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Seminary Faculty & Staff

Seminary Faculty

Freddy Cardoza

Freddy Cardoza

Freddy Cardoza, is the Dean of the School of Ministry Studies at Grace College and Vice President of Grace Theological Seminary. Freddy oversees the faithful execution of the mission and vision for the School of Ministry Studies. He is committed to advancing the Kingdom of God by expanding the size, reach, and impact of the school, faculty, staff, and the dynamic programs they offer. Freddy also serves as Professor of Christian Ministry and Leadership. In this capacity, he equips Christian leaders for ministry impact, and trains disciples to wield the Word of God and the power of God, for the glory of God.

Dr. Cardoza’s most recent scholarship includes the primary textbook entitled Christian Education: A Guide to the Foundations of Ministry (2019, Baker Academic).

Education

  • Ph.D. 2005 Leadership, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
  • M.A. 1994 Christian Education, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC
  • B.S. 1991 Church Ministries, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
  • Additional Post-Doctoral Studies: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
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Tiberius Rata

Tiberius Rata

Tiberius Rata, Associate Dean of the School of Ministry Studies and Professor of Old Testament Studies, focuses on instilling in students a love for God and His inerrant Word, remembering the words of Ezra 7:10: “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” Rata wants his ministry students to become pastors who can preach and teach God’s word passionately and accurately, with a strong foundation on the principles of Scripture so they can be pillars in their churches, leaders in their workplaces, and model citizens in their communities.

Education

  • M.S. 2023 Higher Education, Grace College and Theological Seminary
  • Ph.D. 2003 Old Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois
  • M.Div. 1997 Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, California
  • B.S. 1994 Urban and Regional Planning, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California
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Matthew S. Harmon

Matthew S. Harmon

Matthew S. Harmon, Professor of New Testament studies, loves to help people understand the beauty of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures, seeing it as the key to life transformation (2 Corinthians 3:18). As a result, the focus of his ministry is teaching and preaching God’s word in various contexts. He has a passion for research and writing, specializing in the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament, biblical theology, commentary writing and the Pauline epistles. He is an active member of Christ’s Covenant Church, where he serves on the preaching team and regularly teaches Sunday School.

CV – Matthew S Harmon

Education

  • Ph.D. 2006 Biblical Theology, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois
  • M.Div 2003 Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois
  • B.S. 1995 Communication, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
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Rock LaGioia

Rock LaGioia

Rock LaGioia, Professor of Pastoral Studies and Director of Doctoral Programs, is passionate about building up the body of Christ by training the next generation of effective church leaders. Rock has many years of pastoral experience and enjoys preaching and teaching sound doctrine regularly at worship services, conferences, and seminars.

Education

  • D.Min. 2007 Preaching, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois
  • Th.M. 1992 Practical Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois
  • M.Div. 1991 Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois
  • B.A. 1989 Pastoral Studies (Greek Emphasis), Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois
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Christy Hill

Christy Hill

Christy Hill, Professor of Spiritual Formation and Women’s Ministries, has a passion for facilitating the holistic development of men and women into mature disciples of Jesus Christ, who are transformed by the experience of God’s love and truth. Saddened by the discrepancy between accurate theology and a living faith, she seeks to help her learners acknowledge that their operant belief system (behaviors, values, attitudes, motives) reveals their true beliefs. She then seeks to aid spiritual formation by resolving the gap between one’s professed belief system (correct theology) and actual beliefs.

Education

  • Ph. D. 2003 Educational Studies, Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada, California
  • M.A. 1996 Christian Education, Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada, California
  • B.A. 1992 Christian Education, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
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Mark Bowald

Mark Bowald

Alumnus of Grace College, earning a B.Sc. with a double major in Business Administration and Psychology in 1990. Earned an M.Div. at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary and a Th.M. and Ph.D. in Theology at Wycliffe College in Toronto.  20+ years of experience teaching theology, advising and mentoring students at both undergraduate and seminary levels. Past Lecturer of Ministry and Spiritual Formation at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto and Theologian in Residence at St. James Church in Paris, Ontario. Previously, he taught for 11 years as Associate Professor of Theology at Redeemer University College in Ontario, Canada also serving as department chair. He serves as Canon Theologian and Examining Chaplain for the Diocese of the Great Lakes in the Anglican Church of North America.

