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Join us online for 2020 Commencement Events

Join us online for 2020 Commencement Events

by | Jun 23, 2020

Links to Live Stream Events June 26-27:

Baccalaureate

2 p.m. Friday, June 26

Liberty Chapel

Awards Banquet

6:30 p.m. Friday, June 26

Student Life Center

Commencement

10 a.m.  Saturday, June 27

Student Life Center

Celebrate the Class of 2020

Due to Coronavirus restrictions and social distancing over the past few months, Calvary University was unable to celebrate commencement in May for the first time in our school’s history.

Fortunately, those restrictions are being lifted enough for CU to celebrate this week. On June 26 we will hold Baccalaureate and an Awards Banquet. The next day, Saturday, June 27, we will celebrate Commencement. Since there are still some restrictions, in-person attendance is by invitation only — mostly for graduates and their immediate families.

However, we invite all family, friends, faculty, staff, alumni, churches and supporters to join us via live stream (see links below) to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2020.

We also invite you to visit and explore our 2020 Commencement Yearbook page which will compile the names, awards, stories, pictures and videos from this important and historic celebration.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020!

Alum Returns to Chair Theatre Department

Alum Returns to Chair Theatre Department

by | Jun 22, 2020

Top right: England performs in Calvary’s 2010 production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Bottom right: England as The Cat in the Hat for Calvary’s 2013 production of Seussical.

“Story is a way to worship.”

Calvary alumnus Kenneth England is taking over the Theatre Department following the retirement of department chair Bobbie Jeffrey. England grew up in rural Illinois and came to Calvary for a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts. He said, “I knew that I wanted Bible education and Theatre education. I decided to do the Bible first and Calvary is where my parents attended and where my older sister was a sophomore.” After finishing his degree at Calvary, he earned his MFA in Acting from Purdue.

Theatre has been integral in England’s life for many years. He decided to pursue it as a career while in high school. “I was enraptured with the act of creation involved with theatre. Theatre’s magic captured me… I had never experienced such passion and joy as I did while doing theatre. I decided to take a risk and pursue a career path that I loved and inspired me.”

England started teaching at the undergraduate level while studying at Purdue. In the spring semester of 2020, he joined Calvary’s faculty as an adjunct professor of Theatre Arts. England said when the role of Department Chair opened up, he applied because he believes “Calvary needs a Theatre Department and I want to do what I can to make it successful.” He added that he was invested in the department because of the influence it had on his own spiritual growth. “When I was a student, the department played a huge part in the development of my spiritual life. In fact, many aspects of the faith did not make sense or only became personal to me after I learned to put Christianity in the context of story. I want to be able to provide the opportunity for that same growth to the students.”

As he steps into this new position, England is excited for the opportunities to help students connect their art with their faith and “connect the techniques of theater with Christianity.” He noted that the department is in a time of change, both in leadership and in the transition to a minor-only program. Since the department will only perform one full production per school year, England is looking for more ways to provide opportunities for student led projects. England said story is a powerful method to teach about relationships and connections and understanding the world around us. But ultimately, he said, “Story is a way to worship. God is an artistic God… So, when we engage in art, it is worship.”

Calvary Prof Publishes Work on Discipleship

Calvary Prof Publishes Work on Discipleship

by | Jun 18, 2020

Dr. Daniel Goepfrich, adjunct professor of Greek at Calvary, recently published a book titled, Biblical Discipleship: The Path For Helping People Follow Jesus. The book arose out of his long-standing desire to write a work focusing on salvation and discipleship together, as well as a desire to have useful resources for his church. Goepfrich, who pastors Oak Tree Community Church, said, “As a pastor, it’s very important to me that we have something our people could follow.” He said other curriculums seemed to focus on one area, “and I wanted to see something that was quite a bit more complete… to show that the Bible does lay out the path for genuine discipleship.”

The book has been in progress for over a decade now as Goepfrich has been developing information and resources on discipleship. He said, “I love to write and to think that way. One of my lifelong goals was always to write a couple of certain books… and it finally compiled into a book.” The book includes study questions to adapt it for personal study, small groups, bible studies, and other formats.

