Meet Your Faculty
Virginia Christian College Faculty
Dr. Kimberly Alexander
Kimberly Ervin Alexander Ph.D. (Open University/St. John’s College) is a historical theologian with over twenty years of experience in teaching and administration in theological education. She is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Manchester Wesley Research Centre.
A former president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies (2011), she serves on several editorial boards for Wesleyan and Pentecostal publications. She is the author of
Pentecostal Healing: Models of Theology and Practice (Deo/Brill 2006); What Women Want: Pentecostal Women Speak for Themselves (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2018) with James Philemon Bowers; and
Women in Pentecostal Leadership
(Cleveland, TN: Center for Pentecostal Leadership and Care, 2006)
with R. Hollis Gause. Additionally, she has authored numerous articles and chapters on healing, worship, gender, and race in Pentecostalism, and early Pentecostal spiritual experience.
Dr. Moses Asamoah
Moses Selorm Asamoah, Jr. is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Living Destiny Church. Originally from Ghana, he and his wife Delali have been married for 16 years and are blessed with three daughters. Pastor Moses is a graduate of Regent University where he earned both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership degrees. He recently obtained his Doctor of Ministry degree in Urban Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, CA.
Moses is the President of Selorm Ministries, Int. and the Blackwell Institute of Leadership and Coaching. He is passionate about the Word of God, Prayer, Leadership Development, and Church Planting. He is the published author of
Sweetly Broken: Understanding the Pathway to Your Divine Assignment, Thank God for Goliath: Turning a Death Sentence into a Victory Parade, and the
African Folktale Series.
Dr. James Bowers
Director of the Doctor of the Ministry Program
Dr. James Bowers is a preacher, educator, and author. He is a Professor of Practical Theology Formation at Virginia Christian College, as well as the Director of the Doctor of the Ministry Program.
He holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Pentecostal Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy in American Christianity and Christian Formation from the University of Louisville (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary). He directed a grant-funded national leadership development project that involved over 1100 pastors in the U.S.
He has also researched and written about women in ministry, racial and gender equality, Christian formation, and Pentecostalism.
His wife, Laura, is a public school teacher, and they have two children, a son Wesley — a Ph.D. student in the UK — and a daughter Jamie — a Thermal Analysis Engineer working on the International Space Station project. Dr. Bowers teaches courses in formation, theology, and leadership.
Dr. Milton D. Carter
Director of Masters Program
Since 2018, Dr. Milton Carter has served as a faculty member at Virginia Christian College and currently serves as the Director of the Master of Ministry Program. He has been involved in Christian education and training ministries for over thirty years teaching both campus and online courses. He has conducted numerous training seminars and conferences throughout the United States and abroad. He previously served as a Church Planter, Senior Pastor, Denominational Leader, Seminary Administrator & Faculty, Church Consultant, and Trainer. He has completed the Church Consulting Training and Certification in both the Natural Church Development and CHAT (Church Health Assessment Tool) church assessment systems.
One of the greatest joys of his life has been devoting the past thirty years to mentoring and leadership coaching for pastors and ministry leaders.
His doctoral work was in Mentoring, Coaching, and Leadership Development.
Educational Background
Lee University | B.S. (Biblical Education/Sociology)
Pentecostal Theological Seminary | M.A. (Theology/Christian Education)
Regent University | Doctor of Ministry (Leadership & Renewal)
Post-graduate Studies in Adult Education | Union Seminary (Richmond, Virginia) and
Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA)
Dr. Carter and his wife, Violet, are grateful to the Lord for their three adult children and four grandsons.
Dr. Derek Grier
Derek Grier currently serves as the founding pastor of Grace Church in Dumfries, Virginia. The church began in 1998 with 12 people and under his leadership, has grown to more than 7,000 members and has over 40 life-changing ministries. Millions have heard and viewed his radio and television programs in the United States and around the globe.
Grier was ordained a bishop in 2008 by the late Dr. Myles Munroe. He currently mentors hundreds of Christian leaders and business owners through the Renaissance Leadership Network (RLN). Grier serves on several Board of Directors, including the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate high standards for financial accountability and transparency.
In 2011, he founded Virginia Christian College, a highly respected institution for Christian education. He currently assumes the role of Chancellor, with Dr. Courtney McBath serving as the President. Grier is well-published and his most recent publication, "When God Stops," was released by Thomas Nelson Publishing in August of 2019.
Derek Grier’s most recent God-inspired initiative, National Unity Weekend, was founded to position the Christ-centered church as a pivotal force in guiding society toward racial unity. Addressing the diverse needs of American communities through both Gospel teachings and practical service, National Unity Weekend is celebrated each second weekend in the month of June.
Derek and his wife, Yeromitou, reside in northern Virginia and have two
adult sons: Derek Jr. and David.
Dr. Shennell January
Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs
Dr. Shennell January currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer at Virginia Christian College. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with over 15 years of clinical experience, and is currently a mental health clinician with the Prince William County Government and teaches psychology and counseling courses at Virginia Christian College. She also holds adjunct professorships at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in D.C. and Post University Online, and she is the Director of Youth and Children's Ministries at Grace Church.
