by Webmanager | Jul 7, 2017
Greetings, Calvary Family,
Well, that went fast. Calvary’s fiscal and academic year ended on June 30, so that means that we have begun a new year. God has carried us through so much in a short period of time. This past year has been marked by provision and blessing – in good times and in bad.
First, I thank you all for your incredible support as Calvary tackled several important transitions this past year. God has provided richly, and we have seen increases in enrollment and also financially. In fact, by God’s provision, it appears that we ended this past year in the black. Our numbers are tentative, and we won’t know for sure until we complete our annual audit, but God carried us in some extraordinary ways. Thank you for your part in that!
It is encouraging to see growth in so many areas, but certainly the most gratifying part of this entire past year was seeing the spiritual depth of our students and alumni at work in so many ways, even in times of tragedy. In this past week the Calvary family lost a brother and student, Kameron Wiebe to a tragic car accident. Kameron was a great spiritual encouragement to those around him, and hearing the testimonies of family, alumni, students, staff, and faculty at Kameron’s memorial service was a tremendous reminder of the urgency of our times and the faithfulness of God. We were challenged by Coach Sanders to “chase Kameron,” as he chased Christ (think 1 Corinthians 11:1). We can all be encouraged that God has prepared some incredible people in this next generation. Sometimes He takes them home far earlier than we would ever expect, but even then, we see His hand at work. Please be praying for Kameron’s family and loved ones. This is, of course, a very difficult time, but having heard their testimonies, we know that they are finding their strength in the Lord. We are encouraged by their faithful examples.
Seeing students lift up those around them, seeing graduates serving Him in new ministries, seeing staff and faculty labor so diligently, seeing the generosity and friendship of so many alumni all over the world – God is working mightily through the entire Calvary family, and it is breathtaking. Cathy, the girls and I are deeply grateful to be part of it.
So, as we begin a new year, we work diligently to be faithful stewards of every resource with which God has entrusted us. We remain firmly committed to fulfilling our mission, to “prepare Christians to live and serve in the church and in the world according to the Biblical worldview.” We want Calvary to be known globally as the place where people go to get outstanding Biblical training for life and service, and we are not standing still. We have many exciting new things to report, and I look forward to sharing those with you in the coming months.
As we look forward, we don’t know how much time we have been given, as God could call us home at any moment, so together, we simply want to make the most of the incredible opportunity God has given us, despite the evil times (Ephesians 5:16). We have much work to do, and we asked for your continued prayer, friendship and support. We can’t do it without you. May God bless you as you begin, with us, a new year in His service.
#chaseKameron
by Webmanager | Mar 1, 2017
One of the highlights of Dr. Cone’s inaugural address last year was a commitment he made to students that they would see a decrease in tuition costs from the Fall 2016 rates during the 2017-2018 academic year. True to his word, Calvary University has announced an across-the-board tuition reduction, with the new rates going into effect for Fall 2017. Early college tuition rates were $89 per credit hour. Those rates have dropped to $80 per hour. Undergraduate tuition was previously $375 per credit hour, while the new rates are tiered by degree program and range from $362-372 per credit hour. A previous online study tech fee of $150 was also eliminated, and online tuition was adjusted to be only $40 higher per hour than campus course tuition, providing a net decrease of $30 per three-hour class for online study. The Grad School and Seminary also saw tuition reductions, from the previous $400 per hour tuition rate to a tiered range from $387-397, depending on the program. The same online fee reduction as in the undergraduate programs is also in place at the graduate and seminary level.
As if those reductions were not enough, in appreciation of our Armed Forces and with gratitude for those who serve and have served, Calvary also announced a significant benefit to military and veterans and their dependents: an across-the-board, unprecedented tuition rate of $250 per credit hour. As Calvary also has great appreciation for those who serve in full-time vocational ministries, Calvary announced a tuition rate of $250 per hour for those who serve in full-time ministry and for their dependents. Calvary University is committed to providing the highest quality Bible-centered education in all of its 40+ degree programs in Bible, ministry, counseling, education, music, theater, and business administration. Calvary is equally committed to being accessible and affordable, and appreciates your support as Calvary continues to labor diligently to fulfill the mission of preparing Christians to live and serve in the church and in the world according to a Biblical worldview. For more information on Calvary’s programs or to apply now, contact the Admissions Department.
by Webmanager | Feb 3, 2017
Dear Calvary Family,
Wow. It is February already. Time moves quickly, and that reminds us of our great sense of urgency. We have a fantastic window of opportunity opened to us, and we desire to make the very most of that. As we begin each day at Calvary with prayer, we ask the Lord that He will make us faithful stewards of every resource He provides.
