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The mission of the Burnham Center for Global Engagement is to mobilize cross-cultural servants of Christ for reaching all peoples with the Gospel. 

Globally, 3.1 billion people remain unreached with the life-saving gospel.  Through classroom instruction and partnerships with current practitioners in missions like Avant, Crossworld, Biblical Ministries Worldwide, and Ethnos360, the Burnham Center for Global Engagement provides students with the biblical and cultural knowledge and skills necessary for cross-cultural work and ministry.  The Burnham Center is designed to train students to effectively communicate the gospel in an ever changing world. The Burnham Center accomplishes its mission primarily through three avenues, involving the school, the local church, and mission agencies.

Joshua Paxton, Ed.D.

Joshua Paxton, Ed.D.

Director of the Burnham Center for Global Engagement

Joshua Paxton has been with Calvary since 2012, first as Missionary in Residence and now as Director of the Burnham Center.  Josh and his wife Amber have served with Avant Ministries, a Kansas City based mission agency since 2009. Josh still serves with Avant part-time in a recruitment role. His experience includes time in Italy, Poland, and Greece. His favorite classes to teach are Cultural Anthropology, Cross Cultural Communication, and Evangelism and Church Planting. He is still heavily involved in the Kansas City community in ministries to immigrants and refugees.

Gracia Burnham with Joshua Paxton (right)

A Legacy of Service and Sacrifice

The Burnham Center is named for Martin and Gracia Burnham, Calvary Alumni who served with New Tribes Mission (Ethnos360).

Martin was a missionary pilot who, along with Gracia, was held captive in the Philippines for over a year. Martin lost his life during a rescue attempt; Gracia was wounded but survived and has since gone on to tell their story and raise awareness for unreached people groups around the world.

More about the Burnhams can be found on Gracia’s website: graciaburnham.org

Calvary University

Programs of Study

The Intercultural Studies program is designed to prepare the student for a variety of cross-cultural service opportunities from church planting to business as missions. It is also ideal for those who seek to work in the local church as missions pastors or for a missions agency in a variety of capacities. Those who wish to work with other cultures will also find this program prepares them for the unique nature of refugee and immigrant ministry. New focus areas are currently under development, stay tuned for more information!

Calvary Study Abroad: Greek Bible College

Through its partnership with Greek Bible College in Athens, Calvary students have the opportunity to study in Greece for up to a year and earn credit towards their degree at Calvary. Greek Bible College’s International Student Program allows students to study in English in one of the lands of the Bible.

Students can take courses in Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Corinthians, Hebrews, Inductive Bible Study, Genesis, Evangelism and more. Also offered are four courses in understanding Biblical Greek. What can be better than learning Greek in Greece!

Students will also have the opportunity to explore many of the areas that we read about in Scripture, from Athens to Corinth to Phillipi.

Click here to learn more about this unique opportunity or speak with Burnham Center Director, Joshua Paxton.

Greek Bible College – International Student Program

Calvary is continually seeking new opportunities for its students, check back often!

Upcoming Trips

Calvary enjoys relationships with many overseas partners that give us the opportunity to take students on cross-cultural study trips. Currently the COVID-19 pandemic has many countries closed to visitors and many of our partners have scaled back their offerings. Future trips are being planned and we look forward to offering these opportunities to students when the pandemic eases up.

Haystack Prayer Meetings

Haystack is a time to hear from visiting missionaries and pray for Calvary’s alumni serving around the world. Haystack meets at 7:00pm on Thursday evenings in the Langmade Room.

Student Missions Committee

The Student Missions Committee exists to support and encourage present and future missionaries and develop missions-mindedness at Calvary University.

Conference on Global Engagement

The Conference on Global Engagement will take place January 22-24, 2024. Registration will open October 2023.

Local Churches

The Burnham Center seeks to see local churches having intentional pathways in place to raise up and send missionaries from their congregation. To accomplish this, the Burnham Center provides resource for local churches looking for guidance on developing their missions programs. This support includes church missions coaching, personal coaching and mentoring, and education. For more information, contact Burnham Center Director, Dr. Josh Paxton.

Mission Agencies

The Burnham Center seeks to provide opportunities for students to connect with and engage in conversation with missions agencies. This is accomplished through inviting missions agencies to visit campus and interact with students, as well as through the annual Conference on Global Engagement. For more information about visiting Calvary, please contact Burnham Center Director, Dr. Josh Paxton.

Upcoming Events

 Fall 2023 Events Coming Soon!

Contact Dr. Paxton, Director

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Calvary University’s Burnham Center for Global Engagement is a member of Alliance for the Unreached.

Ready to Grow?

Apply today!