Assemblies of God
COLLEGE GUIDE 2O24
INSIDE
2 I Believe in AG
Higher Education
The benefits are worth the investment
6 Directory of AG Colleges and Universities
Winter 2024
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I Believe in AG Higher Education The benefits are worth the investment B y R E N E A B RAT H WA I T E
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igher education has fallen on hard times, with many Americans dismissing college as simply not worth the cost. In a 2022 survey of U.S. adults by the research group Public Agenda, 51% questioned the value of a college education. Among respondents aged 18–34 without a degree, the share was 70%. The cost of college education has indeed increased, but so have the advantages of a degree. The benefits are even greater with Christian education, especially in our Assemblies of God context. Learning has long been a priority in the Assemblies of God. Despite negative stereotypes to the
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contrary, most early Pentecostals did not reject education. What they rejected, and were rightly suspicious of, was teaching that treats God, faith, and morality as relics of a superstitious past. Seeking to offer Pentecostal Christian alternatives, the Assemblies of God quickly established postsecondary educational institutions. Through the years, these AG institutions have produced many graduates who rose to positions of national and global leadership, both within and outside the Church. Today, AG colleges and universities offer an array of accredited degree options.
An Assemblies of God education provides a number of benefits to students, society as a whole, and the Church.
B E N E F I T S TO S T U D E N T S To begin, there is a significant financial benefit for college graduates. Earning a college degree can be expensive, but it is worth the investment. Even after adjusting for the cost of education, the average lifetime earnings for a person with a bachelor’s degree is $400,000 greater than the expected average with only a high school diploma, according to College Board’s Education Pays 2023 report. Income levels grow even more as individuals acquire advanced degrees. Despite concerns over college debt, students enrolling at age 18 will earn enough by age 34 to offset the direct and opportunity costs of a four-year degree, the College Board report indicates. During times of high employment, some may wonder whether taking on college debt makes sense. However, economic change is inevitable. And data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows unemployment most affects those without college degrees. Even more important than the financial advantages of a college degree are the transformational benefits students experience through AG higher education. During the formative undergraduate years, young adults ask and often answer key questions that will shape their lives profoundly: • Who am I when my parents are not around? • What kind of person do I aspire to be? • What do I truly believe about God and the world? • Whom will I marry? • Where will I live? • What do I want to do with the rest of my life? Pentecostal Christian education is about guiding students toward transformation, not just information. AG colleges and universities seek to shape lives spiritually, intellectually, socially, morally, and vocationally.
Assemblies of God educators understand the interplay between the head, heart, and hands and take time to mentor students as well as teach them. There is incalculable value in having students wrestle with their deep, existential questions within an environment that both affirms and centers genuine, life-giving faith. Every AG college and university focuses on producing God-honoring, Christ-centered, Spiritempowered graduates. Built into the mission, vision, curriculum, and fabric of each institution is an intentional emphasis on these outcomes.
AG colleges and universities prepare young adults to serve and make a positive difference in their world, whether through ministry or marketplace occupations. For example, consider the mission statements from some of our AG schools. I serve as dean of the School of Theology and Ministry at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. At the core of its mission, Vanguard strives to “pursue knowledge, cultivate character, deepen faith, and equip each student for a Spirit-empowered life of Christ-centered leadership and service.” The mission of Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, is “educating and equipping students to
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become Spirit-empowered servants of God who impact the Church and society globally.” Similarly, North Central University in Minneapolis describes itself as “a dynamic Christian learning community educating students for lives of service throughout society, the marketplace, and the church.” North Central’s mission statement goes on to say, “In keeping with its Pentecostal heritage and beliefs, NCU models and expects excellence in both academic practice and Christian faith.” The results of such emphases are graduates who, instead of feeling confused about their faith and place in the world after four or more years of education, are prepared for their roles in society and the Church. Graduates of AG colleges and universities have had considerable mentorship and support during their educational journeys, which gives them greater opportunity for answering the above key questions in God-honoring, healthy, and holistic ways.
