church.”
CUME students become pastors, urban youth workers and
youth ministers. They work in community advocacy groups,
and with organizations addressing family violence. One graduate
is the chaplain to the Boston police force. Others serve as
chaplains in hospitals.
“They’re involved in the complexities and needs that are
urban America,” Al notes, “but they all preach the Gospel in
that context.
“More and more, evangelicals are seeing the need to
diversify for this multicultural presence. At CUME, students
learn about dealing with racial and language barriers. This is a
tremendous asset. Most seminary grads will end up in or near a
city somewhere. It’s a reality.
“Students need a great theological education, and they need
a multicultural presence in the classroom. The environment at
CUME allows them to get their feet wet, to learn that they have
the same fears I have—engaging together, learning from each
other.
“We don’t want to just talk about the love of God, but
to take seriously the Scripture ‘unto the least of these,’ to help
people understand that this abundant life can be enjoyed now.
We are all called to be advocates for those in need.”
Dr. Alvin Padilla is married to Cathy, a 1983 graduate of
Gordon-Conwell and a teacher at Abundant Life Christian
School. They have four children: a married daughter, Marta,
who lives in the Dominican Republic; Ben, a junior at Gordon
College; Luke, a senior at Lexington Christian Academy; and
Jacob, an eighth grader at Abundant Life Christian School. Al
still lives in Haverhill and coaches Jacob’s Little League team.

Dr. Laniak Appointed Acting Dean at
Charlotte Campus
Dr. Timothy S. Laniak, Professor of Old
Testament, has been appointed Acting
Academic Dean at Gordon-Conwell—
Charlotte. He succeeds Dr. Sidney L.
Bradley, Academic Dean since 2000. Dr.
Bradley will continue as Senior Professor
of Counseling.
Dr. Laniak, who is also Curator of the
Cooley Collection of the Robert C. Cooley
Center for the Study of Early Christianity at the Charlotte
campus, joined Gordon-Conwell in 1997. He has been
serving, in addition, as Mentor for the Christian Leadership
Doctor of Ministry Track and Coordinator of Charlotte’s
Urban Ministry Program.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College,
his M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell and his doctorate in Old
Testament and Early Judaism from Harvard Divinity School.
He has published books on social anthropology and the
Bible (Shame and Honor in the Book of Esther, Scholars
Press, 1997); the NIBC commentary on the book of Esther
(Hendrickson Publishers, 2003), biblical theological resources
on leadership (through Gordon-Conwell’s Center for the
Development of Evangelical Leadership), and A Guide to
Hebrew Exegesis (Logos, forthcoming 2009).
Dr. Laniak’s most recent books, Shepherds After My Own
Heart: Pastoral Traditions in the Bible (InterVarsity Press,
2006) and While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks: Reflections
on Leadership From the World of the Bible (ShepherdLeader
Publications, 2007), are the result of a year’s research in the
Middle East, including interviews with Bedouin shepherds.
He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the
Institute of Biblical Research, the Biblical Archaeological
Society and the American Schools of Oriental Research. He
served as the Annual Professor of the Albright Institute for
Archaeological Research in 2003-04. He began the ministry
of ShepherdLeader.com in 2007.
Tim and his wife, Maureen, have been involved with cross-
cultural ministries in more than 15 countries. For five years,
they worked with international students at the International
Fellowship House in Boston. They also worked for five years
in welfare housing for immigrants in Brookline, MA.
They are actively involved in public education as co-founders
of Life Long Learning, a non-profit company offering non-
traditional educational opportunities, and Union Academy,
a K-12 charter school emphasizing character education and
community service. They live with their three children in
Weddington, NC.
S E M I N A RY N E W S
Six Professors Named to Gordon-Con-
well Faculty
The seminary has recently appointed six experienced
professors for its Hamilton, Boston and Charlotte
campuses.
Dr. Maria L. Boccia, Professor of
Pastoral Counseling and Psychology
and Director of Graduate Programs
in Counseling, Charlotte, brings to
Gordon-Conwell 22 years of teaching
experience, most recently at the
University of North Carolina (UNC)
at Chapel Hill, where she served
until 2001 as director of the observational methods
core and taught workshops and seminars for faculty,
graduate and postdoctoral students, and other staff.
She continues as an adjunct associate professor in
the Department of Psychiatry at the UNC School of
Medicine.
Dr. Boccia’s most recent work has been as a therapist
at the Center for Psychological and Family Services and
as a fellow and scientist at the Frank Porter Graham
Child Development Institute, UNC Chapel Hill. She
has also conducted research on psychological topics
and published more than 80 articles in recognized
journals. She is the recipient of more than 15 grants for
psychological research, has received many awards and
honors for her work as a scientist and teacher, and is a
member of 10 professional organizations.
In addition, Dr. Boccia is a licensed counselor and
marriage and family therapist in North Carolina and
a certified sex therapist with the American Society
of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
and the American Board of Christian Sex Therapists.
She holds a doctorate in zoology from the University
of Massachusetts, completed postdoctoral work in
developmental psychology at the University of Denver,
and received a D. Min. in marriage and family
counseling from Gordon-Conwell.
Adonis Vidu, Ph.D., Associate
Professor of Theology comes to
Gordon-Conwell from his home
country of Romania where he spent
the past 10 years teaching, initially
at Emmanuel College where he also
served as Director of Research in the
Faculty of Theology and as Credit Officer. He then
taught at the University of Bucharest and served on the
adjunct theology faculty at Liberty University.
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His areas of expertise include systematic theology,
philosophical theology, the philosophy of religion and
philosophical hermeneutics. In addition to many articles in
these areas, Dr. Vidu has written Postliberal Theological
Method: A Critical Study (Paternoster Press, 2005) and the
forthcoming Theology After Neo-Pragmatism (Paternoster
Press, 2008) and Aspects of God and the World: A New
Philosophical Theology.
He is a member of the Society for the Study of Theology,
the Seminar for Interdisciplinary Research of Religions
and Ideologies, the Society for Continental Philosophy and
Theology and the Evangelical Theological Society, and is a
founding member of the Romanian Association of Religious
Studies. Dr. Vidu earned a Master’s in Philosophy from
Babes-Bolyai University in Romania; and a Ph.D. from the
University of Nottingham, England.
Patrick T. Smith, Ph.D.(cand.), Assistant
Professor of Theology, has taught as a
visiting adjunct faculty member at the Boston
campus since May 2006, and will join the
faculty full-time during the spring semester
following completion of his Ph.D. degree at
Wayne State University. He has served at
Michigan Theological Seminary as Instructor of Bible and
Theology and Assistant Academic Dean of the Bachelor of
Religious Education Program, and worked in administrative
departments at that seminary and Wayne State University.
He has also been serving as ethics coordinator for Angela
Hospice Care Center, Livonia, MI; on the pastoral staff
of Woodside Bible Church, Troy, MI; and as an adjunct
apologist for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.
He is a board member of the Angel House multicultural
immigrant ministry. In addition, he has taught and
practiced cross-cultural ministry, including service in a
church in Zambia, Africa, and in various Chinese churches
in the U.S. He has spoken on apologetics and doctrine for
radio broadcasts, and speaks at seminars and conferences.
Professor Smith is a contributor to The Encyclopedia
of Christian Civilization (Wiley-Blackwell Publishers,
forthcoming, 2008), and holds memberships in the Society
of Christian Philosophers, the Evangelical Philosophical
Society, the Evangelical Theological Society, the Center for
Practical Bioethics and the Center for Bioethics and Human
Dignity. He received an M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical
Divinity School and an M.A. from Wayne State. His
doctoral focus is religious epistemology.
Peter Anders, Ph.D. (cand.), Instructor
of Theology, served during the 2007-
2008 academic year as a visiting lecturer,
and brings to Gordon-Conwell nearly 10
years of teaching experience at Wheaton
Academy, Biola University and Azusa Pacific
30 s u m m e r 08
University. His areas of interest include systematic theology
and Karl Barth, on whom he is writing his dissertation.
He earned M.A. degrees from Wheaton College Graduate
School and Yale University Divinity School, and is
completing his Ph.D. at the University of Oxford. While
studying at Yale, he assisted The Works of Jonathan
Edwards Project by transcribing and editing Edwards’
original 18th-Century sermon manuscripts.
He has worked with an outreach program to inner cities
in Mexico, and with the Eastern European Bible Mission
to aid persecuted churches. He has written more than a
dozen articles and has received several honors, including
the University of Oxford Faculty of Theology Graduate
Studentship Award and first prize for the best graduate
paper presented at the 1997 gathering of the Evangelical
Theological Society.
He is a contributing scholar to Modern Reformation,
and a member of the American Academy of Religion, the
Evangelical Theological Society, the Society of Christian
Philosophers and the Karl Barth Society of North America.
Kelly Breen Boyce, Psy.D., Ranked Adjunct
Assistant Professor of Counseling and
Associate Director of Graduate Programs in
Counseling at Gordon-Conwell-Charlotte,
has taught at Gordon-Conwell—Charlotte
since 2006, and has also taught continuing
education seminars for mental health professionals and
courses in psychotherapy, psychology and marriage at the
seminary, and at Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola
University and elsewhere. A licensed psychologist and
professional counselor, she has served in a variety of clinical
settings and currently provides psychological assessment
and psychotherapy for individuals and couples at Carolinas
Counseling Group of Charlotte, Inc.
She is a member of the American Psychological Association,
Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology and Phi
Alpha Chi Theological Honor Society. She earned an M.A.
from Gordon-Conwell, and M.A. and Psy.D. degrees from
Rosemead School of Psychology.
James R. Critchlow, Ph.D., Ranked Adjunct Assistant
Professor in Old Testament, joined Gordon-Conwell as
an adjunct faculty member in 2005 and has also taught at
Bethel Seminary. He earned M.Div. and M.A. degrees from
Gordon-Conwell and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from the
University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He also spent a year at
Jerusalem University College where he participated in the
archaeological dig at Robinson’s Arch, Western (Wailing)
Wall.
Prior to joining academia, Dr. Critchlow earned an
electrical engineering degree from the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point and spent 20 years in the U.S.
 S E M I N A RY N E W S

