Ministry (D.Min.)

Dr. Robert Reyes is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He comes to us from Messiah University where he served since 2012 as professor of human development and family Science.  From 2007 to 2012 he served as research director for the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning (CITL) and professor of sociology at Goshen College (Goshen, Indiana). Before moving to Indiana in 2007, he served for 11 years at Messiah University as assistant and associate professor of human development and family science and director of the Latino Partnership program. The aim of CITL was to understand and disseminate findings on the nature and/or process of intercultural education for Latino students. At CITL, Dr. Reyes was instrumental in the development of the Center’s post-doctoral research fellowship program as well as the development of a demographic/educational study of Latino students in North Central Indiana. Dr. Reyes earned a Ph.D. in marriage and family studies (1995) and Master of Divinity in marriage and family (1992) from Fuller Seminary.  He is a Certified Family Life Educator and clinical fellow of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. While at Fuller Seminary, Dr. Reyes was part of the Navy chaplains candidate program and volunteer as an assistant pastor for a Salvadorian group in Burbank, CA. His research interests include the study of acculturative stress and coping among Latino families and the study of racial reconciliation. In studying racial reconciliation, the development of effective leadership strategies in the growth of urban multicultural/multiracial churches.

Dr. Gushiken has been serving the local church for nearly 20 years. He served as Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Evangelism in London, England prior to becoming Senior Pastor of Harvard Avenue Evangelical Free Church, a multiethnic congregation in the western suburbs of Chicago, for over 17 years. In January 2017, he stepped down from the church to assume his new responsibility as Director of the Ph.D. in Leadership program at Lancaster Bible College|Capital Seminary & Graduate School. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Kevin teaches courses in Leadership related to Research as well as Character and Ethics. He enjoys shaping Christ-centered leaders who influence the world for the gospel. Dr. Gushiken is passionate about preaching, spiritual formation and holistic spirituality. He believes the church should be a Christ-centered hospital providing hope in a broken and fractured society. He has published in both academic and pastoral journals, including Christian Education Journal, Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care, and Religious Education Journal on topics ranging from ethnic diversity to educational pedagogy. He is married to Penny. They have two children: Ashleigh and Ryan. He enjoys sailing, hiking, reading and swimming. He is admittedly an adventure junkie as he has skydived and white water rafted.

For over a decade, Debra has worked to design, develop, and implement effective online instruction. She is passionate about Christian higher education, particularly at the graduate level, and regularly tests experimental course design elements to discover new methods of teaching. Prior to moving into higher education, Debra spent more than a decade working in Church ministry. Her areas of ministry oversight included children’s ministry, adult small groups, spiritual formation, yearly conferences, and leading worship. She believes that her experience in ministry helps her to provide more effective education to students studying to be ministry leaders themselves. Debra has contributed to the Magna Publication, Teaching Professor newsletter and presented at the Distance Teaching & Learning Conference. She has also presented and been a consultant on various areas of online education practice with several colleges and universities. Debra has earned degrees of M.A. in Small Group Ministry, M.A. in Worship, and a Ph.D. in Leadership.