Center for Continuous Learning

Minister Matthew Rivera was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. He is the first in his family to earn a college degree, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Trinity College. Matthew is the Executive Director of The Dream Support Network, a full service organization whose mission is to inspire, educate, and support youth and young adults in their pursuit of living out the life of their dreams. To do such work, The Dream Support Network provides extensive programming and workshops, experiential learning opportunities, and full-day retreats. Matthew Rivera serves as national coordinator for Healing & Transforming Communities. In this role, he partners with churches, leaders, and organizations to strengthen justice-centered ministries and build systems that amplify impact. He also facilitates ABHMS’ Justice Dialogues, coordinates emergency response efforts, and helps cultivate emerging faith leaders through initiatives like the Summer Passionary Institute. He holds a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Trinity College.

Sabina Pappu is her parents' favorite (and only!) daughter and the sister to three incredible brothers. She grew up in North India under parents who are church planters and missionaries. In 2014, Sabina moved away from her home in India and started her academic journey in the US. She's lived in Spokane, WA; Chicago, IL; Fort Worth, TX; and now lives in Atlanta, GA. She graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master's in Christian Leadership, carrying a deep passion for the health and well-being of Christian leaders. Her journey began at 16, when she felt a burden to support leaders as they navigated the challenges of ministry. In 2020, as reports surfaced of Christian leaders stepping away from ministry, Sabina felt compelled to delve deeper into leadership formation and human development. Before her time at Dallas Seminary, Sabina earned a B.A. in Counseling from Moody Bible Institute, where she cultivated a profound love for understanding the human story. She firmly believes that God, as the Creator of humanity, speaks into our struggles, yet many are hindered from seeking Him by misconceptions about His character. This conviction led to the vision of Se.cure, an NPO rooted in the belief that the next generation of Christian leaders must be secure in God’s character, allowing Jesus to reveal all the parts of their lives that need healing. She believes that a leader who is rooted in their relationship with Jesus and receiving healing in their story is then freed to lead from it to tell the world about Emmanuel, God with us. During the week, you will find Sabina working as the Operations Analyst at Passion Inc., being committed to her weekly workouts, singing and leading worship at church, and making sure all her friends have eaten real meals that day. She loves making videos on Instagram and sharing her journey towards becoming everything God has intended for her.

Shreya Ramachandran recently graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Master of Theological Studies and a specialization in History and Ecumenics. Her passion is for public scholarship, which bridges the gap between the church and the academy, which closely aligns with the work at the Center for Continuous Learning. Shreya was born in India and moved to the United States when she was 2 years old, but she considers herself a second-generation Indian American. In her downtime, she enjoys making lattes, pottery, and trying new restaurants with her husband, Akshay.