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Portland, OR—Nine 91������ students are traveling to Portland, Oregon during spring break to partner with Sojourn Church PDX in sharing the gospel.

The group is led by Dr. Matthew Hirt, who serves as assistant professor of Intercultural Studies at NGU.

“Portland has some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the U.S. and is home to the world’s largest independent bookstore. It is also one of the most spiritually needy cities,” Hirt said.

“Portland is the most unreligious city in the United States,” he said. “Many people express an indifference or hostility to the gospel as they pursue the values of the world. Sixty-four percent of the population does not have any religious affiliation. Everyone is very excited about the opportunity to serve in Portland.”

The team will be serving the community around Sojourn Church PDX, which includes the Portland Rescue Mission and Portland State University.

“While we seek to grow as disciples of Jesus as we engage in the mission He has given His church, we primarily engage in missions because Christ commands His disciples to make disciples,” Hirt said. “My hope is that the students who go with me to Portland will see that they are called to proclaim the gospel and make disciples regardless of whether they are called to the mission field, vocational ministry, or a marketplace career. Business leaders, teachers, scientists, musicians, and media figures are equally called to make disciples.”

Hirt said he is encouraging his group to see the importance of being mission-focused in their walk with Christ.

“Being Mission-Focused is more about who we are than what we do as a university. Mission is not merely a category for everything we do as Christians,” Hirt said. “Being Mission-Focused means that we are committed to making disciples who make disciples. Being Mission-Focused is the way that our students can have long-term lasting impact as transformational leaders.

“Mission trips are one aspect of our mission focus, and they can serve as a reminder to the rest of the university about this core value,” he continued. “When the teams return to campus, I encourage and equip the team to tell their stories well to cast vision to the entire campus.”

Clarkston, GA—A 17-member group from 91������ is spending its Spring Break in Clarkston, Georgia serving those in need.

The group, led by Paden Lipe, Dr. Allyson Roberts, and Jayden Holder, consists of 14 undergraduate students from the university.

“Clarkston, Georgia is known as the most diverse mile in the United States,” said Roberts. “This community is home to many refugees and individuals facing poverty. Our team will be working with several impactful ministries, including English Oaks, Fountain of Hope Conyers, Sewing Society, and Blueprint Church. Each of these ministries plays a crucial role in supporting and serving the local refugee and low-income populations, and we’re excited to partner with them to provide assistance, build relationships, and share the love of Christ.”

Roberts said the team has been preparing for months and is eager to serve those in the Clarkston community.

“The students are incredibly enthusiastic, eager to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and ready to serve those in need,” Roberts said. “It’s been inspiring to see their excitement and passion for missions. This mission trip is an invaluable opportunity for our students to experience real-world ministry, especially in a diverse, underserved community. It gives them the chance to put their faith into action and develop practical skills that will benefit them in whatever career path or ministry role they pursue.”

Roberts said trips like these reinforce the mission of 91������and empower students to become leaders in their own communities.

“We are not just sending students out on a trip for the sake of travel. We are equipping them to be servant leaders who can make a real impact in the world,” Roberts said. “This trip is just one example of how 91������continues to empower students to be mission-driven leaders.”

“We trust that God will use this trip to grow each of us in unexpected ways,” she said. “We’re excited for the opportunity to serve, build relationships, and learn from the people we meet along the way.”

Tigerville, SC—Vocation, calling, and practical spiritual disciplines.

These were the topics covered during 91������’s (NGU) Christian Worldview Week, which featured talks from keynote speakers Christina Crenshaw and Dan Darling.

Crenshaw opened the week on Monday with her lecture “Beyond the Sacred and Secular Divide: Christian Leadership for Every Vocational Sphere of Influence.”

Crenshaw is a speaker and author who focuses on the intersection of faith and culture. She has served in faculty or research roles at California Baptist University, Baylor University, and Dallas Theological Seminary.