Army in a variety of President Hollinger’s Visit with Billy Graham

leadership roles. He was
deployed to numerous
countries, including Korea,
Australia and Germany
and served his last three
years as Special Operations
Command Manager at the
Pentagon. While in the
Army, he was a Bible study
leader, Sunday school teacher
and local representative
for the Officer’s Christian
Fellowship. Following
military service, he was
ordained in the Conservative
Baptist Association and has
been a pastor at a number of
churches.
President Dennis Hollinger and his wife, Mary Ann,
recently had the privilege of visiting with international
evangelist and Gordon-Conwell founder Rev. Billy
Graham at his home in Montreat, NC.
Dr. Hollinger recounts that during their visit, he asked
Rev. Graham what he had appreciated most about
Gordon-Conwell through the years. “He immediately
said, ‘It has remained faithful to the Word.’ We then
asked him, ‘What one message would you like to send to
the Gordon-Conwell faculty, administration and staff?’
He replied, ‘Stay focused on Christ and the gospel.’”
Rev. Graham was the second Board Chair of Gordon-Conwell, and has remained a
trustee since the seminary opened its doors in 1969. Rev. Graham’s sister, Jean Ford
Graham, and brother-in-law, Trustee Leighton Ford, arranged the Hollingers’ visit
and accompanied them to Billy’s Black Mountain home.

Cooley Center Expands in Charlotte
The Robert C. Cooley Center for the Study of Early
Christianity at the Gordon-Conwell—Charlotte campus has
expanded recently through a generous gift from a donor in
Charlotte committed to the study of early Christianity.
The Center, which serves as a base for research, study and
scholarship, makes available to researchers the growing
resources of The Robert C. Cooley Collection of Biblical
Archaeology and Early Christianity; presents an annual
lecture series on topics related to biblical archaeology and
early Christianity; and provides periodic study opportunities
such as an upcoming educational tour in the Holy Land.
New Staff Appointed
Three individuals now lead the Center.
Serving as director is Dr. Rollin G.
Grams, Associate Professor of New
Testament at Gordon-Conwell–Charlotte
and SIM-USA’s Theological Education
Coordinator. A Gordon-Conwell
alumnus, Dr. Grams earned a Ph.D.
from Duke University, has served as a
missionary in theological education in
Kenya, Ethiopia, Croatia, Czech Republic and the United
Kingdom, and also taught at the Charlotte campus during
its first five years of operation.
Dr. Timothy Laniak, Acting Academic Dean of the Charlotte
campus and Professor of Old Testament, is curator for the
Cooley Collection. Dr. Laniak has published three books in
one of the Center’s research areas: Shame and Honor in the
Book of Esther (Scholars, 1998), Shepherds After My Own
Heart (IVP, 2006), and While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks
(ShepherdLeader, 2007). He received an M.Div degree from
Gordon-Conwell and a Th.D. from Harvard University.
Gordon-Conwell—Charlotte graduate Mark B. Poe, MA,
Biblical Studies; MA, Christian Thought, is the Center’s
new research fellow. In this role, he edits a twice-yearly
newsletter, oversees logistics for the annual Cooley Lecture
Series, assists with acquisitions for the Center and is
the contact person for use of its research resources. His
primary areas of interest are historical Jesus studies and
the Dead Sea Scrolls. An ordained minister in the Wesleyan
Church, Mark is currently pastor of First Wesleyan Church,
Cherryville, NC.
The Robert C. Cooley Collection of Bibli-
cal Archaeology and Early Christianity
Housed in the Harold Lindsell Library of Gordon-Conwell–
Charlotte, the Cooley collection contains works from the
libraries of Robert E. Cooley, Gordon-Conwell President
Emeritus, and his late son, Robert C. Cooley, after whom
the Center is named. The approximately 1,200 volumes,
journals, media and artifacts cover a range of subjects
and themes related to biblical archaeology and human
anthropology.
A variety of publications pertaining to major archaeological
expeditions and many newly-published materials on
the Dead Sea Scrolls are featured in the collection.
Current subscriptions to Archaeology magazine, Biblical
Archaeology Review and the Bulletin of the American
Schools of Oriental Research are available, and new

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reference materials, such as the recently-published, five-
volume Encyclopedia of Anthropology (Sage, 2007), are
continually being added. In coming years, the collection
will rapidly expand its holdings as the Center adds new
scholarly materials describing the impact of biblical
archaeology on issues related to biblical studies and early
Christian origins.
Research Projects of the Center
A number of research projects fall under the auspices of
the Cooley Center. Dr. Rollin Grams has an interest in
integrating biblical studies with mission theology and ethics,
and one of his ongoing research projects for the Cooley
Center will be the study of moral thought and practice in
the times of the early Church. He is presently writing a
compendium of primary resources on ethics in the early
church. Dr. Timothy Laniak’s work in the area of the
social world of the Bible is another such research project.
His current project focuses on the sociological setting for
biblical images used for the church.
Educational Journey in the Holy Land
The Cooley Center, together with Gordon-Conwell’s
Center for the Development of Evangelical Leadership, is
sponsoring an educational journey in Israel and Sinai in
January 2009. Dr. Laniak has organized the curriculum
around several key topics that leaders in organizations
need to consider: Calling, Culture, Conflict, Character,
Membership, Mental Models, Transitions, Tradition,
Reform and Vision. To join this effort to understand what
the Bible teaches on leadership “from the ground up,”
contact Dr. Laniak at tlaniak@gcts.edu or 704.940.5844.
Space is limited.
and Archaeological Studies from 1992 to 1998. From 1996
to 1999, he was also director of the Wheaton Archaeology
Program. He has published in venues such as the Journal
of the American Research Center in Egypt, Journal of
Egyptian Archaeology, Journal of the Society for the Study
of Egyptian Antiquities, and in standard reference works
such as Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Anchor Bible Dictionary
and the New International Dictionary of Old Testament
Theology & Exegesis. His latest book, Ancient Israel in
Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness
Tradition, was released by Oxford University Press in
September 2005.
Dr. Hoffmeier is involved in theological education
internationally and has been active locally as a church
planter, elder, teacher and preacher. He holds Master of Arts
and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of
Toronto.
Tentative lecture topics for the two-day event include
“Recent Excavations in Sinai and the Exodus from Egypt,”
and “Where Is Mt. Sinai and Why It Doesn’t Matter.”
Watch the Gordon-Conwell website, www.gordonconwell.
edu for additional information.
Explorations Newsletter
The Cooley Center’s twice-annual publication,
Explorations, provides news on upcoming events, projects
and ongoing research. To receive an electronic version of
this newsletter, please contact Mark Poe at mpoe@gcts.edu.

2009 Cooley Lecture Series

Noted scholar and archaeologist Dr. James Hoffmeier,
Professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern
History and Archaeology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity
School, will speak on the theme, “Foundations of Our
Faith,” at the third annual Cooley Center Lecture Series
scheduled for January 15-16, 2009.

Dr. Hoffmeier was born in Egypt, lived there until age

16 and returns often to his homeland for research and
excavation. From 1975 to 1977, he worked with the
Akhenaten Temple Project in Luxor. His present work
in the threatened areas of northern Sinai (North Sinai
Archaeological Project) grew out of an appeal by the
Egyptian Antiquities Organization.

