Biblical Higher Ed Talk

Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education.This episode originally aired November 2025___Religious liberty is not a political stance but a founding principle essential to a free and flourishing society. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Todd Williams, president of Cairn University, explores why defending religious freedom matters not only for Christian institutions but for the good of all. Drawing from his testimony before the U.S. Religious Liberty Commission, Dr. Williams offers wisdom for leaders seeking to preserve conviction, uphold truth, and prepare the next generation to live faithfully in a changing world.___Tune In to Discover▫️Why religious liberty is foundational to a free society▫️How removing faith from culture weakens justice and virtue▫️What Christian educators can do to protect institutional autonomy▫️The dangers of open enrollment and mission drift in Christian colleges▫️Three practical ways to strengthen your institution’s religious identity___ Inside the Episode02:02 - Why religious liberty is a founding principle, not a policy issue06:13 - How freedom of faith sustains a just and virtuous society08:02 - What history teaches when religion is removed from culture14:56 - Todd’s experience testifying before the Religious Liberty Commission22:12 - Why worldview and theology can never be separated from education26:44 - Three ways Christian colleges unknowingly weaken their own liberty34:28 - A practical first step for every Christian leader___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.___The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part ofThe Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

After decades of faithfully serving as Vice President for Advancement at Indiana Wesleyan University, Terry Munday has seen firsthand how generosity, obedience, and relationships shape both institutions and eternal lives. In this compelling conversation, Terry reflects on a calling that led him from public education into Christian higher education fundraising, often requiring personal sacrifice, long-term trust, and spiritual courage. Through stories marked by humor, heartbreak, and unmistakable miracles, he reveals how fundraising, when rooted in faith, becomes far more than raising money. It becomes ministry.🎧 Tune In to DiscoverHow holy boldness reshapes the way leaders approach the askWhy relationship-driven fundraising requires patience and long-term trustHow stewardship and obedience intersect in Christian higher educationWhat decades of advancement work reveal about ministry, generosity, and eternal impact🎙️ Inside the Episode05:40 – Following God’s call despite a significant financial sacrifice10:01 – Why fundraising is a spiritual discipline, not a transaction17:05 – Sustaining institutional growth through faithful stewardship24:03 – A miraculous story of generosity, salvation, and eternal impact33:50 – Why relationship-based fundraising requires patience and longevity34:18 – The most common mistake colleges make in fundraisingTo 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.The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Biblical higher education exists to prepare leaders for the full scope of ministry, including moments when theology meets suffering, loss, and the realities of death. In this episode, Brian Hennan reflects on how his journey from pastoral ministry into hospice care revealed a critical gap in how Christian leaders are trained to guide individuals and families through end of life decisions. Drawing from years of hands-on experience, Brian calls Bible colleges and seminaries to more intentionally equip students with a biblical framework for the sanctity of life, pastoral presence, and faithful decision-making from birth to death.🎧 Tune In to DiscoverWhy end of life care is a discipleship issue, not just a medical oneHow biblical higher education can better prepare future pastors for death and dyingWhat theological principles should shape end of life decisionsHow Christian leaders can shepherd families with clarity, humility, and hope🎙️ Inside the Episode01:59 – From pastoral burnout to a calling in hospice and end of life education06:11 – The training gap facing Bible colleges and seminaries08:35 – Teaching the sanctity of life from birth through death12:57 – Navigating dementia, suffering, and God’s sovereignty16:45 – What higher education does well, and where it must grow18:46 – Pastoral presence, listening well, and avoiding easy answers21:09 – Stewardship, advance directives, and loving others wisely25:12 – Re-centering hope on eternity and the promise of resurrection27:53 – Why humility and collaboration matter in pastoral leadershipTo 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.The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What does faithful leadership in theological education look like amid cultural change, secularization, and global realignment? In this insightful conversation, Marvin Oxenham offers a grounded and hopeful perspective on the state of theological education in Europe. Drawing from his leadership with the European Council for Theological Education and his work across multiple global networks, Marvin challenges narratives of decline and highlights growth, innovation, and renewed opportunity for the church and academy across Europe.