Biblical Higher Ed Talk

Jason Mitchell, the senior pastor at LCBC (Lives Changed By Christ) Church in Pennsylvania, joins us to discuss the intersection of ministry and biblical higher education.

With decades of pastoral experience, Jason reflects on his transformative journey into ministry, including key moments of personal surrender and vocational discovery. He shares the vital role Christian higher education played in equipping him for leadership while also addressing how institutions can better prepare students for the practical realities of ministry.

Tune in for an engaging conversation about the future of ministry training and the importance of aligning higher education with the church’s mission to make disciples.

Join us as we discuss:

• [1:44] What inspired Jason to minister to Christ’s wayward children

• [12:36] Reflections on formational experiences in pastoral training

• [22:03] Blind spots in biblical higher ed and the value of critical thinking

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Logos Bible Software

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.

In today’s higher ed landscape, more and more students are choosing to go to secular colleges and universities. How can educators bridge the gap between Christian K-12 and faith-based higher ed institutions?

One word — relationships.

By investing in relationships with local or national Christian K-12 institutions, the path is established early on for students to give your university a try. We’ve brought in Nate Long, the Head Of School at Lancaster County Christian School to chat about educational trends and the importance of investing in relationships with institutional leaders.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [5:45] What is triggering Christian K-12 enrollment growth

• [12:39] Why a majority of students are choosing secular colleges

• [19:53] The mistake of leaning on transactional, not relational, recruitment

• [25:56] Building relationships with biblical grade school leaders
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Logos Bible Software

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.

Transitions in leadership are a critical moment for any organization, and in biblical higher education, they carry unique challenges and opportunities.

Bryce Ashlin-Mayo, President of Ambrose University in Calgary, Alberta, joins us to reflect on his journey from pastoral ministry to academia and now to university leadership. Bryce shares how God guided him through unexpected transitions, lessons from his first six months as president, and strategies for leading through complexity while maintaining a servant’s heart.

Whether you’re a current leader or aspiring to step into a leadership role in biblical higher ed, this episode offers wisdom on endurance, faith, and embracing God’s call.

Join us as we discuss:

• [5:10] Seeking validation and confronting self-doubt in a new leadership role

• [11:17] The nuanced nature of the loneliness that comes with leadership

• [16:43] Unexpected gaps in a typical university president transition

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Logos Bible Software

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.

Welcome to the 2024 Biblical Higher Ed Talk Christmas Special!

This year, we are joined by several members of Team ABHE to hear all about their Christmas traditions, memories, and what the celebration of Christ’s birth means to them.

So grab some hot cocoa and settle in — but don’t take a long winter’s nap just yet because you won’t want to miss this holiday fun!

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:04] Team ABHE's favorite Christmas memories

• [10:55] Favorite Christmas movies and family traditions

• [18:31] The great Christmas tree debate - real versus fake!

• [23:55] The most meaningful aspect of the Christmas season
  

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.

Doug Clay, General Superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of God, joins the show to discuss the vital role of discipleship in biblical higher education and the broader church community. 

Drawing from his journey as a third-generation Pentecostal preacher’s kid to leading a global denomination, Doug shares how defining moments and the local church shaped his ministry. He talks about the importance of investing in young leaders, differentiating between calling and assignment, and cultivating healthy, Christ-centered communities. 

Learn about navigating cultural turbulence, building future-ready leadership, and advancing discipleship that transforms lives.

Join us as we discuss:

• [5:37] How culture outlines the need for a healthy, Bible-centered church

• [11:43] The difference between God’s calling and assignment

• [19:19] Reverse-mentorship and pre-Christian friends relationships
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Moody Bible Institute

• The Myth of the Dying Church by Glenn T. Stanton

• ABHE 78th Annual Meeting Registration

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.

In this episode, we explore how the work college model is redefining holistic education at Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, MI. 

President Patti Harris discusses how integrating learning, work, and service cultivates a student experience rooted in Christian principles that exemplify dignity and respect. 

Learn about the unique challenges, intentional practices, and lasting impacts of this model that aligns work with faith, fostering personal and professional growth.

Join us as we discuss:

• [5:17] Kuyper’s inspiration in pursuing the work college model

• [12:55] Incorporating work into a holistic learning experience

• [20:53] Three important work college values in Christian higher ed

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller

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.

Many biblical higher ed institutions measure success in several different ways.

For Stark College & Seminary, success is reflected in three key areas: building and serving your external network, having diverse leadership, and utilizing a data dashboard.

Stark’s president, Tony Celelli, breaks down Stark’s internal processes that help them stay student-oriented and mission-focused.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [9:00] Building your external leadership network

• [13:06] Title IV and FAFSA funding

• [16:11] Intentionally building a leadership team

• [24:02] Leveraging data in decision-making
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Moody Bible Institute

• The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues by Patrick Lencioni

• The Stark Difference 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.

After 30 years behind the pulpit before transitioning to higher ed, President Michael Pawelke of Briercrest College and Seminary shares his experiences from 11 years as a college president.

We talk through brand clarification and what it’s like to implement intense transformation in an institution, such as a name change or program reductions.

Our conversation also dives into what it means to be a leader, fiscal responsibility, and how to find your own foundation and character.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [3:41] Higher ed in the United States versus Canada

• [12:49] Leading a college through significant change

• [18:09] How to avoid mission drift on your campus

• [23:07] Transferable skills from pastoral duties to a college presidency

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Moody Bible Institute

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.

From the battlefields in Ukraine to American prisons, chaplains are in high demand.

That’s why our guest James Kirkland, the Executive Director of Christian Chaplains & Coaching, believes chaplains will eventually become the preeminent ambassadors of the mission community.

In this episode, we dive into the chaplain experience and break down how someone can become mission-fit in response to God’s call. 

Join us as we discuss: 

• [7:38] Chaplaincy history in North America

• [14:31] Heeding God’s call and the path to chaplaincy

• [21:19] Options for colleges looking to start a chaplaincy program

• [25:17] The top challenges facing chaplains today
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Moody Bible Institute

• Billy Graham Rapid Response Team

• Samaritan’s Purse

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.

Taking on a higher ed leadership role when an institution is already in a deficit can be a grim prospect. It’s a challenge that requires an adaptive learner who isn’t afraid of forward momentum.

It takes transparency, relationship-building, and honest conversations.

That’s why we’re talking to Frank Weller, President of Great Lakes Christian College. Frank shares how his administration leveraged forward momentum to rally their institution in erasing a significant budget deficit.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [4:00] Keeping a positive mindset when entering a shaken institution

• [9:38] Transitioning from pastor to college president

• [22:40] Leveraging forward momentum to get things done
  

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Moody Bible Institute
  

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.