He served from 1980 to 1999 as professor of Archaeology

and Old Testament at Wheaton College, and was chairman
of Wheaton’s Department of Biblical, Theological, Religious

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New Student Association at South Hamil- individuals and society work right. Justice, then, is ‘doing
the right thing.’”
ton Campus Promotes Biblical Justice The JSA’s 2007-2008 events were designed to impart
this holistic understanding of biblical justice. A brown
Ruth Robinson, M.A. ‘09 bag lunch forum aimed at dispelling misconceptions
about biblical justice featured a panel of Gordon-Conwell
professors who explored the theme, “What Is Biblical
Justice? (and what it’s not).”
This forum laid the groundwork for a Genocide
Awareness and Advocacy Week. During this event, speakers
such as Franco Majok, who escaped civil war in Sudan;
Rev. Posan Ung, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide;
and Rev. Claire Sullivan, who ministers to children of
Cambodian genocide survivors, drew awareness to the
scope and effects of genocide and the need for advocacy.
Documentaries, prayer and discussion helped students
think biblically about what they were learning and how to
respond. The week ended with a day of reflection through
poetry, sculpture, photography and music.
A clothing drive, held in conjunction with the event,
resulted in donations of three carloads of clothing to Living
Fields Church in Lynn, MA, for distribution to Cambodian
The recently-formed Student Justice Association (JSA)
churches throughout New England. Nearly 40 students
at Gordon-Conwell’s South Hamilton campus is committed
also wrote letters to their congressmen urging them to take
to “instilling a passion for justice among seminarians.”
action on Darfur.
The student-led organization was established in spring
Prof. Borgman’s spring “Biblical Global Justice” class
2007 by Stephanie Ahn, MAR’09, to serve as a venue for
at South Hamilton was also key in educating students on
learning about, promoting and living out biblical justice
justice issues. Its syllabus was written by four students from
in the Gordon-Conwell community. Its purpose is to help
JSA, and was funded by a World Vision grant.
the seminary “reflect God’s compassion and justice to the
“The class accepts Scriptural warnings that piety,
world.”
worship, fasting and evangelism, without loosing the bonds
The origins of the JSA lie in Stephanie’s own
of injustice...letting the oppressed go free, sharing bread
transformation about biblical justice. She admits that at the
with the hungry, bringing the homeless into our house,
beginning of her Christian life and ministry, her focus was
clothing the naked, are abominations before God,” he says.
on success. “I was always an overachiever, striving to be
“It goes on from there to consider global and historical
first, striving to be the best,” she says.
cries for justice and to plan strategies for walking with the
That began to change in the early 2000s after she
poor and bringing about social change.”
returned from an overseas missions trip. “One of my dear
The course will be taught again in fall 2008 and will
friends overseas wrote to me ‘…I cannot submit or give
fulfill the social ethics requirement.
respect to the underground church leaders because they
Stephanie is no longer president of JSA. Students Sally
are poor and uneducated,’” Stephanie recounts. “My heart
Steele, Jeff Reining and Ruth Robinson will take over its
broke. Had I not shared the ‘whole’ gospel with her?”
leadership in the fall. Events will be monthly and follow
She subsequently spent several years studying Scripture
the See (learn), Judge (reflect theologically), Act (respond)
in order to discover what Christian ministry should look
model of justice. But its vision and purpose will not change
like. Through that study, she became convinced that
as it continues to educate seminarians about, as Stephanie
Jesus’ ministry among the lowly should be the Christian’s
says, “the whole gospel to the whole person to the whole
example. “We need to talk about how he lived, and
community.”
with whom,” she says. “We need to marry the Great
Commission and the Great Commandment.”
This marrying, says Stephanie, means being concerned
with both a person’s relationship with Christ and that
person’s financial, physical and emotional needs.
Gordon-Conwell’s Charles E. Culpeper Professor
of Youth Ministries Dean Borgman, who taught a class
on biblical justice this past spring, puts it this way:
“Redemption through Christ moves toward making

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Dr. Kuzmic Receives Helsinki Award Dr. Kuzmič co-founded and directs Evangelical Theological
Seminary in Osijek, Croatia, the first evangelical theological
school in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. In 1991, in
response to the devastating effects of the Balkan conflict,
Dr. Peter Kuzmič, the Eva B. and Paul
Dr. Kuzmič founded Agape, a humanitarian relief
E. Toms Distinguished Professor of
organization. In addition, he was influential in bringing
World Missions and European Studies
about the Dayton Peace Awards, and was a leader in
at Gordon-Conwell, has received the
reconciliation efforts following the Balkan wars.
Helsinki Award for Human Rights and
Religious Liberty from the Croatian
He has served as an advisor on reconciliation for national
Helsinki Committee in Zagreb for
leaders in the Balkans, the United Nations and the U.S.
his work in promoting inter-religious
State Department. He is an honorary member of the
dialogue.
Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights and
Dr. Kuzmič, a native of Slovenia and a citizen of Croatia has received the Presidential Award of Croatia and other
and the United States, is considered the foremost evangelical international awards and recognitions.
scholar in Eastern Europe and an authority on Christian
response to Marxism and on Christian ministry in post-
Communist contexts.

Gordon-Conwell Establishes A. J.
Gordon Guild
The Board of Trustees in May approved the development
of the A. J. Gordon Guild, a doctoral-level support and
study program in partnership with London School of
Theology (LST).

The Guild, directed by Dr. Scott M. Gibson, Haddon

W. Robinson Professor of Preaching and Director of
the Center for Preaching, will welcome its first two
students in the fall.
Guild Scholars have their M.Div. and two to five years
of experience as preaching pastors. During the three-year
program, they earn a Ph.D. in homiletics from LST and
are mentored by Gordon-Conwell preaching faculty.
They also participate in the preaching department of
Gordon-Conwell, the Center for Preaching and the
Evangelical Homiletics Society.
The Guild arose from a desire to have a Ph.D. program
in homiletics at Gordon-Conwell. Its goal is to build
collegiality and cooperation while improving the field
of homiletics.
The Guild is named for A. J. Gordon, who served
Clarendon Street Baptist Church in Boston for 25 years
and whose Gordon School of Divinity became part of
Gordon-Conwell.
Students Launched into Ministry at Spring
Commencements
South Hamilton, Boston and Charlotte students preparing for
diverse ministries around the globe received 392 degrees during
spring commencements in May.
Graduates of the Hamilton and Boston campuses received 275
master’s degrees and 50 Doctor of Ministry degrees during
joint commencement exercises at Gordon College. Speaker
was Dr. Barry H. Corey, President of Biola University. Dr.
Corey had previously served as Vice President of Education/
Academic Dean of the Gordon-Conwell– Hamilton campus
and Associate Professor of Church History.
Charlotte campus graduates received 53 master’s degrees
and 14 Doctor of Ministry degrees at Forest Hill Church.
Dr. Haddon W. Robinson, the Harold John Ockenga
Distinguished Professor of Preaching and former President of
Gordon-Conwell, delivered the commencement address.

34 s u m m e r 08
 S E M I N A RY N E W S

Gordon-Conwell Professors Win Lilly Journal Edited by Gordon-Conwell

Theological Research Grant
Drs. Karen Mason, Assistant Professor
of Pastoral Counseling; Pablo Polischuk,
Professor of Counseling; and Ray
Pendleton, Professor of Pastoral Care and
Counseling, were awarded a 2008-2009
ATS Lilly Theological Research Grant for
their project Protestant Clergy Referral of
Suicidal Persons.
The grant was awarded through the Lilly
Theological Research Grants Program,
which fosters quality research by scholars
in all theological disciplines. The program
is funded by a grant from the Lilly
Endowment, Inc. and run by the
Association of Theological Schools.
The research project seeks to understand
the strategies Protestant clergy use when
referring suicidal people to mental healthcare
providers and to determine whether
(top to bottom) Dr.
Mainline and Evangelical clergy use different
Karen Mason, Dr. strategies. It is hoped that the study will
Pablo Polischuk, disclose the reasons that clergy refer people to
Dr. Ray Pendleton
mental healthcare providers. The study will be
used to develop training for clergy on suicide prevention.
The Lilly Theological Research Grants Program, in its
eleventh year, awarded 25 grants for 2008-2009.
Professor Wins National Award
The Priscilla Papers, the scholarly journal of Christians
for Biblical Equality, recently received first place in
interviews in the Evangelical Press Association’s 2008
Higher Goals Awards.
The award was for Glen Scorgie’s 2007 interview
with Wheaton College Professor Emeritus, Dr. Gilbert
Bilezikian.
The journal was founded in 1987 by
Dr. Catherine Clark Kroeger, Gordon-
Conwell Ranked Adjunct Associate
Professor of Classical and Ministry
Studies, and her husband, Richard.
Dr. William David Spencer, Ranked
Adjunct Professor of Theology and
the Arts is editor. Dr. Aida Besançon
Spencer, Professor of New Testament,
is the journal’s book review editor.
The Papers have an international
subscription of more than 2,000
individuals and college and seminary
libraries.
(top to bottom) Dr. Catherine
Kroeger, Dr. Aida Besançon,
Spencer Dr. William Spencer

Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. and Margaret Ruth Kaiser Chapel

The chapel on the South Hamilton campus is now officially named the Walter
C. Kaiser, Jr. and Margaret Ruth Kaiser Chapel.

The Kaisers were honored in a ceremony at the spring Honors Convocation in

recognition of their countless contributions to the seminary during his 13 years
of service, including nine years as President.

