College of Theology

Dr. Jonathan Sharpe, Assistant Professor and Christian Worldview Course Lead for the College of Theology, likes to tell stories and use film clips in his classes. That’s no accident. In fact, he says, he carefully chooses them for specific moments in the course.

When students strolled through the Promenade on Tuesday at the Lopes Launch Senior Sendoff Event, they were likely to run into a graduate of GCU now working in the community who had come back to recruit them. One organization, Central Leadership Institute, has hired GCU grads for seven of its 23 residency posts in the past four years — and it sent a GCU alum to get more.

Saturday was a day of celebration as Grand Canyon University’s Alpha Chi chapter inducted 1,212 new members into the prestigious honors society. Only students within the top 10% of their graduating class in each of their individual colleges are eligible. “GCU does attract a lot of exceptional learners,” Honors College Associate Dean Breanna Naegeli said.

Dr. Mark Kreitzer of the College of Theology has been an in-demand speaker all over the world and says, “My greatest passion is to see all peoples and nations discipled with the Gospel of our Lord so that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the seas.” But he also gets joy out of walking and praying as he walks with his wife around their neighborhood.

The Association of Christian Schools International’s first international job fair at GCU brought representatives from 28 countries to campus Tuesday. “We have a variety of job fairs and career fairs, but mostly they’re local and national. This is opening up the door in a large way to the number of professions in that international sphere,” said Dr. Tacy Ashby, Senior Vice President of K12 Educational Development. “The College of Education is really excited about this because it affords incredible ministry opportunities while allowing their students the opportunity to serve in Christian schools abroad.”

Canyon Worship Live, the concert featuring performances by the student artists from the recently released Worship Arts album, was on campus for the first time Monday night, and Ethington Theatre was packed for the occasion. It was loud, it was electric and it was a moment to reflect on how the students’ confidence keeps growing every time they go onstage.

There were graduates from four different colleges at the Thursday evening ceremony of Fall Commencement, but their stories have several things in common — starting with perseverance. But it’s also gratifying to hear about the support of their families and the admiration of their children.

Photos by Elizabeth Tinajero GCU News Bureau The 7 p.m. ceremony Thursday was for online graduates of the College of Fine Arts and Production, the College of Theology, the College of Education (bachelor’s degrees only) and the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. For a full replay of the ceremony, click here.   Related content: GCU Today: Slideshow: Fall Commencement, Friday evening ceremony GCU Today: My LopeLife: Passion for education drives teachers GCU Today: My LopeLife: Nurses know all about hanging tough GCU Today: My LopeLife: Tales of doctoral, nursing challenges GCU Today: Slideshow: Fall Commencement, Friday afternoon ceremony GCU Today: Slideshow: Fall Commencement, Friday morning ceremony GCU Today: My LopeLife: Stories from Thursday evening session GCU Today: GCU reaches 1,000 signed doctoral dissertations GCU Today: Jamaican graduate hopes degree will impact others GCU Today: Kirk Cameron delivers powerful message to grads GCU Today: My LopeLife: They had to be all business to succeed GCU Today: Slideshow: Fall Commencement, Thursday afternoon ceremony GCU Today: Slideshow: Fall Commencement, Thursday morning ceremony GCU Today: My LopeLife: Humanities grads share their joy

Kirk Cameron’s Fall Commencement keynote address underlines the importance of perseverance. The former “Growing Pains” star and now prominent Christian actor addressed GCU’s most recent group of graduates with congratulations and a powerful message of overcoming fear, fulfilling their mission and finishing the race. “This was really exciting,” Cameron said. “I was a little nervous, I’ve never done it before … I knew with all these Christian families, it was just really a special blessing to be part of this day that they’ll remember for their whole life.”

The second One Foundation Lunch and Learn of the fall semester finished the discussion on human value and dignity and featured some excellent examples by faculty from the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions. Faculty are urged to make sure the next session, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 8, is on their calendar.