by Webmanager | Jul 26, 2017
New Director
Dr. Joaquim Braga accepted the position of Biblical Counseling Program Director in the Seminary starting July 1, 2017. After he became a Christian in Brazil, Joaquim desired to learn more about Jesus and prepare for ministry. The missionaries who led Dr. Braga to Christ suggested Calvary! After pursuing ministry and additional education elsewhere, he has agreed to serve in this important role at his alma mater.
Dr. Braga is the Executive Director of Counseling for Brazil Ministries, a missions non-profit that seeks to live out the gospel by counseling and teaching individuals, couples, and families in the country of Brazil. He has a vision to transfer his experience and education to other men and women to use in the church and to use in the community. Joa worked in the counseling field with families, individuals, and couples in the areas of addictions, trauma and abuse, marital conflict, family of origin issues, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and more. He completed a Masters of Divinity in Pastoral Studies at Calvary Theological Seminary. He continued to study at Dallas Theological Seminary and completed a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling. His passion for reaching others for Christ led him to complete a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Texas Women’s University this year. He says, “Our prayer is that we will strive to struggle to the best of our ability and to turn to Jesus every time we hurt. Our hope is to love on others so they too can do the same.”
New Opportunities
Dr. Braga announced an additional opportunity for pastors and church leaders to receive training and certification without earning an entire degree. He will announce new training opportunities soon.
Dr. Braga’s vision for the seminary program is to expand the Biblical Counseling Ministry program by adding courses and structure. He aspires to create another track for Biblical Counselors who desire licensure. Details will be announced in the future. This program is not available yet.
by Webmanager | Jul 13, 2017
Using Math in Everyday Life
With Independence Day behind us, summer is winding up and back-to-school sales are already hitting the stores. Even as an adult, there is something magical about crisp, white pages in a new notebook and a pack of new pens. It is as if everything is brand new and the world is ours for the taking.
Yet, for many children, the end of summer brings disappointment and anxiety. Some children become apprehensive about the upcoming school year as the summer ends, specifically concerning the subjects they have struggled with in the past. One area that many children wrestle with is math.
All subjects have language specific to their own topics, and math is no different. When it comes to math, children must accomplish two things. First of all, they must learn the definition of the mathematical word. Second, they have to learn how to apply it to solve problems. Additionally, as children age, mathematical concepts become less concrete and more abstract, leading to frustration and anger.
However, there are many things to do at home to help children grasp what they are learning in math class and none of them involves sitting down and “drilling” them over facts tables. Here are just a few:
- When helping your child with homework, find ways to make math real and applicable to their lives. For example, if one of their math problems is -4 + 10, and they are struggling with it, try phrasing it like this: “If you owe your sister $4 and you do a chore and earn $10, how much will you have left after you pay your sister back?”
- Encourage your child to help you cook in the kitchen. This is a fantastic way to work with them on measurements, multiplication (i.e. doubling a recipe), and fractions. Once the recipe is complete, you both can divide it among the family members in the house.
- Look for examples of math in your everyday life. If your child enjoys baseball, figure out their favorite player’s batting average. If they enjoy going to the movies, have them estimate how much money they would need if they wanted to go with five of their friends.
These are just a few examples of how to help your child grasp different math concepts. Once they begin to see how they use math in their daily life, they will begin to enjoy it more and dread it less. This will make heading back to school much easier.
For more information about Calvary University’s Family Literacy Program, check here.
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 | Jun 28, 2017
You Can Help Support Education for Veterans, Soldiers, and Their Families
Calvary University (CU) administrators decided to offer the lowest tuition rate to a special group of people – active military personnel, veterans, and their immediate families (spouse & children). You can give generously to help CU sustain this program, but you may ask, ”What’s the impact?” During the 2016-2017 school year, 24 students were in this category and Calvary expects this number to grow with this new initiative. Join us and show your patriotism and your faith through a donation to Calvary University. https://www.calvary.edu/invest/ We need your support to sustain this special offering.