During the naming ceremony, Board Chair Thomas P. Colatosti read a

commemorative plaque citing Dr. Kaiser’s “passion for the Bible, his great skill
in proclaiming the whole counsel of God with wit and wisdom, and his burning
desire to eradicate the ‘famine of the Word’ and to see the Gospel advanced
across the whole earth that profoundly influenced a new generation of future
preachers, expositors of Scripture, missionaries and Christian leaders.

“Dr. and Mrs. Kaiser’s devotion to the Living God, and their joyful, faith-filled
presence inspired and enriched the entire seminary community.”

s umme r 0 8 35
S EMIN A RY NEW S
Students Minister Worldwide During
Summer Missions Practicum
This past summer, 37 Gordon-Conwell students got an
education that went far beyond the classroom. They
spent six weeks in 16 countries ministering and gaining
real world experience through the seminary’s innovative
Overseas Missions Practicum.
OMP’s mission is “to mobilize, train and send out teams of
students into cross-cultural areas around the world where
they can learn to serve the poor, to share their faith and
to network with Christians and missionaries from a broad
spectrum of other cultures and church traditions.”
This year, trips occurred to Zimbabwe, Lebanon, the
Philippines, Mongolia, Burundi, the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Kenya, South Africa/Ethiopia, Turkey, Croatia,
Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia and the U.S.
The Zimbabwe team, based at the Theological College of
Zimbabwe (TCZ) in Bulawayo, consisted of a Theological
Education Team that observed classes and tutored students,
and a Relief and Development Team that worked with
Christian ministries associated with the college.
Students Helen Li (center) and Anna Scianna (second from right).
Three Long-time Professors Transition to
New Roles
Three Gordon-Conwell professors retired this spring after
long years of service, but will continue at the seminary in
other capacities.
Dr. David F. Wells, former Andrew Mutch Distinguished
Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology, has been
named Distinguished Senior Research Professor. In his
36
36 ssuummmmeer r 008
8
Brian Maiers (far left) and Daniel Derrick (far right)
While there, the teams saw the effects of poverty and AIDS
as they worked with abused girls, men needing a trade and
children with HIV.
Jordan and Leah Easley, M.Div. ’10 and MACH ’09,
respectively, described the poverty in a prayer update: “…
you cannot escape it wherever you turn. For example…
there’s our neighbor Simonga, who lives on campus away
from her husband, because it’s cheaper. Yet she is too poor
to afford the bus ticket to go home to see him.”
Anna Scianna, M.Div. ’10, also described her reaction in
a prayer update: “At the orphanage we visited, about one-
third of the kids were HIV positive. Helen [another team
member] was asking some of the kids what they wanted to
be when they grew up, but it occurred to me that many of
them might not even have that experience.”
However, as they aided ministries that pointed people to
Christ and made a difference in lives, and as they worked
with and loved the Zimbabwean people, they also came to
trust God’s work in Zimbabwe.
Anna expressed this trust in the same prayer update, “I
guess I have to remind myself that even in these situations
God is bigger and his love can transcend the most difficult
circumstances....there is no one who is beyond the grace
and love of Christ.”
new role, he will continue to write, and is under contract
to author Vol. VIII of the Monarch/Baker church history
series, addressing the period from 1960 to the present. He
is also working on a film project with an award-winning
Hollywood movie company, Boulevard Pictures, to turn
the five books in his magnum opus into an accessible DVD
series. He joined the seminary in 1979.
Dr. Kenneth L. Swetland, formerly Professor of Ministry
and Campus Pastoral Counselor, is now Senior Professor of
Pastoral Ministry. He will teach in the D.Min.program and

“Becoming Global Christians”
William Fisher
Chief Development Officer
On a recent trip to Austria, I
traveled by train from Vienna
to Krems. The train moved
swiftly, following the beautiful
Danube River past picture
postcard villages with century-old
buildings, magnificent churches with towering steeples,
vineyards and wine cellars and fields of sunflowers and
corn. Many signs and billboards flashed by, written
predominantly in German. As I gazed out the window,
I spotted a billboard that read in bold English, “Think
Global, Act Local.”
I pondered the words. What if we would apply those
words to our spiritual walk? Does what we do locally
really impact the world? It is sometimes difficult to
connect our local actions to their impact on the global
scene, possibly because it is too easy in our busy lives
to become inwardly focused. The Bible challenges
us to become Christ-centered instead, and to look
beyond ourselves. Jesus gave us the Great Commission
to challenge us to think global. During Jesus’ earthly
ministry, He acted locally but maintained a worldview
perspective. He knew that his actions and words could
change the entire world. Having a global mindset
shows that we understand what we do locally will
touch the lives of people we may or may not ever meet.
Several years ago, while working for an International
Leadership Training Institute, I attended a special
international leadership graduation in Singapore.
Seated next to me at a banquet table was a Christian
is also working with the Ockenga Institute in the new Oasis
support ministry for alumni/ae. (See related story on page
30.) He has served the seminary for 36 years.
Dr. Sidney L. Bradley, former Dean of the Charlotte
campus and Professor of Pastoral Counseling, has been
named Senior Professor of Pastoral Ministry. He joined
the faculty in 1997. He will continue to teach at both
the doctoral and masters levels, and will serve part-time
as Psychologist in Residence at Forest Hill Church in
Charlotte.
D E V E LO P M E N T N E W S
statesman from Zimbabwe who happened to be the
Minister of Defense for his country. My wife, Lisbeth,
overheard that this gentleman had been a former
representative to the United Nations. We have a good
friend, Paul Stiansen, a graduate of Gordon-Conwell,
who worked for the Christian Embassy at the United
Nations in New York. We knew Paul from a local
church in New Hampshire that had supported his
ministry through Campus Crusade.
Lisbeth nudged me with her elbow and encouraged
me to ask the Zimbabwean leader if he knew Paul. I
hesitated at first, thinking it was not likely he knew
Paul, but thankfully she nudged me again. To my
surprise he did know Paul. Not only did he know
Paul, but they were also close friends. The Minister
of Defense smiled warmly and told us how Paul had
helped him spiritually and personally. This is an
unusual glimpse into the ripple effect of a small local
church supporting two international ministries that
touched the life of an international Christian leader,
and a Gordon-Conwell graduate working locally in
New York, but thinking global.
When we invest in the lives of Gordon-Conwell
students, we are acting local and at the same time
thinking global. God has plans beyond the local. His
desire is to reach the entire world with the Gospel.
As we embark on the new academic year, we have
a wonderfully challenging opportunity to train and
educate men and women to become global Christians,
who will effectively lead the church, preach the gospel
and make a difference in the lives of people locally—
and around the world. Now is the time to “Think
Global, Act Local.”
Thank you for your partnership and generous support!
The title of Senior
Professor was
approved for long-
standing members
of the Gordon-
Conwell faculty
who continue in
direct service to the
school after retiring
from the faculty.
ssumme
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37
A LU M NI / A E N OT ES

New Alumni/ae Department Offers an Array Postmodern World and Dr. Sean McDonough’s Jesus
the Baptist: The First Temptation of Christ.
of Services
• Alumni/ae Notes
Gordon-Conwell graduates can now take advantage of many Started a new job? Added a new family member?
new services following extensive expansion of the Alumni/ae Received an award? Let us know in the alumni/ae
Department during the past year. notes section! Then take a moment to see what is
going on in the lives of others.
New Alumni/ae Coordinator
Daryl Olson, M.Div. ‘05, is the new Coordinator of Alumni/ • ATLAS for ALUMS (coming this fall)
ae Relations. He is available for questions, comments, ideas Over 200,000 full-text articles and book reviews
or concerns. Please feel free to call him at 978.646.4148 or will be made available online this fall for alumni/
email dolson@gcts.edu. ae through the ATLAS for Alums program. This
collection of the archives of major theology and
religion journals provides a rich resource for sermon
New Website preparation and research and has fully searchable
Stay connected with your seminary and fellow graduates
text capabilities. This service will be provided at no
through the new alumni/ae website. Visit www.
charge to alumni/ae.
gordonconwell.edu/alumni and enjoy the following features:
• In My Day…
• Online Alumni/ae Directory
In My Day... looks at the various aspects of being a
Sign up, add a photo and let us and other graduates
Gordon-Conwell student throughout the years. 
know where you are and what you are doing! Then
Check out photos from the past, read memories of
search the online directory to find old friends and
other graduates and submit your own stories.
new networking opportunities. More than 1,200
alumni/ae have already registered on the site,
InCommunity
including graduates from 1945 (yes, 1945!) to 2008.
When you register at the alumni/ae website, you will receive
InCommunity, the free, monthly Gordon-Conwell alumni/ae
• Faculty Forums
e-newsletter. InCommunity keeps you informed on seminary
Every Thought Captive is a weekly forum where
news, upcoming events, faculty book recommendations and
faculty members post thoughts on the Christian life
more. You can also subscribe to InCommunity by emailing
and ministry and you can post your response. White
alums@gcts.edu.
Papers brings you a different faculty paper each
month, posted in weekly serial fashion. Past papers

include Dr. David Wells’ Christian Discipleship in a
Oasis: A Support Ministry
for Alumni/ae
Led by Senior Professor of Ministry
Dr. Ken Swetland, Oasis provides
Wherever you may be, individual counsel to pastors/
graduates who are facing a crisis,
connect virtually such as chronic conflict in the
church, marital stress, moral
with Gordon-Conwell! failure and others. Oasis also
provides support to pastors facing
a transition, such as examination
of call, questions about whether to
relocate, issues in facing retirement,
etc. Support can take place in a
group setting or through individual
counsel.