🎧 Tune In to DiscoverWhy theological education in Europe is not fading but evolvingHow cultural diversity and migration are reshaping ministry preparationWhat distributed leadership and bi-vocational ministry mean for training leadersHow accreditation and quality assurance function across Europe’s varied systemsWhy micro-credentials present new opportunities for theological education🎙️ Inside the Episode01:50 – The spiritual landscape of Europe today and common misconceptions05:08 – Surprising growth trends in European theological education07:17 – Distributed leadership and bi-vocational ministry formation10:15 – Why “evangelical” was removed from ECTE’s name13:22 – How accreditation works across Europe’s diverse systems25:15 – What micro-credentials are and why they matter for theology35:03 – The greatest threat and opportunity facing theological education in EuropeTo 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.The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Philip Dearborn shares a brief message of gratitude, vision, and anticipation for what lies ahead. He thanks listeners for being part of Biblical Higher Ed Talk and reflects on the mission of highlighting faithful leadership across biblical and Christian higher education and the church. Philip also looks ahead to Season 7, previewing upcoming conversations, leadership development initiatives, and key gatherings, including the ABHE Annual Meeting and spring leadership conferences. With an encouraging pastoral tone, he invites listeners from every context to continue growing as leaders, deepening their walk with the Lord, and engaging the work God is doing across the global biblical higher education community.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.The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A 200 year old organization does not thrive by accident. Jennifer Holloran shares how the American Bible Society is renewing its mission for a new generation, strengthening Bible engagement in the U.S. and globally, and helping people encounter Scripture in transformative ways. Her leadership journey, combined with fresh insights from the State of the Bible survey, offers a compelling look at how God is moving through one of the nation’s oldest ministries.🎧 Tune in to discover✅ Why ABS’s founding vision still shapes its mission today✅ How Bible engagement is growing, especially among younger men✅ What the State of the Bible research reveals about human flourishing✅ How ABS is innovating with digital tools to support churches and individuals✅ Why emerging leaders should take one simple next step in their Bible journey🎙️ Inside the Episode:01:53 – The spiritual legacy behind ABS’s founding vision05:39 – Why Bible access is not enough for real discipleship today12:13 – Leading change in a 200 year old ministry19:57 – Encouraging trends from the State of the Bible research24:45 – How ABS is preparing for America’s 250th anniversary32:44 – A word of encouragement for emerging leadersTo 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.The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Historically, many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada have their roots in churches and denominations. But over time, those connections have faded on campuses and in classrooms. What exactly makes a Christian college "Christian" today?. Jesse Rine, Executive Director of The Center for Academic Faithfulness & Flourishing, is working to provide prospective students and their parents with the information they need to make informed decisions about their college choice.🎧 Tune In to Discover✅ What makes a Christian college "Christian"✅ A vision for long-term culture change in Christian institutionsTo 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.The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Religious liberty is not a political stance but a founding principle essential to a free and flourishing society. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Todd Williams, president of Cairn University, explores why defending religious freedom matters not only for Christian institutions but for the good of all. Drawing from his testimony before the U.S. Religious Liberty Commission, Dr. Williams offers wisdom for leaders seeking to preserve conviction, uphold truth, and prepare the next generation to live faithfully in a changing world.🎧 Tune In to Discover✅Why religious liberty is foundational to a free society✅How removing faith from culture weakens justice and virtue✅What Christian educators can do to protect institutional autonomy✅The dangers of open enrollment and mission drift in Christian colleges✅Three practical ways to strengthen your institution’s religious identity🎙️ Inside the Episode02:02 - Why religious liberty is a founding principle, not a policy issue06:13 - How freedom of faith sustains a just and virtuous society08:02 - What history teaches when religion is removed from culture14:56 - Todd’s experience testifying before the Religious Liberty Commission22:12 - Why worldview and theology can never be separated from education26:44 - Three ways Christian colleges unknowingly weaken their own liberty34:28 - A practical first step for every Christian leaderTo 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.The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.