Doctor of Ministry, 2021
Rev. Dr. Hakizimana “Appolo” Appolinaire
Rev. Dr. Hakizimana “Appolo” Appolinaire is BST’s 2024-25 Alum of the Year! Dr. Appolinaire serves as a Country Director of Scripture Union Rwanda, and Pastor in the Anglican Church of Rwanda, Diocese of Karongi. From 2019- 2020, he served as Professional Chaplain, in University of California, San Francisco’s hospital. From 2019- 2022, he was a deputy Regal Representative of the Anglican Church, Gahini Diocese. From 2003 – 2010, Dr. Appolinaire served as Executive Secretary of World mission frontiers in Tanzania, Africa, and as a Pastor of Rukara Parish in the Anglican Church from (2000 – 2003). He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Berkeley School of Theology, two Masters’ degrees, one from Wyclif University, and the other from Berkeley School of Theology, and a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Tanga, Tanzania. Appolinaire is married to Mukarwego Esperance, with three sons. He received vision to build East Africa Community Healing when he was working in the UCSF hospital where he was working as a professional Chaplain, after understanding how much people are suffering in the hospital physical, mental, and spiritual disease. He wishes to see no one suffering alone, He hopes that through the Community Healing Center project, people will learn how to support each other during someone’s suffering.
Don Jordan
Don Jordan who received a Master of Community Leadership degree at Commencement 2023! Don was a student at BST when it was still Berkeley Baptist Divinity School in the 1960s but transferred before completing his MDiv degree. Following graduation from San Francisco State, he had a long career that included decades leading a multi-state region of the United Way. After a recent review of his transcript, he was determined to have more than enough credits for the MCL degree. Well done, Don! BST is proud of your academic achievements and your faithful leadership in the community.
Sylvia Lane
We are delighted to share wonderful news that Rev. Sylvia Lane, formerly Britt, (M.Div. ’25), has had an incredibly exciting season both professionally and personally. Sylvia has launched into a thriving ministry career, starting her new full-time position on September 8, 2025, as a Palliative Care Chaplain with Kaiser, and also serving as a Per Diem Chaplain with Sutter Hospitals, in addition to her volunteer role with the SFPD. We are also sending our heartfelt congratulations to Sylvia and her spouse, Londi, on their recent marriage on October 4, 2025! We celebrate both her dedication to compassionate care and this beautiful new chapter in her
Rev. Dr. Randle (Rick) Mixon
On August 1, 2023, Rev. Dr. Mixon started as Interim Senior Minister of Old Cambridge Baptist Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Rev. Dr. Mixon is an ordained American Baptist minister with over 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry, church leadership, and social justice advocacy. He has been involved in various regional and national organizations. These include the Alliance of Baptists, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, and the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America. Rev. Dr. Mixon also holds a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University and a Doctorate in Religion and Psychology from Graduate Theological Union.
Rev. Hkun Naung
Rev. Naung graduated from BST with his Master of Divinity, was ordained in 2024, and is Pastor of the Washington Kachin Baptist Church which meets at Panther Lake Community Church in Kent, Washington. On December 29, 2024, Rev. Naung performed his first baptisms. Initially, the baptism candidates were a group of youths from Washington Kachin Baptist Church, and grew to include members of the Karen Community Church of Greater Seattle. The December 29 service included 12 baptisms performed by the three pastors, special music, scripture readings in English, Karen, and Kachin, a sermon, communion, and a celebratory lunch. The full story can be read in the latest edition of Evergreen Notes. Rev. Naung asks people to pray for the Kachin people, who suffer in great danger in a civil war.
Master of Community Leadership, 2019
Chaplain Kwee T.L. Say
On September 6, 2023, Chaplain Say was promoted to Lieutenant in the United States Navy. Chaplain Say is currently serving as a Command Chaplain aboard the USS ROSS (DDG 71). She joined the U.S. Navy in 2018 as a non-active reservist and started her active duty in the Navy in October 2022. She was awarded two Masters’ degrees in 2019 from Berkeley School of Theology, in Divinity and Community Leadership. Chaplain Say came to America in 2004 from Burma (Myanmar) and is the very first Burmese Karen, her ethnic group from Burma, to become a Chaplain in the United States Navy. She is honored to serve with the finest Sailors the nation has to offer aboard Navy Destroyer USS ROSS, her God, and country.
