Biblical Higher Ed Talk

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...

The seminary education landscape has changed considerably, but its focus has not. The ultimate goal continues to be training church ministry leaders. What has changed is the definition of seminary education. Many students want to go deeper in their theological and biblical knowledge without necessarily a degree or ordination. What will the future hold? How can biblical institutions meet their stud...

Leaders, how many women did you see the last time you looked around a room full of Christian college presidents and provosts? Historically, biblical higher education has been dominated by male leadership. In recent years, many institutions and organizations have made diversity in leadership an intentional focus of their missions. But Jena Dunn , Provost at Stark College and Seminary , believes wha...

The core ethos of biblical higher ed institutions is grounded in God’s Word, accepting its authority as final. But Dave Medders , Executive Vice President here at the Association for Biblical Higher Education , cautions that the world’s expectations can sometimes cloud that ethos. That’s why leaders must keep their relationship with Christ fresh so as not to let personal successes define their wor...

Be it blind arrogance or a lack of accountability, it can be easy for church and academic leaders to allow pride to consume them and to point fingers when they fall. That’s why Bill Blocker , President of the College of Biblical Studies - Houston , believes the leadership journey should start by understanding that it’s not about you. God doesn’t care how talented you are — only that you’re availab...

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