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Calvary Gears Up for Leadership Conference

by | Feb 10, 2020

Christian Leader’s Conference to address “What Makes Counseling Biblical?” Next Monday, February 17

On February 17, Calvary will hold the fourth annual Christian Leader’s Conference. This year’s topic is “What Makes Counseling Biblical?” Dr. Smith, Department Chair of Biblical Counseling, said this year’s conference subject matter “is two-fold… One point we’re trying to make here is what makes counseling biblical.” He pointed out that the term biblical counseling is used frequently, so specification of exactly what is encapsulated in the discipline is needed. “We’re going to try to look at the mechanics and elements of biblical counseling, and some of the fundamentals.”

The second aspect the conference will address, according to Dr. Smith, is “some misconceptions about the field of psychology. Is psychology a secular vocation? Can it be something that biblical counselors can utilize, something we should even be involved in?” Through the format of presentations and panel discussions, the Christian Leader’s Conference will address these questions and how they affect leaders in the Christian arena.

The Christian Leader’s Conference will feature presentations by Calvary faculty members Dr. Luther Smith, Dr. Christopher Cone, Dr. Thomas Baurain, William Stebbins, and Dr. Jeff Cox. Smith said, “The goal when people leave is to understand what biblical counseling is in contrast to all these other models. And, too, that they would have a more informed approach to disciplines, especially psychology.”

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CU-backed Film Being Honored

CU-backed Film Being Honored

by | Feb 4, 2020

“Faith on the Edge” to compete for Feature Documentary Award

“Faith on the Edge,” a documentary film backed by Calvary University in 2019, has been honored as an official selection by the Christian Worldview Film Festival based in Nashville, Tennessee.

The film was produced and directed by The Creation Guys, Pat Roy and Kyle Justice, who said, “We’re excited and honored that ‘Faith on the Edge’ has been selected to compete for the Feature Documentary Award in the Christian Worldview Film Festival.”

Roy and Justice created the film to address a new wave of Christians who are converting to a belief in the flat earth. It was designed to equip Christians to give Biblical and scientific answers to questions that they say “will inevitably come from family and friends.”

The film featured several experts and real-life experiments, including a weather balloon carrying a 360˚ camera 22.75 miles up into the atmosphere. This is how Calvary got involved.

Dr. Steven Boyd was one of the experts featured in the film. Boyd is considered an expert on the related subjects, especially the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. He holds a Master’s in Physics from Drexel University, a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary as well as a Master’s and a PhD in Hebraic and Cognate studies from Hebrew Union College. He is the Director of the Cataclysm Chronology Research Group and a specialist in Old Testament and Semitic Languages.

A generous donation from Calvary University also helped with the spectacular balloon launch in Johnstown, Ohio. The balloon went several miles into the atmosphere, carrying a 3D 8K camera. The Creation Guys videotaped the launch and included the footage in “Faith on the Edge” in order to “demonstrate the curvature of the Earth.”

Justice called the nomination, “Very cool!”  “Faith on the Edge” will be played to an audience attending the film festival March 18-20. “The evening of the 20th,” he said, “there is an awards ceremony where we’ll see if it wins for ‘Feature Documentary.'” 

Conference Promotes Student Engagement in Missions

Conference Promotes Student Engagement in Missions

by | Feb 3, 2020

Missions Reps answer questions from students during All-Dorm Devotions.

Students met and interfaced with missions reps during Calvary’s Conference on Global Engagement.

Last week, Calvary held its annual Conference on Global Engagement, hosting missions reps from over 20 missions agencies. Students attended chapel each day taught by representatives from Calvary’s various Synergy partners. Reps offered several other seminars throughout the week, with topics such as engaging in spiritual warfare, church revitalization, facing the dark side of ministry, and addiction and trauma recovery.  Other events like All-Dorm Devotions, a movie night, and Calvary’s Haystack meeting gave students opportunities to interface with missions reps and familiarize themselves with the many agencies represented.

Josh Paxton, Director of the Burnham Center for Global Engagement, said he was happy with how the conference went, and liked the introduction of five chapel speakers for the week. He also mentioned Monday’s dorm devos was “a highlight, and students were able to ask mission reps questions. The theme was ‘10 Reasons Why I Shouldn’t Be a Missionary.’” Students wrote down their questions, “things like, ‘I don’t feel called to missions,’ or, ‘I don’t think I could be a church planter,’ and a panel of mission reps responded to questions to start a dialogue with the students.