online resources • social networking

Alumni/ae Relations
www.gordonconwell.com/alumni Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
38 s u m m e r 08

60s
Amsden, Stephen, MRE, ‘69, has pastored Woodland Hills
Community Church (UCC) since September 1999. He married
Susan G. Teague in the fall of 2006 and plans to retire from full-
time pastoral ministry in November.
Curtis, Kenneth, M.Div., ’64, was awarded the 2007 Freddi
Award for Oncology for producing a DVD entitled Reflections on
Psalm 23 for People with Cancer. He is the founder and president
of Vision Video and Christian History Institute.
Hoffecker, Andrew, M.Div., ‘66, edited and wrote a chapter in
Revolutions in Worldview (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing
Company, 2007) The text, aimed at college and seminary students,
traces the development of Western thought, focusing on the major
shifts in worldview from the ancient Greeks to postmodernism.
70s
Atallah, Ramez, M.Div., ‘72, has been named the Bible Expositor
for Urbana ‘09. He will preach from the first four chapters of the
Gospel of John.
Brown, Edward, M.Div., ‘79, is the Director/CEO of Care of
Creation, Inc., one of the first evangelical environmental missions
organizations. His book, Our Father’s World: Mobilizing the
Church to Care for Creation (IVP, 2006) was released in revised
edition in May 2008. He lives in Madison, WI, with his wife,
Susanna, and has four grown children.
Cogan, John D., M.Div., ‘75, will become a Board Certified
Chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains in March
2009. Chaplain Cogan has served at Redstone Highlands Senior
Care in Greensburg, Murrysville and North Huntingdon, PA, since
January 2006.
Cole, Pamela, M.Div., ‘72, experienced the death of her mother,
Mrs. Forestine Cole, on July 7, 2008. Mrs. Cole was a longtime
friend of Gordon-Conwell and a member of the Women’s Council.
Kimball, Al, M.Div., ‘79, is Executive Pastor at Community
Evangelical Free Church in Elverson, PA.
Moerman, Murray, M.Div., ‘74, and his wife, Carol, serve as
Europe Area Directors with One Challenge, facilitating church
planting and other missionary work in Europe. They are located
in Worthing, England.
Soper, Ken, M.Div., ‘78, has published a parents’ guide for home-
schoolers, Guiding Career Choices: A Parents’ Career Coaching
Workbook. Ken is an NCDA-recognized Master Career Counselor
and NBCC National Certified Career Counselor. He lives in the
Grand Rapids, MI, area with his wife, Gail, and son, Andy. His
daughter, Sarah, is finishing her Ph.D. coursework at Purdue
University in the area of the Sociology of Religion.
Sweitzer, Eric K., MTS, ‘79, has been directing the Charis
Counseling Centers, a network of church-affiliated Christian
counseling centers with locations in Middleboro, Holden and
ALUM NI /A E N OTE S
Auburn, MA, and in Barrington, RI, for the past 19 years.
The organization employs 20 full- and part-time mental health
counselors, social workers and psychologists. Eric’s wife, Susan,
oversees the billing and bookkeeping department. In 2006, he
wrote his first book, The Perfect Alibi: Freedom from the Drive
for Personal Perfection (lulu.com, 2006).
Vicalvi, Paul, M.Div., ‘74, after serving for 30 years as a United
States Army Chaplain, is now serving as Executive Director of the
National Association of Evangelical Chaplains Commission. He
and his wife live just outside Branson, MO.
Warner, Thomas M., MRE, ‘77, after 21 years of pastoral
ministry at Grafton Christian Church, Grafton, NH, will be taking
a three-month sabbatical to travel, study and relax with his wife,
Nancy, and their daughters, Emma and Elizabeth. In their absence,
current Gordon-Conwell Semlink student Myric McBain will carry
on the pulpit ministry.
80s
Barnes, Ken, MATS, ‘89, has been appointed a Tutor in Theology
and Religious Studies by Oxford University (DCE) in addition to
his duties as Director/Chaplain of the Oxford American Mission.
Bouthillette, Ron, M.Div., ‘83, has been called to be the pastor of
Milford First Baptist Church in Milford, NH.
Breum, Terry, M.Div., ‘88, will celebrate this summer 20 years
of ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America in the
Chicago area. He and his wife, Janet, who also serves as a pastor,
have four children.
Gatliff, Michael, M.Div., ‘84, has been called to Second
Presbyterian Church (EPC) in Memphis, TN, to fill a new position
as Minister to Middle Adults (ages 50-65). He is working with
fellow Gordon-Conwell alumnus and Senior Pastor Sandy Willson,
M.Div., ‘82.
Harrison, Jim, M.Div., ‘85, along with his wife, Beth, and their
seven children, are serving as church planting missionaries in the
nation of Estonia in northern Europe. Estonia, the northernmost
of the three Baltic Republics (along with Latvia and Lithuania)
were part of the former Soviet Union (USSR) until 1991. The
Estonian people still suffer from the negative effects of 50 years
under an atheistic communist regime. In addition to helping
establish a new congregation in the city of Tartu, Jim has worked
with Estonian church leaders since 1995 to encourage new church
planting efforts throughout the country.
Kuehne, Dale, MATS, ‘85, has been appointed Interim Executive
Director of Saint Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of
Politics (NHIOP). Dale is also the pastor of Emmanuel Covenant
Church in Nashua, NH.
LaCelle-Peterson, Kristina, M.Div., ‘87, just published a book,
Liberating Tradition: Women’s Identity and Vocation in Christian
Perspective (Baker Academic, 2008). This spring, she also received
tenure at Houghton College, where she teaches in the Religion and
Philosophy Department. She and her husband, Mark, along with their
two children, live in Houghton, which is in rural western New York.
s umme
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A LU M NI / A E N OT ES
Lier, Roger Adams, M.Div., ‘81, has served UCC churches in
Beverly, Nahant and Bradford, MA, as an interim pastor since
2002. He has also been working part-time for Apple, Inc. Roger
was recently accepted into Apple’s Grow Your Own program to
prepare for work as an Apple Creative. Creatives at Apple teach
the One to One Curriculum and workshops at Apple Stores.
Roger is also in his first year of the Gordon-Conwell Doctor of
Ministry Program in Marriage and Family Counseling.
McBride, Marshall, M.Div., ‘83, experienced the death of his son,
Sgt. Zachary W. McBride, 20, on January 9, 2008. Zachary, along
with five teammates, died when an IED exploded in a booby-
trapped house they were searching in the Diyal Province north
of Baghdad. He is survived by his father, Marshall, Pastor of
Worship at Eastmont Church, Bend, OR; his mother, Laurie; and
his sister, Sarah.
Pedersen, Steve, M.Div., ‘80, transferred his ordination from the
United Church of Christ to the Evangelical Covenant Church at its
123rd Annual Meeting in Green Lake, WI, on June 26, 2008.
Pughe, Roberta, MATS, ‘89, has co-authored, with Paula
Sohl, the book Resurrecting Eve: Women of Faith Challenge
the Fundamentalist Agenda (White Cloud Press, 2007). More
information can be found at www.resurrectingeve.com.
Raker, Chris, MATS, ‘84, is an instructor at the Berkshire
Institute for Christian Studies in Lenox, MA. He teaches Old
Testament Survey and Romans to freshmen, and Ethics and
Contemporary Culture to sophomores. He is also pastoring part-
time at Central Congregational Church in New Salem, MA.
Reynolds, J. Steven, M.Div., ‘81, is pastor of the First Baptist
Church (ABC) of Waverly, NY, near Elmira and Binghamton. He
has pastored there since 1994 after having served in churches in
Vermont and Pennsylvania. He is married and has two grown
daughters and a granddaughter.
Rounds, Harlan, M.Div., ‘84, received his D.Min degree through
the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA,
in 2007.
Scazzero, Peter, M.Div., ‘85, is scheduled to be one of the plenary
speakers at the Christian Community Development Association’s
Seeking the Peace of the City Conference in Miami, FL, from
October 22-26.
Snyder, David G., D.Min., ‘89, is currently serving in the U.S.
Army as a chaplain and is stationed in Belgium at Supreme
Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (S.H.A.P.E.) in support of
NATO. He and his wife, Isabel, have a daughter, Máire, who is
nearly five years old.
Tyson, Anne Elizabeth Dodge, M.Div., ‘86, has published Service
Squad: A Hands-On (VBS) Mission Experience for ‘Tweens’
(Abingdon, 2008). It is designed to provide an alternative Bible
school curriculum for 9-11 year olds.
40
40 s ummmme er r0808
su
90s
Batson, William, MAFM, ‘95, Founder and President of Family
Builders Ministries, has published his first book. Tools for a Great
Marriage (Family Builders Ministries, Inc., 2008) is the result of
more than 21 years of teaching couples how to build loving and
lasting relationships. Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love
Languages, wrote the foreword of the book. The book is available
at www.familybuilders.net.
Beckerleg, Cathy, MAOT, ‘96, MAR, ‘97, and her husband,
Darryl, have two children, Lindsay (4) and Ben (2). She expects
to finish her Ph.D. dissertation on the creation of mankind in the
image and likeness of God (Gen 1-3) in the coming year and to
graduate from Harvard with her Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages
and Civilizations in June 2009.
Bennett, Eric, M.Div., ‘96, just celebrated 10 years with Jews for
Jesus, International. He works as a Senior Itinerary Coordinator.
He and his wife, Kathy, have been married since 2001 and are
blessed with one child, Erica, born in 2004. They live in Peyton,
CO, where he works from their home. In March 2008, Eric gave
several Christ in the Passover presentations around Colorado.
Choung, James, M.Div., ‘96, wrote a book and a companion
booklet that were recently published. They are titled True Story:
A Christianity Worth Believing In and Based on a True Story
(both through IVP, 2008), and share a simple way of presenting
the gospel in a more formational, communal and missional way.
Flores, Daniel, MATH, ‘93, serves as President of the Sociedad
Wesleyana, the Hispanic Wesleyan Society. Sociedad Wesleyana
met on the campus of Duke University Divinity School in March
for an event entitled, “The Durham Consultation on Hispanic
Ministries: Practical Divinity in a Time of Cultural Xenophobia.”
The event was a discussion of the problems and solutions of doing
ministry in the midst of current public sentiments contrary to
Hispanic immigrants.
Friesen, Paul, MAFM, ‘93, D.Min., ‘06, and Virginia, D.Min.,
‘06, founded Home Improvement Ministries (H.I.M.) in 2003. The
mission of H.I.M. is to encourage and strengthen marriages and
families to live out God’s design for God-honoring relationships.
Together, they have published four books in the last two years.
For more information on their ministry and books, visit www.
HIMweb.org.
Howard, Kevin, M.Div., ‘99, and his wife, Denice, were
appointed as new missionaries by the International Mission Board
on Jan. 30 and will be serving in Togo.
Lovelace, Curt, D.Min., ‘92, as Executive Director of Lifework
Forum, makes regular trips to Europe, particularly the former
Warsaw Pact nations, to teach on Christian family life and home
education.
Mazis, Edgars, Th.M., ‘93, graduated with a Master of Theology
degree from International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague
in May 2008. He currently leads the Agenskalns Church in Riga,
Latvia, and will be teaching at the Baltic Pastoral Institute in
Latvia.

