College Faith

In this episode, we discuss how to transition well after college. My guest is Jon Steele, host of the After IV podcast, where he interviews guests on this very topic. So I’ve invited him to summarize what he is learning from his guests on this important life transition. 

 

In this podcast we discuss:

How Jon became interested in helping students transition from college to their careers

The important distinction between change and transition from college to after college

The three general phases of any transition

How to navigate well the inevitable transitions in relationships

How the phases of transition play out as you move into your new career

The trap of needing to always “live out your passion” and the danger of comparison

The balance between valuing work too much or too little

Transitioning in our relationship to money: budgeting, saving, giving, credit card use, debt

Finding a community to help make wise financial decisions

Navigating the inevitable spiritual transition well

Finding a good church after college

A final word of encouragement to college graduates for the tough times in your transition

 

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Jon’s podcast on life after college: After IV (see below for mor specific suggestions)

Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change by William Bridges

Meet Up app

Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential by Gordon T. Smith

Save My Cents website by Shang Saavedra

InterVarsity World Changers podcast

The Apostles’ Creed

The Nicene Creed

The Chalcedonian Creed

After College: Navigating Transitions, Relationships, and Faith by Erica Young Reitz

The Gap Decade: When You’re Technically an Adult but Really Don’t Feel Like It Yet by Katie Schnack

Analog Chrisitan: Cultivating Contentment, Resilience, and Wisdom in the Digital Age by Jay Y. Kim

Specific After IV podcasts by topic:

Stages of Transition

E75: Finding Your Footing in Transition Pt 1 (Apple, Spotify)

E76: Finding Your Footing in Transition Pt 2 (Apple, Spotify)

Relational Transition

E102: Ending Well With My Friends on Campus (Apple, Spotify)

E103: Making (and Keeping) Friends After Graduation (Apple, Spotify)

Work Transition

E112: A Foundation for Vocational Transition (Apple, Spotify)

E37: How to be the Post-College G.O.A.T. - Nail the Interview (Apple, Spotify)

E38: How to be the Post-College G.O.A.T. - Win Employee of the Month (Apple, Spotify)

E142: Understanding Your Financial Narrative (Apple, Spotify)

E143: Understanding the Biblical Financial Narrative (Apple, Spotify)

E151: What's My Financial Finish Line? (Apple, Spotify)

Faith Transition

E80: I'm so Tired of Church Hopping - Finding Your Footing in a New Church (Apple, Spotify)

E122: A Foundation for Healthy Rhythms of Rest (Apple, Spotify)

E126: Finding Rest in Familiar Faith Practices (Apple, Spotify)

Other Resources

E140: Level Up Your 20s (Revisit) (Apple, Spotify)

After College: Navigating Transitions, Relationships, and Faith (IVP)

E83: A Companion for Transition - Finding Your Footing in the Gap Decade (Apple, Spotify)

E91: Joy Instead of Comparison: Anchored in God’s Goodness with Jay Kim (Apple, Spotify)

E92: Self-Control Instead of Reckless Indulgence: Beyond Willpower and Positive Thinking (Apple, Spotify)

Follow us on Instagram @afterivpod

Today we are talking about how to manage the deluge of college recruiting materials to help choose the best college or university. My guest today is Dr. Shirley Roels. She has been a career counselor and a marketing professor focusing on nonprofit marketing.  She also speaks from her experience as someone who made mistakes when she was selecting a college and did a better job helping her two sons in their selection process. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the International Network for Christian Higher Education. 

 

In this podcast we discuss:

Her terrible decision-making process when choosing her college 

Experiences that helped her understand how best to wade through college marketing materials

The dangers of not being careful in the college selection process

Tips to effectively sort through the many college recruitment materials

Types of college recruitment media that are more helpful than others

How to view and “position” recruitment media

The timing and value of talking with real people in the process

The timing and role of making campus visits

Some red flags to watch for in recruitment media

The problem with only focusing on the costs of a college or university

Ways colleges and universities hide the actual costs of their schools

The challenges of online media recruitment materials, and how to manage these materials

How to make the most of a campus visit

The importance of taking classes in person early on (freshman and sophomore years)

 What if you aren’t sure you made the right college choice after your first semester?

How to find Christian support at public universities--Christian study centers

A word for first-generation and ethnic-minority college students

 

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

David Wunder, “How to Choose a College” on the College Faith podcast

Council for Christian Colleges & Universities - CCCU

The Council of Independent Colleges

Consortium of Christian Study Centers

Karl Johnson, “How Christian Study Centers Minister to University Students” on the College Faith podcast

Robert L. Peters, Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student’s Guide to Earning a Master’s or Ph.D.