Calvary student Lydia Stalcup said, “It was such an encouragement to have so many missionaries come for COGE.” She said the Chapels, seminars, and other conversations provided her with “insightful information for future ministry.” Paxton said these opportunities to interface are some of the best parts of the conference. “My favorite part is just the fellowship of the conference… It’s great to just catch up and fellowship with [the missions reps] and hear what’s going on in their corner of the world.”

Paxton pointed out that the Conference on Global Engagement is the most all-encompassing event at Calvary, and “it essentially takes over the entire school for the week.” He added that, “It’s an important part of Calvary’s culture, and of reminding us that, while we have different programs and different degrees and different interests… reaching the world with the gospel—reaching the lost—is something that we are all supposed to come together around.”

Paul Mattson from Crossworld speaks in Monday’sChapel.

Jeff McIntyre, Scripture Memory Mountain Mission, gives a seminar on “Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gifts.”

Shawn Haynie from Adelphos-USA answers a question on Monday’s Q&A panel.

Warriors Continue Their Winning Ways, Defeat Central Christian

Warriors Continue Their Winning Ways, Defeat Central Christian

by | Jan 31, 2020

Calvary picked up their third straight win, and fifth straight at home, defeating the Saints 84-53.

Both teams started rather slowly as it took the Warriors two minutes to open the scoring, but after grabbing the early lead Calvary never trailed. CCCB was able to keep the game close through much of the first quarter cutting the lead to two after Calvary went on a 9-2 run. The Warriors though were able to keep the Saints at arm’s length and a buzzer-beater three from Taylor Hunter at the end of the first quarter put Calvary up 22-13. The Warriors didn’t slow down in the second keeping the lead in double figures for almost the entire quarter. Led by outstanding three-point shooting from Avery Kornstad, CU went into halftime up 47-28. 

The second half picked up right where the first left off. After a quick Central Christian basket, the Warriors went on an 18-0 run holding the Saints scoreless for over seven minutes. Calvary didn’t make a three-point shot in the second half, but they didn’t need to after outscoring CCCB 24-9 in the third quarter and leading by 34, 71-37. Calvary’s bench played most of the fourth quarter, with every player on the team getting at least 8 minutes of action. The Saints outscored Calvary in the fourth 16-13, but it didn’t make any difference as the Warriors cruised to another conference victory 84-53. 

Kornstad led the Warriors with 23 points, Hunter chipped in 18 points, and Shalom Sutcliffe added 13 points and led the team in rebounds with seven. As a team, the Warriors shot 45% from the floor and tallied assists on 18 of their 34 makes. Every Warrior either scored or had at least three rebounds. 

Taylor Branch and Elizabeth Willouer led CCCB with 14 points apiece. 

With the win, Calvary improves to 13-7 on the season and 5-1 in MCCC play. The Warriors hope to continue their home winning streak on Friday when they take on Ecclesia at the Pyramid. 

Calvary Falls Just Short in Loss to Tenth Ranked Saints

Calvary Falls Just Short in Loss to Tenth Ranked Saints

by | Jan 31, 2020

For the second game in a row, the Warriors jumped out to a quick start opening the game on a 9-0 scoring run. Over the next few minutes, Calvary continued to play well at both ends of the court leading 18-4 at the 15-minute mark of the first half. Central’s defensive pressure then began to get to Calvary, but the Warriors stemmed the tide and led by nine with ten minutes left before halftime. CCCB then went on a 17-3 run to take a lead of their own. Both teams went back and forth over the final five minutes, Braydon Unruh connected on a driving layup with one second left to send Calvary into the locker room down three 46-43. Head coach Matt Sanders said, “We got off to another hot start, but again couldn’t sustain it. We fought unbelievably hard and hung in there to keep it close at halftime.”

The Warriors started the second half quickly as well, going on a 7-0 run to open the half and retaking the lead. The rest of the game was tightly contested with neither team able to gain much of an edge. A pair of Calvary turnovers allowed the Saints to extend their lead to seven, but the Warriors immediately cut the lead to four and two possessions later were within one and for a short time were tied. CU just couldn’t seem to score over the final minute and a half coming up just short, losing 90-86.

Sanders said after the game, “It was a war of wills, and their will was greater than ours tonight. We just didn’t make enough plays to come out on top of the scoreboard. I’m super proud of my team and really thankful that they play for God and give glory to Him.”

Unruh led the scoring for Calvary with 25 points, Zeb Green added 17 points and nine rebounds. Benjamin Jones had a 14 point, 10 rebound double-double, and Ques Harris was also in double figures with 10 points. 

Andre Johnson led the Saints with 22 points. 

With the loss, Calvary drops back to .500 at 9-9 on the season and 2-4 in conference play. The Warriors are back in action against Ecclesia at home on Friday.