Biblical Higher Ed Talk

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

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Religious liberty is not a political stance but a founding principle essential to a free and flourishing society. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Todd Williams, president of Cairn University, explores why defending religious freedom matters not only for Christian institutions but for the good of all. Drawing from his testimony before the U.S. Religious Liberty Commission, Dr. Williams offers wisdom for leaders seeking to preserve conviction, uphold truth, and prepare the next generation to live faithfully in a changing world.

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Tune In to Discover
▫️Why religious liberty is foundational to a free society

▫️How removing faith from culture weakens justice and virtue

▫️What Christian educators can do to protect institutional autonomy

▫️The dangers of open enrollment and mission drift in Christian colleges

▫️Three practical ways to strengthen your institution’s religious identity

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 Inside the Episode

02:02 - Why religious liberty is a founding principle, not a policy issue

06:13 - How freedom of faith sustains a just and virtuous society

08:02 - What history teaches when religion is removed from culture

14:56 - Todd’s experience testifying before the Religious Liberty Commission

22:12 - Why worldview and theology can never be separated from education

26:44 - Three ways Christian colleges unknowingly weaken their own liberty

34:28 - A practical first step for every Christian leader

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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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The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part ofThe Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

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Oswald Chambers' classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest has shaped countless lives for more than a century. With support from the Oswald Chambers Publications Association, a modernized edition is now helping a new generation engage with Chambers’ timeless insights.

Macy Halford, the editor behind the rewrite, spent years studying Chambers’ original sermons and notes, which were carefully recorded by his wife, Biddy. In this conversation, Macy shares how the updated edition was developed, the challenges of honoring Chambers' voice while making the content accessible, and what this enduring devotional can offer readers today.

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 Tune In to Discover
▫️ The legacy of Oswald and Biddy Chambers
▫️ Why My Utmost for His Highest still resonates today

▫️ The process and philosophy behind the modern rewrite

▫️ Making a Victorian devotional accessible without losing its power

▫️Biddy Chambers’ incredible work as a writer, editor, and steward
▫️ The spiritual vision that underpins My Utmost and its impact across biblical higher ed
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🎙️ Inside the Episode

03:08 - The Life and Legacy of Oswald Chambers

05:55 - Biddy Chambers: The Unsung Hero

08:57 - The Birth of 'My Utmost for His Highest'

12:04 -The Challenge of Modernizing a Classic

15:10 - Macy Halford's Journey with the Devotional

21:01 - Reflections on the Impact of the Devotional

26:51 - Oswald Chambers' Perspective on Modern Challenges

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Resources & Links from this Episode

▫️Macy Halford’s Memoir  Title: My Utmost: A Devotional Memoir on Amazon  

▫️Oswald Chambers Publications Association Website: https://utmost.org
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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.

___

The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Education and is proud to be part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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

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Title: Why Children’s Ministry Matters More Than Ever
How can the church and higher education take children seriously in discipleship? Esther Zimmerman, Program Chair of Undergraduate Ministry Studies at Lancaster Bible College and global advocate for children, joins us to share her journey in children’s ministry and her conviction that investing in kids is one of the most strategic ways to advance the kingdom of God. 

We explore why children are often overlooked, how broken systems leave them vulnerable, and what faithful discipleship looks like for the next generation. From sobering global statistics to hopeful grassroots stories, this episode calls the church to put children at the center of ministry, not the margins.

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🎧 Tune In to Discover
▫️ Why children’s ministry is the most strategic investment for the future of the church
▫️ How cultural perceptions have reduced ministry to babysitting rather than discipleship
▫️ What global realities reveal about children’s vulnerability and the church’s response
▫️ How higher education can shape leaders to take children seriously in theology and practice

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Inside the Episode
02:18 Esther’s journey into children’s ministry and why she stayed
05:34 Misconceptions of children’s ministry in the West vs. globally
09:15 Why broken systems place the heaviest weight on children
12:01 Troubling trends and hopeful signs in global children’s ministry
18:37 Three practical ways to disciple and advocate for children
24:10 How seminaries and Bible colleges can integrate children into their curriculum
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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.

The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 Washington, this conversation is both a celebration and a call to action for leaders shaping the next generation.

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Tune in to discover:

▫️What is fueling growth and momentum across ABHE institutions

▫️Why mission-driven “boutique” colleges still have a vital role today

▫️How spiritual formation remains central to student development

▫️Key innovations shaping the future, including AI and new models

▫️The most pressing challenges, from silos to mission drift

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Inside the Episode:

02:28 – What encourages growth across ABHE institutions

07:17 – Why “boutique” mission-driven schools still matter

09:38 – The central role of spiritual formation on campus

14:15 – Innovation trends, AI, and new educational models

18:55 – Launching the ABHE Leadership Academy

23:37 – Challenges of silos and mission drift

28:18 – A major federal policy threat impacting biblical programs

33:03 – Final encouragement for leaders and institutions

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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.

