Andrew Peterson has spent decades shaping hearts and imaginations through story and song. In this episode, he shares the journey behind his calling as a Christian creative, the impact of Rich Mullins on his spiritual direction, and how he’s stewarding his art today through music, books, and animation. Andrew also reflects on the challenges of leadership, the need for truth-tellers, and the growing implications of AI for creative integrity and human formation. From Wingfeather to worship, this conversation is full of depth, wisdom, and encouragement for anyone seeking to follow Christ through 🎧 Tune In to Discover ✅How Rich Mullins’ music led Andrew toward Christ  ✅Why storytelling is central to spiritual formation  ✅The danger of using AI to bypass the creative process ✅What it means to lead even when you don’t feel ready  ✅The power of community, humility, and truth-tellers in leadership 🎙️ Inside the Episode 10:23 – Writing the Wingfeather Saga and shifting to books 16:45 – Finding purpose in seasons of uncertainty 23:04 – Drawing the line: preserving human-made art in animation 27:23 – The antidote to tech: learning to tend and keep 29:25 – Leadership, boardrooms, and growing into responsibility 34:12 – Final words of encouragement for emerging leaders To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biblical-higher-ed-talk/id1703844686), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6OcZt5RwEr0gmhgPeGWSFQ?si=61afa209874244f7), or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is proud to be part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network (https://thehigheredmarketer.com/). Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

From a small spark in 1936 to ministry in 56 countries today, BCM International (https://www.bcmintl.org/)is a testament to how faithfulness multiplies. President Rick Rhoads (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-rhoads-685b0340/) joins us to share how this global organization is equipping thousands of local leaders to disciple, plant churches, and serve vulnerable children across the world. In this conversation, Rick reflects on the challenges of stewarding leadership across continents, balancing organizational systems with Spirit-led freedom, and why developing spiritually healthy leaders is essential in every context. Whether you’re leading a global mission, building a campus culture, or just starting out in ministry, this episode offers hard-won insights on leadership, trust, and legacy. 🎧 Tune In to Discover ✅How BCM grew from a single curriculum moment to a global movement ✅What it means to lead in a “flat” international organization ✅Why proximity matters more than policy in global leadership ✅Why the safest place you can be is in the center of God’s will ✅The crisis and miracle rhythm of global ministry ✅Opportunities for higher ed to partner with global, grassroots training 🎙️ Inside the Episode 01:55 – The story behind BCM International’s founding and global growth 07:44 – Building global trust through presence and listening 10:26 – Modeling healthy leadership succession across cultures 15:30 – The challenge of balancing freedom and systems in global ministry 18:23 – Faith under fire: leading through war, disaster, and crisis 25:07 – Developing spiritual practices to prevent decision fatigue 31:32 – Bridging the education access gap for pastors and leaders 34:55 – A leadership lesson on humility and valuing unseen voices To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Radical obedience is more than a moment. It's a lifelong posture of trust. In this powerful episode, Dr. Paul (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-alexander-ab127454/) and Dr. Carol Alexander (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-alexander-99583354/) reflect on a global life of ministry marked by faith, perseverance, and God's providence. From unexpected callings to remote Samoa to building a graduate program in Ellendale, North Dakota, their story is a compelling reminder that the safest place to be is in the center of God's will. If you're wrestling with next steps, calling, or what it really looks like to surrender your plans, their insights will encourage and challenge you. This conversation draws from their book Radical Obedience: The Chronicles of Two Global Pilgrims (https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Obedience-Chronicles-Global-Pilgrims/dp/B0FFQGKKZ1/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) and their leadership at Trinity Bible College and Graduate School. (https://trinitybiblecollege.edu/) 🎧 Tune In to Discover ✅ What radical obedience really means in everyday life ✅ How Paul & Carol Alexander followed God's call across 4 continents ✅ The story behind their book Radical Obedience: The Chronicles of Two Global Pilgrims ✅ Why the safest place you can be is in the center of God's will ✅How God uses both big and small moments to shape a life of trust and surrender.   🎙️ Inside the Episode 08:38 - What makes Trinity Bible College unique. 16:47 - Carol's role in launching the graduate program. 24:17 - Why Paul & Carol wrote Radical Obedience. 52:14 - The incredible story of their calling to Samoa 63:36 - God's provision in small & miraculous ways. 82:54 - Why practicing obedience is hard, and how to grow in it. 116:27 - Encouragement & Wisdom for young leaders following God's Call. To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Oswald Chambers' classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest has shaped countless lives for more than a century. With support from the Oswald Chambers Publications Association, a modernized edition is now helping a new generation engage with Chambers’ timeless insights. Macy Halford, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/macy-halford-b63700382/) the editor behind the rewrite, spent years studying Chambers’ original sermons and notes, which were carefully recorded by his wife, Biddy. In this conversation, Macy shares how the updated edition was developed, the challenges of honoring Chambers' voice while making the content accessible, and what this enduring devotional can offer readers today. 