McMullin, Steve, MATS, ‘91, is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Sociology
of Religion at the University of New Brunswick. In addition to his
own research into the social effects of religious decline, he is part
of a research team at the university that seeks to equip religious
leaders to respond to domestic violence.
Noble, Rich, M.Div., ‘95, D.Min., ‘04, is pastoring Washington
Union Alliance Church in New Castle, PA. He is also an adjunct
faculty member at Geneva College and is founder and director of
a missions mobilization venture called Global Vision Initiative.
Rah, Soong-Chan, M.Div., ‘94, D.Min., ‘05, is scheduled to
be one of the plenary speakers at the Christian Community
Development Association’s Seeking the Peace of the City
Conference in Miami, FL, from October 22-26.
Richter, Sandra, MATS, ‘90, was the keynote speaker for Builders
In Ministry Week at Southwestern College (Winfield, KS) in
February. According to the college, “Builders in Ministry (BIM)
Week is dedicated to providing educational opportunities that
nurture and enrich Christian leaders—lay and clergy—for effective
living and ministry.”
Samuel, Stephen, M.Div., ‘95, celebrated 11 years as Senior Pastor
of Westbury Gospel Tabernacle in Westbury, NY, on March 2. He
is married to Elizabeth, and they have two daughters, Rebecca and
Rachel. In October 2007, Stephen traveled to India with his father,
Rev. Dr. M.S. Samuel, and spoke at a Ministers’ Conference in
the state of Kerala.
Tadlock, Dale, M.Div., ‘98, and Laura, M.Div., ‘98, and their
two daughters, Elizabeth and Lindsay, moved to Waynesboro, VA,
last fall, where Dale joined the staff of First Baptist Church as
Associate Pastor, Minister to Young Adults and Students. Before
moving to Virginia, Dale had served as an adjunct professor at
Crichton College in Memphis, TN. He has recently published
articles with Ideal Leadership and the Ministering to Ministers
Foundation.
Vantassel, Stephen, MATS, ‘99, has just received his Ph.D. in
Theology from Trinity Theological Seminary, Newburgh, IN. His
dissertation was entitled A Theological, Ethical, and Scientific
Evaluation of the Christian Animal Rights Movement’s Opposition
to Wildlife Trapping. Stephen presently works at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln as a specialist staff member helping the public
resolve wildlife damage problems. He lives with his wife, Donna,
in Lincoln, NE.
Westervelt, Dale, MATS, ‘92, and his wife, Kathleen, have been
blessed with four little ones: Jack, Annie, Gracie and Henley.
They live in the west valley of Phoenix. He serves as faculty for a
research firm based in Washington, DC. He is presently using an
online survey tool at http://www.sanctificationsurvey.blogspot.com
to gather data for a writing project on sanctification.
Williams, Drake, M.Div., ‘95, and Andrea, MAOT, ‘95, are
serving as missionaries in the Netherlands. Drake is serving as
Academic Dean at Tyndale Theological Seminary just outside
Amsterdam. They have three children.
Wright, Scott, M.Div., ‘91, and Linda, MATS, ’91, welcomed the
birth of Chelsea Joy, their seventh child, on November 27, 2007.
ALUM NI /A E N OTE S
They are thankful to God for His abundant goodness!
00s
Young, Gerry, M.Div., ‘00, was recently ordained with the
International Ministerial Fellowship (IMF).
Sung, Peter, M.Div., ‘00, has been selected to serve as Associate
Superintendent of the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical
Covenant Church.
Deligiannis, Stavros, M.Div., ‘01, lives with his family in the
(biblical) town of Veroia (or Beroia - Acts 17) and has ministered
as a pastor in the local Greek Evangelical Church since July 2006.
Before this, he ministered as a pastor in a local Greek Evangelical
church in Neos Mylotopos, close to the archaeological site of Pella
(in the area of Macedonia in Northern Greece).
Lesniewski, Sarah, MAME, ‘01, and her husband, Jack, worked
in Guatemala for four years after graduating and have now moved
back to Chicago so Jack can pursue his Ph.D. in Social Welfare.
They live with their two daughters, Hannah and Sasha, and dog,
Mija, in an undergraduate dorm as resident heads, where they
have a great opportunity to serve many young people and shine
the light of Christ in a dark place.
Davis, Wendy, M.Div., ‘02, has recently published Rishi Kumar:
Son of India, a biography of Rishi Kumar Marwad, pastor in
a village area of Central India, who was apprenticing in Hindu
black magic until Jesus dramatically rescued him. Wendy is
Missions Director at the North Shore Bridge Church in Beverly,
MA, and does mission work in India. Her book is available at
www.rishimission.com.
DeYoung, Kevin, M.Div., ‘02, has co-written the recently-released
Why We’re Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be)
(Moody, 2008). Learn more at www.notemergent.com.
Dickerson, William, M.A., ‘02, was featured in an article in The
Christian Science Monitor entitled, “Two Men Minister to Victims
of Violence in Inner-City Boston.”
Fisher, Linford, M.Div., ‘02, graduated from Harvard on June 5
with his doctorate in the history of religion in America. He began
a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of early American
history at Indiana University, South Bend campus, in August.
Heinaman, Linda, M.Div., ‘02, was married on May 17, 2008,
to Michael Kaufman. She continues to serve as pastor of First
Presbyterian Church, Plymouth, OH.
Kim, Matthew, M.Div., ‘02, completed his Ph.D. in theology
and ethics (homiletics) at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland,
in December 2005. His thesis was published as Preaching to
Second Generation Korean Americans: Towards a Possible Selves
Contextual Homiletic (Peter Lang, 2007). He is currently senior
pastor of Logos Central Chapel in Denver, CO.
Kohlstrom, Adam, M.Div., ‘02, was recently installed as pastor of
Chestnut Street Baptist Church in Camden, ME.
s ummer r0 80 8 41
s umme 41
A L UMN I / A E N OT E S

Farrington, Margaret (Maggie), MACO, ‘03, is opening a
private practice counseling office (Be Creative Counseling - www.
becreativecounseling.com) in Boone, NC.
Pierre-Louis, Yves, M.Div., ‘03, has become the Minister of
Christian Education at Boston Missionary Baptist Church.
Witmer, Stephen, M.Div., ‘03, Th.M., ‘03, has become pastor of
Pepperell Christian Fellowship in Pepperell, MA. Stephen spent the
last school year teaching at Gordon-Conwell.
Tsang, John, Th.M., ‘07, after driving across the country to return
to Vancouver, BC, Canada, began a new pastorate in the fall of
2007 with the Evangelical Free denomination. He will begin Ph.D.
studies in the fall of 2008 with Graduate Theological Foundation
House/Oxford.
Wallace, Donna, MABS, ‘07, is teaching Old Testament at Forsyth
Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, NC. In January
2008, she will join the Gordon-Conwell community traveling to
Israel for a study tour of Christian Leadership.

