Letter from the Search Committee
The Presidential Search Committee of Gateway Seminary’s Board of Trustees has nominated Dr. Adam Groza as candidate for the role of President.
The search for Gateway Seminary’s new president began during the fall 2023 trustee meeting. Chair of the Board, Phil Kell, recommended J. Robert White to lead the Presidential Search Committee, that included trustees Kevin Carrothers, Daniel Atkins, Gilroy Chow, Steve Davidson, Rally de Leon, Andrew Dyer, Marsha Gray, Vincent Hayes, Phil Kell, Chuck Morton and Kevin Scott.
After a thorough selection process consisting of candidate interviews, student surveys, in-person dialogues with faculty and staff and more, the committee unanimously selected Dr. Adam Groza as their nominee to become the next President of Gateway Seminary.
From the very first meeting, our committee meetings were defined by harmony, thoughtfulness, respect of all expressed opinions and diligence in each member’s efforts to discover the will of God. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the Lord’s faithfulness. We are excited as we look forward to the remarkable years ahead in the life of Gateway Seminary under the capable and godly leadership of Dr. Adam Groza.
- J. Robert White Chair, Presidential Search Committee
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Adam Groza
VP of Enrollment and Student Services
Personal
• Born in Pasadena, California
• Saved at 16 during a youth group summer camp
• Called to ministry during his senior year at NAU
• Married to Holly on May 6, 2000
• Ordained at Fairview Baptist Church January 11, 2004
Interests
• Hiking
• Surfing
• Theater
• Concerts
Education
Ph.D. - Philosophy of Religion (Major) Ethics (Minor)
Dissertation Title: “Siris Revisited (Did George Berkeley Change His Mind?)”
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2009
Th.M. - Philosophy of Religion
Thesis Title: “A Comparison Between the Design Arguments of William Paley and Bill Dembski”
• Father to Cosette (b.2005), Charlie (b.2007), Christian (b.2009), and Cate (b.2011) equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2003
M.Div. - Theology
The Master’s Seminary, 2001
B.S. - Political Science (Major) Spanish (Minor) Northern AZ University, 1998
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CURRENT POSITIONS
Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services, Associate Professor, Philosophy of Religion
Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention, 2010-Present
• Courses Taught: Apologetics, Philosophy for Ministry, Evangelism, and Christian Ethics
• Direct Reports: Director of Enrollment, Director of Student Services, Director of Student Success and Registrar, and Administrative Assistant to the Vice President
• Supervisor: Dr. Jeff Iorg (President)
Teaching Fellow
Agricola Theological Institute (Espoo, Finland), 2019-Present
• Courses Taught: Christian Philosophy and Worship
• Supervisor: Dr. Mikko Sivonen (Associate Dean)
Research Fellow
Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, 2017-Present
Adjunct Instructor
School of Christian Ministry at California Baptist University (Riverside, CA), 2016-Present
• Courses Taught: Introduction to Philosophy and Goodness, Truth, and Beauty
• Supervisor: Dr. Christ Morgan (Dean)
CURRENT POSITIONS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
As Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services
1. Raised over $500,000 for student benevolence and scholarships
2. Led multi-ethnic staff to highest enrollment in Gateway 79-year history
3. Managed an annual budget of $1,012,781
4. Strategically distributed over $622,617 in annual Student Aid
5. Helped to decide, strategize, and execute Gateway’s relocation and renaming
6. Served on President’s Cabinet
7. Scheduled weekly chapel speakers and oversaw all student events
8. Assisted in a comprehensive 2020 Strategic Planning Process
9. Compiled accreditation reports and participated in accreditation visits
10. Managed student discipline and grievance process
11. Developed and led quarterly “directors dialogue” of director level staff
12. Supervised Gateway’s I-17 PDSO (currently 76 F-1 students enrolled)
13. Oversaw Student Housing (58-unit apartment complex, 100% occupancy)
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ATTRIBUTES
QUALIFICATIONS AND
Selected Experiences and Accomplishments
PREVIOUS POSITIONS
Director of Admissions and Appointed Faculty Member