Anything But Free
A direct correlation exists between the soldier’s service and a society’s freedom; however, ironically, the soldier’s life is anything but free. When my lifelong friend and I graduated from high school, he chose to serve in the United States Navy to mitigate the expense of college. The slogan “See the World” misled many a recruit in those days who, later, would have been all over the world and seen only a few port cities. “It’s not just a job. It’s an adventure.” This slogan left many a recruit wondering about the definition of “adventure.” For the most part, the inside of a ship or military base was what many soldiers experienced. I often hear a veteran’s tale about his or her unique service experience that sounds like anything but “freedom” to this civilian.
I remain grateful for the military service of my family and friends, and I hold special appreciation for the effort of every soldier. I learned respect for the women and men in uniform because they served for me by proxy. I believe this occupation deserves my admiration because I enjoy the freedom that was paid at a dear price (and not by me).
A Big Sacrifice
One who believes and follows Jesus Christ must recognize that freedom comes at the price of another. Jesus quoted Isaiah but fulfilled Scripture when He said, “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives … to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18). God’s Son did not provide liberty to the captives and to the oppressed by doing whatever He wanted. In fact, Jesus was limited to the narrow parameters of His Father’s plan for the redemption of sinful man (Matthew 7:21; 26:42; John 14:20). Believers know Jesus sacrificed His life’s blood for the atonement of sin. Many call this the “ultimate sacrifice”.
Soldiers face sacrifice at many levels including the possible “ultimate” one of life. Indeed, many men and women continually give as they work to resolve past experiences that present challenges in life moving forward. Without personal experience, I can only relate a few minor instances largely insignificant compared to a past warrior’s life. According to the Defense Manpower Reporting Center more than 7% of all Americans have served in the military at some point in their life (https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dwp/index.jsp). This fact leaves little doubt that most readers understand how soldiers give something of themselves during their military career. Like many of you, I empathetically understand what they give.
One might expect the price of freedom would prompt enough fortitude for citizens to appreciate what was accomplished through someone else. Paul argued, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). So it seems, the one “set free” must remain steadfast against the temptation to return to the former slavery. Unfortunately, believers find themselves enslaved to sin. Soldiers often find their sacrifice means little to a free society.
The benefits afforded to soldiers through legal mandate seem like a small reward. My aforementioned friend found, after receiving his Good Conduct Medal, that his expert training had little civilian relevance. A college education was desired and needed and earned. Many mistakenly believe soldiers get free education through military benefits. This simply is untrue. Soldiers and veterans look for military friendly schools (like CU) that can make needed training affordable. Men and women of the armed forces deserve help from their brothers and sisters in Christ as we can relate to their gift.
A Call to Action
Please allow me this indulgence: On Independence Day 2017, celebrate by thanking your Savior and by thanking a Soldier. Prayerfully consider giving to CU so we can continue our Military Benefit program. Remember, someone else paid for your freedom. And, “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16).
https://www.calvary.edu/invest/
by Webmanager | Jun 23, 2017
Calvary has an ongoing commitment to excellence and affordability (see Calvary’s 4 Distinctives). After earning a spot on a recent “Most Admirable Institutions” list, Calvary has been ranked as the #6 most affordable online theological degree program in the United States. The ranking was done by bestvalueschools.com, and was revealed in a recent report.
Of Calvary University, the report says, “All bachelor’s degrees at Calvary University comprise two parts: a major in the Bible and theology and a complementary professional major. In practice, this means that you can earn a cheap ministry degree online while also perfectly customizing your education to meet your career goals. And Calvary offers an impressive selection of professional majors, ensuring that nearly every student can find something that appeals. From biblical counseling to education to pastoral ministry, you can ground your theoretical knowledge of the Bible in the concrete skills you’ll need to find a meaningful career after graduation.”
Calvary University is grateful to its many friends and donors whose tremendous generosity helps keep Calvary’s tuition low.
