Organizations &amp; Events

College: It”s Different These Days

By Steve Richardson Chair of the Biblical Studies Department, and Associate Professor, Pacific Christian College of Ministry & Biblical Studies at Hope International University, Fullerton, California These observations are anecdotal and generalized. They are not the result of research but impressions shared by several faculty members who have taught more than 20 years at Hope International University in Fullerton, California. Many students vary from these generalities, of course. On the whole, today”s students are different in significant ways from their counterparts 10 to 15 years ago, and this presents challenges to teaching staff. Some of the statements may seem critical

August 10, 2014

What Every College Kid Needs

By Mike Kerrick From a campus minister, ideas for the students in your life. What do you give someone who is going off to college? A new laptop computer? A phone/data upgrade? A devotional book on keeping faith at college, with a nice note inside: “Praying for you every day”? These are all good ideas, especially because they point to the thing needed most in college: healthy relationships. From my experience ministering to college students, let me tell you what I mean. Healthy Relationships Begin with God According to the Barna group*, up to 61 percent of Christian students

August 8, 2014

From College-Bound to “˜I GO Bound”

By T.R. Robertson “Behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city” (Acts 20:22, 23, King James Version). Corey Courtwright is a country boy at heart. He grew up with a love of fishing and farming, like most of his fellow college of agriculture students. Now he makes his living constructing integrated fish farming systems and training people from all over the world how to use aquaculture and agriculture technology to develop sustainable farms. It”s the sort of education-to-career path most parents

July 1, 2014

Mark A. Taylor

God”s Work””and Ours

By Mark A. Taylor Several facts are clear as we look at reports from colleges and campus ministries in this issue: “¢ These are tough times for Christian colleges. As more than one writer mentions, a perfect storm of difficult situations has caused much navel-gazing and budget cutting among college administrators everywhere. Small secular colleges are facing many of the same pressures, and this is some consolation, but not enough. If the economic or cultural climate is jeopardizing the future of public colleges, why should we believe it won”t threaten “ours” as well? “¢ But despite the threats, God is

May 30, 2014

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

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

April 3, 2014

Conferences & Gatherings Organizations & Events

New Conference for Associate Ministers

By Jennifer Johnson There are conferences for senior pastors, executive pastors, youth ministers, worship pastors, and even administrative assistants. Now Tim Anderson, associate director at CrossRoads Missions (Louisville, KY), is creating a conference for associate ministers. “I”ve been an associate minister for 26 years, in three churches””everything from the small church where I had a hand in everything to a large megachurch where I had more focused responsibilities,” he says. “It”s a unique role with unique challenges, and I wanted to do something that could help this group.” He “pitched” the idea to Bob Russell more than a year ago

February 3, 2014

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

A Conversation with Phyllis Fox

Meet Our Contributing Editors:Â 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

December 12, 2013

Church Development Fund Announces Presidential Transition

IRVINE, California ““ Provision Ministry Group CEO Larry Winger, along with the PMG and Church Development Fund boards, announced today a transition in the presidency of CDF from Brad Dupray to Dusty Rubeck. The news follows several months of reassessment related to the ministry”s current status and needs, which resulted in the identification of a directional shift in the essential leadership qualities needed for future growth. “Brad Dupray stepped in at a critical moment in the history of CDF to assume the role of president and provide much-needed stability during the worst economic recession we have experienced in years,” said

December 9, 2013

Conferences & Gatherings Organizations & Events

ICOM Calls Christians Everywhere to Glorify God Globally

By Doug Lucas It was a global gathering with a distinctly Latino flavor. From the free chips and salsa in the exhibit hall to the mariachi band on the main platform, the International Conference on Missions (ICOM) reminded us of opportunities among Spanish-speaking friends in our country and all over the world. Much of this was due to the influence of 2013 President Jair Castillo who extended his life of influence in Mexico to ICOM. But the convention”s impact extended far beyond the Americas. Meeting November 14-17, 2013, at the Kansas City Convention Center, ICOM hosted church leaders, missions advocates,

November 24, 2013

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 NiÃ±os 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 NiÃ±os. We were

November 7, 2013

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

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.

October 4, 2013

CIY”s ‘Sons and Daughters’ Focuses on Fatherlessness

By Jennifer Johnson Christ In Youth exists to “amplify Christ”s call,” challenging students to live their faith boldly. So why is this ministry making movies? Over the last several years, CIY has made short films about the AIDS crisis in Africa, sex trafficking in Cambodia, and the need for fresh water in Zambia. Love Costs Everything featured persecuted Christians around the world, and now Becoming Sons and Daughters tackles the issue of fatherlessness in America. “We”ve seen today”s students become a screen generation,” says Chris Jefferson, vice president of organizational advancement at CIY. “So each of these films was developed

October 3, 2013

Local Churches Organizations & Events

A Conversation with Becky Ahlberg

Meet Our Contributing Editors: This month, in our ongoing series of interviewsÂ with CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors, we speak with one who is leading a dynamicÂ urban ministry. Interview by Jennifer JohnsonÂ A lot has happened since the last time we talked about your ministry. Fill me in on the latest. Anaheim [California] First Christian Church started My Safe Harbor in 2008. We discovered that 70 percent of kids who join gangs, drop out of high school, commit suicide, run away, and get pregnant are from single-mother homes, so our goal is to make a difference now and in future generations by

September 27, 2013

Interview with Ken Henes

By Paul Boatman Ken Henes is in his 18th year as director of Wisconsin Christian Mission Association (WCMA)””a church planting organization for the state. Since 2008 he has also served as preaching minister of Westwood Christian Church in Madison, Wisconsin. What are the challenges to church planting in the northland? We start with a small support base””about 40 Christian churches in Wisconsin, two-thirds of them with average attendance of less than 100. Only one church, Central Christian in Beloit, ranks as a megachurch. Historically, we followed the old style of church planting””a small nucleus that was typically many years

September 2, 2013

A Conversation with Matt Proctor

Meet Our Contributing Editors:Â This month we talk with Ozark Christian CollegeÂ 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 19, 2013

The Pearl Group: More than a Donation

By Nancy Karpenske The Pearl Group is a nonprofit that helps single parents in specialized ways. This group was launched by business owners from LifeBridge Christian Church who wanted to do more than just donate money. The Pearl Group can apply for grants, seek donors, and arrange partnerships with foundations and agencies that might not give to a church. The Pearl programs offer a wide array of services: “¢ A car clinic happens on Saturdays every other month. Two local garages open their doors for teams of volunteer mechanics. “¢ The Closet is a free clothing bank for moms and

August 1, 2013