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
Calvary University Announces the Burnham Center for Global Engagement
Calvary University Announces the Burnham Center for Global Engagement Calvary University prepares Christians to live and serve in the church and in the world according to the biblical worldview and has since its establishment in 1932. For 85 years, many...
Why Intercultural Studies? The Command of Christ
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Why Intercultural Studies? The Content of the New Testament.
In my last post, I outlined how we can see God’s heart for all people groups interwoven throughout the Old Testament. The New Testament presents us with a time of transition in which we can see a shift from God dealing primarily with Israel to opening up the gospel...
Why Intercultural Studies? The Content of Scripture, OT.
Does the Old Testament point us to God's heart for the nations, or is it only all about Israel? In the previous two posts, I have covered two issues related to the importance of missions: the incredible need for the gospel in areas and among people who have never...
Why Intercultural Studies? The Character of God
In 1910 Robert E. Spear made the statement, “It is in the very being and character of God that the deepest ground of the missionary enterprise is to be found.” What is the character of God? What attributes come to mind when you first think of Him? Perhaps more...
Why Intercultural Studies: The Greatest Story Never Told
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Missions Emphasis Week – January 24-27
In just a few short weeks Calvary University will welcome 30 Missions Mobilizers from 15 different agencies for our annual Missions Emphasis Week. Missions Emphasis Week is a long standing tradition at Calvary. Our students have the opportunity to hear from special...
Introducing the Student Missions Committee
As part of Calvary's commitment to being a vital part of our own community and being engaged in sharing the love of Christ there is a group of students on campus known as the Student Missions Committee. Rather than tell you about them myself I thought I would let...