by Josh Paxton | May 30, 2017
Calvary University Announces the Burnham Center for Global Engagement
Calvary University prepares Christians to live and serve in the church and in the world according to the biblical worldview and has since its establishment in 1932. For 85 years, many students have trained to go around the world as cross-cultural messengers of the gospel, serving in over 65 countries.
Gracia Burnham with Joshua Paxton
Calvary University is honored to announce the founding of the Burnham Center for Global Engagement. The Burnham Center reflects Calvary’s commitment to global ministry and will serve as the central point for Calvary’s cross-cultural ministry training. The training in the Intercultural Studies Program includes overseas mission opportunities, participating on the Student Missions Committee; promoting intercultural understanding in ministry, with a strong biblical framework. Work is already underway to expand Calvary’s intercultural education programs for its students.
Martin and Gracia Burnham, a recognizable name for many, represent alumni who have faithfully advanced the gospel message. After completing college in preparation for mission work, the Burnhams served with New Tribes Mission, now Ethnos360, in the Philippines for 17 years before being kidnapped in 2001 by Abu Sayyaf militants. In June 2002, after more than a year in captivity, the Philippine military attempted to rescue them, during which Martin was tragically killed in the resulting gunfight. Though wounded, Gracia was rescued and able to return home. She has since become a writer, an international speaker, and an inspiration to people who desire global engagement for the sake of the gospel. Her story continues to embolden many to face adversity in their own lives and move ahead in taking the gospel to unreached peoples.
Martin and Gracia already possessed deep ties to Calvary University as Gracia’s father taught at the school in the Bible and Theology Department. Gracia continues to remain a frequent presence at Calvary, and recently gave the commencement address at Calvary’s 2017 graduation ceremony.
The faculty and staff of Calvary University are grateful to Martin and Gracia for their faithful service on the mission field. The Burnham Center for Global Engagement will serve as the next chapter in Calvary’s legacy of training Christians to reach the nations for Christ.
Be on the lookout for more updates about the Burnham Center for Global Engagement soon!
by Webmanager | Jun 17, 2016
Calvary will remain as true as ever to its mission and Biblical commitment
In keeping with Calvary’s Seven Points for Excellence, and in order to be most effective in fulfilling the mission to “… prepare Christians to live and serve in the church and in the world, according to a Biblical worldview,” Calvary has announced that it has rebranded as Calvary University identifying several reasons for the rebranding, including:
- The increased difficulty for graduates to find employment with a degree from a Bible college
- The increased difficulty in accessing some countries for missions with a degree from a Bible college
- The incorrect yet increasingly prominent perceptions that (1) a Bible college only prepares people for full-time church ministry and (2) a Bible college offers a lesser quality of education
- Calvary’s mission, degree offerings, accreditation, and undergraduate and graduate divisions are all broader than the traditional Bible college classification
Rebranding does not represent a change in the mission or philosophy of Calvary. Rebranding is not because Calvary needs a new philosophical direction, but because Calvary has been operating beyond the perceived scope of a Bible college for many years.
In order to ensure that Calvary remains true to its mission and committed to the Bible, the Cabinet crafted four amendments to Calvary’s bylaws. All four were unanimously approved by Calvary’s Board of Trustees on Friday, May 6, 2016:
- Amendment #1: Calvary shall always maintain a Christian accreditation, and specifically ABHE, as long as it is available, or another comparable accreditation if ABHE is not available, to ensure accountability in maintaining a Biblical core and Christian ministry requirements.
- Amendment #2: The Bible shall be a required textbook for every course offered at Calvary.
- Amendment #3: Calvary’s faculty shall recognize and teach the Biblical foundations for the subject matter of every course.
- Amendment #4: The educational entity of Calvary Bible College and Theological Seminary shall be named Calvary University as of July 1, 2016, in order to best support the mission of Calvary and to maximize opportunities for Calvary’s students.
The amendments show that Calvary’s rebranding does not represent a shift in philosophy or priorities and that Calvary will remain as true as ever to its mission and Biblical commitment.
Our mission is vital, and we simply cannot fulfill it without your help. Please help us to prepare Christians to live and serve in the church and in the world according to a Biblical worldview – we are committed to being faithful with this incredible stewardship, and we are grateful for your partnership in this grand task.”
