My philosophy of Christian higher education is grounded in the conviction that all truth is God’s truth, particularly when that truth happens to support my educational philosophy. I believe education is most effective when intellectual growth, spiritual formation, personal development, and a respectable number of administrative meetings are pursued together. Education should certainly provide knowledge and professional skills, but it should also produce people of character who can serve God, lead others with humility, and, when appropriate, recognize the wisdom of those occupying offices with impressive titles.
My approach to teaching rests on four foundational principles: cultivating faith, preparing students to influence the world for Christ, pursuing excellence as an act of worship, and developing servant leaders. These principles sound especially impressive when arranged together in strategic planning documents.
Faith is not something I believe should simply be added to education like another course requirement. It should shape the way students understand every discipline. Music, history, science, business, and the humanities all provide opportunities to recognize God’s truth, creativity, and order. They also provide opportunities for educators to explain how students should interpret those things correctly.
Authentic learning occurs when students are challenged intellectually while growing spiritually. Biblical truth should influence their decisions, relationships, careers, and priorities. Ideally, students eventually reach conclusions that demonstrate both independent thought and a reassuring similarity to what their professors have been telling them all semester.
I also believe students are called to serve as ambassadors for Christ in their professions and communities. Christian higher education should prepare graduates not merely to earn salaries and collect impressive résumés, but to live faithfully wherever God places them. Whether they work in churches, schools, concert halls, businesses, or community organizations, students should understand that their talents have been entrusted to them for God’s glory and the service of others. Naturally, there is nothing wrong with receiving a little professional recognition along the way.
Excellence is another defining element of my philosophy. Colossians 3:23–24 teaches that whatever we do should be done wholeheartedly as unto the Lord. Excellence, therefore, is not supposed to be about personal recognition. This is an important distinction, especially when personal recognition happens to arrive anyway in the form of titles, awards, promotions, recordings, applause, or lengthy biographies.
True excellence requires discipline, preparation, attention to detail, perseverance, and responsible stewardship of the talents God has given us. I have always believed students should give their very best, particularly when their performance reflects upon the department, institution, conductor, dean, or administrator standing somewhere nearby.
Leadership development is equally important. Christ modeled leadership through humility, sacrifice, service, and love. Effective leadership should therefore be measured by the ability to invest in others, encourage their development, and unite people around a common purpose, preferably one that leadership has already carefully selected for them.
My goal is to develop transformational servant leaders who demonstrate wisdom, integrity, compassion, courage, and an appropriate respect for organizational structure. Leadership is not merely about possessing authority. It is about serving others while occasionally reminding everyone who is responsible for making the final decision.
Ultimately, I view my calling as a Christian educator as an investment in the whole person: academically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and professionally. I want students to pursue excellence, deepen their relationship with Christ, develop strong character, and prepare for meaningful service.
My hope is that graduates leave with knowledge, professional preparation, spiritual maturity, conviction, and the ability to influence their communities for the glory of God. And if, years later, they happen to remember who helped shape all of that, I certainly would not object.