“I want to encourage you guys to think about your calling as an opportunity to be light in the darkness because we know no matter how dark the world becomes that the darkness cannot overcome the light because of course there’s a spiritual element there and we know who wins in the end,” Crenshaw told students.

Crenshaw challenged students to view their vocational call through the biblical lens of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration and how their God-given calling has purpose as they seek to use their gifts to glorify God and serve others.

“Your worldview, knowing the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind, seeing the Lord through this creation, fall, redemption, restoration lens and looking at your life as vocation as identity in Christ as service to the Lord with the church, that is what a broken, hungry world needs and you have that light in you,” she said. “I’m so excited what you guys are going to do in the future because you are His ambassadors and carrying His light.”

Crenshaw also spoke on “Redeeming Justice: Reclaiming God’s Vision for Doing Good” Monday night in Hamlin Recital Hall.

On March 4, Darling presented “Created to Create: Why the Work of Your Hands Matters to God” in Hamlin Recital Hall. He concluded the week in Turner Chapel on March 5 with a talk entitled, “Inside and Outside: Intentional Formation for Your Life in The World.”

Darling is assistant professor of faith and culture at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also directs the Land Center for Cultural Engagement. He is also the Church Engagement Strategist and a Research Fellow for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

“Your life in the world, whatever it is God call you to do, however you serve your neighbors, serve God, whatever your vocation is, however you demonstrate your faith in the public square in other places, your life in the world is only ever as good as your life with God,” Darling told students during his second talk.

Darling’s message focused on giving students practical spiritual disciplines that they can put into practice today. The seven disciplines were Scripture reading, faithful church attendance, prayer, curiosity, forgiveness and repentance, generosity, and friendship.

Darling also addressed three postures that will hijack one’s future. These postures were isolation, entitlement, and insecurity.

“You can trust your future, your unknown future to the God that you know. You can trust your life to the One who promised to guide the steps of the one who follows Him,” said Darling. “And there are practices you can put in place today, empowered by the Spirit of God that will shape your life tomorrow.”

Tigerville, SC—91������’s (NGU) School of Communication and Theatre Department will team up to produce a television sitcom in front of a live studio audience in the Billingsley Theatre on March 13-14.

The pilot episode of ‘Break’ is about a group of college age students who are working at a camp during Spring Break.

“It focuses on interpersonal relationships, growth, a little bit of snark, a little bit of practical jokes, general human interactions with some fun thrown in there,” said Dr. Andrew Stevens, Associate Professor of Communication.

This fully student-led production will feature the talents of many different 91������students.

“What’s certainly wonderful is that it’s been an interdisciplinary work,” said Stevens. “The actors are from theatre; the production team is from [the School of Communication]; the writing was done by our film concentration. It’s been very interdisciplinary.”

Chad Stratton, a senior digital media major with a film concentration, played key roles in the production process. He is the creative producer, the assistant director for the production team, and was a part of the writing team.

“Being part of the writing team and giving birth to the project last semester was wonderful. We shared many laughs in the writing room as we came up with funny jokes. I have taken on many roles this semester because I long to see this dream become a reality,” said Stratton.

The initial idea for the production came from Dr. Randall E. King, Associate Dean for the School of Communication, who has produced similar shows at other institutions. He found the key people needed and put the pieces together to make it happen at NGU.

“What’s exciting about this is the buy in we’ve had from multiple departments. I think what’s unique about how we’re doing it here at North Greenville is we have the full partnership with the School of Theatre,” said King. “We also took the process and broke it up, so we put it up on the School of Theatre’s regular schedule rather than having our own thing. We’re using their facility and we’re adapting their set, so that’s sort of best of both worlds in that regard. We have their support, their faculty, but we also had this class that did the writing. We had the class last semester that wrote the pilot.”

While the show is fully student produced, faculty from Theatre and Communication are serving as coaches to help guide the students and encourage them through the process.

