Colleges & Seminaries

Colleges & Seminaries highlights the schools and training programs that prepare leaders for lifelong service in the church. Explore articles on Christian higher education, ministry formation, theological training, campus life, and the work of colleges and seminaries connected to churches and the Restoration Movement. You’ll find news, profiles, interviews, and updates about programs, initiatives, and events—along with stories that inform and encourage students, faculty, alumni, and church leaders. This hub helps readers stay connected to the people and institutions shaping future ministry.

May 30, 2014

Christian Standard

Tracy Appointed President of Cincinnati Christian

The Board of Trustees of Cincinnati Christian University in May announced the appointment of Ken Tracy as the institution”s eighth president. Tracy had been serving as interim president since February. He succeeds David Faust, who announced his resignation on Nov. 1, 2013, after 12 years of service. A 1988 graduate of CCU, Tracy has 27 years of financial and executive leadership experience and is currently president of TaleMed, a national healthcare provider. Tracy has remained involved at CCU as a volunteer on the President”s Advisory Board and by serving as the part-time men”s basketball coach. He is an ordained minister.

May 3, 2014

Christian Standard

KCU Begins Offering Appalachia Scholarship

By Jennifer Johnson “Kentucky Christian University is located in one of the most economically challenged areas of the country,” says KCU President Dr. Jeff Metcalf. “Many of our local high school students feel they could not even afford to consider us as an option for college.” In response, KCU recently created its Lead & Enhance Appalachia Program, or LEAP, and a new full-tuition scholarship program for eligible incoming freshmen. To qualify, high school seniors must demonstrate financial need, academic competence, and must be residents of Kentucky. “LEAP is designed to meet the needs of the neediest, the academically capable and

February 3, 2014

Christian Standard

Interview with Mike Kilgallin

By Paul Boatman Mike Kilgallin was called to the presidency of Crossroads College (formerly Minnesota Bible College) in 2008. He has previously served as a professor and preaching minister, and as a vice president working in commercial construction, banking, and church finance. He and his wife, Debbie, live near Rochester, Minnesota.   I understand Crossroads College is in a crisis. That is fair to say. Our crisis is much like that of other Bible colleges, though perhaps more intense. It is financially driven. Let me give you some personal background. I”ve been associated with Bible colleges since 1975 when my

December 26, 2013

Christian Standard

A Conversation with Phyllis Fox

Meet Our Contributing Editors: This month we talk with Phyllis Fox, director of church relations and Youth in Ministry at Milligan College in Tennessee, about young leaders, broken kids, and the future of the church. Interview by Jennifer Johnson You wear a couple of hats””let”s start with your role in church relations at Milligan. Church relations is an opportunity for us to be in touch with the churches that support the mission of the college. The money these churches give totally supports student scholarships, so my role is enhancing those relationships, and even more importantly, to serve those churches in significant

November 24, 2013

Christian Standard

Interview with Gonzalo Flores

By Paul Boatman Gonzalo Flores is president of Colegio Biblico, a college located on the Mexican border in Eagle Pass, Texas. The school has provided Hispanic ministry education for nearly 70 years. x Gonzalo, what led you to your life of international ministry? I am a product of mission work. I was rescued by Niños de Mexico when I was about 7 years old. I came from a very broken family. My father was an alcoholic, and my mother was in prostitution. There were 10 of us in the family. My oldest brother met Merlin Beeman from Niños. We were

November 7, 2013

Christian Standard

Two Christian College Presidents Announce Resignations

By Jennifer Johnson Two Christian college presidents have announced their resignations: Dr. Keith H. Ray from Lincoln (IL) Christian University and Dr. David Faust from Cincinnati (OH) Christian University. Ray began his administrative career in higher education as dean of students at Dallas Christian College in 1990 and later served as DCC”s president for four years. He began his presidency at LCU in 1998 and will end his service with the school in May. Ray will be moving to St. Louis to work with Christian Homes Inc. in leadership development and external relations. In a letter to the LCU community,

October 16, 2013

Christian Standard

Oakes Steps Down as President of Central Christian College of the Bible

Central Christian College of the Bible (Moberly, MO) announced Oct. 8 that Dr. Ronald Oakes had resigned as the school’s president in a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors Oct. 4. According to the school’s website, board chairman Gene McCoy met with college staff Oct. 7 and said, “We have commended Dr. Oakes for his faithful service and dedication to a responsibility he did not seek in 2005, when we, upon faculty recommendations and with the assistance of faculty representatives on the presidential search team, asked him to serve the college as its president. We are grateful to Dr.

