Intercultural Studies
Intercultural Education is more necessary than ever before.
According to Dr. Joshua Paxton, the need for Christians to understand how to communicate and relate with people of other cultures is only going to increase.
Paxton, Director of the Calvary University Burnham Center for Global Engagement and Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies, explains what exactly is Intercultural Education, why relating to and teaching cross-culturally is different from teaching someone of the same culture and some of the things a person needs to know in order to communicate and teach cross-culturally.
Synergy
The word “synergy” refers to cooperation between two or more organizations. That is exactly what this option entails. Through Calvary’s relationships with several mission agencies, students have the option of progressing immediately to the mission field through taking specific coursework in conjunction with a chosen missions agency’s existing training program. Click here for more information.
Burnham Center for Global Engagement
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.
Faculty
Joshua Paxton, M.Div., Ed.D.
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.
Tim Hange, M.Ed., D.A.
Department Chair of English and TESOL Coordinator
Tim Hange completed eight years of service as an academic missionary in Moscow, Russia. He and his wife served at Hinkson Christian Academy, led English clubs and camps through the English Cafe ministry, and tutored children at state orphanages. Tim’s hobbies include playing guitar, reading, playing strategic board games, and studying the Russian language. His primary passions, however, are working with international students and creating contexts for discipleship through education.
Intercultural Studies (Major/Minor)
Judy Swartz
The Intercultural Studies program at Calvary provided a rich experience of learning about diverse cultures and beliefs. I appreciated the textbook readings, engaging class interactions, and writing assignments which facilitated my understanding about other cultures and ministry. In my chaplaincy vocation, I take with me into the clinic setting the communication, counseling, cultural, and theological concepts and skills I learned from my Intercultural Studies classes at Calvary University.
Nathan Harmer
The Intercultural Studies program at Calvary University has given me a solid foundation for cross-cultural ministry. I continually find myself going back to this foundation as I serve in ministry. I am so thankful that God gave me the opportunity to be prepared for service at Calvary.
News and Articles
Why would anyone want to be an MK?
Why would anyone want to be an MK? What is it like to grow up as a missionary kid (MK)? How does it shape the way kids see the world? How does it impact their faith? James Gleaves has some stories to share. Calvary University’s Dr. Joshua Paxton invited Gleaves—a...
How can US missionaries partner other national leaders?
How can US missionaries partner other national leaders? The benefits of partnering with indigenous leadership for global missions are enormous. But those benefits can be eclipsed by several and various problems. Dr. Joshua Paxton invited Shawn Haynie, Director of...
Why are North American missions necessary?
With all the great needs around the world, why should anyone consider serving in North America? This is the question posed by Dr. Joshua Paxton to three leaders of North American mission agencies—Jon Hansen, Doug Clark and Dr. Henry Vosburgh. Their conversation not...
How can Christians celebrate the Christmas season with wisdom?
Christmas – “the most wonderful time of the year!” And yet it’s become loaded with a lot of unbiblical traditions and expectations. How should Christians respond? Which should we clearly avoid? Which should we engage with caution? And which should we employ with a...
How can we avoid extremes in discipleship?
How do you know when you’re out of balance—over emphasizing some things while neglecting others? What are the dangers of forcing our priorities on other people? What does it mean to actually be “biblical”? Dr. Joshua Paxton led a conversation with the Calvary...
Reaching the Unreached: Josiah and Lydia Stout
"God is more concerned about who I become rather than what I do. 'Be' comes before 'Do'." Josiah and Lydia Stout are newly weds who graduated this spring with degrees in Intercultural Studies and TESOL. Josiah grew up with his family in Omaha, Nebraska for most his...
Why send missionaries over there?
“There are so many unsaved people here in the United States. Why should we send missionaries to other countries?” As American becomes increasingly post-Christian, this view seems more reasonable. Calvary’s Dr. Joshua Paxton invited Matthew Ellison, President of...
Lance Rensberger: Trust within Trial
Aftermath of helicopter following hangar collapse. "'The safest place to be is within God's will.'" Lance and Caitlin Rensberger are alumni of Calvary University who graduated one year apart from each other, Caitlin in 2015 and Lance in 2016. The couple, married in...
Dr. Joshua Paxton: Why you should care about Intercultural Eduction
Intercultural Education is more necessary than ever before. According to Dr. Joshua Paxton, the need for Christians to understand how to communicate and relate with people of other cultures is only going to increase. Paxton, Director of the Calvary University Burnham...