Biblical Higher Ed Talk

Theological education, seminaries, and leadership – Oh, my! We’re digging into what theological education does well and some challenges the system is currently facing. While some institutions have been able to pivot and expand, others are experiencing leadership challenges and mental health resource deficiencies. That’s why we’re talking to Amy Kardash , President of In Trust Center for Theologica...

In an age where we constantly have our eyes glued to our phones, what is more valuable than human interaction?  Potential students want you to be different and personable – they need you to be. Acting intentionally with a student-first mindset may set you apart from the competition. And with the enrollment cliff on the horizon, we have to be on our A-game.  We’re getting the ball rolling with Nath...

Effective academic leadership doesn’t have a specific outline. But knowing your institution's mission and sticking to it is the first place to start. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses as a leader and being able to lean on a team for support to fill in the gaps is critical. There’s no limit to who can be a leader. It’s about being the best leader for your institution. Getting our conversati...

Competency-based theological education may seem like a mouthful, but it’s how Jesus trained his disciples. It’s about radical collaboration and demonstrating understanding. It challenges you to think differently about learning. Co-authors Kent Anderson , President of Providence University College and Theological Seminary , and Greg Henson , Lead Partner at Kairos University , get the conversation...

Leadership care in Christian institutions is moving to the forefront of higher ed culture. According to Michael Martin, President of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), 94% of their members said leadership issues are having a negative impact on trust in their organizations. That’s why ECFA has developed a new accreditation standard that monitors the well-being and accounta...

So you want to start your own Christian university? Through creating connections with churches, we can build future leaders by providing them with an avenue of opportunity to learn and grow their faith. Providing a degree of value can accelerate growth for potential ministry leaders and further grow God’s kingdom. With over 30 years of experience in the K–12 sector, Steve Whitaker , the Head of Sc...

Anxiety can feel like it's crashing down on us from all directions. Technology running our lives, deadlines looming overhead, and so much more... Cutting through the noise and pointing anxiety in the direction of God will lessen the burden we too often place on ourselves. Anxiety is not something we have to face alone. Alan Fadling , the founder and President of Unhurried Living , takes us through...

Leadership and professional experience are two key career aspects that never really leave the horizon. It’s crucial to further enhance leadership skills during ministry preparation and even way beyond.  Lacking proper leadership skills can often cause other issues in personal, professional, and organizational relationships. Building proper leaders takes guts. That’s why we’re talking to David Ashc...

Kindergarten through 12th grade Christian education is seeing a decline in America. Is it simply student enrollment? Is it an education quality issue? Is it due to inflation? There are a variety of factors we can analyze, but it all comes down to remembering our mission: service. We have to embrace the mission of Christ, who served before us, in order to effectively serve the students in our commu...

Artificial intelligence is expanding its footprint in our institutions, workplaces, and personal lives. But how can we, as Christ followers, utilize artificial intelligence in a way that is true to our theology? In an increasingly secular culture, we must learn how faith, behavior, and artificial intelligence all interact. James Spencer , President of Useful to God Ministries , navigates the hard...

Psalms 34:4 states, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.” Entrepreneurial leadership takes faith to overcome obstacles. Trusting that God will be there to answer prayers will allow His will to be done through you. Allowing God to take a front seat in your life will lead you down the right path, and allow others to grow alongside you. Darren Campbell , the CEO at...

How does a biblical institution get founded? It takes curious minds ready to lead, ready to invest, and ready to ask even the toughest questions. It’s about building a legacy and empowering future students to fall further in love with Jesus. Former collegiate football coach, Connor Champion , President at Austin Christian University , took the call to build that legacy. In this episode, we discove...

Jesus said in Matthew 9:16, “With God, all things are possible”. It is essential to accept the call of the Great Commission to lead others towards His promise. Have you sat down and asked your students if they could comfortably do the same? Teaching others how to share the promise of God is the key to creating more relationships with Christ. Nicole Vallance, the Founder of Connected with Nicole ,...

Honesty is always the best policy. Are you being honest about the capabilities of your institution? The time is now for colleges and universities to start having authentic conversations about institutional capacity. We’re getting the conversation started with Ricardo Azziz , Director at The Center for Higher Ed Mergers & Acquisitions . If you aren’t discussing merging as part of a potential st...

What does courageous leadership in higher education look like? It’s about utilizing situational styles. It’s about relying on faith to drive out fear. It’s time to get real about what it means to be courageous in biblical higher education. That’s why I’m joined by Todd Williams , President and CEO at Cairn University , a courageous leader who didn’t always envision himself at the forefront of a hi...

Bridging the gap between local churches and Bible Colleges is essential to see success for both sides. It’s time to invest in the community around our students and come together towards a common goal – serving God. That’s why we’re talking to Mark Jobe , President of Moody Bible Institute . As a bi-vocational pastor, Mark offers a unique perspective from both sides of the pulpit. In this episode,...

Fundraising is often considered the elephant in the room of Higher Education. But why do we avoid the subject like it's taboo? It’s time to put the fun in fundraising and improve the donor experience. That’s why we’re talking to Brad Layland , CEO at The FOCUS Group . He literally wrote the book on it — Turning Donors into Partners . In this episode, we deconstruct the fundraising dance. Join us a...

Welcome to the ABHE Biblical HigherEd Talk Christmas Special! Get to know your ABHE team through a series of lightning-round questions and a retelling of the Christmas story – an ABHE tradition. In this light-hearted episode, we have some fun by exploring each other's favorite Christmas traditions. From Lisa Beatty , Carol Dibble , Dave Medders , and all of us at the Biblical HigherEd Talk podcast...

The Lord works in mysterious ways, and we are all a part of His plan. The story of Lisa Beatty is a perfect example of how He has guided those who strive for the advancement of the kingdom. Lisa started her career in music and, after a health crisis, transitioned into the world of accreditation for biblical higher education schools. In this conversation, Lisa pulls back the curtain on her role as...

What does it mean to be a follower? In a world obsessed with leadership, being a faithful follower is crucial. Christ faithfully followed through on His Father's call. If Jesus can do it, so can you. That’s why we’re talking to Joanne Jung , Associate Dean of Online Education and Student-Faculty Engagement, Talbot School of Theology - Biola University . With co-author Richard Langer, Jung explores...

Before 2020, only three percent of American high school graduates participated in gap year programs. But that number doubled during the pandemic as young Christian adults sought answers in their spiritual journey. Josh Beers , President of OneLife , has seen both sides of the high school post-graduate coin as a former enrollment officer. He thinks gap year programs will continue to flourish as a v...

Have you ever heard the expression “there’s plenty of fish in the sea?” The same can be said when it comes to marketing in higher education. But how do you know when it’s time to get deliberate with your marketing strategy? Grab your fishing pole and find out. We are joined by Bart Caylor , President and founder of Caylor Solutions . With over two decades of experience at Caylor Solutions, Bart kn...

There are many lessons that biblical higher education schools can learn from the business world to become better and more competitive. The top law schools are always in demand because they deliver a great product that the market wants. What if we thought about biblical higher education that way? What if schools developed a value proposition where they said that their graduates would be the most sk...

Having a strong faith and relationship with God are topics that continue to be at the front and center of biblical higher education. Students need to be able to process what is happening around them and then go back to the Word to understand what God’s will truly is. How can they do this? How can Christian institutions prepare them for a better future that is kingdom-focused? Former Second Lady of...

There was a time when college and university presidents used to boast lengthy terms of service. But today, most leave the position after five to seven years. Higher ed leaders are burning out.  A major contributor to this systemic problem is often a lapse in effective board governance. After faithfully serving in several leadership roles, including as president of three major Christian universitie...