My guest on this episode of the College Faith podcast is my colleague Dr. Stephen Garrett, Vice-President of Curriculum at Global Scholars. Steve is uniquely qualified to help us understand the benefits and challenges of students taking a semester or year to study abroad, having taught in Lithuania as a “receiving” professor of study abroad students and being a “sending” parent of a son who studied abroad.

In this podcast we discuss:

Steve's perspective as a "sending" parent:

How Steve and his wife first began considering with his son the possibility of studying abroad

The value of studying abroad

How much parents should be involved in the process

The importance of realizing that every school offers different study-abroad programs 

Three different models or ways to study abroad 

Benefits and cautions about third-party study abroad companies 

Who might studying abroad not be for

Other considerations such as the language of the host university and country, the status of the host university, the weather, etc.

What he wishes he knew as a parent before sending his son off to study abroad

Allaying parent’s fears of security and safety for students studying abroad

The importance of registering with the US Embassy in the host country

Concerns about connecting and making friends in the host country

The value of the inevitable “failures” while studying abroad

Steve’s perspective as a “receiving” professor:

What helps students have a good study abroad experience

The role understanding different cultures plays in a good experience

What will ensure the student has a very bad study abroad experience

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Your university’s Study Abroad Office (or similar title)

US State Department’s website

The Red Cross

T. S. Eliot, Christianity and Culture: Essays

The Culture Company’s Country Comparison Tool

Andy Crouch, Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling

In this edition, I continue my sporadic series on various college majors students may choose. To discuss the field of Sociology, my guest is Dr. Kevin Dougherty, Associate Professor of Sociology at Baylor University.

 

In this podcast we discuss:

How Kevin got interested in sociology

What sociologists study

Career paths open to those with a degree in sociology

Traits that make a person a good sociologist

How sociology has been a help and a challenge to his faith

His research into the sociology of the local church

His recent research into the sociology of religious tattoos

Current conversations at the center of sociology, including sexual orientation and gender, and tensions this creates

Christian professional associations for sociologists

His advice to his younger self about studying sociology

The value of going to a Christian university, and church attendance during the college years

 

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Christian Sociological Association

Christian Smith, Soul Searching and Souls in Transition

Perry Glanzer, Identity in Action and Christian Higher Education

Perry Glanzer, “The Art and Science of Being an Excellent Student,” College Faith podcast Episode #12

Stan Wallace, Have We Lost our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing

My guest in this episode is Brian Mann, National Director of InterVarsity’s ministry among students in fraternities and sororities. As many students are on campuses with Greek houses, I’ve asked Brian to help us understand what the “Greek System” is, and the pros and cons of “going Greek” at college.

 

In this podcast we discuss:

What is a fraternity or sorority?

Why Greek letters are identified with fraternities and sororities (and therefore are referred to as “Greek houses,” which are all part of the “Greek system” on campus,  and to join is to “go Greek”)

Why Greek societies often foster leadership development

Why some universities do or do not have a Greek system, and roughly how many campuses do

 Brian’s experiences in a fraternity as a believer--some negative, some positive

Greek life and the “third way” of engaging the campus culture

The difference between a Greek House and a Greek house

The overall advantages and disadvantages of joining a fraternity or sorority

How to identify healthy and unhealthy fraternities and sororities before joining

Defining important terms such as “rush,” “bid,” “house,” “chapter,” “pledge,” “active,” etc.

Should you go Greek as a freshman, or wait until your sophomore year?

The advantages and disadvantages of joining a fraternity or sorority as a believer

The number one factor to help determine whether you should go Greek

How InterVarsity’s Greek Ministry serves students in fraternities and sororities

 

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Greek InterVarsity

Stan Wallace, “Are You An Artist, a Cheerleader, or a Demolition Engineer? Three Ways Christians Relate to Culture”

Why do universities require students to take classes in the humanities during their first few years? Dr. David Horner, who has taught these classes for many years, helps us see the wisdom of requiring these courses, in light of the value they bring to the student who takes them seriously. Dave earned his master's and doctoral degrees in philosophy at Oxford University, is a professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, and is the author of (among other books) the popular Mind Your Faith: A Student’s Guide to Thinking and Living Well.

In this podcast we discuss:

How Dave got interested in studying the humanities

How apologetics (defenses of the faith) helped him overcome a crisis of faith in college

What the “humanities” are and how they relate to humans, being “humane,” and being a “humanist”

Understanding a “College of Liberal Arts,” what a “liberal education” is, and how this relates to the humanities

The structure of classical education, on which the “core curriculum” was historically based, and on which contemporary classical Christian education is based

The interesting “border-line” cases of law and psychology

How the “arts” and the “sciences” differ (it’s not what most people think)

Why students should be required to take core courses in the humanities

The importance, in all fields, of learning to make good distinctions

How to discern whether or not a specific humanities course is worth taking

The connections between the humanities and wisdom

An argument against the humanities--“They are so “impractical!”

