The Institute Blog

Thoughts on Jesus, Education, and Life from Faculty, Students & Grads

S2E31 - Media Consumption & Spirituality

In this episode of College Conversations, host Jeff Sherrod is joined by Gregg Garner and Benjamin Reese. They engage about the impact of media usage for young people, and what power it has to inform one’s values. Media is not bad, but does have an impact on your spirituality. Gregg, Ben and Jeff discuss the evolution of media and the need for colleges to incorporate better media literacy into their curriculum.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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S2E7: College Conversations Podcast - “Distraction Overload: Gen Z Navigating College Life” (Transcript)

In this podcast episode, Jeff Sherrod and Gregg Garner interview Brent Holzklaw and Daniel Ryan Day from Reclaim Today. They discuss the mission of Reclaim Today to help people connect with God in the ordinary moments of everyday life, and how they use research and creative content to engage Gen Z and Millennials in their faith.

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