Goepfrich hopes the book will push people to change how they think about what discipleship is and how to do it. He said, “Revival doesn’t start in the academies. Revival doesn’t start in the seminaries. Revival starts in the churches, when everyday people come back to the Scriptures and say, ‘We need to do this better.’”

Check out this interview with Dr. Goepfrich about his book:

Find the book on Amazon
Dr. Washington Transitions to Chair Business Department

Dr. Washington Transitions to Chair Business Department

by | Jun 16, 2020

“I love teaching courses that can help students to think strategically.”

Dr. Germaine Washington, a professor in the Business Department since 2016, is moving into a new role as department chair. Washington earned her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice from Missouri Western State University, and worked in the substance abuse and mental health field for nearly 20 years before pursuing graduate education in Business Management. She said, “I always wanted to get my master’s, so I was searching around.” When she looked into Phoenix University, her admissions rep suggested she pursue an M.B.A. Washington disregarded the idea, but “she kept calling. And I just gave up. So I said, ‘God, this must be what you want me to, do because she won’t leave me alone.”

Washington dove into the program, graduated in a year and a half with her M.B.A., and came back a few years later to earned her Doctorate. “I ended up loving writing, and research, meeting new people, learning how to network. I felt that I just found me.”

A connection with Dr. Skip Hessel, the chair of the department, brought Washington to Calvary to teach in the expanding program. “Dr. Skip asked me, ‘Have you ever thought about being a college professor and teaching business?’ [I had been] praying, asking God, ‘What do you want me to do with this degree?’ …It was like God just smiled on me.”

Washington came to teach at Calvary in 2016. She said, “I came to find out I had a love for teaching. I enjoy giving back what was given to me when I was in school.” Washington is excited to watch the department grow and watch Calvary alumni building successful businesses. “I’ve had several graduates come to Dr. Skip and I saying they’ve learned so much in the business program.”

As she steps into her new role as chair, Washington is excited for the overall direction the department is heading. “In the umbrella of the Business Department, I love it all. I love teaching courses that can help students to think strategically. I love pulling talent out of the students when they tap into talent they didn’t know they had. And working with the students helping them to master their craft.”

Lead With Compassion (A Statement from Interim President Jeff Campa)

Lead With Compassion (A Statement from Interim President Jeff Campa)

by | Jun 12, 2020

By Jeff Campa  

Interim President
Calvary University

The mission of Calvary University is to “Prepare Christians to live and serve in the church and in the world according to the Biblical worldview.” Our faculty and staff are committed to teaching and demonstrating this in the classroom and beyond as God gives us opportunity.  

Our nation (and our church!) is grappling with the upheaval brought about by the tragic death of George Floyd and equally tragic violent protests born out of anger and frustration.  As we seek to regain our personal and national equilibrium, I encourage us to do so considering the Biblical worldview.   

The Biblical worldview condemns racism.  

The Biblical worldview condemns abuse of power.  

The Biblical worldview condemns injustice.  

The Biblical worldview condemns unlawfulness.   

Unfortunately, it is painfully obvious that in this fallen world racism, brutal abuse of power, and injustices of every kind are daily realities. If we care to learn, history will teach us another unfortunate lesson: those of us who have not personally experienced racism, abuse, and injustice come to believe they are not daily realities in the lives of others. How does the Biblical worldview teach us to navigate such disparity in experience and understanding?   

The Biblical worldview demonstrates love.  

The Biblical worldview demonstrates grace.  

The Biblical worldview demonstrates patience.  

The Biblical worldview demonstrates mercy.  

During personal and cultural turmoil related to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman Empire the Biblical author Jude teaches us to demonstrate compassion toward those who are uncertain (Jude 22). Whether we question that a problem actually exists or that change is a real possibility, we are uncertain. What is compassion’s role in this dynamic? Compassion listens so it can understand, not just respond. Compassion speaks so it can provide hope, not just prove a point. And when compassion does speak, it speaks the truth in love not pride.   

As we emerge out of social distancing restrictions and can resume “going to church” may we all be more excited about “being the church” by demonstrating love, grace, patience, and mercy. Let us lead through these uncertain times with compassion.  

Jeff Campa  
Interim President 
Calvary University