The critical distinction between “ends” and “means” in evaluating the value of the humanities

The valuable role of the humanities in providing us with “cultural literacy”

Why Christians should study non-Christians in literature, philosophy, and the other humanities

Other practical benefits of studying the humanities, according to the CEO of a major corporation

How to get the most out of your core curriculum courses

The role a healthy campus ministry can play in your studies

Why you shouldn’t just learn about the humanities, but rather learn to engage in the humanities

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

David Horner, Mind Your Faith: A Student’s Guide to Thinking and Living Well

Stan Wallace, Have We Lost Our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing

Dorothy Sayers, The Lost Tools of Learning

John Terrill, College Faith Podcast Interview #47, “A Guide to Majoring in the Professions (Business, Law, Medicine, etc.)”

Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, “Enough with trashing the liberal arts. Stop being stupid”

Edmund Husserl, The Crisis of European Humanities and Transcendental Phenomenology: An Introduction to Phenomenological Philosophy

E. D. Hirsh, The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know

Edgar Bronfman, Insider Ed.com, “Business and the Liberal Arts”

George Anders, Forbes.com, “That ‘Useless’ Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech’s Hottest Ticket”

Kery Murakami, Inside Higher Ed, “Liberal Arts Pay Off in the Long Run: A liberal arts education may not have the highest returns in the short run, but a study finds that after 40 years, liberal arts institutions bring a higher return than most colleges”

Gene C. Fant, Jr., The Liberal Arts: A Student’s Guide (Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition)

Joseph M. Keegan, Breaking Ground, “Toward the Renewal of Humanistic Education in America”

Nathaniel Peters, Public Discourse, “Why Should a Christian Study the Humanities?”

Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, “Unlocking The Power: Why You Should Consider Hiring Philosophy Graduates”

Wendell Berry, “The Loss of the University,” in Home Economics: Fourteen Essays

This edition of the College Faith podcast welcomes Dr. Robbie Castleman, emeritus professor of Biblical Studies at John Brown University. She has studied, ministered to students, and taught at a number of very different types of schools. As a result, she is a helpful guide to understanding the similarities and differences between different types of colleges and universities.

In this podcast we discuss:

The fundamental importance of considering who will be your professors

The importance of the core curriculum in finding what you are most interested in majoring in

When it might be best to transfer to another university to finish your degree

Why you should look for schools that encourage professors to "push" you

What to look for in professors beyond their understanding of the subject matter

How to do research on professors to find the best ones

Other very important but non-academic considerations when choosing a college

Surprising insights into financial aid, including at private, faith-based institutions, and how to access these funds (illustrated by her personal success in financing almost all her education)

Differences she noticed when attending a public university for her masters degree

The benefits she sees of studying at an explicitly Christian school (her answer may surprise you--often the opposite of what we hear!)

The unique challenges of various types of colleges and universities

The necessity of finding good fellowship with other believers while a student

How she dealt with isolation and loneliness at one college she attended

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Words of Wisdom from a Christian Professor at a Public University -- Ken Elzinga on College Faith

The Every Campus Coalition -- a College Faith Interview

How Christian Study Centers Minister to Students -- a College Faith Interview

How The Navigators Minister to Students -- a College Faith Interview

How CRU Minister to Students -- a College Faith Interview

How InterVarsity/USA Minister to Students -- a College Faith Interview

Robbie Castleman, True Love in a World of False Hope: Sex, Romance, & Real People

Robbie Castleman, New Testament Essentials: Father, Son, Spirit and Kingdom

(Various authors), Rest of Essentials book set

Robbie Castleman, Interpreting the God-Breathed Word: How to Read and Study the Bible

In this episode, I continue my series on various college majors students may choose. To discuss business, and the professions more generally, I’ve invited Dr. John Terrill to join me. John has a unique background to help us consider majoring in the professions. He has a degree in business from Indiana University, an MBA. from the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), master’s degrees in theology and religion from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D.  in industrial and organizational psychology from Seattle Pacific University.

After working in banking and with a business consulting firm, John ministered to students at Harvard Business School with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He then served as InterVarsity's National Director of InterVarsity’s MBA ministry, and then as Director of InterVarsity’s Professional School Ministries. He is currently the Executive Director of Upper House, the Christian Study Center at the University of Wisconsin.

In this podcast we discuss:

How John got interested in a career in business

How he now applies leadership and management principles in the non-profit sector

How positive and negative experiences in various organizations have shaped his understanding of business

The inadequacies of seeing the purpose of business as only to maximize shareholder value

A better understanding of the purpose of business--fostering human flourishing

Developing a proper theology of vocation for all professions--why all work matters to God

A wrong theology of vocation: “Finding God’s one specific job for me!”

