Why I’m Optimistic About the Future of Christian Higher Education, and Why You Should Be Too
The public may have lost confidence in higher education more generally, yet I believe we may be entering another golden era in Christian higher education.
Articles for tag: higher education
May 30, 2023
What I’ve Learned in Switching to an A Cappella Church of Christ
In the fall of 2020, as COVID restrictions were being eased, my wife and I were church “free agents.” I suggested we try an a cappella congregation I knew in Louisville, Ky. We jumped in, and two years later I joined the staff as involvement minister—a lifelong Christian Church guy now teaching, discipling, and worshipping in four-part harmony. Here are five observations from my experiences serving in an a cappella church. . . .
March 7, 2017
Her Final Lesson
By Mark A. Taylor What should we note about the life of Eleanor Daniel? Thousands of her former colleagues and students are telling what they remember about her now, after her death March 2 and her memorial service yesterday, March 6. They speak of her skill and passion as a Christian teacher. The remember her encouragement in their own teaching ministries. They recite her faithfulness in Christian service. They note the impact she made on three seminaries among the Christian churches and churches of Christ. (Some are quoting from Bruce Parmenter”™s tribute, published last December, in which he describes her
Degrees of Change
By Jennifer Johnson It”s common knowledge that the Internet has transformed traditional approaches to higher education. Although one out of every three academicians considers online learning to be inferior to face-to-face instruction (according to SEO.com), millions of undergrad and graduate students enroll in online classes each semester, and the National Center for Education reported recently that 22 percent of United States graduate students study exclusively online. Many schools have also realized class schedules and degree programs must become more flexible to attract growing numbers of nontraditional students. These changes, along with the growing desire among growing churches to raise up
August 14, 2015
Keeping New Leaders in the Game
By Dave Miller Ministry is hard. Who can help ministers jump the hurdles in their first few years of service? After 13 years of ministry, I was fortunate to jump on a start-up and fly all over the United States to consult in churches. I probably visited 400 churches over the five-plus years I was with that organization. I don”t want to exaggerate here, but I believe I heard some version of this phrase more than 200 times: “Please help us find a youth pastor or kids pastor or worship leader or executive or tech director, etc.” It didn”t matter
July 14, 2015
John Derry’s Thought Leaders
We asked 35 Christian leaders, “Who is the influencer with the biggest impact on your life and ministry?” Most of these leaders listed several influential thinkers, writers, innovators, and leaders more of us should get to know. This response is from John Derry, president of Hope International University, Fullerton, California. ________ There are almost 100 books about leadership on the shelves in my office and on my e-reader, representing 40 years worth of reading and studying the subject. Among them are several by Jim Collins, John Maxwell, and Peter Drucker. I have learned much from these prolific writers about what is necessary
February 24, 2015
A Voice at the Table
By Mark A. Taylor New York publishing executive Joanne Lipman wrote last year about the subtle barriers and “benevolent sexism” she”s experienced in an industry that says it”s open to women leaders. After reading her article, “Women at Work: a Guide for Men,” I couldn”t help but wonder: Do women working in my world, i.e. local churches and parachurch ministries, also feel stymied by the men who dominate their workplaces? I wrote several women church leaders to get an answer, and I reported last week all of them answered “yes.” Since then, I have heard from a couple more women
December 5, 2014
Lesson Learned
By Jennifer Johnson As you read this, it”s almost time for Christmas. But as I write it, we”re days away from back to school. One of the things that surprised me about being an adult was the discovery, in September 1998, that I actually like autumn. That year was the first since 1981 that I hadn”t spent catching a bus while it was still dark outside, trudging to a classroom, sitting and doodling at uncomfortable desks, and acclimating to the personality quirks of six different teachers. Suddenly the time of year I used to dread became a fun season of
Training the Next Generation of Leaders
By Dean Collins President, Point University, West Point, Georgia When I think about the future of Christian higher education in general””and the colleges that come from our tradition in particular””my mind is conflicted. Will I operate out of fear of the brutal realities we face, or with faith that God wants us to do what we are called to do? About 13 years ago, Bob Andringa, then president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, predicted that in 25 years, 25 percent of Christian colleges would be out of business. I don”t know all of the reasons behind Andringa”s
August 1, 2013
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
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
March 19, 2012
What Good Is a College Education These Days?
By LeRoy Lawson With ever larger numbers of college alumni running the country, and not doing such a good job of it, what good is a college degree, anyhow? Are colleges just cranking out more dumb people with diplomas? A friend recently asked my opinion of the “dumbing down of America.” He was referring to the general agreement that, in spite of record numbers of college graduates out there, Americans as a whole appear to be less civil, less informed, less able to reason, and less articulate than ever. (Even the term “dumbing down” is evidence, isn”t it? Is there
October 15, 2010
Friend Zones
By Jennifer Taylor Both Mid-Atlantic Christian University (Elizabeth City, North Carolina) and Hope International University (Fullerton, California) have been named “military friendly” schools by G.I. Jobs magazine and www.MilitaryFriendlySchools.com. This status is granted after research into a school”s programs and policies, tuition benefits, flexible learning options, accreditations, acceptance of the GI Bill, and more. This distinction ranks these schools in the top 15 percent of higher education institutions doing the most to embrace America”s veterans as students. Hope also participates in the Yellow Ribbon program that provides enhanced tuition assistance for military students who want to attend private schools and
October 7, 2010
Offering Prayers after School Shooting
Our prayers are with the faculty and students at Mid-Atlantic Christian University (Elizabeth City, NC) after a Mid-Atlantic student allegedly shot and killed sophomore Jonathan Schipper on Sunday. The school has held a memorial service and many local ministers and counselors are available to staff and students. “We appreciate the outpouring of love and support we are receiving from churches, Christians, sister schools, supporters, other institutions of higher education, the community of Elizabeth City, and friends and alumni around the world,” the school said in a press release. “While our response to your offers of support, love, and prayers may
Christian Colleges, 2006-07 (chart)
Download the 2007 Christian College Chart (PDF) using the direct link provided. A quick reference resource for comparing and reviewing Christian college information.
Annual Christian College Reports
Download The Christian Standard’s two most recent Christian colleges charts (2006 and 2005). Note: a correction updates the April 23, 2006 chart to include complete accreditation details for Lincoln (Illinois) Christian College and Seminary.
