Billy Graham Scholars are a perfect example of Wheaton's motto, "For Christ and His Kingdom". To date, 1175 Billy Graham Scholar alumni implement the tools and training gained from their Wheaton education serving Christ in approximately 115 countries around the world.
Europe and the Middle East
Bethanie Clopton '23
France
Bethanie has short-term missions experience in New Mexico and Haiti and longer-term experience in France working with young adults to spread the gospel. She sees herself teaching, reaching, and showing hospitality in France long-term.
M.C. '23
Lebanon
M. trusts that this degree will equip her for greater impact in the lives of the marginalized, especially through trauma counseling. M. has used her nursing training to facilitate mobile clinics and pioneer a nursing training program for Syrian refugees. She also serves as team leader, intercessor, disciple-maker, church-planter, and trauma counselor. M. is married with three children.
Nicholas (Nick) Meriwether '23
Eastern Europe
Nick is on the path toward Bible translation and church planting with Pioneer Bible Translators. He is inspired by the thought that Bible translation projects may be started in every language during his lifetime. Nick and his wife Olivia are in the support-raising stage of deployment.
Theodosius Karvounakis ’18
Greece
"The scholarship is a true blessing! June 1, 2022, I assume my new post as the principal (general director) of the Greek Bible College. I continue serving at the First Greek Evangelical Church in Athens, but no longer officially as its associate pastor. I am also studying part time for a PhD in theology via distant learning at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Union School of Theology in Wales."
W. Lovell ’09
Eastern Europe
“I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to study at Wheaton Graduate School through the BGC Scholarship Program. One of the things I valued most was being able to complete my studies in such a way that it did not take me away from ministry for unreasonable amounts of time.
Since receiving my degree, God has continued to develop me into the person he created me to be. I’ve gained new confidence as I partner with my husband to disciple new believers with whom God continues to bless us. I’ve also acquired new skill sets as I’ve organized a variety of evangelistic outreaches for women from M-background countries. For me it’s been a joy to observe God unfolding a beautiful picture in the area of women’s ministry including new partnerships that address women’s needs like crisis pregnancies and trafficking.
My Wheaton TESOL/Intercultural Studies M.A. has equipped me to serve the needs of Central Asian migrant workers. I can better assess the needs of individual students and prepare lessons for tutoring sessions or larger group classes. I’m also able to analyze and evaluate cross-cultural dynamics as I encounter a variety of situations in international ministry. In short, the concepts and ideas that I’ve been exposed to through Wheaton’s excellent educational program have become an integral part of how I do ministry.”
Myrto Theocharous ’07
Greece
Myrto writes, "being a Billy Graham Center Scholar was a wonderful gift and significant milestone in my biblical studies education. Completing a Master's in Biblical Exegesis in 2007 opened the door to an amazing world of research and learning that I could not have imagined possible otherwise. I was not only blessed to have had great professors but I have also been blessed with many good friendships which I hold to this day. My Wheaton education was a great preparation for continuing on to my doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge in the area of the Old Testament. In 2010, upon completion of my Ph.D., I returned to Athens to teach at the Greek Bible College in the area of Hebrew and Old Testament, resumed ministry in the Greek church and in anti-trafficking work. This work inspired me to write theologically about the critical global issues of human trafficking. My teaching, speaking and writing for the church in Greece and worldwide has Scripture as its starting point and a beating heart for the current problems of our suffering world."
Feliks Voloshin ’09
Russia
"I am so happy that I know Wheaton and spent time there. I'm so thankful for the Billy Graham Scholarship that made it possible. Studying and visiting modern churches with Wheaton professors and groups of students helped me gain contemporary tools for evangelism and church planting. This brought me to fresh thoughts and understanding of Russian Christianity which I shared with my whole team of leaders at my church. Since that time, we are using your approach for ministry here in Russia. I was ordained to a pastoral ministry in our Bridge Moscow Baptist Church. So now I will implement all that I learned from Wheaton in all our projects and structures. I hope you will hear good news about us in the future!"