College of Theology

Students in the Center for Worship Arts did so well in their first recording session with Rend Collective during the 2014-15 school year, the group came back Monday — and this time it was in the new recording studio. GCU is the only university that Rend Collective does this with, and the students got an experience that they won’t soon forget.

The second Ministry Forum of the semester Monday had an interesting title: “The Church: Bread of Life or Opiate of the People?” And the discussion proved provocative when the panelists tackled the issue of what helping the poor really entails and how far social justice needs to go to truly make a difference.

What would you have to change about yourself in the workplace if your employer was God? You might need to pray more often for the ability to do what’s right, to be more forgiving and do walk humbly, and you might do a “heart check” to ensure we are loving and serving others. That was the message at Friday’s Integration of Faith, Learning and Work “Lunch and Learn” faculty program, entitled, “Work That Honors God.”

The first Ministry Forum of the new semester met Monday night, and a big turnout heard an interesting discussion about the best ways to govern the church. One of the panelists was Dr. John Frederick, worship coordinator of the Center for Worship Arts, and he put it in perspective best when he said, “Every church is messed up because there are people in there.”

By Janie Magruder Photos by Darryl Webb GCU News Bureau No matter how you slice it, the most talked-about stories at Grand Canyon University in 2015 had something to do with students and creating for them the best possible academic, spiritual and social experiences. With a record number of students matriculating on campus this year, new programs, new faculty and staff and — especially — new buildings were needed to help facilitate their learning. Additional residence halls and eateries were required for the students’ care and feeding, as were fields for their recreation and structures for their vehicles. The University did not disappoint. In what has become a year-end tradition at GCU Today, here are our top 10 stories of 2015, in no particular order of importance. (We do think you’d be hard-pressed to argue against the first entry, however.) Our list is by no means etched in stone, nor all-inclusive, but is merely meant to prompt water-cooler debates or a bit of reflection. Thanks for the memories, GCU. Up, up, up: student enrollment. If not for the 15,500 traditional students (a 21.6 percent jump over 2014’s ground enrollment) and the 59,200 online students (up 7.5 percent from last year) […]

On the heels of a staff Christmas party earlier in the week that included the best barbecue in Phoenix and a rousing good time at the men’s basketball game, GCU President Brian Mueller put a bow on the University’s 2015 accomplishments during the all-employee meeting Thursday in GCU Arena. Moving testimony from current and future students, a prayer for the family of two employees who recently passed away and a slew of statistics about growth in buildings, academics and student quality were all part of the package.

Photos by Darryl Webb GCU News Bureau GCU Arena was packed and festive for winter commencement Friday night as more than 600 traditional graduates received their diplomas. So many great stories equals so many great photos, filled with joy and anticipation.  

There was a slight chill in the air Friday, but things quickly warmed up inside a full GCU Arena as more than 600 members of the Class of 2015 and thousands of their closest family members and friends celebrated a variety of incredible accomplishments. Keynote speaker Erik Wahl speed-painted two interesting pieces of art during his talk, which reflected on his own mistakes in life of listening too closely to critics and being afraid to find and live his purpose. He encouraged the new alumni to never be afraid to fail and to think differently than anyone has before.

Anyone who ever has been to Chapel at GCU no doubt appreciates the quality and spirit of the music. But how did it get so good? The student leaders who feel privileged to have the opportunity and the people who oversee the process share how the process works and what makes it special.

The Worship Songwriter Fall Showcase 2015 showed off a talented freshman class, on the heels of all the successes of the first group that came in last year. But most telling was the way the students talking afterward about the way they have collaborated and grown as a family. “It’s really just community at its finest,” said one. GCU Today has the story.