Brian D. Smith is grieving the announcement that Johnson University Florida will close next summer, but he appreciates that Johnson University answered the call from Florida Christian College in that school's desperate hour of need in December 2012. (Smith, a former administrator with FCC, now serves as president of Dallas Christian College.)
Johnson University announced its Florida Campus in Kissimmee will be closing on June 30, 2024, after the upcoming 2023-24 academic year. The school in Florida was originally known as Florida Christian College; JU acquired it in 2013. . . .
October 25, 2018
Johnson University is hosting its 125th Anniversary Celebration today through Saturday at its Knoxville, Tenn., campus. We congratulate and extend best wishes to Johnson University, and pray for their continued success. In that spirit, we thought it would be fun to look back on the first few mentions of the school in the pages of Christian Standard . . . from way back in the 1890s. But before we do that, we should provide a few historical facts not contained in our reporting. Johnson University was founded as the School of the Evangelists on May 12, 1893, by Ashley and
August 17, 2015
By Arron Chambers By way of full disclosure, I am not unbiased when it comes to the value of a Christian college education. My grandparents and my wife”s grandparents all attended Christian college. My parents and my wife”s parents all attended Christian college. My wife and I are both graduates of Florida Christian College (now Johnson University Florida). I am also a graduate of Abilene (Texas) Christian University. I worked for three years as director of admissions and for several more as an adjunct professor at Florida Christian College. Our daughter also attended Christian college, and our younger children discuss
November 19, 2014
By Jennifer Johnson I”m really excited about the 2015 International Conference on Missions. One reason is the president, Jim Tune, asked me to speak. My first sermon was to 1,800 Indian teenagers in a building that could seat 600, the second was for a group of jaded New Yorkers, and now my third will be to a convention hall of a few thousand. I like to focus on easy audiences. But I”m especially looking forward to the convention after talking to Tim Cole at the Virginia Evangelizing Fellowship and learning more about both the church planting emphasis at next year”s
November 13, 2014
By Jennifer Johnson “You know, if we”re going to spend all this time and effort in planning a convention, it would be great for it to have a long-term impact,” remarked Tim Cole in a planning meeting for the 2015 International Conference on Missions. Cole, director of church planting at Virginia Evangelizing Fellowship (VEF), says he can”t take credit for what happened next; some members of the team suggested the churches in Virginia plant a church, then some others suggested they plant one on every continent, then someone else mentioned Antarctica might be a challenge. Today the plan is
September 12, 2014
The Board of Trustees of Dallas Christian College announced this week its appointment of Dr. Brian D. Smith as the college”s next president. Smith comes to DCC from Johnson University Florida, where he has served most recently as associate provost. Before that, he served as vice president of academics at Florida Christian College, where he had previously held the positions of associate dean of academics and institutional effectiveness, and registrar. The appointment follows a national search that began nearly one year ago after the resignation of President Dusty Rubeck. Smith will begin his tenure as president on Nov. 1. Smith
August 23, 2014
By John Derry President, Hope International University, Fullerton, California In 2008, I wrote an article for CHRISTIAN STANDARD called “The Future of Christian Church Colleges.” At that time, I anticipated challenges for our schools as they responded to changing demographics, new technology, and increasing accountability demands from government regulation and accreditation agencies. Shortly after the article appeared that March, our country entered the Great Recession. Virtually every industry was affected: banking, automotive, manufacturing, housing, retail, construction, health care, social services, and many others, including higher education. It created a new pressure point exacerbating financial challenges that were already severe. A 2012
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
By Mark A. Taylor Last month, two Christian colleges announced their intent to pursue a partnership with each other. Johnson University, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Florida Christian College, Kissimmee, Florida, hope to become one institution, perhaps as soon as this year, according to Johnson”s president, Gary Weedman. This is the second such possible merger being pursued between schools reporting in Christian Standard. It should not be the last. Last year Milligan College and Emmanuel Christian Seminary announced a similar plan to consider uniting under one administration. According to Milligan”s president, Bill Greer, and Emmanuel”s president, Michael Sweeney, those talks are continuing
February 10, 2013
