Biblical Higher Ed Talk

Not every college that carries the Christian label offers the same experience, so how can families look beyond branding and understand what a college actually believes and practices? P. Jesse Rine , Executive Director of the Center for Academic Faithfulness and Flourishing (CAFF), shares how greater clarity and transparency can help families make more informed Christian college decisions. Drawing...

Starting a college while institutions across higher education are closing requires more than an entrepreneurial idea. For Dr. Sarah Hummel , President of Seapointe College, it required fortitude, spiritual discernment, and a willingness to keep following God when the path ahead was anything but predictable. Sarah shares the deeply personal journey that eventually led to the founding of Seapoint Co...

Leadership development is more than skill-building. It is an act of faithful stewardship. Eric Brandt , Director of ABHE’s Leadership Academy , shares how the growing platform is helping faculty, administrators, presidents, and board members pursue biblically grounded, spiritually vital, and professionally relevant development. With a growing catalog of micro courses and learning paths, the Leader...

Leadership looks different when viewed from the other side of the president’s chair. After a career devoted to biblical and Christian higher education, Dr. Sherilyn Emberton , President Emeritus of Huntington University , reflects on the experiences that shaped her leadership, the burdens few people see, and the lessons she wishes she had understood earlier. With candor and wisdom, Sherilyn discus...

The future of theological education will require more than new programs, delivery models, or financial strategies. Greg Henson believes lasting innovation begins when institutions are willing to examine their assumptions, loosen their grip on inherited practices, and discern where God is already at work. Drawing from the journey of Kairos University and the emerging work of the Novare Center, Greg...

Stepping into the presidency of an institution you already know and love brings unique advantages, but it also changes the weight of leadership. After more than two decades at Johnson University , Dr. Daniel Overdorf reflects on his first two years as president and what he has learned about trust, relationships, communication, and carrying responsibility for an institution whose mission has eterna...

Preparing the next generation for ministry takes more than a classroom. John Larson , Vice President of Ministry Training and Academic Instruction at Highlands College , believes students need rigorous academic formation alongside hands-on experience in the life and ministry of the local church. John shares how Highlands College intentionally integrates higher education with Church of the Highland...

Christian higher education is navigating powerful headwinds, but Dr. Barry H. Corey believes the answer is neither retreat nor compromise. As President of Biola University , Dr. Corey reflects on nearly two decades of presidential leadership and the calling, humility, courage, and conviction required to remain faithful through seasons of change. From resisting the twin dangers of nostalgia and ins...

As David Medders prepares to transition toward retirement after decades of ministry and service to biblical higher education, he reflects on the convictions that have shaped his life, leadership, and calling. From surrendering his life fully to Christ as a young teenager to serving generations of students, presidents, and institutional leaders, David shares lessons forged through nearly five decad...

Season 8 of Biblical Higher Ed Talk is here. Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, offers a quick look ahead through conversations with presidents and thought leaders, along with timely discussions of the challenges and opportunities facing biblical higher education. Through it all, the focus remains the same: practical encouragement for leaders who want to stay kingdom-focused. ___ Tune In to Disco...

Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education. This episode originally aired February 2026 ___ What kind of church w...

Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education. This episode originally aired February 2026 ___ What does faithful le...

Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education. This episode originally aired January 2026 ___ What does it take to e...

Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education. This episode originally aired December 2025 ___ For Dr. Dondi Costin...

Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education. This episode originally aired Novemeber 2025 ___ Christian colleges o...

Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education. This episode originally aired November 2025 ___ Religious liberty is...

Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education. This episode originally aired October 2025 ___ Oswald Chambers' class...

Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education. This episode originally aired September 2025 ___ Title: Why Children’...

A season finale unlike any before it, this episode turns the microphone inward as ABHE President Philip Dearborn reflects on the state of biblical higher education. With clarity and conviction, he shares what is encouraging, what is challenging, and what is at stake for institutions committed to Christ and the authority of Scripture. From stories across campuses to urgent policy concerns in Washin...

A life that looks steady on the surface can still carry deep, unspoken pain. Alison Byxbe shares a vulnerable and redemptive journey through grief, unexpected diagnoses, and emotional exhaustion, revealing how God met her in the midst of it all. Through the practice of journaling, she discovered not only healing but a deeper intimacy with the Lord, offering a pathway for others to process pain wit...

What does it mean to live out faith in a world where belief can cost everything? Ed Brown , Secretary General of Stefanus Alliance International , brings a global perspective shaped by frontline work with persecuted communities. Through powerful stories and firsthand insight, this conversation explores the tension between religious freedom and gospel witness, revealing both the quiet pressures and...

Most professors in higher education are trained deeply in their disciplines but rarely trained in how to teach through a biblical worldview. That gap shapes how future leaders think, practice, and integrate faith into their fields. Seth Scott , Columbia International University, shares why worldview awareness is essential for Christian higher education and how educators and counselors can begin th...

Dr. Brad Johnson, president of College of the Ozarks , shares how the school’s distinctive work college model shapes students academically, spiritually, and personally. Known by many as “Hard Work U,” the college requires every student to work as part of their education, helping them graduate debt free while building character, responsibility, and a biblical understanding of work. This conversatio...

Enrollment pressures are real. The demographic cliff has arrived, public sentiment toward higher education has shifted, and competition is fierce. Yet in the midst of these challenges, Christian colleges have a powerful opportunity, not to widen the door by diluting mission, but to lean into it with greater clarity and confidence. In this insightful conversation, Keith Ramsdell shares nearly three...

Christian higher education is facing disruption, but the outlook may be stronger than many believe. Drawing on decades of experience serving Christian colleges and universities, ABHE Senior Fellow Dan Campbell explains why faith-based institutions are often outperforming the broader higher education sector. He also shares practical leadership lessons about governance, innovation, and the personal...