___

The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 with honesty and hope.

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Tune In to Discover

▫️ How journaling supports emotional and spiritual healing

▫️ The connection between writing and brain integration

▫️ Breaking stigma around counseling and mental health

▫️ Practical ways to use journaling in everyday life.

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Inside the Episode

02:00 – Hidden struggles behind a positive exterior

05:20 – Grief, diagnosis, and compounded emotional weight

10:22 – Normalizing counseling and mental health care

17:47 – Why journaling is powerful for healing and brain integration

21:24 – Using prompts to unlock deeper reflection

23:30 – Practical ways campuses can integrate journaling

25:42 – Journaling rhythms and seasons of life

26:30 – Pairing journaling with prayer and meditation

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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.

The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 extreme realities faced by believers, and why defending human dignity opens doors for the message of Christ to be heard.

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Tune In to Discover

▫️How persecution shows up on a spectrum, from subtle discrimination to extreme violence

▫️Why defending human rights creates opportunities to share the gospel

▫️The theological foundation for advocating for all people, not just Christians

▫️Practical ways Christian higher education can engage and respond globally.

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Inside the Episode

02:39 – The mission and global impact of Stefanus Alliance International

06:45 – Organizational pivots and rediscovering purpose after the Iron Curtain

12:49 – The spectrum of persecution, from discrimination to violence

17:52 – A pastor’s story of persecution and misunderstanding in India

24:08 – The theology behind advocating for human rights

30:46 – Human rights as a bridge for gospel conversations

33:53 – Practical ways Christian higher education can engage globally

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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.

The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 the work of disentangling secular assumptions from their training. Seth offers a thoughtful vision for forming practitioners who are both clinically excellent and biblically grounded.

🎧 Tune In to Discover

• Why most higher education faculty are trained in content but not in teaching or worldview formation

• How hidden worldview assumptions shape disciplines like counseling and psychology

• The difference between biblical integration and biblical worldview immersion

• How the CARE Institute is equipping counselors to practice from a Christ-centered worldview

• Three practical steps faculty and leaders can take to cultivate biblical worldview thinking

🎙️ Inside the Episode
04:54 – How worldview shapes counseling and the way we understand people

10:41 – The Emmaus road story as a model for unlearning and relearning truth

17:36 – The vision behind the CARE Institute and training counselors

30:47 – Three practical steps for faculty pursuing biblical worldview formation

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.

The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 conversation explores the dignity of work and how Christian higher education can form students for lives of leadership, citizenship, and faithful service.

🎧 Tune In to Discover

• How students at College of the Ozarks graduate debt free

• Why work builds dignity, character and lifelong habits

• How Christian colleges can resist reducing education to job training

• What it means to form students for citizenship and calling

🎙️Inside the Episode

02:26- What a work college is and how the model works

06:00 - How the college's work program allows students to graduate debt free

08:40 - Serving students who arrive with significant financial challenges

15:49 - Why education must form leaders, not just prepare workers

18:48 - The dignity of work and the character it builds in students

29:11 - A leadership lesson on articulating what Christian institutions stand for.

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.

The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 decades of enrollment wisdom and practical guidance for recruiting students in a rapidly changing landscape.

🎧 Tune In to Discover

• Whether the enrollment cliff lived up to its expectations

• Why mission clarity is a long term enrollment strategy, not just a branding statement

• The balance between digital strategy and personal engagement in recruitment

• The three essential traits every admissions counselor must develop

• How recruiting adult learners differs from traditional undergraduate students

🎙️ Inside the Episode

05:23 – The enrollment cliff, COVID, and shifting public perception

10:45 – Digital marketing versus relational engagement

13:23 – Why mission focused institutions are seeing stronger enrollment outcomes

19:11 – Listening first, adapting well, and closing the deal

26:10 – Recruiting adult learners versus traditional students

33:05 – The biggest institutional mistake in today’s enrollment environment

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.

The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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 disciplines leaders need to sustain healthy institutions and faithful service.

🎧 Tune In to Discover

• Why Christian higher education is outperforming many predictions about institutional closures

• The leadership and governance patterns that help faith-based colleges remain strong

• How identifying an “economic engine” can sustain mission-driven institutions

• Lessons learned from leadership mistakes, including the importance of self-care

• Why optimism and shrewdness are essential mindsets for Christian higher education leaders

🎙️ Inside the Episode

03:02 – Why Christian higher education is outperforming the broader higher education industry

05:33 – Understanding the real competition for Christian colleges

12:23 – Governance challenges and the difficulty of letting go of legacy programs

15:15 – A leadership mistake, neglecting self-care and its impact on others

20:30 – Safeguards against moral failure through connection and accountability

24:45 – Defining professional success through institutional and relational impact

29:31 – Leadership turning points and learning to make decisive choices

32:31 – Final leadership advice, cultivating optimism and practicing shrewd stewardship

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.

The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. 

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.