Faith, calling lead Gbamis to Lipscomb’s Hazelip School of Theology

Faith, calling lead Gbamis to Lipscomb's Hazelip School of Theology

A native of Nigeria, Rowland Gbamis began his career in supply chain management and followed his calling into ministry.

Kim Chaudoin | 05/06/2026

Major decisions in life are rarely easy. But when Rowland Gbamis faced a significant decision about the next step on his life's journey, he said he felt a deep sense that God was guiding him.

Gbamis, of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, recently graduated from Lipscomb University with his Master of Divinity degree. For him, reaching this milestone not only represented the completion of a rigorous graduate program, but also the confirmation of a calling that has shaped his life for many years.

Before coming to Lipscomb, Gbamis' educational and professional journey began in Nigeria, where he spent nearly a decade working in supply chain management and logistics. His career later took him to Toronto, Canada, where he served as a supply chain specialist for ELI Logistics Solutions Inc.

While there, he earned an undergraduate degree in medical anthropology from the University of Toronto. In 2023, following his graduation, he was facing a significant decision. Gbamis had been admitted with a full scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in public health and epidemiology at the University of Toronto. But as he prayed about the opportunity, he found himself conflicted.

"My vocational calling has been in ministry for many years, and God has done so much in my life that I could not imagine leaving His work of saving souls and advancing His kingdom to pursue a path that would take me in a different direction," said Gbamis.

During that season of discernment, Gbamis turned to the internet to find a place where he might lean into the calling he was feeling. He discovered Lipscomb's College of Bible & Ministry and began to research it. After exploring the university's website, he went through the admissions process and arranged a meeting with Frank Guertin, assistant dean of the college and director of the Hazelip School of Theology.

"The moment I stepped into Dr. Guertin's office for our one-on-one interview, I knew God had answered my prayers," said Gbamis. "Dr. Guertin was encouraging, listened carefully to my story and made me feel seen, loved and cared for. That meeting confirmed what my heart had been telling me: Lipscomb was where God was calling me to continue my academic and ministerial journey."

That sense of belonging continued throughout his time at Lipscomb.

Gbamis describes his experience at Lipscomb as transformative, shaped by professors and staff who invested not only in his academic development, but also in his spiritual growth.

"The College of Bible & Ministry is a vibrant community of believers and truth-seekers who demonstrate God's love through authentic relationships and real-life application, not merely theoretical discussion," he said. "What has impressed me most is the genuine investment my professors have made in their students. Each one has shown a remarkable commitment to walking alongside us throughout our academic and spiritual journeys."

That support, he said, helped him remain focused and encouraged through the challenges of graduate study.

"This community truly embodies the words of 1 Corinthians 13:13: 'And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love,'" said Gbamis. "I have experienced all three - faith in God's calling, hope for my future in ministry and love from a community that genuinely cares about my growth and success."

Gbamis said his time at Lipscomb has also strengthened his faith in meaningful ways. Coming from a non-institutional background within the Churches of Christ, he said he initially wondered how his convictions would be received in an academic environment. What he found, he said, was a community that allowed him to explore and express his perspective with respect and care.

"Lipscomb has never marginalized my perspective or restricted my freedom in any of my graduate research," he said. "Instead, the university has created space for students to explore and express diverse viewpoints within a framework of love and mutual respect."

That experience, he said, has helped shape the way he approaches ministry and relationships with others.

"This experience has profoundly shaped my ability to extend grace and understanding to others whose convictions differ from mine, which is a vital lesson for my journey in Christian faith and ministry," he said.

His coursework also deepened his understanding of Scripture and ministry. Gbamis said his Greek and Hebrew courses were particularly meaningful because they gave him tools for more precise biblical interpretation and helped him engage Scripture with greater depth.

"Each course I have taken has added layers of theological depth to my previous ministry experience, providing both scholarly foundation and practical wisdom," he said. "I am deeply grateful to God for how Lipscomb has enriched my faith - not by asking me to set aside my convictions, but by helping me grow in knowledge, love and understanding."

As Gbamis reflects on his Lipscomb journey, he is quick to credit the faculty and staff who supported him along the way.

"All of my professors and administrative staff have contributed to my success, and I stand on their shoulders today," he said.

Guertin, in particular, has been an important mentor and source of encouragement.

"As an international student, I have experienced his love and generosity in ways I cannot fully quantify," said Gbamis. "From our very first meeting, when he listened carefully to my story and made me feel seen and valued, to his continued support throughout my program, Dr. Guertin has exemplified what it means to shepherd students with Christ-like compassion."

That example has also shaped the kind of leader Gbamis hopes to become.

"His investment in my life has not only shaped my academic experience but has also modeled the kind of pastoral leadership I aspire to embody in my own ministry," he said.

Following graduation, Gbamis will continue his studies at Lipscomb. He has been accepted into the university's Doctor of Ministry program, which he will begin this fall.

He sees the program as a natural continuation of the academic, spiritual and ministerial foundation he has built through his Master of Divinity studies.

"The D.Min. program will allow me to integrate the strong biblical and theological foundation I have gained through my Master of Divinity studies with advanced research and practical application in ministry contexts," he said.

Gbamis plans to focus on pastoral leadership, with a desire to equip church leaders, serve in cross-cultural ministry contexts and strengthen biblical preaching.

"I am particularly excited about focusing on pastoral leadership, as I believe effective leadership is essential for healthy, growing churches," he said. "My goal is to use this advanced training to equip church leaders with biblical and practical tools for ministry, serve in cross-cultural ministry contexts where the gospel transcends cultural boundaries, and strengthen biblical preaching that faithfully communicates God's Word with clarity and power."

"I am grateful for how my experience at Lipscomb has prepared me for this next chapter," continued Gbamis, "and look forward to continuing my growth within this community of faith and scholarship."

Learn more about the Hazelip School of Theology