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Testimonials from Huntington University alumni
Jeremy McClung (1998, B.A. in Bible and Religion) "My experience at Huntington University laid a foundation upon which my life and ministry experiences have continued to build. My undergraduate study at Huntington gave me a healthy balance of the academic and the spiritual sides of studying God as well as the theoretical and the practical sides of doing ministry and Christian life. I look back on my years at Huntington as some of the best and most formative of my life. The knowledge I gained in the Bible and Religion department gave me the tools I needed to study the Scriptures in an informed and intelligent way — without diminishing their value or accuracy as the Word of God. I was exposed to a variety of theological understandings and perspectives that prepared me to understand the diverse backgrounds and beliefs of the people I serve... The faculty were people who cared about me as a person and who were ready to share their own lives with me, providing a host of role-models and mentors to look up to... Huntington was a life-changing place for me — a safe but challenging place to learn, grow and discover who I was as I prepared to enter the world of full-time ministry. No amount of college programs or classes can ever fully prepare a man or woman for the realities of full-time service to God and His church. However, Huntington University gave me a foundation for ministry that will last for the rest of my life – the person and work of Jesus Christ Himself."
Carolyn Benjey (2003, B.A. in Bible and Religion) "I learned so much more about the Bible and about my faith as a Bible and Religion major. I now know more of the historical background for the Bible because of my Old and New Testament classes. I can read the New Testament in Greek which adds a whole new meaning to it for me. There are so many nuances and meanings that you just don’t pick up when reading the English translation. Through my Biblical Archaeology class I now know more about the physical places of the Old and New Testaments... The Bible came alive for me. There is so much more that I could say about the impact of this program on my life, but I’ll stop there. Just one little word of advice: No matter what program of study you are contemplating, make sure that you doing God’s will. Pray!"
Mike Hornbeck (2002, B.A. in Bible and Religion) "I remember the value of learning to journal. I also thought about the emphasis on doing scholarly work, really getting into the meat of things, engaging a variety of perspectives and the value of the diversity of beliefs that come together to shed new light on areas of Scripture that we thought we clearly understood... How much I appreciate even the disagreements more now, from my teaching/discipling role. I also really valued the role of prayer in our Bible classes."
Tim Hallman (1996, B.A. in Bible and Religion) "My experience with the Bible and Religion Department at Huntington University was good for my faith. Prior to my education at Huntington, my exposure to academic study of the Scriptures was limited. As I sat under the teachings of the professors my freshman year, my faith was rattled and then restored. They helped me question my assumptions about what the Scriptures teach. But they also deepened my respect for the depths of Scripture and the necessary discipline required to discern its truth... Now, almost a decade after graduation, my gratitude for my Bible and Religion professors has increased. As a pastor of a growing congregation, more people are asking more questions about the Scriptures mean – and the Bible and Religion Department was crucial in helping me develop skills to help more people find helpful and true answers. My love for God and His Word continues to increase, and my experience at Huntington was a significant factor in sustaining and enriching that love.”
John A. Smith (2002, B.A. in Bible and Religion)
"Looking back on my experience as a Bible and Religion major
at Huntington, there is one thing that I learned that is more valuable than
any knowledge or skill I've acquired to date. I have to confess, it's not my
understanding of Greek or Hebrew or my ability to do word studies and
exegesis. It's not even the valuable lessons I learned about the historical
context of the Scriptures.
Todd DeKruyter (2003, B.A. in Bible and Religion) "My time at Huntington was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience as a Bible and Religion major. Having now gone on to seminary I feel more than aptly prepared. The quality of education was magnificent. The professors not only taught in class but were available to go out to lunch to talk about something in the subject, future schooling or life. Dr. Fairchild joined me in many a fun time, even going to the movies with a group of us once. One thing I feared about studying the Bible as an academic discipline was making the Word of God a text book. The professors at Huntington helped push me deeper in areas of thought as well as helped me see new personal insights in scripture. I love the balance they brought to studying the word of God even in Greek. Dr. Bergdall’s passion for excellence paired with his personal insights brought much to the table... The professors also were able to make it enjoyable... I would recommend Huntington to all who are pursuing God or a degree in Bible or Theology."
Jeremy Clark (1994, B.A. in Bible and Religion) "Eleven years ago when I graduated from Huntington University with a degree in Bible and Religion, I never thought I would be attending language school in Costa Rica preparing for a ministry in Central America. However, as time wore on and I found myself further and further away from graduation day, I realized that one thing remained constant — my desire to study the Word of God. This was not a desire I created, but that God put in me. Being the good God that He is, He did not merely give me a passion and leave me to the wind. No, God placed me at Huntington College where guidance was added to that passion, knowledge to the desire, and love to my fervor. The Bible and Religion Department at HU was a place where I was free to think, free to study and free to challenge. It was a place of growth not of stifling. It was a place of comfort knowing that our professors loved us more than our education. But most importantly, it was a place where the risen Savior was glorified and where He was the purpose of our education."
Matt Kennedy (1990, B.A. in Bible and Religion) "The Bible and Religion program at Huntington University has given me a solid Biblically based foundation upon which to build not only a ministry but also my life. The emphasis on proper exegesis and hermeneutics allowed for thought and discussion that made room for various opinions without compromising the truth and integrity of God's Word, a tool I have found very useful in engaging today's culture with the Gospel."
Christy Glick (2002, B.A. in Bible and Religion) "I would not replace my time at Huntington University with any other experience. The diversity of the Bible and Religion Department allowed me to formulate a solid foundation for a life of ministry. I was challenged intellectually, no doubt, by the requirements of the program and the depth of the material. Most importantly, I discovered the fellowship of Christian leaders (that of both professors and students) whose lives exemplified the challenge of our faith – our true quest – to live out the gospel of Christ as it drives our every endeavor." |
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