September 2, 2013

Christian Standard

A Conversation with Matt Proctor

Meet Our Contributing Editors: This month we talk with Ozark Christian College President Matt Proctor about the impact of a convention theme, the health of the churches in our fellowship, and the genius of the Restoration Movement. Interview By Jennifer Johnson Well, two big things have been part of your life this past year: the North American Christian Convention and your wife”s cancer. Of course, that”s in addition to your work leading Ozark Christian College. I want to talk about all of it””let”s start with the NACC. What have you discovered about our churches this past year? It”s been an honor to

August 1, 2013

Christian Standard

Point University Pursuing Merger with Montreat College

On Monday, July 29, Point University (West Point, GA) and Montreat College (Montreat, NC) announced the two institutions are pursuing a merger. According to a statement at www.pointmontreat.com, “Earlier this year, in a fortuitous meeting, representatives of Point University and Montreat College began discussions about ways the two schools could work together to improve on their current delivery of quality, Christian higher education. As the relationship has grown, they have discovered that their missions are very much the same. They are both committed to equipping college students to transform the world for the Kingdom of God.” The schools continue to work out details, but did confirm that

July 3, 2013

Christian Standard

Johnson University Merges with Florida Christian College

On Monday, Johnson University (Knoxville, TN) and Florida Christian College (Kissimmee, FL) officially merged and became part of the newly established Johnson University System. Florida Christian College is now Johnson University Florida. “This merger will advance the Florida campus by as much as half a century, which is the time it would have otherwise taken to build the degree options and opportunities that Johnson University has in place today,” said Kenny Funk, who served as most recent chairman of the former Florida Christian College Board of Trustees. “Within a few years, Johnson University Florida will have the expanded bachelor”s degree

July 1, 2013

Christian Standard

Students Need Practical Skills Along with Big Ideas

By Jennifer Johnson Higher education is not known for its pragmatism. For every course in biology basics there”s another in “The Science of Superheroes” (University of California, Irvine). For every Spanish 101 there”s “Invented Languages: Klingon and Beyond” (University of Texas at Austin). For every fundamentals of accounting, there”s “Street-Fighting Mathematics” (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). And that”s OK. As the cliché goes, part of being educated is “learning how to learn.” There”s value in interacting with ideas simply for the sake of enrichment, even without any immediate vocational payoff. But Dave Miller at Nebraska Christian College also makes a good

June 30, 2013

Christian Standard

An Honors Program Focusing on Leadership and Community Service

By Jennifer Johnson “There”s a lot of discussion about the cost of investing in a college education,” says Dave Miller, vice president of advancement at Nebraska Christian College. “We want to talk about what the college is investing in the student.” At NCC in Papillion, NE, part of the investment is The Institute, a new program that rolled out in January and launches officially this fall. “The Institute is like an honors program, but focused on leadership potential and community service,” Miller says. Students must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average to participate, but academic aptitude is just

June 23, 2013

Christian Standard

Interview with Paul Blowers

By Paul Boatman Paul Blowers is in his 24th year as Dean E. Walker Professor of Church History at Emmanuel Christian Seminary, Johnson City, Tennessee. He chairs the committee of faculty chairpersons overseeing faculty advancement, tenure, and other handbook issues.   Why teach church history in a seminary? Church history as taught in a seminary is definitely a theological discipline. My aim is to help students interpret their own faith and ministry in light of the historical Christian faith, as tempered by the refiner”s fire of history.   Can you put that in context of this point in history and