Camerer, Taylor, M.Div., ‘04, has become pastor of Greencastle In Memoriam

Presbyterian Church in Greencastle, PA.
Chun, Chris, M.Div., ‘02, Th.M., ‘04, has been appointed by
the president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary as a
faculty candidate. He will teach church history at the seminary.
Molyneaux, Winfrid “Bill,” M.Div., ‘65, passed away on March
30, 2008, in Schenectady, NY. Bill was ordained with the PCUSA
in 1966 and pastored churches in Massachusetts, Maine and New
York.

Shaw, Craig, D.Min., ‘04, was promoted to Vice President of
Academic Affairs at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College, Moore,
OK.
Tuttle, Rich, M.Div., ‘04, is the father of two girls, Mikayla (3)
and Bayley (5 months), and has been married for eight years. He
is currently serving as Pastor of Congregational Care at Good
Shepherd UMC near the Gordon-Conwell campus in Charlotte.
Widman, Andrew (Andy), M.Div., ‘04, a police officer in Fort
Myers, FL, was shot and killed in the line of duty while trying to
break up a domestic violence incident on July 18, 2008. He leaves
behind many family members, including his wife, Susanna, and
three children ages 4 years, 20 months and 5 months.

Kwong Chee Siu, Kenneth, D.Min., ‘05, is retiring June 30, 2008,
after serving 10 years as pastor at Sha Lei Tau Baptist Church in
Macau, China.

Brauns, Chris, D.Min., ‘06, has written a book, Unpacking

Forgiveness: Biblical Answers for Complex Questions
(forthcoming, Crossway Publishing, October, 2008). Chris is a
senior pastor in Stillman Valley, IL. He and his wife, Jamie, have
four children.

Barrett, Steven, M.Div., ‘07, is a church planter in Enfield, CT,

working toward ordination in the Christian and Missionary
Alliance.

Brown, Joshua, M.Div., ‘07, became the pastor of Bethel

Presbyterian Church, Prosperity, PA, in January.

Culpepper, Lisa, M.Div., ‘07, was ordained and installed as pastor

of Marion Presbyterian Church in Marion, SC, on March 2, 2008.

Gröhn, Karoliina, MAME, ‘07, and her husband adopted a little

girl, Tinsae Ida Unelma, from Ethiopia in late 2007. Tinsae is now
2 years old.

Hickman, David, M.Div., ’07, is currently leading CharlotteONE,

a young adult ecumenical gathering in Charlotte, NC.
CharlotteONE was recently featured in the Charlotte Observer.
According to www.charlotteone.org, “CharlotteONE is a unified
movement of young adults and singles in Charlotte, NC. Each
week, hundreds gather together in Uptown to experience and
explore the love of God.”

Rivera, Sarai, D.Min., ’07, received the 2008 Katharine F. Erskine

Award in the area of community/social service and government.

42 s u m m e r 08
 FOCUS ON A LU M N I /A E

Now
This!
John Manning Horton, HOW SEMINARY LED
D.Min.‘03 
TO A NIGHT OF JOY AT DISNEY

Barreling down Orlando’s

I-4, an intense grip on the
steering wheel, I frantically
called out to God, “I need to
hear from You!” As I tearfully
voiced this phrase over and
over, my eyes abruptly locked
on an imposing billboard with
the image of Mickey Mouse ears
and the never-to-be-forgotten
words… Now Ear This!  It
was October 2000, and my life
was about to take the most
unexpected path.

s umme r 0 8 43
FOCUS O N A L U M N I/A E

The early years of my professional career centered on
various entrepreneurial ventures in my home state of
South Carolina and later, Atlanta, Georgia.  I dabbled
in real estate by building my own apartments, was a
pioneer in the video rental business, worked for the
largest real estate developer in Atlanta and ultimately
opened my own travel agency in the Atlanta area.  vibrant colors, its beautiful, gigantic band arched
Marketplace ministry seemed my destiny. All the
while, I experienced an agonizing inner struggle to
find real purpose and direction.
During my stint in the travel business in the late
1980’s, I gained access to the contemporary Christian
music industry by volunteering with an event called
Atlanta Fest. A special relationship developed
with the Christian super band Petra. A frustrated
musician myself, a door now opened into a world
that fascinated me.  I also learned how to promote
Christian events and to communicate to the church
market. Little did I know, God was preparing me for
a unique calling.
In 1995, I sold the travel business to fulfill another
dream. With my wife, Leia, and our first-born
daughter, Ciera, I moved to Orlando and enrolled in
Reformed Theological Seminary. During this time,
God continued to hone me for a special calling.
In addition to receiving the expected curriculum
of theology, history and languages, my seminary
experience trained me for communicating to a
postmodern world.   life seemed completely disjointed and in shambles.
The next phase of the journey was a position with
Orlando-based men’s ministry leader Patrick Morley
at Man in the Mirror, leading the sales and marketing
strategies for two years. It was more mainstream
work than ministry—not what I had envisioned
after seminary. Then one day, I found myself at a
defining moment: my ministry job phased out, Leia
pregnant with our third child, one year into a Doctor
of Ministry program at Gordon-Conwell and now a
career path shakier than ever.  marketing effort for a Christian music event, Night
Was my future calling with a church, a ministry
or back in the marketplace?  Providentially, God
had already shown me the way. Weeks before, on
an outing to Walt Disney World, our family had
witnessed the most unbelievably massive, spectacular
rainbow any of us had ever seen. In distinct and
beside us in hi-definition clarity as we traveled the
highway. The rainbow appeared to end at Disney.
We all excitedly proclaimed how God was “sending
a message to someone.” Unfolding events would soon
reveal … I was that “someone.” 
Shortly after leaving Man in the Mirror, my
chance encounter with an influential leader from
Disney led to an unexpected declaration. The
individual indicated that he might have a marketing
job for me.  His words, “you are perfect for this
role,” caught me off guard. Corporate America had
never been a particular goal of mine. However, to
work for one of the most recognizable names for
creativity and innovation in the world definitely held a
certain appeal.   
Weeks passed with no follow-up word, and my
initial enthusiasm subsided. This opportunity seemed
but a momentary tease and a fading possibility. I
thought to myself, “What would Disney want with a
former small business owner, entrepreneur, seminary
graduate, and now unemployed ministry worker?” My
Then, on that pivotal day in October 2000, God spoke
to me through the billboard in an almost Damascus
Road experience. That night, Disney called and,
in whirlwind fashion, by week’s end I had a job at
the most unexpected of places—the Walt Disney
Company.
During my first year at Disney, through another
series of unforeseen circumstances, I was given the
unbelievable opportunity to lead the church-group

This resulted in one of those rare instances where one’s

personal, spiritual and business interests all align in a
synergistic path that is a sheer delight.
44 s u m m e r 08

