'Have I not recommended you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.' - Joshua 1:9
It takes some courage to study in the United States. American Christian colleges and universities keep a hectic pace, and students rush to fill their schedules with classes, social activities, Bible study and worship, sightseeing and the basic necessities of eating and sleeping. Yet there's no better preparation for international students than spending some time in America. It's a place like no other - a huge, sprawling country where you can expect the unexpected.
The millennium will bring changes, whether you live in London or Lisbon, requiring a world with a truly cutting-edge education - multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural, multi-media - one that combines the very best of the Christian liberal arts tradition with global, technological and interdisciplinary experiences.
Christian students from around the world say they wish to study at a Christian College that is culturally integrated, a place where they can visualize themselves and not feel left out. There are plenty of opportunities in the US to think new thoughts and approach the world from a whole new angle. Students can conduct computerized research on hunger whilst studying in Portland, listen to a missionary's experiences in a daily chapel in Philadelphia, evangelize with a ministry team in Oklahoma City, munch hot dogs at a baseball game in Dallas, join a master music workshop led by a world-class performer in New York City, or study film in Los Angeles.
Opportunities to expand your horizons abound in US Christian colleges. Take business, for example. Christian educational institutions located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts offer access to major international corporations. Nyack College in Nyack, NY, is half an hour away from Wall Street and the United Nations. A small college in Florida - Warner Southern College - is just minutes from Disney World and the requisite commerce of southern Florida. Other foreign students learn about business trade with Pacific Rim countries while studying in San Diego. It's 70 degrees Fahrenheit year round at Christian Heritage College, making the outdoor campus located near the Mexican border one of the most pleasant experiences ever.
Even if business isn't appealing to you, American Christian colleges and universities are a great place to master English, make contacts with a diverse group of students who share your beliefs in Jesus Christ, and enjoy all that North America has to offer.
Commitment
The Lord is here, and students diligently seek His Word and
Way. All of that begins with a personal and growing commitment to the
Lordship of the resurrected Jesus Christ. From North to South and East
to West, students share His love for the world, for each other, and for
those they are preparing to serve. Many work with youth groups, minister
to the homeless, preach in small churches, serve as music ministers, train
to teach in Christian schools or mission posts, or prepare to bring a
strong sense of ethics to the business community. Some choose to go on
to seminary or graduate school, preparing to live and work as missionaries,
professors or pastors.
Academics
US Institutions
of higher learning specialize in helping students earn valuable degrees
while living a Christian existence. Through discussion and interaction,
professors in most Christian College classrooms encourage students to
learn the complexities of applying God's word to daily life. Students,
faculty and staff worship at chapel services several times a week, each
time learning more about each other and their faith, and Bible study happens
in dormitories across the country.
Professors support major academic programs through a combination of training, study, mentorship, scholarship and classroom instruction. Well-educated and skilled professors rise to the occasion, preparing students for the real issues they will encounter in their lives. Faculty members prepare themselves and those around them to live in the real world through knowledge of history, current events, personal experience, and case studies.
Christian professors care deeply, taking the time to ease fears, celebrate triumphs or chuckle at the plot of a recent movie. Students of all races, education levels and backgrounds enjoy interacting with faculty, staff and community members who treat them as an important part of God's outreach plan.
Involvement
Americans are
busy, and that means they're involved in lots of activities, organizations,
volunteer efforts and study efforts. No matter where students live and
work - from Tucson to Tallahassee - their social lives are anything but
simple. From amateur and professional sports, to daily devotions, to music
concerts, to pizza parlors, to snow skiing to laughing in the rain, there's
always plenty to do. On-campus activities usually include student government,
drama, musical performance groups, varsity and intramural sports.
Friendship
Dorm life cements
friendships, whether students sleep in bunks or suites. Eating, sleeping,
studying, worshipping and living together fosters connections for life.
It is true intimacy… talking about problems at 2am, listening to friends running down the halls before dawn, or taking a phone call from family members who believe their news takes priority over studies. Food cravings for hamburgers and french fries delivered on inline skates at midnight are not out of the ordinary. Nor are drinking endless cups of coffee in a diner as friends quiz each other for exams. Conversations happen American-style, at the library, between classes in the hallway, on the front steps of the dormitory or in the middle of traffic. That's what friends are for.
Looking
to the Future
Learning English
is a wonderful career boost. It's also helpful to understand what's happening
in political, artistic, business or entertainment circles. Some students
who wish to live and work in America begin by attending college here.
Others wish to study English as a Second language, going on to teach English
back home. We're all on Earth for a specific reason. Discovering where
God is leading us begins with self-discovery. Where we go and what we
study and whom we choose to hang out with changes our lives. Like Joshua,
we know we must be strong and courageous. Because of our shared faith
and the educational experiences America has to offer, we are not discouraged.
We know the Lord our God will be with us wherever we go.
Author
Miguel Sanchez
Director of Admissions
Nyack College, NY