March 21, 2013

Christian Standard

Scholar Professors and Our Schools: Thoughts for the Future

By William R. Baker Higher education in the colleges, universities, and seminaries supported by Christian churches has come to a critical juncture. Efforts to improve service to the church and students have led to hiring highly qualified professors with terminal degrees in their fields (PhD, ThD, DMin). This corps of bright, young scholars feels a personal responsibility not only to become excellent teachers but also to address the larger academy in their fields of expertise. This is not for ego or fame, but is just recognized as part of what God has called them to do. They have the talent

March 18, 2013

Christian Standard

An Angel Sent to China

By Gary Weedman In the summer of 1999, Mary Lou Martin, a Johnson alumna, veteran elementary school teacher, and wife of Professor Bob Martin, led a group of 10 students to China to teach in the English Language Institute of China (ELIC). Little could that intrepid band know what would ensue from their pioneering work. The following year Martin and nine students returned to China, this time to the city of Zhengzhou, Henan Province. This former ancient capital, one of 13 emerging megacities in China, has a population of 8.6 million. These Americans worked with Zhengzhou No. 47 Middle and

March 17, 2013

Christian Standard

A Global Partnership

By Keith Keeran Commonwealth International University was conceived in 1992 as a partnership between Kentucky Christian University and Crimean College in Simferopol, Ukraine. Under the leadership of its current president, Dr. Georges P. Carillet, and its original founder, Dr. Keith P. Keeran, CIU continues to serve the purposes of God for the benefit of the Ukrainian people and other least-reached and underserved people groups throughout the world. Since the beginning, CIU has been faithful to its mission to educate students for meaningful careers while introducing them to the fundamentals of the Christian faith, equipping them to be servant-leaders in the

March 16, 2013

Christian Standard

A China Institute in the Midwest

By Gordon D. Venturella Lincoln, Illinois, is both culturally and geographically distant from China”s megacities. But Lincoln Christian University”s historic commitment to global mission connects these disparate parts of the world. LCU currently has alumni in more than 160 countries, so it came naturally for LCU President Keith H. Ray to think missionally about the world”s largest country.   The Introduction The China Institute story began when LCU alumnus (and former U.S. Representative from New Mexico) Bill Redmond introduced Ray to Jian Zhu, executive director of the American China Civic Exchange (ACCE). The three began to dream about how to

March 15, 2013

Christian Standard

A Decades-Long Korean Connection

By John Derry When 100 international students arrive on a small college campus, it can present an interesting challenge as well as a wonderful opportunity. That”s what happens each fall at Hope International University (HIU) when we welcome study abroad students from Dongseo University (DSU), one of the top 10 universities in Korea. The students are accompanied by two visiting professors and study at HIU for two semesters. More than 500 students apply, and 100 are selected by DSU to attend the English as a Second Language program and experience living in the United States. The students are fully engaged

March 11, 2013

Christian Standard

Semester in Ministry””a Unique Partnership

By Ethan Magness What is required to train the next generation of leaders for the church? How can you make a difference? Whom will you disciple for leadership? These are questions that drive the Semester in Ministry program partnership between Tennessee”s Milligan College and Mountain Christian Church in Joppa, Maryland. Here is what we have seen: “¢ A college sophomore preaches for the very first time to 100 squirming middle school students. She is nervous but she is ready. She has practiced a half-dozen times on her own and twice in front of a team of staff who gave her

March 10, 2013

Christian Standard

The Impact of Our Internships

By Bill Baumgardner “I have to do an internship?” “It is not that you must do an internship,” I say to the student before me. “You get to do an internship.” This is typical of many conversations I have at Cincinnati Christian University. As the director of service learning, I help students with their supervised internship for college credit. The internships are supervised because we feel there is a great value when a student works alongside someone who is in his or her field of study. This is why we match up students studying for the preaching ministry with preaching

Help Keep Christian Standard Free & Accessible with a Tax Deductible Donation

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Does Your Church Want to Support Christian Standard?

Would your church consider including support for Christian Standard in its annual missions budget? Your support would help us not only continue the 160-year legacy of this unifying ministry, but also expand the free resources, cooperative opportunities, and practical guidance we provide to strengthen churches in the U.S. and around the world.

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Secret Link