While I was there they shot a video about the school to start their "professor run in" series. You can take a look at it right here:
I love the mission statement at Trinity:
Trinity International University Mission Statement
Trinity International University educates: men and women for faithful participation in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian fidelity, and lifelong learning.
They flesh it out as follows:
Trinity offers nonformal opportunities to the public for continuing education, as well as formal degree programs.
Believers are called to be God's co-laborers in God's ongoing work in our broken world (1 Cor. 3:5-9), as we anticipate the return of the Lord. Wherever or however we serve, we are to be agents of restoration and transformation for the glory of God and the good of the world.
We seek to instill in our students the habit of doing academic work with excellence for the glory of God and the good of society.
A goal of our education is continuing faithfulness to Christ and his Gospel, to biblical authority, and to Christian doctrine as a guide to ethical living.
Habits of learning must be sustained throughout life for individual growth and for effective service in a changing world. These habits of learning characterize the TIU community of learners--faculty, staff, students, and graduates.
Good stuff. All of it is great, but the highlighted section speaks to the recent post on "Gospel Definitions."
Ed, the highlighted part about being "co-laborers" also speaks to that theme of pastors being equippers of the church - not the hired guns. It speaks eloquently to the vision of the total mission of the church happening in the lives of each and every memeber in the context of their own daily lives, fields of influence, and circles of relationships. Programs are out there (in my approach to church) waiting for us to come out and be salt and light in the world around us - through being a part of the normal warp and woof of everyday life in the community which surrounds us.
I also liked the eschatological emphasis - we work while we have time - in anticipation to His coming. That is a dimension of the gospel and our living the gospel and preaching the gospel that, Lord, I haven't heard articulated in a long time. I am greatly inspired by this - thanks for sharing.
Got an MDiv from TEDS several years ago. Loved my time there. Frustrated after leaving, though, that TEDS was often a bit narrow in its presentation of relevant theological reading. Some of the great thinkers/theologians of our time were totally glossed over or left unmentioned (Wright, Newbigin, Yoder, Hauerwas, etc, to name a few). Good place. Could be a bit more daring in what it exposes its students to. Two cents.
Thanks for the love, Ed. I'm totally feeling it and it feels great.
Ed, the highlighted part about being "co-laborers" also speaks to that theme of pastors being equippers of the church - not the hired guns. It speaks eloquently to the vision of the total mission of the church happening in the lives of each and every memeber in the context of their own daily lives, fields of influence, and circles of relationships. Programs are out there (in my approach to church) waiting for us to come out and be salt and light in the world around us - through being a part of the normal warp and woof of everyday life in the community which surrounds us.
I also liked the eschatological emphasis - we work while we have time - in anticipation to His coming. That is a dimension of the gospel and our living the gospel and preaching the gospel that, Lord, I haven't heard articulated in a long time. I am greatly inspired by this - thanks for sharing.
This is the Fife btw.
Got an MDiv from TEDS several years ago. Loved my time there. Frustrated after leaving, though, that TEDS was often a bit narrow in its presentation of relevant theological reading. Some of the great thinkers/theologians of our time were totally glossed over or left unmentioned (Wright, Newbigin, Yoder, Hauerwas, etc, to name a few). Good place. Could be a bit more daring in what it exposes its students to. Two cents.