🎧 Tune In to Discover ✅ The legacy of Oswald and Biddy Chambers ✅ Why My Utmost for His Highest still resonates today ✅ The process and philosophy behind the modern rewrite ✅ Making a Victorian devotional accessible without losing its power ✅Biddy Chambers’ incredible work as a writer, editor, and steward ✅ The spiritual vision that underpins My Utmost and its impact across biblical higher ed 🎙️ Inside the Episode 03:08 - The Life and Legacy of Oswald Chambers 05:55 - Biddy Chambers: The Unsung Hero 08:57 - The Birth of 'My Utmost for His Highest' 12:04 -The Challenge of Modernizing a Classic 15:10 - Macy Halford's Journey with the Devotional 21:01 - Reflections on the Impact of the Devotional 26:51 - Oswald Chambers' Perspective on Modern Challenges Resources & Links from this Episode Macy Halford’s Memoir Title: My Utmost: A Devotional Memoir on Amazon   (https://www.amazon.com/My-Utmost-A-Devotional-Memoir/dp/B01N6WTUV7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1A9BJHDMHMGC2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.c3E_-JoXS4ypjCBNfLj8Bg.0R4Q8sXqCmMg9Aq3zSBDhSr8ZigYoiM7RaZLB29brSY&dib_tag=se&keywords=My-Utmost-Devotional-Memoir-macy+halford&qid=1759282263&sprefix=my-utmost-devotional-memoir-macy+halford%2Caps%2C71&sr=8-1) Oswald Chambers Publications Association Website: https://utmost.org To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biblical-higher-ed-talk/id1703844686), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6OcZt5RwEr0gmhgPeGWSFQ?si=61afa209874244f7), or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Education and is proud to be part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network (https://thehigheredmarketer.com/). Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Season 6 - Episode 91 Graduate education is fiercely competitive, rapidly evolving, and increasingly flexible. In this episode, Blanton Feaster (https://www.linkedin.com/in/blanton-feaster-194a2433/) of Dallas Baptist University (https://www.dbu.edu/) shares how he and his team are growing enrollment by adapting delivery methods and creating mission-fit programs that stay true to the ethos of Christian higher ed. Blanton also unpacks DBU’s strategy for integrating faith into curriculum, building microcredential partnerships with churches, and mentoring faculty through changes in technology and teaching methods. If you’re exploring the future of graduate education, this conversation is packed with wisdom and practical direction. 🎧 Tune In to Discover ✅How graduate education is shifting demographically and technologically ✅Why DBU built a master’s in AI focused on ethics ✅Flexible modalities and how they impact faculty and students ✅Building residency-to-certificate pipelines in ministry ✅Strategies for curriculum agility and market relevance 🎙️ Inside the Episode 08:00 – What’s Driving Graduate Education Growth 09:45 – Launching a Master's in AI, with a Christian Ethos 12:00 – A New Generation of Graduate Students 14:00 – Modality Flexibility and Faculty Adaptation 22:00 – Creating Real Church Partnerships through Microcredentials 26:00 – Empowering Faculty through Mentoring and Workshop Culture To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Season 5 - Episode 3 How can ministries authentically connect younger generations to God in an era shaped by social media, technology, and shifting cultural values? In this episode, Daniel Day, Senior Director of Reclaim Today (https://reclaimtoday.org/) and New Audience Engagement at Our Daily Bread Ministries, shares how his team is creating fresh approaches to discipleship that meet Gen Z and millennials where they are. From digital-first devotionals to printed resources making a comeback, Daniel explains how Reclaim Today is helping young adults build meaningful faith practices and discover belonging in Christ-centered communities. Whether you’re a campus leader, educator, or parent of a digital native, this conversation will challenge how you think about technology, mentorship, and hope for the next generation. 🎧 Tune In to Discover ✅ How Our Daily Bread’s legacy led to Reclaim Today’s Gen Z ministry ✅ The tension between digital platforms and spiritual formation ✅ Why belonging and friendship are critical for younger generations ✅ Practical discipleship in an age of AI and social media 🎙️ Inside the Episode 02:30 – The Origins of Reclaim Today at Our Daily Bread 06:45 – Why Social Media Became a Starting Point for Outreach 11:00 – Should We Use Every Platform?  15:30 – Gen Z Realities: Belonging, Mental Health, and Hope 20:00 – When Digital Natives Want Print Resources Again 24:00 – The Four C’s of Spiritual Formation: Content, Context, Conduct, Community 28:00 – Daniel’s Concerns & Hopes for Gen Z and Millennials Resources & Links from this Episode Explore Reclaim Today: reclaimtoday.org (http://reclaimtoday.org) Learn more about Our Daily Bread Ministries: ourdailybread.org (http://ourdailybread.org) To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biblical-higher-ed-talk/id1703844686), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6OcZt5RwEr0gmhgPeGWSFQ?si=61afa209874244f7), or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Education and is proud to be part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network (https://thehigheredmarketer.com/). Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How do we shift our view of wellness from diet plans and discipline to discipleship and spiritual alignment? In this episode, April Jones (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drapriljones/), Founder and CEO of Storehouse Wellness (https://storehousewellness.com/), shares her powerful journey from pharmacy and healthcare leadership into Christ-centered wellness entrepreneurship. Through faith, experience, and innovation, April is helping individuals and institutions approach health as a whole-person pursuit (mind, body, and spirit). Whether you're a student, campus leader, or someone navigating burnout, this conversation will challenge how you think about self-care, responsibility, and healing. 🎧 Tune In to Discover ✅ Wellness as a spiritual and practical calling. ✅ Starting a mission-driven business with faith at the center ✅ Why students need support for mind, body and spirit ✅ How shame and identity affect health choices.  ✅Practical tools for campus-wide wellness implementation 🎙️ Inside the Episode 02:00 – From Pharmacy to Faith-Based Wellness 06:00 – The Realities of Starting a Mission-Driven Business 10:00 – Changing the Why Behind Wellness 14:30 – Inner Healing as the First Step 20:00 – Wellness for Gen Z on Campus 25:00 – Introducing Storehouse’s Campus Ministry of Wellness Resources & Links from this episode: Learn more about Storehouse Wellness at storehousewellness.com (http://storehousewellness.com) (http://storehousewellness.com/) Reach out to April directly at april@storehousewellness.com (mailto:april@storehousewellness.com)(april@storehousewellness.com (mailto:april@storehousewellness.com)) Explore the Faith-Food-Fitness-Focus-Fun framework (contact April to request the visual.) To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biblical-higher-ed-talk/id1703844686), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6OcZt5RwEr0gmhgPeGWSFQ?si=61afa209874244f7), or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Ed (https://www.abhe.org/)and is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast (https://thehigheredmarketer.com/)Network.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How can the church and higher education take children seriously in discipleship? Esther Zimmerman, Program Chair of Undergraduate Ministry Studies at Lancaster Bible College (https://www.lbc.edu/) and global advocate for children, joins us to share her journey in children’s ministry and her conviction that investing in kids is one of the most strategic ways to advance the kingdom of God.  We explore why children are often overlooked, how broken systems leave them vulnerable, and what faithful discipleship looks like for the next generation. From sobering global statistics to hopeful grassroots stories, this episode calls the church to put children at the center of ministry, not the margins. 🎧 Tune In to Discover ✅ Why children’s ministry is the most strategic investment for the future of the church ✅ How cultural perceptions have reduced ministry to babysitting rather than discipleship ✅ What global realities reveal about children’s vulnerability and the church’s response ✅ How higher education can shape leaders to take children seriously in theology and practice 🎙️ Inside the Episode 02:18 Esther’s journey into children’s ministry and why she stayed 05:34 Misconceptions of children’s ministry in the West vs. globally 09:15 Why broken systems place the heaviest weight on children 12:01 Troubling trends and hopeful signs in global children’s ministry 18:37 Three practical ways to disciple and advocate for children 24:10 How seminaries and Bible colleges can integrate children into their curriculum Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Global Children’s Forum (https://childreneverywhere.com/global-childrens-forum/) Bible Centered Ministries International (https://www.bcmintl.org/) World Evangelical Alliance Children’s Network (https://children.worldea.org/) Lausanne Children's Forum (https://lausanne.org/about/blog/the-global-childrens-forum-working-together) To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is proud to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. (https://thehigheredmarketer.com/) Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"THANK YOU," from the entire team at Biblical Higher Ed Talk. A special message from Phillip Dearborn. A sneak peek into Season 5 Speakers for ABHE 79th ANNUAL MEETING: A Time to Lead -- February 11-13, 2026. We are approaching 10,000 downloads Biblical Higher Ed Talk is to be a part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Leading With Purpose Summer Series Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series designed to strengthen your leadership and renew your sense of mission. Every other week, you’ll hear one of the most-listened-to conversations from past seasons. Each episode offering practical encouragement and a fresh reminder of why Christ-centered higher education matters. This episode originally aired FEB 2025 Stephen Nichols, President of Reformation Bible College, talks about how his journey from classroom professor to institutional leader shaped his educational philosophy. He discusses the intentional design of RBC’s curriculum, blending theology and the liberal arts, and how their unique house system fosters community and discipleship. Stephen offers insights into balancing growth with mission fidelity and the importance of being faithful in both education and leadership. This episode is packed with inspiration for leaders navigating the complexities of biblical higher education curriculums. Join us as we discuss: [8:35] The transition from classroom professor to college president [16:14] How a hyper-focused curriculum impacts student life [20:34] Why capping enrollment builds community and accountability Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Logos Bible Software Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing by Laura Mae Martin Ligonier Ministries To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.