Our People

We are led by a team of people from different backgrounds and church traditions, united by a common purpose: to equip Christian leaders for Christ-like ministry in today’s world.

This team helps to organise, develop, and deliver The Shepherd’s Academy programme in collaboration with many partners across the world.

Dr Taimaya Ragui

Deputy Head of The Shepherd’s Academy and Academic Lead
taimaya.ragui@ocrpl.org

Taimaya Ragui oversees the design and development of the Christian Theology and Ethics cluster, as well as quality assurance and tutor training. He has a PhD in theology from South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (Bangalore). His research focuses on interfacing theological interpretation of Scripture and contextual theology (i.e. tribal theology).

Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5797-3925

Adeboye Godwin

Africa Regional Coordinator
adeboye.godwin@ocrpl.org

Adeboye Godwin is the Regional Coordinator for Africa. He is involved in promoting the TSA programme and courses, alongside providing support and guidance for TSA study centres in Africa.

He has been involved in theological education and pastoral leadership in Africa since 2013. He is passionate about impacting the African Church through providing sound theological formation and education which is relevant and sensitive to the African context.

Adeboye Godwin holds both a first class honours degree and a Masters degree in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Most recently he has completed a Masters degree in Islamic Studies from the Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life (OCRPL) (UK) in collaboration with the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is currently a doctoral student with OCPRL.

As a theologian and researcher, he has contributed more than 10 academic papers which are published in reputable national and international journals.

Josh Ludlow

Academic Research Coordinator
joshua.ludlow@ocrpl.org

Josh assists in coordinating all operations of The Shepherd’s Academy. Graduating from Cardiff University with a BA in Religious and Theological Studies, he has gone on to study an MTh at the University of Oxford alongside other academic and ministerial engagements in the UK.

Lois Funmilola

Regional Administrator and Student Support Coordinator

Lois Funmilola holds extensive experience as an Academic Librarian and Student Development Support Officer across theological institutions in Nigeria. Lois was involved in mentoring students and providing academic support at various levels. She studied at the Federal University of Technology, Nigeria, both for her Bachelors and Master’s degrees. As well as her extensive training in academic development, Lois has published papers on students’ academic needs and mentorship.

Vadivel Victor

Research Tutor
vadivel.victor@ocrpl.org

Vadivel Victor coordinates the development and delivery of courses within the Bible, Culture and Context cluster.

He has been a theological educator since 1996. As a teenager, he underwent two years of evangelistic training with Operation Mobilization India. With his Graduate degree in Sociology from Madras University, he pursued theological education and earned his B.D. and M.Th. (NT) degrees from Serampore University. Later, he earned a Post-graduate degree in Philosophy and Religions.

He has experience in teaching in the department of biblical studies for more than a decade, heading up research activities and development of a training program for youth in Christian apologetics, and coordinating activities of academic as well as devotional publications.

John Jebaraj

Research Tutor & Tamil Translation Coordinator
john.jebaraj@ocrpl.org

John Jebaraj coordinates the Tamil work of The Shepherd’s Academy, handling the translation and delivery of the Tamil programme.

He holds master's degrees in Religion & Philosophy and Journalism & Mass Communication and also BD from Union Biblical Seminary, Pune under the Senate of Serampore College.

For over 2 decades, he was actively involved in developing new leaders to impact the Church and society. He served as the editor of an evangelical national magazine. He was instrumental in establishing and leading a publishing house, raising native writers, authors, and international partnerships as well. He strengthened the grassroots ministry among the university students in the Eastern states of India. He continues to equip leaders, in the art of studying & teaching the Scripture. He has contributed articles to national and international magazines on mentoring, publishing, and contemporary witnessing.

Godfrey Paruthivilai Sundararaj

Digital Learning Developer and Learning Management Coordinator
godfrey.paruthivilai@ocrpl.org

Godfrey coordinates and administers the Learning Management system and is involved in online course design at TSA.

He comes with experience in pastoral ministry at Maharashtra Baptist Society, Mumbai, India and online theological education at SAIACS, Bangalore, India. He holds degrees in several disciplines that include Bachelor in Theology, BA in History, M.Div (Theology), MA in Philosophy, Religion and Culture and M.Phil in Theology and Ethics. His research interests include Christian Apologetics, Contextual Theology and Philosophical Theology.

Silas Prabhu

Digital Learning Developer and Learning Management Administrator

After obtaining his Diploma in Theology at Mission India Institute, Silas worked as the Media Manager and System Administrator for New Life Fellowship Church in Bangalore for 16 years. He has been working as a System Administrator and IT Consultant at the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies over recent years. He is now pursuing his MDiv in Biblical Studies at the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies in Bangalore.

Dr. Justin Moses

Registrar

Justin is an accomplished scholar specialising in the study of religions, particularly Hinduism, with a focus on their intersection with politics. As well as holding previous teaching roles across India and notably as an Associate Professor in the North India Institute of Post Graduate Theological Studies, Serampore, Justin has written extensively on inter-faith dialogue and social justice within Christian theology.

Gavin Mitchell

Southern Africa Coordinator

Gavin coordinates TSA’s operations in Southern Africa and is involved in accrediting TSA courses within the South African Qualifications Framework. Based in Stellenbosch, he has a BSc from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Diploma in Theology from St. Paul’s College. Gavin also served for 27 years in parish ministry in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life: Academic Council

Cor Episcopos Dr Patrick Sookhdeo

OCRPL Executive Director

Dr Prasad D R J Phillips

OCRPL Deputy Executive Director

Rev. Prof. Daniel Jeyarej

OCRPL Academic Dean

Daniel Thejus

OCRPL Research Tutor

Canon Dr. Chris Sugden

OCRPL PhD Programme Leader

Dr. Anna Bekele

OCRPL MTh Programme Leader

Dr. Wenjuan Zhao

OCRPL Chinese Programme Leader