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">Connor Champion, President at Austin Christian University">Austin Christian University, took the call to build that legacy.

In this episode, we discover what it takes to create a higher education institution.

Join us as we discuss: 

- [6:11] How chaos creates opportunity

- [11:57] Building a foundation for a university

- [15:28] Rewards and challenges of founding an institution

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or our website">website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player.

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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,">Nicole Vallance, the Founder of Connected with Nicole">Connected with Nicole, kicked off our Christ-centered conversation. A passionate advocate for leading people to Christ, Nicole is all about making heaven crowded.

In this episode, we discussed the importance of sharing the news of the Lord.

Join us as we discuss: 

- [6:47] Myths to stop believing about the lost

- [16:03] Overcoming objections

- [24:30] Why it’s okay to not have all the answers

- [26:36] Connecting students to Christ

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- The Case for Christ">The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

- Connected with Nicole">Connected with Nicole

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or our website">website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player.

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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 strategic plan, Ricardo is here to help.

In this episode, we get real about institutional limitations and expectations.

Join us as we discuss:

- Public perceptions of higher ed’s value (10:06)

- Increasing consumer expectations (15:16)

- School mergers and acquisitions (24:02)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- [email protected]

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. 

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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">Todd Williams, President and CEO at Cairn University">Cairn University, a courageous leader who didn’t always envision himself at the forefront of a higher ed institution.

In this episode, we delve into what it means to be a courageous leader.

Join us as we discuss: 

- Different styles of courageous leadership, from positional to situational (5:39)

- The “romance” of leadership and why it can quickly burn out (9:36)

- A historical example of situational leadership in the face of fear (16:41)

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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">Mark Jobe, President of Moody Bible Institute">Moody Bible Institute. As a bi-vocational pastor, Mark offers a unique perspective from both sides of the pulpit.

In this episode, we talk about the importance of getting your students and staff involved in the local community.

Join us as we discuss: 

- Tension between the academy and the church (8:00)

- How we can best serve the local church (13:54)

- Ways to connect your institution to surrounding churches (20:49)

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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">Brad Layland, CEO at The FOCUS Group">The FOCUS Group. He literally wrote the book on it — Turning Donors into Partners">Turning Donors into Partners.

In this episode, we deconstruct the fundraising dance.

Join us as we discuss: 

- [9:09] How fundraising builds community

- [11:07] When fundraising gets awkward

- [14:36] Building authentic donor relationships

- [21:54] Three fatal mistakes when approaching fundraising

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- The FOCUS Group">The FOCUS Group

- Turning Donors into Partners">Turning Donors into Partners

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or our website">website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player.

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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">Lisa Beatty, Carol Dibble">Carol Dibble, Dave Medders">Dave Medders, and all of us at the Biblical HigherEd Talk podcast, we wish you Merry Christmas!

Join us as we discuss: 

- Childhood Christmas memories [1:12] 

- ABHE Christmas favorites [7:25] 

- The most meaningful aspects of Christmas [21:19] 

- The Christmas story tradition [28:38]

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The Lord works in mysterious ways, and we are all a part of His plan.

The story of Lisa Beatty">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 the Executive Director of ABHE’s Commission on Accreditation and helps to unpack the many layers of complexity that go into the accreditation process. She also talks to us about her experience transitioning into the role, and what she thinks accreditation will look like in the years to come.

Join us as we discuss:

- A defining moment in Lisa’s life (01:32)

- How the process of accreditation works (07:29)

- What accreditation will look like 20 years from now (31:38)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity">National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI)

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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">Joanne Jung, Associate Dean of Online Education and Student-Faculty Engagement, Talbot School of Theology - Biola University">Talbot School of Theology - Biola University. With co-author Richard Langer, Jung explores what it means to hear Jesus in a culture obsessed with leadership in their book, The Call to Follow">The Call to Follow.

In this episode, we dive into the essentials of faithful followership.

- Society’s obsession with leadership (9:24)

- Theological roots of being a follower (13:00)

- Demystifying followership stereotypes (20:31)

- The rewards of being a follower (24:27)

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

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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">Josh Beers, President of OneLife"> 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 value-add for future students who want to kickstart their life experience.

You won’t want to miss this insightful interview as Josh breaks down how gap year programs can elevate young adults and give them a leg up in their college careers.

Join us as we discuss:

- How the pandemic positively impacted American gap year programs (4:24)

- Differentiating gap year outcomes from a traditional freshman year (11:56)

- A peek behind the curtain of how gap year programs operate (16:27)

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, Spotify">Spotify, or our website">website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. 

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