of Joy. This resulted in one of those rare instances
where one’s personal, spiritual and business interests
all align in a synergistic path that is a sheer delight.
Night of Joy has been an annual event for over 25
years at the Walt Disney World Resort, with powerful
performances by the top names in contemporary
Christian music. For one uplifting weekend each fall,
Christian music lovers from across the country come
together for a private, Spirit-filled celebration. And I
was thrust into the driver’s seat.
Following the success of Night of Joy in 2001, my
influence reached into almost every area related to the
event, including talent selection. In my second year on
the event, the journey serendipitously came full circle
I am often asked if the D. Min. degree is beneficial at
Disney. The answer is an unequivocal “yes,” but at the
heart of this is the foundation of any great education.
when I was influential in bringing Petra back to Night
of Joy.
One of my goals became to establish a stronger
connection between Disney, Night of Joy and the
Christian music industry. Over the years, I have
developed close relationships with Family Christian
Stores, Gospel Music Association (GMA), the major
Christian music record labels and their artists. I also
make a yearly pilgrimage to Nashville for GMA
Week and the excitement of attending the Dove
Awards. One year, 2006, was particularly special for
me: Night of Joy was presented with the Lifetime
Achievement Award by GMA.
I have had the pleasure of being part of several
other Christian-related programs at Disney as
well. In December, we host the annual Candlelight
Processional and Massed Choir at EPCOT. It is a
holiday extravaganza during which celebrity narrators
read the Christmas story from the Bible, and a guest
conductor leads a massed choir performance.    at the heart of this is the foundation of any great
Our department also launched an educational
FOCUS ON A LU M N I /A E
initiative targeting the homeschool market, a primarily
faith-based audience. One year, we presented an event
called Christian Youth Days. For this, we brought
in EMI recording artist Vicky Beeching, an Oxford
graduate, to lead a Journey Into Narnia-themed
worship and speaking program at Disney MGM-
Studios. Finally, I developed a national promotion
leveraging Christian industry contacts for Walt Disney
Pictures to support the film The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. 
In addition to the normal job responsibilities,
I also serve as president of Crosstalk, the officially
sanctioned Christian fellowship club at Disney. The
role includes overseeing several Crosstalk Bible-study
groups that meet weekly at various locations across
Disney property.  
During my last year with Man in the Mirror,
I entered Gordon-Conwell’s Doctor of Ministry
program in the track Spiritual Renewal in a
Postmodern World—the fulfillment of another
dream. However, one year into the program and
now working for Disney, I was struggling over
whether to continue.  Questioning the relevance of
this degree to the marketplace, and concerned over
time commitments between the new job and family, I
experienced yet another defining moment as my wife,
Gordon-Conwell and Disney gave me their support to
finish the journey. My focus shifted to a new thesis
topic: Organizational Leadership for a Postmodern
World: Inspiring Creative Expression. This topic
would also translate well into my work at Disney.
I am often asked if the D. Min. degree is beneficial
at Disney. The answer is an unequivocal “yes,” but
education. Quality education equips students to
s umme r 0 8 45
FOCUS O N A L U M N I/A E
think critically. At Gordon-Conwell, the program
foundationally requires acquiring data, evaluating
the information and then developing a point of view
based on reason and logic. This is also the basis of
strategic thinking—presenting a thoughtful point of
view as opposed to just expressing an emotive-based
opinion—and is a valuable skill in the marketplace.  Youth Group Programs.
More specifically, my D.Min. coursework focused
on the study of biblical, theological and psychological
foundations for an organization as a system. I also
gained key insights into the postmodern mind. Using a
systems theory approach taught by Dr. Ray Pendleton,
I developed an organizational model that allows for
creative freedom to flourish within the framework
(l to r): Kids and Barlow Girls; Rebecca St. James and family; Family and Bart Millard from MercyMe
of a corporate structure. It is based on the premise
“freedom within boundaries,” merging these two
seemingly paradoxical polar extremes (a postmodern
tenet) into one unified model. Today, I am applying
this model as my management approach at Disney.
Life is an adventure, and it has always been
important that my family share in the journey as
much as possible. Leia, and our three children, Ciera
(13), Haley (10) and Manning (7), all joined me
during the D. Min. residencies. I was able to rent an
apartment at nearby Gordon College for our stays,
and it proved to be a rewarding time together. In
addition, the role at Disney allows for tremendous
family opportunities. They have met many of the
Christian artists, enthusiastically attend Night of Joy
and together we spend countless hours in the Theme
Parks. In a day when there is often great disconnect
between a man’s vocation and his family, we
46 s u m m e r 08
collectively share in this Disney experience together. 
Today, the Christian-based market is only
part of my work at Disney. While I continue to
engage the Christian music industry, a recent job
promotion focuses most of my time on marketing and
promotional strategies for our department, Disney
On that fateful October day in 2000, gazing at
that billboard, I never could have foreseen what lay
ahead. All of the seemingly disjointed aspects of
my career have now forged together in this unique
role. My journey has been a winding road, and at
times it seemed a dead-end street, but I was never
alone. Today, the tapestry of my life’s varied
experiences has been woven into a mosaic beyond
belief.  I am riding that rainbow! And what does the
future hold? I can only imagine.
John Manning Horton, D. Min., Marketing
                                                                                               
and New Business Development Director,   
Disney Youth Group Programs, has worked
for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts since
2000. Previously, he  had a career as an
 entrepreneur and also served in vocational
ministry. He received his D.Min. degree from
   and holds an M.A.
Gordon-Conwell in 2003
 degree in Biblical Studies from Reformed
Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Political
Science from Clemson University. He resides
in Orlando, Florida, with his wife and their
three children. 
This article originally appeared in the summer 2008 edition of
Contact, the magazine of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
It is reprinted with permission from the seminary.

opening
the
wordHaddon Robinson, Ph.D.

Church attendance has fallen on some difficult days

lately. For many Christians, it serves as a weak sub-
stitute for a picnic on a rainy Sunday morning. Of
course, we have our excuses. “Sickness,” we explain,
but we make it to the office or school on Monday.
“Life is heavy, and I need a day of rest. That’s bibli-
cal, isn’t it?” Yet, why sacrifice the church service to
get it? Our excuses are sometimes lies packed into the
skin of reason.

The reality is that we may not consider church that

important. If we take ourselves too seriously, we
may decide that intellectually we may live beyond the
sermons preached. Spiritually, we are convinced that
we can be “perfectly good Christians” without being
active in a local congregation.
The author of Hebrews strongly disagrees. “Let us not
let down on our gathering together, as some make it a
habit of doing,” he writes, “but let us encourage each
other; and all the more as we see the day approaching”
(Hebrews 10:25). Our own spiritual welfare is not the
sum of our concern. We attend church not only to get
but also to give. Our presence shows the world what
side we are on, and more important, we spur others
on to “love and good works.” Stay away and we may
lead someone to be careless. On the other hand, attend
and do so with enthusiasm, and you encourage others
to draw near to Christ. For the sake of others, when
a church is true to the Scriptures and the Gospel, it
deserves our loyalty and support.
But let’s not kid ourselves. We can’t be what Moffatt
called “a pious particle,” a Christian in isolation. We
need the church for our own grip on faith. We may
approach the Throne as individuals, of course, but
common prayers, common praise, common fellowship
are also a part of Christian experience.
Actually, attending church is a life and death matter!
Tired congregations snoozing in their padded
pews do not reflect the tension of the “day approach-
ing.” Yet, that day is closer than we realize. We need
to encourage each other in the hope of our creeds.
We need to spur each other on to love and good
works. Encouragement comes through exuberant sing-
ing. When our theology becomes doxology we urge
each other to live before the Eternal God. Encourage-
ment sometimes comes to us through a word for au-
thentic Christian living; at other times through a word
of rebuke when we have drifted away from the Lord.
Small groups meeting for prayer, confession, testimony
and action can bring us a bracing sense of God.
A Christian’s faith has no place for “rugged individu-
alism.” To have a fire, you need more than one coal.
You need other coals and a spark and a draft. One in-
dividual, perhaps yourself, set on fire by Jesus Christ—
humble, laughing, open, involved–can be the spark.
And the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, may blow
upon that spark and set an entire congregation ablaze.
Dr. Haddon W. Robinson is former President and
the Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of
Preaching. Widely regarded as an expert in preaching,
he was named among Christianity Today Internation-
al’s Top 25 Most Influential Preachers from 1956 to
2006, and in an earlier Baylor University poll as one
of the 12 most effective preachers in the English-
speaking world. His text, Biblical Preaching, is used
in scores of seminaries and Bible schools worldwide.

s umme r 0 8 47
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY TRACKS
PREACHING THE LITERARY FORMS OF THE BIBLE
BIBLE TRANSLATION
WORKPLACE LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS ETHICS
PASTORAL SKILLS: THE PASTOR AS THE PREACHER, CAREGIVER
AND PERSON
REVIVAL AND REFORM: RENEWING CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
SPIRITUAL FORMATION FOR MINISTRY LEADERS
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING
BIBLICAL WORSHIP: WEAVING WORD, WONDER AND WITNESS
MINISTRY IN COMPLEX URBAN SETTINGS
REDEMPTIVE LEADERSHIP IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTEXT
LIDERAZGO PASTORAL
OUTREACH AND DISCIPLESHIP
Preaching is a passion for Dr. Claude Alexander, the busy Senior Pastor of the 10,000-member
University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. When he learned he could earn a
specialized D.Min. degree in Homiletics in his own community and under a preeminent preaching
authority, he enrolled at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Charlotte.
“The pace of my work was such that the program was appealing,” he says. “I was also intrigued
by the seminary’s commitment to the Scriptures and to the mission of producing effective leaders
for the Church. And the opportunity to study under Dr. Haddon Robinson, believed to be the
foremost authority on preaching expository sermons, was a dream come true.”
Dr. Alexander says he benefited from the program’s collegial environment, in which students
learned from one another, and from the personal and pastoral interest of Dr. Robinson and the
seminary staff. “We were shepherded. They took a personal interest not just in my academic
performance, but also in my physical well-being and the well-being of the ministry. I was able to
see a glimpse of the Body of Christ at work for the improvement of the kingdom of God.”

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