Discipleship Ministries Staff Members

Eric Larson

B.A., Moody Bible Institute, 2015
M.A., Moody Theological Seminary, 2017
M.Div., Trinity Anglican Seminary, 2021

Eric grew up as a missionary kid in a diverse suburb of Paris, France, where his parents worked with immigrants and refugees. He cherishes his early years growing up in a diverse context as a 'third culture kid', and has been blessed to live, study, and minister in many contexts around the globe, experiencing the beauty of Jesus through various perspective in God’s global family.

Eric is committed to supporting all students in their pursuit of Christ-likeness. Having been deeply formed in the Great Tradition, he hopes to lead students deeper into the riches of this living tradition through the spiritual disciplines, holistic formation, hospitality, ecclesial rootedness, and striving for justice for the disenfranchised. In his leadership of the Faith and Sexuality Initiative, Eric loves planning campus events and leading small groups for students navigating sexual identity and/or gender identity under the Lordship of Christ, in partnership with Refuge.

Eric is married to Liz, and together they are raising three young kiddos. He loves reading, sharing a meal or cup of coffee, traveling, exploring nature and cities, and spending time with family. Eric holds degrees in Applied Linguistics (B.A., Moody Bible Institute, 2015), Biblical and Theological Studies (M.A., Moody Theological Seminary, 2017), and Divinity (M.Div., Trinity School for Ministry, 2021). You may contact him at eric.larson.01@wheaton.edu.

Erin Christner

B.A., Wheaton College, 2011
M.A., Wheaton College, 2013

Originally from southern Wisconsin, Erin earned both her undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in Christian Formation and Ministry from Wheaton College. After graduate school, she spent several years working in higher education, including at Wheaton and as a resident director at John Brown University. She loved her time in northwest Arkansas, but the upper Midwest always felt like home.

Upon returning to Wheaton, Erin began working at a local church, where her passion for spiritual formation and developing leaders continued to grow. She especially loves walking alongside others as they discover their God-given gifts and encouraging them to use those gifts to serve others and invest in God’s Kingdom. She finds deep joy in helping others grow in their faith and step confidently into the ways God is calling them to serve.

Now, Erin is excited to return to Wheaton College, bringing together her experiences in higher education and church ministry. She is grateful for the opportunity to continue investing in others and walking alongside students in faith.

Outside of work, she loves spending quality time with her husband and their three elementary-age children, reading, exploring new cities, and sharing meaningful conversations over a good meal or a cup of coffee.

Sydney Faulkner

B.A., Wheaton College, 2026
M.A., Wheaton College, anticipated 2028

Sydney is excited to be back at Wheaton to begin her first year in the Higher Education and Student Development program! She just graduated in spring of 2026 with a degree in Elementary Education, and she realized as she was student teaching that God was not finished with her time at Wheaton. Sydney will be the graduate assistant for Female DSG this year.

Sydney grew up in the Northern Kentucky, Greater Cincinnati area attending a small Christian school. This is where she gave her life to Christ and developed her faith. After touring Wheaton in January of her senior year of high school, she knew that this is where God wanted her to be!

Sydney loves playing piano, singing, and playing volleyball (so reach out if you need another person for your intramural team!) She also has a very serious goal of watching every single Disney Channel Original Movie before she leaves Wheaton!

Jonathan Just

B.A., University of Cape Town, 2013
M.A., Wheaton College, anticipated 2027

Having been transformed by the power of cross-cultural Kingdom community while doing his undergrad at the University of Cape Town, it’s now what Jonathan loves to see wherever he goes. Born and raised in the heart of South Africa, it was soon after he gave his life to Jesus that the Lord brought Chicago onto his radar. Through many divine connections with so many different Wheaton people at various stages along the way, they were each signposts of confirmation for where the Lord was still calling him to go. Now, after about 18 years, he is experiencing the fulfillment of that promise!

Jonathan is passionate about the Word and opening that up with young people who are hungry to know God more. There’s nothing more beautiful than how the Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ as we remain rooted in the Word. He has the great joy of experiencing this with Discipleship Ministries as an overseer for male Discipleship Small Groups (DSGs).

Jonathan also enjoys playing squash (the sport, not the vegetable) and going on adventures with good friends outdoors. He’s not too sure how the ‘outdoors’ part is going to look like in winter, so please pray for him!