College of Theology

The One Foundation Lunch and Learns, which began Friday, offer a perfect opportunity for faculty members to learn more about teaching from a Christian perspective. “It sustains a conversation that is necessary,” said Dr. Jason Hiles, Dean of the College of Theology. Five more one-hour sessions are scheduled during the academic year, and the first 100 people to sign up get a free lunch.

Andre Mooney, a member of the Online Full-Time Faculty in the College of Theology, plays a mean game of pickleball — he’s even an instructor in the sport. But when it comes to teaching, he’s anything but mean. He talks about “doing life with my students” and works hard to help his students to “see the world through a Christian lens,” as he puts it. But most and impressive of all is a responsibility he and his wife have taken on.

Beth Guckenberger said she was ill-prepared for her life in missional work and found herself in over her head many times. But she shows up, with her pink Bible, her heart and her mind and knows that God will show up for her, too. “Do you know how many times I’ve been in over my head? Every day,” she told students at Chapel. ” … But here’s what happens. When you get into God’s business, and you get in over your head and you cry out to him, he’ll say, ‘Hey, whatever it is you’re asking of me, I’m already in agreement of it.” Her talk came just before Monday night’s mission fair at GCU Arena and tonight’s The Gathering, where several mission groups will conduct break-out sessions. Her talk also came at a time when the Worship Team was celebrating something of their own — the release of the new Canyon Worship album.

To celebrate the release of Canyon Worship 2019, Amanda Riffe performed “Isaiah 55” at Chapel this morning. The story of how she conceptualized her song is remarkably similar to those of other student artists on the album. “It’s definitely a Holy Spirit thing,” she said.

The Canyon Worship albums quickly have gained a national reputation for their depth and quality, which makes the Monday release for the 2019 version a big day for old fans and new. And this year, the push is on to get it in the hands of even more people. “We want to get it as far-reaching as we can,” said Dr. Randall Downs, Coordinator of the Center for Worship Arts at GCU. Last in a nine-part series on GCU academics.

Photos by Elizabeth Tinajero and Enrique Lucha GCU News Bureau Thursday’s Welcome Week activities included socials for the Academic and Career Excellence (ACE) centers and transfer students, ROTC orientation and a welcome-back party for Worship Arts students.  

Move-In gets the year started off right for incoming GCU students, but it has the same effect on the volunteers who help them. Whether they’re helping for the first time or are seniors and have done it every year, they treasure the excitement. “It’s my third year, and it’s always the same energy,” said one.

The highlight of the GCU summer was Joseph Allen winning the Golden Buzzer on “America’s Got Talent.” But he also was a standout performer while on campus. Catch Allen on “AGT” as the second week of the live shows gear up.

It’s been a big couple of weeks for the GCU Recording Studio, which is seeing yet another success story. Jason Henshaw, an incoming Worship Arts senior, found out this weekend that his song, “Calabasas Rose,” was used on the end credits of a recent episode of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” Henshaw recorded the vocals for the rap song in the campus studio. Earlier this month, a former student, Joseph Allen, gained national attention on “America’s Got Talent.”

Joseph Allen recorded his own 10-song LP, “The College Lifestyle,” when he was a student at GCU. But the Digital Film graduate took the next big step in his career, auditioning for “America’s Got Talent” and achieving something unimaginable. He received the much sought-after Golden Buzzer from Howie Mandel, which means he automatically advances to the next level of competition — the live auditions. He also got a Lopes up from judge Julianne Hough and this comment from Simon Cowell, who was amazed by the audience’s reaction to him (several Lopes were in the audience) before he even performed: “I tell you what, the WHOLE WORLD should go to your school right now.” Added GCU President Brian Mueller: “When I saw the video from ‘America’s Got Talent,’ I wasn’t surprised at all. He has that kind of effect on people. He’s very enthusiastic, charismatic, people-oriented and has a lot of friends at GCU. When he gets in a setting like that, he just makes people feel good.”