How a proper understanding frees us to flourish in our careers and serve others well

The reality of a “calling” to the professions, and why this is not emphasized in our churches

The professions as professional “guilds”

 How our work can be a positive influence on culture by helping build healthy companies

 How professional schools in universities are similar and different from other schools or departments

Temptations of interviewing for jobs with business school recruiters

The value of classes outside your professional school

The type of person who generally flourishes in a professional school

Other tips to help students do well in professional school programs

Some ways to live out Kingdom values while in a professional school program

Challenges for the Christian studying in professional schools

The importance of finding a mentor

How to find fellowship with other believers in the professions on campus

Joining a professional society as a student

Some mainstream ideas in business that are congruent with a Christian worldview and some that are not

God’s faithfulness in the process of earning a degree in the professions

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Lausanne Movement’s Workplace Ministry Issue Network

Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community

Yuval Levin, American Enterprise Institute

Curtis Chang

Consortium of Christian Study Centers

Everycampus.com

Christian Legal Society

Christian Medical and Dental Association

Professional Christian Veterinary Fellowship

The Theology of Work Project

Upper House, the Christian Study Center at U. Wisconsin-Madison

In this episode, I continue my sporadic series on various college majors students may choose. To discuss the field of Communications, I’ve invited back Dr. Tim Muehlhoff, professor of Communications at Biola University.

 

In this podcast we discuss:

How Tim decided to major in Communications

Career choices Communications majors have

The two things a college education should provide

The personal characteristics that will help you flourish in Communications

How studying Communications has helped his faith

Mainstream ideas in Communications that are consistent with a Christian worldview

Mainstream ideas in Communications that are inconsistent with a Christian worldview

How to engage these ideas constructively

The emerging “golden era” of Christian communications theorists

How to discover the direction of a university’s Communications major

Movements afoot in Communications to be aware of

The growing influence of digital media, and how Christians can be thoughtful about this opportunity

Practical advice to keep our family (and friends, churches, businesses) together when we deeply disagree

The important role of internships for a career in Communications, and the role of professional societies

His advice to his 18-year-old self considering majoring in Communications

The importance of being in a community of Christians at college, no matter what your major is

 

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Tim Muehlhoff and Todd Lewis, Authentic Communication: Christian Speech Engaging Culture

Biola University Communications Department

Tim Muehlhoff and Sean McDowell, End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations

Sean McDowell’s YouTube channel 

Tim Muehlhoff and Rick Langer, The Winsome Conviction project and podcast

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

NCA - National Communication Association and RCA - Religious Communication Association

 Stan Wallace, College Faith podcast series on campus ministries

Between the recording of this episode and its posting, Randy Newman, my guest and dear friend, went to be with the Lord. Though Randy is certainly rejoicing to be in the presence of his King, I and so many others who knew him well are grieving deeply. But, as a way to honor his memory, and to continue encouraging others to learn from his great wisdom, I have decided to post this interview posthumously. We discuss a topic very dear to him--helping believers engage their doubts in healthy and redemptive ways. I believe he would have wanted you to hear what he had to say when we talked, to encourage you to continue “fighting the good fight” that he has now so well completed.

 

 In this episode Randy and I discuss his recently-released Questioning Faith: Indirect Journeys of Belief through Terrains of Doubt. It is a given that college students, including those heading off to college as believers, will have questions and doubts about the Christian faith. Randy’s wisdom and care for other’s spiritual journeys will be a great help to students (and all others) who navigate the journey through doubt.

 

In this podcast we discuss:

How Randy first got interested in understanding the role doubt plays in the Christian faith

Why he decided to write Questioning Faith

The importance of pre-evangelism before we begin sharing the gospel

Faith (in something) is inevitable, not optional

The main point he wants readers to take away from this book: it’s OK to have questions, but find answers

The value of doubt in the Christian life

How he deals with doubts due to the reality of evil

Why certainty is not necessary to know Christianity is true

The problem with the “presumption of atheism”

Why very good “second things” make very bad “first things” in our lives

Beauty as one of God’s signposts

Advice to Christian students who have doubts about the Christian faith

Advice to Christian students as they talk to peers with doubts about the Christian faith

Advice to parents, grandparents, and pastors as they nurture those with doubts

 

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

David Foster Wallace, “This is Water,” Commencement Address at Kenyon College in 2005

C.S. Lewis Institute

Randy Newman’s Questions That Matter podcast

The Washington Institute for Faith, Vocation, and Culture

RandyDavidNewman.com