God has indeed provided richly for Calvary. We are seeing growth in every area. Enrollment is up from this time last year, and that is a very encouraging sign. Our staff and faculty are laboring diligently to provide the highest quality Biblical and vocational education, and it is a great joy to have many excellent students in whom we can invest.
We are making slow but steady progress on the new Student Life Center. There is a possibility we may be able to acquire some adjacent property to the SLC, and we are working with the City of Belton on that. This move would help us significantly in our short term add-on to the current building and in our long term facilities and campus planning. Our funding is in place, we are now simply waiting on the bureaucratic process of working with the city – great folks, but long processes.
We are rapidly (and cautiously) growing our intercultural studies programs to add majors, minors, and to involve missions groups even more. Stay tuned on that! We had a fantastic Missions Emphasis Week recently, with Crossworld’s President, Dale Losch leading us thinking through God’s designs for global outreach. You will be able to watch his messages on calvary.edu soon. Speaking of that – you can check out Calvary U’s chapel and chapels on the bottom of our website. We update them fairly regularly, and you can keep up to speed on some of the fantastic things that are happening at Calvary.
There is one need I will bring to your attention so that you can be praying about it. Our air condition system for Madison Hall was struck by lightning at the end of last Summer. We have been working to resolve the issue, and while insurance is covering a significant amount of money, we are still going to have to pay around $80,000 beyond what our insurance covers to have it replaced. That wasn’t budgeted for this year, so we would very much appreciate your prayerful consideration.
Lots of exciting announcements coming in the very near future, including slightly reduced tuition across the board. Calvary U is committed to ensuring that our students graduate without the burden of student debt. Thank you so much for your prayer and efforts to help make that happen! We certainly can’t do it without you.
We are so thankful for all of you, and are working hard to make the most of your investment in Calvary and our students. May God bless you richly, and we pray you have a great month walking with Him!
Your servant in Him,
Christopher Cone, Th.D, Ph.D, Ph.D
President, Calvary University
by Webmanager | Oct 13, 2016
Below is a question from someone genuinely concerned that Calvary University would put on a production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Also below is Dr. Cone’s response. We hope you will find it encouraging. If not, please email Dr. Cone. He would love to hear from you! (He actually said that!)
Question from “Concerned About Calvary U’s production of Beauty and the Beast”:
Why is a “Christian” university that is teaching and preparing students to proclaim the Gospel and live out a biblical worldview to present a Christlike witness to the world put on a production like [Beauty and the Beast]? I will never support this or support any anti biblical, anti Christian, or anti Christ Disney production or any thing similar. This is antithetical to what I thought this university is about. Apparently it’s about money!
Answer from Dr. Cone:
Dear Friend,
I am so thankful for your email. I have told many of our alumni and donors to hold us accountable, and I am glad you are taking me up on it. I am appreciative of the courage it took for you to communicate your concern, and I am appreciative of the opportunity to help clarify for you that Calvary University is totally committed to undergirding everything we do with the Biblical worldview, and to help you understand how our Theatre Department and productions help us achieve that.
First, you are certainly correct, that Disney has produced some material that has been unfriendly to Christians and the Biblical worldview. At the same time, Disney has also produced some quality films that are even sympathetic to Christians and the Biblical worldview. I think about Pirates of the Caribbean 4’s portrayal of a Christian missionary and his commitment to truth, grace, and kindness. I think of Snow White’s prayer for her dwarf friends. The Hunchback of Notre Dame has some Christian-friendly themes. Then there is the grace message of Tangled and Cinderella. There’s Disney’s drawing attention to a Christian and his story of hope and perseverance in the movie The Rookie. And as for Beauty and the Beast, Dove Reviews acknowledges the incredible artistic value of the film, and observes that, “Overall, the positive messages about loving others, bravery and family support dominate the film.”
