Animating Vision
“I find tremendous joy and meaning in seeking the creation and redemption of learners and learning.”
— Mark Husbands
Christian learning is a remarkable gift.
Christians see the world from the perspective of the person and work of Christ as set out in Scripture. Precisely because “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col 1:17), the liberal arts, professional studies, and seminary education are life-giving domains in which to learn, research, worship, and prepare for lives of meaningful service and impact.
However challenging current demographic and economic shifts may be, the mission and value of Christian Higher education is so very important to the life and witness of the Church that we need to do all that we can to ensure its ongoing vitality.
Nathan Grace concludes his illuminating work, The Agile College: How Institutions Successfully Navigate Demographic Changes:
“With student-centred, mission-focused reform, institutions may emerge, not untouched by demographic change but reshaped into better, if sometimes leaner, versions of themselves, prepared to serve students for generations to come.”
A biblical view of life compels each of us to transact in hope. The beauty, truth, and wisdom of the Gospel form a solid foundation for hope and renewal. Through gracious revelation in Holy Scripture and the “book of nature,” God manifests Himself, making Christian learning and scholarship central to the cultural witness and renewal of a world that is created, sustained, and redeemed by Him.
By committing to developing, nurturing, and utilizing the talents of faithful, innovative, and collaborative faculty, staff, and administrators, agile, resilient, and entrepreneurial Christian institutions can profoundly impact the ministry and work of future Christian leaders.
It has been a privilege to serve as President of a global Christian university and seminary, where I have had the honor of working alongside an exceptional group of colleagues. Together, we have successfully guided Trinity Western University through a pandemic, positioning the institution well to face the challenges of demographic, economic, and cultural disruptions, soli Deo gloria.
About
As President of Denver Seminary, I continue the extraordinary calling and privilege of witnessing God's transformative work in the lives of students, faculty, and staff. In this new chapter of leadership, I have the privilege of equipping students to more fully embrace God’s call upon their lives. Denver Seminary does this by forming theological leaders through extraordinarily learner-focused education that equips graduates to engage the needs of the world with the redemptive power of the gospel and the life-changing truth of Scripture.
Writings
The purpose and joy that I experience as a Christian theologian, and as a Executive leader is captured by Karl Barth who writes:
“The theologian who labors without joy is not a theologian at all. Sulky faces, morose thoughts and boring ways of speaking are intolerable in this science. But we must know, of course, that it is only God who can keep us from it.”
— Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics II/1, p. 656.
Sermons
It is a remarkable privilege to proclaim God's Word. Preaching is a lofty calling and a compelling duty, vital for the well-being of the Church. Faithful preaching demands both courage and humility – the willingness to listen attentively and faithfully echo the voice of the Good Shepherd. As in all faithful ministry, preaching demands commitment to being a servant of God’s Word. But oh, what a noble calling this is!
As the gifted preacher and theologian, Karl Barth writes:
"Holy scripture is in fact so interesting and has so much that is new and exciting to tell us that listeners cannot even think about dropping off to sleep."
— Karl Barth, Homiletics, 80
Created to Flourish
The “Created to Flourish: Faith & Learning” initiative is a year-long faculty and staff seminar that encourages meaningful consideration of the nature of faith and work.
Together, we strive to answer the question:
How is my day-to-day work a sign of the resurrection and foretaste of the coming kingdom and rule of Christ?
We take up this question with the conviction that we were created to flourish by using our gifts, time, and treasure to serve the common good and glorify God.