College of Theology

GCU Computer Science students are adding a modern twist to the Bible by using virtual reality to bring some of its most famous stories to life.

Graduates of the online program at Grand Canyon University always have inspirational stories to tell, and this year they were equally inspired by keynote speaker Gian-Paul Gonzalez’s talk — and by the celebration that is a GCU commencement ceremony.

If the graduates at fall commencement didn’t know about ninth-grade world history teacher and New York Giants chaplain Gian-Paul Gonzalez before they got to GCU Arena, they sure do now. Gonzalez’s keynote addresses at the five ceremonies were a hit every time, and in addition to all the standing ovations he also was descended upon by a sea of thankful listeners when he came out to watch the “tunnel walk” after the Saturday morning ceremony.

Photos by David Kadlubowski GCU News Bureau Student artists from the Canyon Worship 2018 album performed their songs Tuesday night at Harvest Bible Chapel West Valley.  

Canyon Worship West, the first concert by students whose work appeared on the Canyon Worship 2018 album, drew an appreciative crowd Tuesday at Harvest Bible Chapel West Valley. “These guys came into this church, set up three hours before, and walked in like they’d been playing here for 10 years,” said Genaro “Gin” Giurgiu, the church’s Director of Worship.

Increasingly, students at Grand Canyon University are adding minors. These extra concentrated courses give students deeper knowledge in a branch of their major, an increased skill set, a complement to their major, or a completely different academic area to explore.

We Are Messengers’ Darren Mulligan wept, he said, when he and his family left Ireland for America. They didn’t want to leave their family or their home in the countryside. But he believes this is where God wants him to be. Mulligan stopped by the GCU Recording Studio Wednesday, before his band’s appearance at GCU Arena for the Air1 Positive Hits tour, to talk to Worship Arts students about his hard-living days, his return to church, his family and his songwriting process.

Dr. Randall Downs, the new coordinator of the Center for Worship Arts, had an idea after he heard the Canyon Worship 2018 album: Why not have the student artists perform their songs out in the community? They’ll do exactly that on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at Harvest Bible Chapel West Valley in Peoria. “With all the talent these students have, we love seeing that displayed,” he said.

A mixture of logical debate strategies for pro-life arguments and anecdotes about the sanctity of human life highlighted GCU’s second annual Bioethics Conference, Human Dignity: Clash of World Views. One speaker refused to abort her daughter and refused to use stem cells from fetuses to aid her brain damaged son. Another speaker shared heartfelt steps to ease grief from the loss of a newborn.

The second annual Bioethics Conference, titled “Human Dignity: Clash of World Views,” is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 20, at GCU Arena and the First Southern Baptist Church.