Six graduate from Gateway Arizona
By John Paul Walton | May 30, 2023
The May graduates of the Arizona Campus of Gateway Seminary are pictured with the Arizona Campus faculty and Gateway President Jeff Iorg.
The class of 2023 at the Arizona Campus of Gateway Seminary graduated on May 13. Six students graduated in the commencement ceremony led by David Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Mission Network of Southern Baptists.
Jeff Iorg, president of Gateway Seminary, delivered the commencement address at the formal ceremony held at CalvaryPHX Church. In a message based on 2 Corinthians 1, Iorg shared about the trials that will come in life and how those moments shape us to trust and depend on God more.
The degrees and their recipients were:
- Doctor of Ministry: Johnathan Chan, whose project was “Equipping members of Campus Community Church to develop enthusiasm and effectiveness in evangelism”
- Master of Divinity: Christopher Scott Anderson, Phong Thanh Le
- Master of Divinity — with Church Revitalization Certificate: Andrew Scott Marchbanks
- Master of Arts in Christian Counseling: Adam James-Louis Larsen
- Master of Theological Studies: Robbie Harrington
- Bible Teaching Certificate: Bob Bedell, Weldon Wong
Gateway President Jeff Iorg presents the Dan and Harriet Stringer Award to Andrew Marchbanks.
Andrew Marchbanks was recognized with the Dan and Harriet Stringer Award for a student who has demonstrated perseverance through difficulty in completing his seminary education.
While he rapidly worked to complete his degree, Marchbanks was youth pastor at First Southern Baptist Church of Glendale at Sahuaro Ranch, while also leading collegiate ministry with Christian Challenge to reach Glendale Community College, Arizona Christian University and Grand Canyon University. He has also been instrumental in the planning of Zona youth camp, while serving all of his students — junior high, high school and college — and completing his master’s degree so he could be better equipped toward the ministry to which God has called him. Marchbanks is now moving into a churchwide educational ministry role at his church, where his impact will multiply even further.
A professor at Gateway Seminary places the doctoral hood on Johnathan Chan as Gateway President Jeff Iorg looks on.
At a dinner the evening before commencement, the seminary recognized certificate recipients and welcomed friends and families of students and graduates. The spouses of graduates and certificate recipients were also recognized in a ceremony led by Paul Smith, Gateway professor and pastor of First Baptist Church of Chandler.
Gateway Seminary has been blessed to be able to partner with churches in equipping all kinds of ministry leaders. One of the easiest way to get started with seminary is with the Bible Teaching Certificate. In as short as 18 months, participants are trained in Old Testament, New Testament and the principles of Bible teaching. Call 602-843-8544 for more information.
John Paul Walton is librarian at the Arizona Campus of Gateway Seminary.