Series: Featured

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 9, 2013

Class in the City

By Dave Smith For almost six years, students from Ozark Christian College have attended class in New York City. They have overcome their fear of urban areas, learned from diverse church leaders, and begun to discover their fit in this globalized world. This journey from Joplin, Missouri, to New York City traveled by way of California. In 2000, Ken Idleman, Ozark Christian College”s president at the time, took a one-year sabbatical to help his son, Kyle, plant a church in Southern California. President Idleman experienced firsthand how God uses new churches to reach people far from God. He returned to

March 8, 2013

Church & Ministry Leadership Development

How We”ve Developed a Mentoring Culture

By Mark Worley A student, who is now a graduate of Dallas Christian College, wrote these words: I wish I could be mentored. My classes are great. I believe I”m getting a quality education as I learn to think critically, understand the Bible, apply the Bible, and teach the Bible. But, that”s only classroom learning. It has not beenÂ enough. I need a mentor toÂ help me, someone experienced in ministry and life””a time-tested and trained, solid leader. Someone like this could meet with me a couple times a month (we”re all busy), and just talk to me about life. He could

March 5, 2013

Christian Colleges, 2012-13 (Chart)

By Staff Our annual chartÂ provides attendance and faculty figures, income and expenditures,Â contact information, and more for 29 colleges affiliated with Christian churchesÂ and churches of Christ. Click here to view theÂ 2012-13_college_chart.

March 1, 2013

Christian Colleges on the Move!

Read these reports from Christian colleges around the world to discover their progress, plans, and creative initiatives to educate Christian leaders for tomorrow. Boise Bible College Boise Bible College develops well-equipped servant leaders with integrity and a biblical worldview for the global church. Classroom instruction, campus events, and practical ministry opportunities help BBC students grow in knowledge and faith. The college begins the year with a rafting trip and an all-school retreat that allows staff, returning students, and new students to get to know each other while growing spiritually. Students are involved in off-campus service events like “Rake-up Boise”

March 1, 2013

Church & Ministry Church Leadership

Overwhelm Them with Honor, Appreciation, and Love

By R. Paige Mathews You”re kidding me! This can”t be true! I couldn”t believe who was requesting help. Just a few years ago he was a highly visible church leader; in fact, his signature might be on my ordination certificate! His story: In 1956 we began serving as missionaries on the island of Cebu in the Philippines. We had three children but one infant son passed away while there. My wife also died in the Philippines after receiving an injection that was mistakenly 20 times stronger than prescribed. I returned to the United States with my two small children. After

February 26, 2013

Family & Relationships Marriage

Sticky Conversations: Divorce and Remarriage

THIS IS THE FIFTH AND FINAL IN A SERIES OF Â “STICKY CONVERSATIONS” By Julie Gariss As commonplace as theÂ ritual of divorce has become, it is still impossible to fully comprehend the pain thatÂ accompanies a brokenÂ marriage. That is especially true within the church. Divorces frequently are followed by remarriages. This pattern shows the deep desire by most adults to live in an intimate marriage relationship. And even though the second or third attempt may finally produce a healthy and whole union, the ghost of a marriage past still haunts. How should the church respond to the all-too-familiar cycle of divorce and

February 19, 2013

Our Conference within a Conference (Previewing the 2013 NACC)

By Matt Proctor Effective leaders are not born; they”re made. At the 2013 NACC, you”ll have a chance to sharpen your own leadership. On Thursday afternoon, we”ll have our normal schedule with dozens of helpful workshops, but on Wednesday afternoon, we”ll have just four large workshops. At Wednesday”s “leadership conference within a conference,” we”ll welcome nationally known speakers for each of four large leadership workshops. Les and Leslie Parrott will speak about “The Leader”s Marriage.” These New York Times best-selling authors have shared their Christian perspective on marriage on CNN, The View, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, Fox

February 19, 2013

Witnesses from Around the World (Previewing the 2013 NACC)

By Chris DeWelt An exciting component of the 2013 North American Christian Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, will be the powerful testimonies of six followers of Christ who come from six different parts of our world. Each will offer pungent and powerful words from the front lines where the gospel is actively pushing back the kingdom of darkness. At each of the six main sessions, you will hear godly leaders from other nations who are living out lives of faithful service, often at great personal risk and frequently with life-altering consequences. Their active witness of today”s victorious faith in the face

February 19, 2013

Victorious (Previewing the 2013 NACC)

By Matt Proctor Someone wrote that 10 years ago our world had Bob Hope, Johnny Cash, and Steve Jobs. Now we have no Jobs, no Cash, and no Hope! Maybe you”ve experienced those moments of “no hope.” The normal challenges of life””financial shortfall, physical illness, family conflict””are tough enough. But for believers, life can be even harder. In John 16:33, Jesus promised, “In this world you will have trouble.” In Acts 14:22, Paul said, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” You may know those hardships very well: You”ve struggled to get free of a

February 19, 2013

2013 NACC Schedule of Events

TUESDAY, JULY 9 8:30 a.m.””Preconference events (some are ticketed) Noon””Exhibit Hall opens 7:00 p.m.””Evening Main Session (Matt Proctor speaking) 8:30 p.m.””NACC President”s Opening Night Reception 10:00″”Exhibit Hall closes WEDNESDAY, JULY 10 7:30 a.m.””NACC Ministry Networking Breakfast (ticketed) 8:30 a.m.””Bible Study with Mark Scott 9:00 a.m.””Exhibit Hall Opens 10:00 a.m.””Morning Main Session (Aaron Brockett and Randy Harris speaking) Noon””NACC Seniors” Luncheon (ticketed) 1:30 p.m.””Seminars 3:30 p.m.””Seminars 5:15 p.m.””NACC President”s Banquet with Ken Davis (open to all, ticketed) 7:00 p.m.””Evening Main Session (Jon Weece speaking) 8:30 p.m.””Receptions 9:00 p.m.””Exhibit Hall closes THURSDAY, JULY 11 7:30 a.m.””NACC Ministry NetworkingÂ Breakfast (ticketed) 8:30

February 18, 2013

Discipleship & Spiritual Formation

Why Dwell in a House of Fear?

By Neal Windham A word may not mean what we think it means, especially if our emotions or preconceptions get in the way. Nowhere is this more true than when we talk about words associated with Spiritual formation. At age 2, my grandson Whit sometimes misunderstood the words of the songs he was learning. For example, “Jesus loves meat, this I know, for the Bible tells me so,” and “You make all things beautiful out of dups” (not “dust”). Not surprisingly, as a 5-year-old, his father, Luke, used to sing, “Elsha died, Elsha died” in a minor key, dirgelike, weeping

February 17, 2013