Preparing the next generation for ministry takes more than a classroom. John Larson, Vice President of Ministry Training and Academic Instruction at Highlands College, believes students need rigorous academic formation alongside hands-on experience in the life and ministry of the local church.

John shares how Highlands College intentionally integrates higher education with Church of the Highlands, creating an environment where students develop both character and competence for ministry. He also explores the college’s decision not to participate in federal Title IV funding, the tensions involved in using active ministry practitioners as instructors, and why Christian higher education has a unique opportunity to equip a generation eager to make a meaningful difference for the Kingdom.

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Tune In to Discover
▫️Why grit may be one of the most important qualities future ministry leaders can develop

▫️How Highlands College integrates classroom learning with practical ministry experience in the local church

▫️Why active ministry practitioners play an important role in preparing students for real-world ministry

▫️How active learning and collaborative learning spaces shape the student experience at Highlands

▫️What gives John hope about a highly missional generation of students entering Christian higher education

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Inside the Episode

03:15 - Why ministry leaders need grit before they graduate

06:24 - Why the local church and Christian college should never be strangers

07:49 - How Highlands College integrates ministry training with Church of the Highlands

18:22 - The value and challenge of putting active ministry practitioners in the classroom

23:11 - Why higher education leaders must become chief learners

25:52 - Inside Highlands College’s active and collaborative learning environment

27:56 - Why Highlands chooses not to participate in federal Title IV funding

32:25 - What a highly missional generation of students could mean for Christian higher education

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