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Scarborough College (Fort Worth, TX), 2007-2010
• Expanded enrollment team from 6 to 10 employees
• Oversaw rebranding efforts
• Launch of new online application
• Growth of college enrollment from 147 to 249 (69%)
Associate Director of Riley Events Center
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, TX), 2005-2007
Hospice Chaplain Bridgeway Hospice, 2005
MINISTRY
Interim Pastor, 2023-2024
Calvary Church West Hills Los Angeles, California
Interim Pastor, 2021-2022
Crossview Bible Church Yucca Valley, California
Interim Pastor, 2019-2020
Bryant St. Baptist Church Yucaipa, California
TRAINING
Executive Leadership Program
Interim Pastor, 2017-2018
Del Cerro Baptist Church San Diego, California
Elder, 2013-2015
Red Hill Baptist Church San Anselmo, California
Deacon, 2006-2010
Rock Creek Baptist Church Crowley, Texas
Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, 2023
Beginning Korean Yonsai University/Coursera, 2020
Senior Pastor, 2002-2004 Fairview Baptist Church Fairview, Texas
Youth Pastor, 2000-2002 Fairview Baptist Church Fairview, Texas
Fundraising and Development Specialization UC Davis/Coursera, 2020
Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training QPR Institute, February 2021
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Endorsements
Jeff Iorg | President of Gateway Seminary
“Dr. Groza has the spiritual maturity, theological convictions, and relational skills needed to be a President in the Southern Baptist Convention. As a native Californian, his western roots run deep, and he is prepared to lead from this context for a global impact. Dr. Groza is an excellent preacher, teacher, and writer—already in high demand by conventions, conferences and churches. His marriage is healthy, and he is a model father, fully engaged in the lives of his children. As I consider the profile for our future President, he fulfills every aspect of the kind of person who is needed to lead us forward.”
Pete Ramirez | Executive Director, California Southern Baptist Convention
“Adam Groza is a servant of God who is deeply rooted in his biblical and theological convictions. He lives out his convictions by sharing the Gospel with the lost in an exemplary manner and demonstrates integrity in all he does. Over the years, it has been a blessing to work with him, and now, with his election to serve as the newly elected president of Gateway Seminary, I look forward with great anticipation to continue partnering with him as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission.”
Keith Goeking | M.D.; Former Board Chair of Gateway Seminary
“Nearly every time I’ve met Adam Groza over the last twelve years he has asked me what I am reading thereby challenging me to grow in many ways. He loves learning, has an evangelist’s heart, a passion for biblical, theological and practical education, and a deep desire to challenge others to grow spiritually. When Dr. Iorg announced his retirement, my first thought was that Dr. Groza would be the best person to follow him as President of Gateway Seminary. I am thankful that he will lead the seminary into the next decades.”
Gayle Fee | Former Board Member of Gateway Seminary
“Adam has proven himself as a humble leader, scholar, pastor and student advocate at Gateway Seminary. During the 10 years of serving on the board, I was impressed with Adam’s faithfulness and believe that he would serve the seminary well into the future.”
Mikko Sivonen | Team Leader Finland, Denmark, Iceland for IMB; Academic Dean of Agricola Theological Seminary
“For the past 17 years, my wife Heidi, and I, along with our five children have served as IMB missionaries in my home country, Finland. Adam has served the people of Finland by teaching in churches and in our seminary, Agricola Theological Seminary, several times and by initiating wider partnerships with us among SBC pastors and churches, especially in Southern California.
This past fall, with his leadership, we held a marriage retreat for our seminary students and their wives. Adam has a very capable academic mind, a proven record to teach sound doctrine with excellent communication ability, and great leadership skills. Adam is a family man, whose character has been molded into Christlikeness over the decades. I have seen him demonstrate these skills and character numerous times at his own home, in our home, in many churches and international multicultural settings.”