B E N E F I T S TO S O C I E T Y In terms of broader societal benefits, an AG higher education serves important Great Commission functions. Students who are nurtured in a discipling environment are better equipped to disciple others. Graduates with specialized training can become reliable witnesses of the gospel in areas where traditional churches might have limited access. AG colleges and universities prepare young adults to serve and make a positive difference in their world, whether through ministry or marketplace occupations. Faculty members often hear from public and private employers who say things like, “We cannot get enough of your graduates. There is something special about them. They show up, exceed expectations, and are mature beyond their years.”
B E N E F I T S TO T H E C H U R C H The benefits of an AG higher education extend naturally to the Church itself.
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Congregations benefit from the contributions of educated lay leaders who have been trained in our Fellowship’s history and theology by faculty members with a Pentecostal worldview. Such leaders are valuable assets to church and parachurch volunteer ministries across the country and around the world. Further, many graduates who did not begin in ministry eventually pursue credentials and advanced degrees in Bible and theology because of the foundation they received in our AG colleges. Moreover, graduates from our colleges and universities become representatives of the Church in their marketplace professions.
B E N E F I T S FO R A L I F E T I M E The benefits of an Assemblies of God higher education speak for themselves. Over the years, our AG schools have matured into regionally and nationally accredited institutions of quality and influence, providing a range of affordable program options. For generations, AG institutions of higher education have produced influential graduates. Our alumni include pastors, missionaries, district and national leaders, attorneys, business executives, military officers, teachers, physicians, nurses, engineers, musicians, scientists, and more. Students, parents, and pastors should seriously and prayerfully consider attending and supporting our AG colleges and universities. Having attended two Assemblies of God universities and taught at three, I am convinced of the benefits provided by our postsecondary educational institutions. I truly believe in AG higher education.
RENEA BRATHWAITE, Ph.D., is dean of the School of Theology and Ministry and chief diversity officer at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California.
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Assemblies of God Colleges and Universities
Choosing to attend an endorsed Assemblies of God college or university gives you the confidence of knowing your college experience will be marked by both a quality education and a vibrant spiritual environment.
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1. Ascent College
PO Box 690, Gainesville, VA 20156-0690 https://ascent.edu (703) 753-2791
11. North Central University
910 Elliot Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404 https://www.northcentral.edu
1-800 -289-6222
2. Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
12. Northpoint Bible College
3. Bridges Christian College
13. Northwest University
4. Caribbean School of Theology
14. Southeastern University
5. Christ Mission College
15. Southwestern Assemblies of God University
6. Evangel University
16. Southwestern Assemblies of God University (American Indian College)
1111 N. Glenstone Ave. Springfield, MO 65802-2131 https://www.agts.edu (417) 268 -1000 PO Box 15138, New Orleans, LA 70175 https://bcc.edu (855) 702-7434 1211 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, MO 65804 https://cstonline.org (417) 829 -1837 10822 FM 1560 N., San Antonio, TX 78254 http://www.cmctx.edu (210) 688-3101 1111 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, MO 65802 http://www.evangel.edu (417) 865-2815
7. Global University
1211 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, MO 65804 http://www.globaluniversity.edu 1-800-443-1083
8. Korean Assemblies of God Theological School of New York 13030 31st Ave., Flushing, NY 11354-2818 (718) 461-9700
9. LABI College
14209 E. Lomitas Ave., La Puente, CA 91746 http://www.labi.edu (626) 968-1328
10. Lumbee River Christian College
320 S. Main St, Haverhill, MA 01835 htstp://northpoint.edu (978) 478 -3400 5520 108th Ave. N.E., Kirkland, WA 98033 https://www.northwestu.edu (425) 822-8266 1000 Longfellow Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33801 http://www.seu.edu 1- 800 -500 -8760 1200 Sycamore St., Waxahachie, TX 75165 http://www.sagu.edu 1-888-YES-SAGU
10020 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85021 https://www.aicag.edu (602) 944-3335
17. Trinity Bible College
50 Sixth Ave. S, Ellendale, ND 58436 https://www.trinitybiblecollege.edu 1-800-523-1603
18. University of Valley Forge
1401 Charlestown Rd., Phoenixville, PA 19460 https://www.valleyforge.edu 1-800-432-8322
19. Vanguard University
55 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626-9601 http://www.vanguard.edu (714) 556-3610
355 Albert Currie Rd., Shannon, NC 28386 https://www.lumbeeriver.edu (910) 843-5304
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