Now, my point here is not to defend Disney or their worldview. Rather my point is to say that they are a significant producer of stories in today’s culture. Some of them are good, others not.
Second, you are also correct in recognizing that Calvary University is committed to preparing people to live and serve in the church and in the world according to a Biblical worldview. Part of that is helping our students learn how to use the many tools of narrative and illustration in order to (1) glorify God, and (2) share His love and faithfulness with others. Just as some of the great hymn writers attached theologically rich lyrics to secular melodies, our students are learning how to engage the culture without being conformed to it. We are keenly aware of Paul’s encouragement in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 that we are in the world and must engage those in it. Part of that means learning to speak their language. This is the same process as you would find in any missions organization – before a missionary is sent out to reach a particular culture for Christ, they must first learn the language and culture. Calvary University’s Theatre Department is doing that exact kind of training. We are committed to excellence in representing Him and His word, and we are committed to training our students with the highest caliber academic programs we can possibly offer. We are thankful for our Theatre Department, and for their contribution to Calvary’s overall mission.
Third, please know that our Theatre Department is one of our very most expensive departments, and it is certainly not a profit center. If Calvary was about money, we would definitely not have a Theatre Department. Performances like this one allow our students to gain incredible experience, and to grow in their skills, but they (the performances) hardly pay the bills. I truly hope you would consider supporting Calvary’s students and mission by visiting one of the performances. I think you will be truly impressed.
Finally, I thank you for your understanding – I know that you understand the importance of working with – at times – anti-biblical, and anti-Christian organizations, since you emailed your concern from your gmail account. Surely you are aware of the many anti-biblical and anti-Christian stances Google has taken. Yet this does not deter you (or us) from enjoying the benefits of their services, because even though they can be disagreeable at times, they also provide tremendous tools that help schools like Calvary University to proclaim the message of God’s grace through the gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world. While we certainly have our disagreements with Google, we are still thankful to have access to their tools, and we consider them a blessing in many ways – perhaps much like Disney.
Thank you again for communicating your concerns. I am sure that there are others who might share your concerns, so I am going to publish your comments – anonymously, of course – along with my response as an open letter, so that all who share your well thought out concerns might be encouraged to know what Calvary University is up to. We love you, are thankful for you, and encourage you to continue holding us accountable! We are at your service…
Christopher Cone, Th.D, Ph.D, Ph.D
President, Calvary University
by Webmanager | Aug 25, 2016
Convocation Address to Incoming Students of Calvary University, August 24, 2016, by Dr. Christopher Cone –
Men and women of the incoming class, we are indeed privileged to welcome you to Calvary University. You are embarking on a journey that is not vague or undefined. Some of you know exactly why you are here, and are already driven to make the very most of the opportunity that God has placed before you. But perhaps some of you have uncertainty.
Maybe you aren’t sure of exactly what you will gain through your time at Calvary. Perhaps you aren’t yet certain of what might be next for you after Calvary. Perhaps you are engaging this college career without any grand ambitions or particular direction in mind. Whichever is the case, for both the certain and the uncertain, I would like to offer some words of encouragement and caution.
The mission of Calvary University is to prepare Christians to live and serve in the church and in the world according to a Biblical worldview. With that in mind, focus for a moment on Calvary’s seal. You will notice three things in the center: the Bible, some Greek text, and the global cross.
First, we are reminded that the Bible is our foundation for everything. Solomon tells us in Proverbs 2:6 that from the mouth of the Lord comes knowledge and understanding. Paul later reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that the Scriptures are God-breathed and are what we need in order to be adequate and equipped as He intends. It is through His word we get to know Him and are able to grow closer to Him.
Think of it this way. John 17:3 explains to us that the meaning of life itself – even of eternal life – is that we may know Him. And what better way is there to get to know Him than by learning what He has said? God’s word matters, and how we study it matters. But why we study it also matters.
I often ask students their reasons for studying the Bible, frequently the reply is “so that I can teach or serve others.” Here is a caution for all of us: if we are so focused on filling up our glass only so we can pour into others, then we have forgotten that we need water too.
The consequence of this oversight is that our own health will fail to the point we won’t even be able to lift the glass. Perhaps we won’t even care to try.