Education

  • Ph.D. Wycliffe College, Philosophical and Systematic Theology
  • Th.M. Wycliffe College, Systematic Theology
  • M.Div. Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary
  • B.S. Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana
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Thomas M. Stallter

Thomas M. Stallter

Thomas M. Stallter is Professor of Intercultural Studies. Stallter has a heart for the world and for preparing others to reach out to those of other cultural worldviews. Whether teaching cultural anthropology or world religions or even methods of social research, his real intention is to prepare students for the impact of culture on relationships and ministry. “Relating to real people in a multicultural world with a relevant message that touches both felt needs and spiritual needs is our part in the mission of God.” After 18 years of service in Africa, he served 19 plus years at Grace College & Seminary and continues to teach in retirement, preparing others to take his place. “Penetrating worldviews with God’s love and grace is our purpose. His love for the world is our calling. His Spirit is our strength. His amazing grace in our lives is our motivation.” Stallter’s recent publications are The Gap Between God and Christianity: The Turbulence of Western Culture (2022) and Finding Freedom and Grace in a Broken World: A Journey in the Purposes and Providence of God (2024).

Education

  • Post-Doctoral Studies 2006 Cultural Anthropology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois
  • D.Miss. 1993 Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon
  • Th. M. 1979 Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas
  • B.A. 1974 Grace College, Winona Lake, Indiana
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Trent Lambert

Trent Lambert

Dr. Trent Lambert is an alumnus of The Ohio State University, earning a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Church Administration in 1995. He earned a M.A. in Ministerial Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University and a M.Div. and D.Min at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Trent has 20+ years of experience teaching and writing Bible, ministry, and leadership related courses, as well as advising and mentoring students at both undergraduate and seminary levels. Trent also has 20+ years of pastoring and planting churches on the West Coast and in the Midwest, in addition to 15+ years working in college administration. Currently, Trent is the Director of the Center for Thriving Leaders and the Director of the Master of Arts in Ministry Studies for Grace College and Seminary.

Education

  • D.Min. Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, VA
  • M.Div. Liberty University, Lynchburg VA
  • M.A. Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN
  • B.S. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
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Stephen S. Park 박시경

Stephen S. Park 박시경

Stephen Park is the Director of the Korean Online Doctoral Program and a professor of the Center for Korean Studies.  With the initial calling to spread the gospel in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, he started his cross-cultural ministry from 1983 and planted the first Korean church in Budapest, Hungary. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, he collaborated with a Russian Baptist Church to plant local Russian churches. Stephen also established the Russian Theological Seminary for local leadership training and served as the dean of the seminary. In addition, during his tenure in Russia, he served as the president of the Korean Missionary Association in Moscow, Russia. After departing Russia, Stephen worked many years as the Director of Missionary Training Institute (Global Missionary Training Institute: GMTI) in Seoul, Korea before he joined Grace Theological Seminary.

Education

  • Post-doctoral Studies. Doctor of Intercultural Studies, Grace Theological Seminary
  • D.Miss. 2009 Missiology, Grace Theological Seminary
  • Th.M. 1987   Missiology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California
  • M.Div. 1980 Chongshin Theological Seminary, Seoul, S. Korea
  • B.S. 1975    Electronic Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegue, S. Korea
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Rachel C. Park 김정은

Rachel C. Park 김정은

Rachel Park is the Associate Director of Korean Online Doctoral Program and professor of Center for Korean Studies. Rachel has a passion for cross-cultural leadership training and missionary care.  She has been focusing on women’s leadership as well as mentorship and teaches to the cross-cultural leaders and next generation leaders. Rachel’s cross-cultural ministry experience began in 1983 as a missionary, professor at Moscow Theological Seminary, Russia as well as professor to missionary candidates at Global Missionary Training Institute in Seoul, Korea.

Education

  • Post-doctoral Studies, Doctor of Intercultural Studies, Grace Theological Seminary
  • D.Miss. 2011 Missiology, Grace Theological Seminary
  • M.A. 1997 Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary,  Pasadena, California
  • B.A. 1975 English Linguistics, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, S.Korea
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Seminary Staff

Rob Neufer

Rob Neufer

Rob gives oversight to Seminary Admissions for all seminary programs.

Education

  • M.Div. 2015 Pastoral Studies, Grace Theological Seminary
  • B.S. 2009 Religion, Liberty University
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Gabe Tribbett

Gabe Tribbett

Gabe is the Director of Deploy, a Competency-Based Theological Education program. He gives oversight to the operations and student support of the Deploy program.

Education

  • D.Min. Candidate (A.B.D.), Ministry Leadership, Grace Theological Seminary
  • M.B.A. 2020 Business Administration, Grace College
  • M.Div. 2010 Pastoral Studies, Grace Theological Seminary
  • B.S. 2006 History and Secondary Education, Manchester University
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Jane Wallin

Jane Wallin

Jane is the Office Manager and Assistant to the V.P. and Dean of Grace Theological Seminary.

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