Ministry versus Integration

After reading Culbertson's article "A New Rallying Cry" I would have to disagree with some of his points. In any field, even education, marketing is very important. I can't help to think Culbertson's "call" is more of a marketing strategy. I believe if integration to faith and learning has failed, it is due to professors AND students. For many students, myself included, they need to be ENGAGED in the classroom by the professor and KNOW how to integrate faith and learning. When I came to Montreat College, the idea of integrating faith and learning was new to me. I will admit I probably wouldn't call myself a Christian scholar as Culbertson points out, but I feel like I am on my way in understanding this concept better.

Culbertson is a professor of missions at Southern Nazarene, which is "why" he probably puts the emphasis on "ministry" in his new slogan idea. He sees that the integration of faith and learning doesn't go far enough. Missions and hands-on experience needs to be a part of the integration. You can read more about Culbertson's mission work at http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/.

My second point, is that it seems that Culbertson's call for Ministry Across Curriculum related more with professors than students. In all of his points, he emphasizes the role of the professors instead of the student. Where does the student's role in this "new cry" fit? I like the idea of integrating faith and learning because it puts the responsibility on the professor and the student.

I do like the author's point about not treating faith and learning as equal parts. Sometimes I think if viewed my learning as important as my faith I would do better in the classroom! Many people to put faith as their center, which don't get me wrong is good. But, can you imagine if students valued their education as much as their faith what impact that would have on their engagement in class, academic faithfulness, and their GPA!

I do like the word "ministry" and what it could mean for students. I think we should see our education as part of a ministry. One of Culbertson's questions is "What would it look like?" I don't know how students would "live" out the curriculum part. Using the word curriculum almost seems tied to the classroom, while integrating faith and learning could be applied to the classroom, the community, athletics, and other extracurricular activities. Using the word curriculum almost seems smaller in perspective. Even though I like the word ministry, it may need to be described more in detail for those students who are not deep in their faith.

I like what Robert Harris said in his article related to integration of faith and learning. "Christians must be intentional about making the connections between their faith and the knowledge claims they encounter and careful to keep the Biblical framework in the foreground as the structuring principle of truth. Finally, why even make this change? I don't think changing the "slogan" is going to change anything. To make any slogan or idea work you have to have the people behind it believe in it. Why would professors do anything different with this new slogan? Yeah, Culbertson makes some good points, but the bottom line is there has to be a change in professors and students' hearts and minds about making this ministry and integration a priority. If you don't do that, no fancy slogan will make a difference.

A Coach's Integration of Faith

There is a lot of discussion of how professors integrate faith into learning, but what about college athletics? In the sports world, you hear a lot about scandal, low GPA, and how athletics is more important than school. What about Montreat? How well do our coaches integrate faith into their sport. I asked my head basketball coach, Bill Robinson to give his testimony on how he integrates faith onto the basketball court and why it is important for him to take this action.

There are many ways to integrate your faith into an athletic team. We do daily devotions, quotes or scriptures of the day. Team devotions or specific times to go to church together are also an option. One concept I really like is to be able to tithe practice time. If you have 120 minute practice, take 10% (12 min) and have discussions, prayer or a devotional to focus things. The big thing for me is to be ‘real’. I want my players to know that I am human and that I struggle with the same things that they do. I am in no way better than they are but I’ve made a commitment to be a Christ-follower and that it is a daily walk.

Athletics presents “teachable” moments where you can use real life situations to teach the lessons that are important.

Give Thanks

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God ..."(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

As I go home for Thanksgiving break, it is easy to miss the meaning of this important holiday. With Christmas decorations, carols, and retail mania already happening, many people forget or maybe just bypass the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

We are commanded by God to "give thanks." Why, is it important for us to give thanks? For many of us, me including, we get wrapped in our everyday "stuff" and sometimes forget to thank God for what we do have. As stated in the previous articles, it is important to acknowledge God in the good times as well as when our prayers are not answered. In reading those points, it is important to also be thankful in those moments as well.

Reflection on 3rd Article

My third reflection is on another article written by Robert Harris on integrating faith and learning. Most important is his point of reading and understanding the Bible. Doing this will allow one to "connect knowledge" as Harris points out and to also do the faith and integration assumptions listed on page three of the article. Without understanding the Bible and understanding your own worldview, your convictions, morals, values...what you believe in, one cannot understand that all truth is God's truth and to help make differences with secular and Christian education. The hard part in understanding the Bible is all the different interpretations there are...hence all the denominations that we have today. So, my question is what interpretation is correct? What denominations speaks the Biblical "truth"? For example, the Biblical truth on alcohol or the truth on interracial dating?

Little About Me

Yeah...I know I have a profile, but I thought you might enjoy knowing a little more about me...Brian.

I was born in Gastonia, NC on November 23, 1983 to Randy and Gloria Adams. I have two brothers, Randy and Chucky. I have a little niece who thinks she is "hot stuff"... Sanaa.

I love basketball!! You can check out more about me on my Cavalier bio page at http://www.montreatcavaliers.com/.

I hope you are enjoying my blog and are looking forward to more posts! Let me know what you think and check out my poll!

Basketball Upsets Milligan at Home

Last Wednesday, the men's basketball team had their first conference game of the year. Coming in to the game, the Cavs knew it was an important game against Milligan, one that could potentially decide AAC Champs.

The game was a close battle all the way through. With less than two minutes left in the game, with the game tied, a missed shot from MJ Njoku led to a tip in my Seth Moore, for the Cavs to go up by two. Then a steal by Terrell Mosley aka "Smooth" on a Milligan in bounds led to a quick two. Montreat led by four with about a minute left. Montreat would hold to the lead for a 84-79 win.

Don't Put Faith In A Box

Robert Harris' article on The Integration of Faith and Learning is a good read along with Dockery's previous article. They both explain the importance of integrating your faith with your learning. Harris' article deals more with practical, day-to-day information. The information in the article strengthened what I know and undertand regarding faith integration and challenged my faith and daily walk with God.

Some points that spoke to me were:

1. "The more solidly rational and educated is the support for the faith, the stronger the faith will be and the more powerful the witness will be to an increasingly educated, skeptical, seeking, needy world. "

Harris points out the true reality we live in every day. There are non-believers and skeptics even here on Montreat's campus. It is important to understand why I believe what I believe and be able to communicate this truth with others.

2. "Without integration, the students will risk compartmentalizing their faith, putting it in a box separate from their intellectual and working life. At the worst, the faith will become merely an emotional outlet, with God becoming a vending machine: put in a prayer and get out a blessing."

This is definitely true for me. When God answers my prayers, all is good and it's joy, joy, joy. When God doesn't answer my prayers, I feel like he doesn't care and I turn my back.

3. "Lifelong Integration...Integration is a process, that must take place every day, because we are presented with new claims, new facts, new interpretations every day."

It is not always easy to work at something every day, but Harris points out that faith integration is worth it. This article influenced me in a positive way. Harris points of emphasis are great examples of practical daily things I can do to strenghen my faith and walk with Christ. I need to integrate my faith in my education so I can be a better disciple. I need to be grateful for my answered and unanswered prayers, and that all this is not going to happen overnight, but it will take time. As a believer, I have to make that commitment.