Outcast

Natasha Eileen Home is a born and raised South African studying psychology and fine arts at Gordon College. Two of her biggest loves are the beach and dogs, and if you add in a sweet cup of coffee, it is her perfect day. She is an amateur baker and loves nothing more than hosting friends for a meal. She is hoping to explore social work as a next step, as she is motivated by the practicality with which she can serve her community through providing basic support and resources.

Michael Arko Roy is a Junior at Gordon majoring in Business management and Marketing. Michael was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Almost 8000 miles away from home), brought up in a Christ-loving family. Severed in a youth ministry in Bangladesh for almost 6 years. He loves meeting new people and making new friends. Michael loves doing origami and is fluent in 3 different languages. Fun fact about Michael – he can read and write at the same time

Prophet Samuel Ackatia-Kwaidoo, affectionately called Prophet Sam by loved ones, is a gifted international student from Ghana who goes by the producer name Peechytunez. A versatile music producer, Peechytunez is passionate about creating unique sounds across sonics such as Afrobeats, Hip Hop, Lo-fi, Boom Bap, Dancehall, and Pop. 

Balancing his creative pursuits with academic excellence, Prophet Samuel serves as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Chemistry at Gordon College. This role reflects his dedication to both mentorship and his aspiration to become a surgeon and serve the body of Christ. Tune in to the Outcast Podcast to hear his inspiring story and how he bridges faith, music, and academics to impact lives. 

Samantha Amanda Tiningrow Kenney is a junior studying International Affairs. Being born and raised in Guam, she grew up in a bicultural household with her dad from Boston and her mom from the Federated States of Micronesia. She is on the Gordon women’s soccer team, the student athletic advisory council, and intern coordinator for the World Evangelical Alliance. Sam will be studying in the Balkans this spring as she is interested in peace, conflict, and reconciliation.

Jasmine Yoo is a junior at Gordon College, majoring in Marketing and Business Management and minoring in Communication Arts. She was born in South Korea, lived in Thailand for 10 years, and moved to the US when she was 13 years old. She loves meeting and connecting with new people. She also loves thrifting and getting coffee.

Graeme Bird was born in New Zealand, and as a young child also lived overseas with his family: a year in India, and then two more in England and Scotland, before returning to New Zealand for middle and high school. 

At Auckland University he studied Classics and Mathematics, then did some high school teaching before coming to Boston in 1981 to study music at the Berklee College of Music. While there he met his wife Joni, who was also studying music at the Boston Conservatory. 

Subsequently he got back into Linguistics and Classics, getting his MA and PhD at Harvard University. He came to Gordon College in 1999 and has been teaching here ever since, mainly Linguistics and English courses. He also loves to play piano with Gordon’s jazz band. 

Johnny Paul-Faina is a student at gordon college studying english and art. He's a third culture kid and pastor's kid born in the United States and serving in Romania. He loves learning more about the Lord's goodness through poetry and oil painting, and feels God's joy through singing jazz and worshipping. Johnny has been a co-host on Outcast Podcast this past year, seeking to provide other international and multi-cultural people with a voice that will resound on a Global Scale.

Ivyanna Carr, more commonly known as Ivy, was born in Fort Libtery, formerly known as Fort Bragg, North Carolina; however, she is a military kid so she did not stay there for long. Her family is now stationed in Sacramento, California. Throughout her time at Gordon she has participated in various extracurriculars. She is happy with the different experiences she has had during her undergraduate years and looks forward to continuing her education at Simmons University to obtain her Master's in library science. In her free time, Ivy loves reading, cooking, exploring new places, and spending time with her loved ones.

Richmond Obeng, a diligent and accomplished junior at Gordon College, is a native of Ghana, West Africa. He grew up in Tema, a town in Accra, where he was nurtured in a devout Christian household alongside two siblings. Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in pre-law, Richmond exemplifies a harmonious blend of technical expertise and legal insight.

Richmond’s journey towards academic excellence began at the prestigious Presbyterian Boys Secondary School in Legon, Ghana, where he distinguished himself as both Headboy and student body president, demonstrating exceptional leadership and organizational skills.

Outside the realm of academia, Richmond finds fulfillment in his passion for coding, which he sees not only as a technical skill but also as a means of creative expression. He also nurtures a love for literature, avidly devouring books to broaden his intellectual horizons, and finds solace in the melodic tapestry of music.

Gelu Paul was born into a small Evangelical family in Oradea, in Communist Romania. Early on in his life, he experienced hostility from professors due to his faith. Because of his involvment in evangelism, he was also under constant surveillance and threatened by the secret police. Between 1982 and 1990, in partnership with Campus Crusade for Christ, Gelu developed an underground disciple making movement that reached out to hundreds of college students with the Gospel in Timisoara and throughout Romania.

In 1991, Gelu attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Theology and Ministry. Upon his return to Romania, Gelu and a team of 31 leaders planted Vox Domini, one of the first multi-site Evangelical churches in Romania.

In 2021 Gelu with his evangelical leadership team launched the Romanian Leadership Forum where currently he serves as the National Coordinator.

Michel Bayarjargal is a senior graduating with a degree in