Biblical Higher Ed Talk

Leading With Purpose Summer Series
Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series designed to strengthen your leadership and renew your sense of mission. Every other week, you’ll hear one of the most-listened-to conversations from past seasons. Each episode offering practical encouragement and a fresh reminder of why Christ-centered higher education matters.

Originally aired Oct 2023

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 available to use your gifts to lead and inspire others.   

Bill shares how Christ called him from the legal industry to help equip others and what leading from the front with humility means to him.    

Join us as we discuss:

• Measuring personal success in how you inspire others (6:11)

• What God cares about more than your abilities (11:43)

• Stumbling blocks that Christian leaders need to avoid (18:40) 
  

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. 

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

How does theological education continue its mission amid war? Evan Hunter, Executive VP at ScholarLeaders International, joins us to share his experiences walking alongside seminaries and churches in Ukraine throughout the ongoing conflict. Drawing from more than eight visits to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion, Evan reflects on what theological education looks like in a crisis, how seminaries have stepped up to serve as humanitarian hubs, and how the church in Ukraine is enduring deep losses while still growing in unexpected ways. From pastoral shortages to profound spiritual renewal, this episode explores what it means to teach, lead, and lament faithfully during wartime.

Join us as we discuss:

• [2:09] Juxtaposing daily life with a constant wartime threat

• [8:36] The toll the war has taken on Ukrainian pastors and the church

• [17:49] How theological education has adjusted to the conflict

• [23:53] Why the church needs to temper fixing the world’s problems to listen
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Tavriski Christian Institute (Kherson, Ukraine)

• Mesa Global

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.

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

Old student recruitment methods are quickly becoming obsolete as we approach the demographic enrollment cliff. In this episode, Bart Caylor, President and Founder of Caylor Solutions, makes a case for refining and expanding recruitment efforts in higher education. 

Bart has advice on targeting older demographics, increasing focus on student retention, and raising efficiency through the use of AI, as well as mistakes he sees smaller schools make when trying to compete for prospective students’ attention.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [3:17] The enrollment cliff and more serious issues for student recruitment

• [7:54] Why schools need a more disciplined approach to enrollment

• [11:52] Why it’s important to market towards students who are already enrolled

• [18:31] How AI is being used and misused on campuses
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• The Higher Ed Marketer

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.

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

Accrediting and supporting Christian education in Africa comes with its own set of values and challenges unique to the continent.

Our guest, David Tarus, Executive Director at The Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA), shares the need to center African scholars and voices in their curriculum and why it's essential, not only for African institutions, but for the global theological community. David talks about how African schools face logistical hurdles in distributing homegrown texts and resources in sometimes hostile political environments, and why much can be gained from examining their resilience, community, and scholarship.

Join us as we discuss:

• [1:54] How ACTEA accredits and supports schools in Africa

• [5:52] The importance of non-Western texts in international Christian schools

• [14:42] The challenge in distributing local African theological resources

• [28:45] How North American organizations can help African ministries
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians

• ACTEA video

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.

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

Christian educational institutions all serve one Lord, but the way in which they serve their students varies from school to school. 

Our guest and President of Free Lutheran Bible College. Wade Mobley, suggests that there isn’t one correct model for Christian colleges to follow. However, it is important to consider your school’s individual identity and purpose when making decisions for its future. 

Upholding a school’s identity, following new innovations in Biblical higher ed, and trying to manage the business side of education creates a lot of tension for presidents and school boards. Wade has suggestions and words of encouragement for new leaders struggling to find their path in our field.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [7:19] How to establish your school’s identity on campus

• [16:42] Staying open to innovation while not chasing trends

• [23:26] Encouragement for new leaders struggling with their identity

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.

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

As Christ-followers, we answer to a higher law. But American biblical higher ed institutions must comply with federal guidelines. Our guest, Andrew Smith, Attorney and Title IX Coordinator at Moody Bible Institute, urges campuses to work more closely with their legal team and to train their employees in basic legal understanding. Andrew also has advice on how schools can receive exemptions from Title IX and opinions on how Title IX aligns with God’s law.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [6:27] Aligning God’s word with the law and over-and-underutilizing legal resources

• [17:21] The benefits of fundamental legal training for school employees

• [22:06] The theological discussion around Title IX and how it might impact your mission
  

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.

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

The concept of separation of church and state makes it seem like teaching the Bible in public schools is impossible. But Bible2School is doing just that. 

CEO Kori Pennypacker explains how our freedom of religion ensures that we are able to enact God’s mission at schools nationwide. In our conversation with Kori, we’ll cover how the Bible can be taught to public school students, what motivated her mission, and the effects Bible study has had on students. 

Join us as we discuss:

• [1:58] The laws surrounding teaching religion in public schools

• [7:34] What the average American youth knows about Christianity

• [16:57] How to effectively teach the Bible to elementary students
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Bible2School

• [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.

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

Leaders in biblical higher education hear many different theories and terms about leadership, so many that it can be difficult to decide what is the best way to pursue one’s goals. Our guest today, Kirk Brothers, the president of Heritage Christian University, has a suggestion — define spiritual leadership. He discusses how the examples of leadership that Christ can bring us closer to this answer. 

By examining Christ’s example, Kirk also shares insights into how one should lead for God — not themselves — how to set goals for a Christian educational institution, and how to view youth and family ministry. 

Join us as we discuss:

• [8:10] The relationship between youth and family ministry

• [14:12] The importance of defining leadership terms

• [21:49] What Christian higher education should strive for
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Lead Like the Lord: Lessons in Leadership from Jesus

• In Christ’s Image: A Guide to Youth and Family Ministry

• Ministry Matters podcast

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.

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

Young Leaders in Biblical Higher Education can feel pressured to advance their institution’s goals as swiftly as possible. Our guest, David Dockery, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is here to share wisdom gained from over forty years in the industry. His advice is to slow down, learn more about the history of your institution, create enactable plans on multi-year timeframes, and ensure that your actions align with your institution’s mission. 

Carrying out this mission is more difficult than ever, with growing economic and cultural challenges threatening campuses, but Dockery has suggestions for how faith-based nonprofit schools should move forward into the future.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:08] The importance of recognizing one’s own leadership gaps

• [14:35] The pitfalls of rushing change in a new leadership position

• [20:37] How the business model of biblical higher education must adapt
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• IACE
  

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.

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

Sexual exploitation on college campuses is a pervasive issue that demands both awareness and action. 

Christen Price, Senior Legal Counsel at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, sheds light on the harsh realities of exploitation and shares how faith-driven communities can make a difference. Christen unpacks the systemic nature of crimes like trafficking and the theological imperative to confront injustice. She also explores the role of institutions in addressing these issues while inspiring listeners with stories of hope and resilience.

Tune in to learn how faith, justice, and advocacy converge to combat exploitation and protect vulnerable student populations.

Join us as we discuss:

• [8:50] Defining sexual exploitation and confronting enablers

• [17:52] Statistics on exploitation and the impact of pornography use

• [24:42] Keeping a positive mindset while fighting the good fight
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• National Center for Sexual Exploitation Resources

• International Justice Mission

• Rights4Girls

• Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing

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.

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