December 16, 2025 (Rialto, Calif.) -- Gateway Seminary President Adam Groza encouraged graduates to walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit during commencement at Sunrise Church on December 13, 2025.

Groza’s charge to graduates was an exposition of Acts 9:26-31 that examined the connections between the challenges Paul faced and the flourishing of the early church.

“What we see in our passage today is that by the grace of God and through the proclamation of His Word, His Church thrives in difficult times and in difficult places,” Groza said.

“I hope that's an encouragement to you, because you will find yourself ministering in difficult times and in difficult places.”

Groza reminded graduates Paul’s reception into the church after his conversion was characterized by skepticism and suspicion.

“Ministry leaders sometimes have a rough start,” Groza said, “But a rough start doesn't mean that God hasn't called you.”

In the midst of Paul’s difficult ministry start, “God provided Barnabas” as a means of support, said Groza. Barnabas advocated on Paul’s behalf to the believers who were skeptical of Paul.

Groza challenged students to remain faithful, saying “Paul just stays faithful—proclaiming the word. It says in verse 28 he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord,” he said.

Groza pointed out the internal and external challenges Paul faced did not stall the growth of the early church; instead the Bible describes God’s sovereign expansion of the church.

Ultimately, Groza said, it is God who will grow his church.

“As God's people walk in the fear of the Lord, as God's people walk in the comfort of the Spirit, it says that the church was multiplied,” he said.

During the ceremony, 77 degrees were conferred across the master’s and doctoral programs, as well as Gateway’s ADVANCE program.

Graduate John Mark Harvey gave the student testimony during the ceremony. Harvey shared how God convicted him of his need for formal theological training and led him to Gateway Seminary. He stated his appreciation for the Cooperative Program and the impact of going on a Beyond Trip to Africa as a student.

Beyond Trips are fully-funded mission trips available to Gateway students. 

The service concluded with Gateway faculty praying over students. Standing with arms outstretched over graduates, Dr. Jim Wilson, William O. Crews chair of the Jeff Iorg School of Christian Leadership, voiced the faculty prayer for graduates.

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