By Les Hardin When it comes to spirituality, I find myself caught between two conflicting truths. The first truth is I was born and raised in the church. My parents took me to church when I was only two weeks old, and there”s never been a time in my life when I didn”t know Jesus on some level. I am descended from elders and deacons, trained at the seminary by serious men: a discipler, a teacher of Israel, and a ministry veteran. But here”s the second truth: in spite of my upbringing and training, I have no idea what it
April 23, 2012
By Jennifer Taylor Because of its warm winters, Florida has a large population “in transition”””people without steady jobs or permanent housing. Since last summer, First Christian Church in Kissimmee has worked to connect with this group in new ways. Each Sunday afternoon, FCC holds a worship service designed especially for the transitional individuals in their community. Around 80 people attend this Community Outreach Service, which includes music led by a praise team and a sermon by preacher Jim Book or another member of the staff. The church provides coffee and refreshments for 30 minutes before each service and treats
March 25, 2012
By Darrel Rowland With more non-Restoration Movement students added to the growing number from Christian churches/churches of Christ “who are relatively disconnected from key biblical teachings on salvation and the Christian walk,” Florida Christian College, south of Orlando, put key Bible and apologetics courses earlier in the educational process, says President William K. Behrman. “The key concern is how the institution ministers to those students. We put professors skilled at teaching key beliefs in those courses.” As at several institutions, the increasing proportion of non-Restoration Movement students at Manhattan Christian College in eastern Kansas stems mostly from growing interest in
March 18, 2012
By Staff We asked colleges and seminaries associated with Christian churches and churches of Christ to provide updates on what”s happening at their institutions. Here”s what they had to say (these are listed alphabetically): Alberta Bible College Practical ministry experience has been a hallmark of the education and equipping experience at Alberta Bible College since its inception 80 years ago. Under the direction of the learning services team, ABC is more fully integrating several new practical ministry lab experiences into its regular programs, in addition to the ongoing weekly involvements in local churches and parachurch ministries. Beginning this fall,
April 17, 2011
By Brad Dupray At an annual growth rate of 65 percent, Real Life Christian Church of Clermont, Florida, was the fastest-growing megachurch in Christian Standard”s survey a year ago. Justin Miller came to Christ at age 9 at First Christian Church, as Real Life was formerly known. As Justin describes it, he came into ministry “through the “˜doggie door” of church leadership.” Asked to serve the youth of the church as a volunteer, he eventually was called to serve as senior pastor in 2002. Since that time the church has grown from about 200 to its current attendance of about
October 25, 2010
By Guthrie Veech and Bill Behrman Use these ideas to increase the number of students from your church who choose to attend Christian colleges. Implementing “just one” of these will multiply servant leaders for kingdom work. “¢ Start encouraging young children ages 8-10 to consider ministry. The planted seeds bloom later as those students choose to become ministers. Tell those young people you are praying for them and God has a great plan for them. “¢ Every year have at least one lesson or sermon about the importance of every student spending one year in a Christian college. The resources
October 9, 2010
Florida Christian College (Kissimmee, FL) inaugurated Bill Behrman as president on Oct. 1. Berhman has previously served as chief financial officer, vice president of institutional advancement, and interim president at the college.
March 16, 2008
By Staff Alberta Bible College Calgary, Alberta, Canada It”s not for everyone, but you might consider attending Alberta Bible College if: “¢ You enjoy learning in the way that you learn! To learn to ride a bicycle, you ride a bicycle. To learn to serve Christ, you serve Christ. Experiential learning at its best . . . without academic compromise . . . that”s ABC! About one-third of ABC grads successfully complete graduate programs, others “hit the ground running” in various ministry pursuits, and still others transfer into other programs, taking their ministry formation experience with them. “¢ You don”t
December 20, 2006
By Mark A. Taylor We need dynamic smaller churches. Smaller churches have made a big difference for Christ in our culture, and this must continue. Even though many smaller churches will never reach “mega” status, all of them can grow in both size and impact. These are the convictions behind the birth of the Energizing Smaller Churches Network. Formed just two years ago, this ministry is already making a difference. Now, because of the great need and potential, Standard Publishing is underwriting and expanding ESCN. First evidence of ESCN’s new day is the roster of 10 conferences scheduled for 2007.
June 5, 2005
Ruth T. Reyes highlights three essentials for biblical worship—humble submission, balance in worship elements, and unity through accommodating diverse expressions—urging churches to move beyond preference-driven division.
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