Let me put it another way. In Ezra 7:10 we learn of how Ezra, the priest and scribe, set priorities in life. He had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, to do it, and to teach it in all of Israel. Notice, he filled up his cup (through study), he drank it (applying what he had learned in his own life first), and then he filled the cups of others by teaching them the word of God.
Perhaps you have heard the words of the great aeronautical theologians who reliably proclaim this message: “If there is loss of cabin pressure an oxygen mask will fall from the compartment overhead. Place the mask on yourself first before helping children, the disabled, or persons requiring assistance.” Why such a self-focused approach in an emergency situation? Simply put, you are not much good to those in need of your help if you are lying unconscious in a heap on the floor. Don’t allow yourself to become spiritually unconscious.
As you study at Calvary University, the Bible is the centerpiece of that education. Remember to read and study it so that you can grow closer to your Lord, so that you can walk with Him. As you are walking with Him you will find He provides opportunity for you to share that with others. Even Paul told Timothy, in 1 Timothy 4:16, to guard himself first and then his teaching. Your relationship with God is the core of what God has given you. It is the very meaning of your life. Don’t miss that. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (Jam 4:8).
Don’t make the mistake of isolating your spiritual life from your academic life or your emotional, social, or intellectual life – there are no such distinctions in reality. You have died and your whole life is hidden with Christ in God – so keep seeking the things above. In everything we do, we should be glorifying Him, and everything we do should be done in His name.
Are you studying His word? He is there with you.
Are you learning about business? He is there with you.
Are you developing your theatrical skills? He is there with you.
Are you making a joyful noise in the Music Department? He is there with you.
Are you on the court or the field striving for your team? He is there with you.
Are you alone in your room wrestling with pain and heartache? He is there with you.
Are you at work meeting your financial obligations? He is there with you.
Are you forging relationships that will last a lifetime? He is there with you.
In case you missed it He loves you deeply, paid quite a price to have a relationship with you, and He is there with you. He will never leave or forsake you (Heb 13:5). Don’t let that love go unappreciated.
Remember Mary and Martha? Martha worked hard to serve the Lord. Mary was fellowshipping with Him. Jesus challenged Martha that she was worried and bothered about many things, but Mary was focused on what was necessary (Lk 10:38-42). Don’t let your zeal to serve or your zeal to prepare for ministry become a greater passion than the passion to simply abide with Him. Focus on Him and you will be able to run with endurance the race that is set before you (Heb 12:1-3).
I can assure you of this: if when you have finished your journey at Calvary you can say that you got to know Him better and you grew closer to Him, then the other things will have taken care of themselves. As He once said, “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you” (Mt 6:33). When you complete the course set before you at Calvary, you will have earned a degree that will help you excel in a vocation. But don’t view this as simply an academic endeavor. Embrace it with your whole heart, knowing that the design for knowledge is that what you learn has an impact on your life with Him and with others.
This is why the Bible is in the middle of Calvary’s seal. Notice also the Greek text in Calvary’s seal. It is a quote from 1 Timothy 1:5, “but the goal of our instruction is love…” The full passage reads, “but the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” Knowledge is not intended for its own sake. Knowledge without purpose results in pride, but love builds up (1 Cor 8:1). The instruction of the Scriptures is designed for you to love Him and to love others. If our learning and knowledge doesn’t result in love, then we are doing it wrong.
Finally, take note of the other image in Calvary’s seal – the global cross. You see it not only in Calvary’s seal but it is the focal point in Calvary’s logo as well. That cross reminds us to look beyond ourselves and remember that God has placed us in a world that is in dire need of Him. God’s design is that wherever we may be we should be representing Him – ready with the gospel of Christ and with the love and preparedness to make disciples.
Calvary has graduates in over sixty countries right now, some serving the Lord in professions and others in vocational ministry. Somewhere in this world, God intends for you to walk the path He has prepared beforehand (Eph 2:10). For now that path has you here at Calvary University. What will your story be? What will you remember most? Will your highlights be of things you did, or will they be centered on Who you did those things with?
Study. Learn. Grow. Never forget He is with you every step of your journey.
by Webmanager | Jun 16, 2016
