The Institute Blog
Thoughts on Jesus, Education, and Life from Faculty, Students & Grads
Press Release: The Institute Will Launch Collegiate Athletics in Fall 2025
The Institute officially announces its collegiate sports teams starting Fall 2025, beginning with men’s soccer and women’s volleyball. Information on eligibility, tryouts, and how it connects to our vision included in this blog.
Institute Launches Second Year of ProDev: Work-and-Learning for Students
The Institute for GOD is proud to announce its second formal year of the Professional Development program, connecting undergraduate students with workplace opportunities for a debt-free future.
The Seriousness of Discipleship
To top off our Welcome Week events, President Gregg Garner spoke at the first chapel of the term, urging students towards the seriousness of discipleship, out of 2 Timothy 2. Here’s a summary of the discussion. In today’s fast-paced world, where media often shapes our perception of reality, it's crucial to revisit the foundations of our beliefs and the essence of education, particularly related to discipleship.
S2E26: College Conversations Podcast - “Will College Cure My Loneliness?” (Transcript)
Join Institute for God professors Jeff Sherrod, Laurie Kagay and headmaster Gregg Garner as they explore the issue of loneliness among college students, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. They emphasize the importance of feeling seen and heard, integrating into community, and recognizing cultural values to combat isolation.
S2E25: What Can a Small School Do that a Large School Can't?
This podcast focuses on the differences between small and large colleges, particularly in the context of Bible colleges and Christian higher education. President Gregg Garner, Laurie Kagay, and Jeff Sherrod, explore how school size impacts factors such as facilities, faculty, student-faculty relationships, and the overall college experience.
S2E24: Why You Can't Wait to Pursue a Biblical Education
Gregg Garner, Jeffrey Sherrod, and Institute Professor and historian Shaun Galford discuss the importance of prioritizing biblical education, emphasizing the need for understanding beyond symbols and procedures. They highlight the role of the community in educating the next generation and stress the significance of passing down faith and values, drawing on historical lessons.
S2E23: College Conversations Podcast - “What Is ‘Summer Melt’ & How Do I… Not?” (Transcript)
Join Institute for God Professors Jeff Sherrod, Laurie Kagay, and Gregg Garner as they explore the "summer melt" phenomenon where students accepted to college do not show up in the fall.
S2E22: College Conversations Podcast - “What I Learned On Mission Abroad & Why I Want To Go Again! - Part Two” (Transcript)
Join Institute for God professors Jeff Sherrod, Laurie Kagay and headmaster Gregg Garner as they discusses with Institute student; Jacob Oliveira his summer internship mission trip to Uganda, emphasizing intentional planning and transformative impact on one's relationship with God.
S2E21: College Conversations Podcast - “What I Learned From My Mission Abroad & Why I Want To Go Again!” (Transcript)
Gregg Garner, Jeff Sherrod and Laurie Kagay from College Conversations interview Institute students; Genesis Garner and Erin Gammill. They reflect on previous mission trips as well as share hopes for upcoming trips.
An Open Letter Regarding Cult Allegations
An open letter regarding an online campaign to discredit our college and ministry as a cult.
S2E20: College Conversations Podcast - “The State of Short Term Missions: Are They Worth It?” (Transcript)
Gregg Garner, Jeff Sherrod, Laurie Kagay, and Benjamin Reese from College Conversations discuss the challenges and criticisms surrounding short-term missions in America, focusing on issues such as the lack of lasting impact and the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. They emphasize the importance of expertise, financial integrity, and a holistic approach to measuring success in mission work.
Congratulations to Students Named to 2023-2024 President’s and Dean’s Lists
The Institute for GOD President’s and Dean’s Lists are announced for the 2023-2024 academic year.
S2E19: Summer on Mission Abroad - Testing Tomorrow’s Global Leaders (Transcript)
In this episode of the College Conversations podcast, host Jeff Sherrod sits down with Gregg Garner, president of The Institute for GOD, as well as Benjamin Reese and Laurie Kagay to discuss the importance of mission trips for college students. Guests share insights on what to look for when choosing a missions organization, emphasizing the significance of expert leadership and a focus on people over tasks. This episode provides invaluable guidance for prospective missions trip participants and their parents.
S2E18 President Garner Reacts Take 1: Christian College TikToks
For this week’s podcast, we thought it’d be fun to have Institute President Gregg Garner react to tiktoks Gen Z are creating about their Christian college experiences. Because he’s reacting live to videos, and some of them don’t even have audio, but words on the screen, this episode is best experienced by watching, not just listening.
S2E17 - College in the Age of AI (Transcript)
This week’s College Conversations podcast revolves around the impact of AI, specifically generative predictive text models like ChatGPT, on education. Institute President Gregg Garner alongside professors Jeffrey Sherrod and Benjamin Reese discuss concerns such as plagiarism, the erosion of critical thinking skills, and the oft-used comparison of AI to calculators.
S2E14: College Conversations Podcast - “Why Being ‘A Light in the Darkness’ of a Secular College is a Bad Idea” (Transcript)
Laurie Kagay, Jeff Sherrod and Institute for Global Outreach Developments president, Gregg Garner discuss the challenges faced by Christian students in secular colleges, emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation in biblical education. They highlight the need for proper discipleship, Biblical literacy, and integration of faith into all aspects of life to effectively spread the light of Christ.
S2E13: College Conversations Podcast - “What Bible Colleges Miss In Spiritual Formation” (Transcript)
Joined by the Presidents of Mid South Christian College, Larry Griffin and Nick Griffin, Jeff Sherrod and Institute for Global Outreach Developments president; Gregg Garner discuss spiritual formation in students featuring a discussion on spiritual formation at Mid South Christian College. Speakers focus on the challenges of assessing and prioritizing spiritual growth in students.
S2E11: College Conversations Podcast - “Access & Equity: Reshaping Biblical Education Globally” (Transcript)
President Gregg Garner, Jeff Sherrod, and Laurie Kagay highlight the importance of biblical literacy and critical thinking in studying the Bible. They address the need for sustainable transformation and genuine education for leaders and congregations in the developing world.
S2E10: College Conversations Podcast - “Discussing Diversity: A Person, Not An Idea” (Transcript)
Institute President Gregg Garner leads a discussion with Professors Laurie Kagay and Benjamin Reese where they discuss being token representatives of diversity and emphasize the need for genuine diversity rooted in values. They discuss the challenges of navigating different cultural environments and stress the importance of self-awareness in promoting true diversity.
S2E8 College Conversations Podcast: Will Anyone Hire Me with my Bible Degree? (Summary & Transcript)
In this episode of College Conversations, Jeff Sherrod, President Gregg Garner, and VP of Enrollment and Marketing Laurie Kagay discuss how colleges prepare students for the workforce. They explore the disconnect between graduates' readiness and employers' expectations, highlighting the importance of practical experiences and skills beyond a degree. The podcast also touches on the Institute for GOD's innovative approaches to addressing this issue.