Dr. Towera Loper
Assistant in Student Services
Dr. Towera Loper holds a Master of Divinity in Practical Theology and Doctor of Ministry in Leadership Studies and Renewal with an emphasis in transformational leadership coaching from Regent University School of Divinity. She is a teacher, author, and certified leadership-career-life coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF-ACC). A native of Zambia, Dr. Loper has traveled internationally teaching and training leaders in the area of evangelism, outreach, coaching, and leadership development.
Dr. Loper has also been a guest writer for the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) Christian Living Spiritual Life section.
Dr. Loper is married to Calvin, and they enjoy the outdoors and traveling!
Dr. Jermaine Marshall
Dr. Marshall is an Ordained Traveling Elder in the CME Church and currently serves as the Senior Pastor of the Williams Institutional CME Church in Harlem, New York City. After completing his secondary education at the prestigious Paxon School for Advanced Studies of Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Marshall earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in Religious Studies, History, and Public Administration from the University of North Florida. Following his work as an undergraduate, Dr. Marshall earned his Master of Divinity with a concentration in Church History from Phillips School of Theology at the Interdenominational Theological Center and earned his Master of Theology with a concentration in Historical Theology from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Dr. Marshall earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Theological Studies at Regent University School of Divinity.
Dr. Marshall is a native of Jacksonville, Florida, and often loves to return to his home state to spend quality time with family and friends. In addition to reading and writing, he enjoys traveling, watching movies, listening to good music, and fine dining.
Dr. Courtney McBath
Vice President of Administration
Courtney McBath is the Founding Pastor of Calvary Revival Church (CRC) in Norfolk, Virginia. He serves as the leader and founder of Calvary Leadership Network, a group of pastors and leaders serving the church globally. He is a teacher, mentor, coach and a global pastor. In addition to his double major in humanities and engineering from MIT, McBath also holds a Masters in Biblical Studies and Practical Theology from Regent University and an earned Doctor of Ministry degree from Providence Theological Seminary.
Courtney has been married to his wife Janeen for thirty-nine years.
Dr. Patrick Nasongo
Asst. Professor since 2015. Ph.D. in Biblical Studies, Piedmont International University, 2016; Th.M. & MDiv., International Theological Seminary, 2010; A. Dip in Bible & Theology, Bible College of East Africa, Kenya, 2006. He is Ordained Minister, Author, and Researcher. Dr. Nasongo is married to Sylvia and blessed with 2 children.
Dr. Dwight Shawrod Riddick, II
Director of Student Services
Dr. Dwight Shawrod Riddick, II is the Senior Pastor of the St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia. He is the CEO of CMI Leadership Coaching, a global network of executive coaches dedicated to bridging the gap between ministry and the marketplace.
He is an adjunct lecturer at Virginia Christian College and the current Director of Student Success. Dr. Ridick holds a master's degree in theology from Virginia Union University's Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology as well as a doctorate in ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary.
Dr. Jennell Riddick is his wife, and they have two children together.
Dr. Ella Thompson
Director of Undergraduate Program
Dr. Thompson is the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Associate Professor, and strategic management consultant in higher education with expertise in executive coaching, institutional effectiveness, and leadership development for corporations, theological education, the church, and parachurch ministries. As a higher education administrator, she has worked extensively with accrediting bodies to advance and uphold academic excellence and student achievement.
Dr. Thompson holds a Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies Research with interdisciplinary study in leadership studies, women’s studies, and New Testament studies from King’s College London, London, England, UK. Her primary research interests include practical theology, prophetic leadership for social impact, organizational spirituality, and women’s studies.
Foundational to her research is her interest in leadership and its influence across disciplines and education concerned with equipping people for living well in intercultural, interdisciplinary, international, and intergenerational relationships and contexts. Dr. Thompson’s research emphasizes building cultures that utilize a holistic approach to spiritual formation and create cohesive and high-performance communities.
She is the Overseer of Truth and Life Christian Church and the Founder of Ella Thompson Ministries, through which she preaches and teaches nationally and globally. Dr. Thompson also holds a Master of Arts in Practical Theology and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Organizational Development Consulting from Regent University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management from Virginia Commonwealth University with advanced studies in entrepreneurship.
Dr. Darlingston Varr
Darlingston (Daryl) Varr is a futurist, technologist, and educator living in Stafford, VA. He has worked with a variety of organizations. His professional career includes the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Government, and various organizations in the private sector.
Dr. Varr was born in Monrovia, Liberia, and lived there until the age of 12 before moving to Queens, New York, in 1993. He came to faith in Christ as a boy at an early age. He loves the Virginia Christian College community where students often become his friends. It’s in this environment that he has the freedom to address the complex questions of life and faith with honesty and without fear.
He holds a doctorate in strategic leadership from Regent University, a master's degree in biblical studies from Virginia Christian College, a bachelor's degree in database technology, and an MBA in technology management.
In his free time, he loves golfing with friends, discussing invention ideas with his son, Ayden, talking about impossibilities in the world with his daughter, Ava-Marie, and bicycling with his kids and friends.