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Mark Rogers | Pastor of Fellowship Church, Applied Theology Lecturer at the School of Christian Ministries of California Baptist University
“Adam is a respected academic who thinks carefully and teaches clearly. He has the theological clarity, biblical faithfulness, and scholarly abilities needed to guard the gospel, lead an academic institution, and draw top-notch faculty to Southern California. At the same time, he is also a personal evangelist. Over the years I have first-hand knowledge of Adam boldly witnessing to many non-Christians –whether he is out to eat with friends, talking with his neighbor, or engaging with a secular reporter. His heart for the salvation of individuals is matched by his heart for the nations, having served leaders and built bridges with Ukrainian, Finnish, Indian, Korean and many other ministries around the world. As a professor at CBU, I am confident that Dr. Groza’s presidential leadership will continue to draw more and more CBU graduates to pursue further training at Gateway.”
Paul Wegner | Senior Distinguished Professor of Old Testament Studies Gateway Seminary
“Dr. Groza has worked hard for the last 12 years that I have been at Gateway, and I am very impressed with his scholarship and theology. He is very careful and conservative. He handles his time, family and school issues well. He is admired by the faculty and staff and will be a great leader.”
Dustin Rudolph | Pastor of Del Cerro Baptist Church in La Mesa, CA
“Adam has helped our church in numerous ways, including as interim pastor, in helping counsel the search committee when needed, and then when I arrived as pastor, in welcoming me to the area and passing the baton to me with grace and encouragement.”
Brandon Boatner | Pastor Remix Church in Maryland Heights, MO
“Dr. Groza is a California native that has thrived in the DNA of this school. He is also a pastor, caring deeply for the church. Groza is a distinguished speaker who can relate to every person in the room. Adam has the scholarly ability and the relationship intelligence to help Gateway continue to thrive.”
Max Stabenow | Vice President for Enrollment of Williams Baptist University
“Dr. Groza loves the local church, he is actively involved in the California Southern Baptist Convention and the national Southern Baptist Convention, and he is passionate about theological education. He is an accomplished author, preaches and teaches regularly, and has a proven track record of being able to serve alongside pastors and other denominational leaders in California as well as nationally.”
Scott Hill | Pastor of Providence Church in Murrieta, CA
“Dr. Groza’s deep understanding of Gateway’s unique ethos and the nuances of our diverse Southern California setting make him an outstanding candidate for the presidency. With the cultural changes coming at a rapid pace, Dr. Groza’s theological acumen and leadership vision are precisely what’s needed to navigate the evolving landscape of seminary education over the next decade.”
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ENDORSEMENTS
Publications
Unraveling Philosophy, with J.P. Moreland, B&H Academic. May 2023
Faith Wins: Overcoming a Crisis of Belief, New Hope Publishers. June 2020.
“Idealism and the Nature of God” in Idealism and Christian Philosophy, edited by Jim Spiegel. Bloomsbury Press. February 2016.
“A Positive Sexual Ethic” in Ministry and the New Marriage Culture, edited by Jeff Iorg. Broadman & Holman Press. October 2015.
PAPERS PRESENTED & OTHER PRESENTATIONS
“Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?”
The Claremont Universities, March 2023
“Recovering the Fear of the Lord in Christian Ethics”
Academic Convocation of Gateway Seminary, October 2021
"In the Absence of Evidence: Mill and James against Hume’s ‘Of Miracles’ in Conversation with Ancient Voices and Sacred Texts"
Rationality, Theism, and Atheism Conference of the Iranian Institute of Philosophy, March 2021
“God and the Problem of Evil”
Pepperdine University: Veritas Forum Lectures, Malibu, CA, February 2019
“Old Testament Time and Worship”
Far West ETS: California Baptist University, Riverside, CA, Spring 2019
“A Biblical Vision of the Good Life”
Korea University: Religious Scholars Series Lecture, Seoul, South Korea, October 2014
“Berkelean Idealism and the Good Life”
California Baptist University Apologetics Conference, Riverside, California, April 2013.
“Christ in the Old Testament and the Logic of Inerrancy”
Evangelical Theological Society Southwestern Regional Meeting, Fort Worth, Texas, March 2011.
“Berkeley, Pantheism, and Panentheism”
Evangelical Theological Society Southwestern Regional Meeting, Fort Worth, Texas, March 2009.
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