“We, mainly as faculty, serve as coaches, helping guide the students,” said Stevens. “I’m primarily the technical lead. Professor Benet has been the story lead with his film students, and Professor Dunlap and all of the theatre faculty have been working with providing the location, actors, and supporting them. It’s been great to be a part of it.”

‘Break’ will be an educational experience for those who attend as it will show the audience how live sitcoms like ‘The Lucy Show,’ ‘All in the Family,’ and ‘The Cosby Show’ were produced through multicamera setups and live sets.

“We’re kind of recreating that through a viable production style. When people come, it will be different. It’s not going to be like going to a play. We will record a scene twice, then we have volunteers from the improv team come out and do some stuff while we reset and then we shoot another scene,” said Stevens.

For the students who are a part of this production, this show is already teaching them so much about their gifts and helping them hone their skills.

“I have learned that there is a lot more work that happens behind the scenes than I thought,” said Stratton. “I have also been able to grow and develop my skills in screenwriting, leadership, and work ethic. All three of these things are things I want to pursue as a career.”

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Producers and directors for ‘Break’ includes Randall King (Executive Producer), Amy Dunlap (Executive Producer), Andrew Stevens (Coach), Kelechi Benet (Coach), Wyatt Hart (Director), Savannah Williamson (Lead Creative), Chad Stratton (Lead Creative).

The creative team includes Christian DeWalk, Adley Ellenburg, Colt Gouge, Seth Hilliard, Eliana Kelly, Morgan Madden, Callie Meyerholtz, Nate Reckelhoff, Isabelle Western.

The writing team includes Sadie Beaumont, Evan Bradford, Emily Bright, Noah Cruver, Josh Gaye, Jenna Hansard, Chad Stratton, Savannah Williamson.

The cast includes Dylan Thompson (Martin), Alyse Barrett (Cassandra), Sadie Beaumont (Skye), Fuller Finn (Chip), Seth Atkins (Ivan), Maddux Schmidt (Oliver), Ryleigh Ann Guyton (Sophie), Corrie Owen (Ophella).

The crew includes Christian DeWalk, Adley Ellendburg, Nathan Fillinger, Colt Gouge, Seth Hilliard, TJ Hills, Joseph Jordan, Anna Faith Major, David Monroe, Titus Rankin, Nate Reckelhoff, Grace Salter.

‘Break’ will run March 13 and 14 with showtimes starting at 7:30 p.m. nightly. General tickets are $15. Premium tickets are $20. Students are allowed one free ticket. All tickets must be picked up with a valid ID at the box office in the School of Theatre.

John Stonestreet

Tigerville, SC—91������ (NGU) will host the Colson Center for Christian Worldview’s second-ever Breakpoint Forum Live at 7 p.m. on April 3 in Turner Chapel. The free event, titled “A New Sexual Revolution: Living as Image Bearers, Male and Female,” features nationally recognized Christian worldview speakers John Stonestreet, Dr. Andrew T. Walker, and Dr. Katie McCoy.

The evening will include short talks by the three presenters and an extended Q&A with the speakers. Stonestreet will speak on “A New Sexual Revolution,” with Walker addressing “What Are Men For?” and McCoy talking on “What Are Women For?”

Dr. Andrew T. Walker

The Colson Center notes the event is “especially relevant for college students and young adults who want to recover a��Christian vision of sexuality and relationships in their generation.”

Stonestreet is president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and the voice of Breakpoint, the nationally syndicated daily commentary on culture which was founded by the late Chuck Colson. He also has co-written five books including “A Practical Guide to Culture.”

Walker is Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Public Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, an Associate Dean in the School of Theology and the Executive Director of the Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement at the seminary. He also is Managing Editor for WORLD Opinions. He is the author of several books related to Christian ethics and public theology.

Dr. Katie McCoy

McCoy holds a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she served on the faculty for five years. She is the author of “To Be a Woman: The Confusion Over Female Identity and How Christians Can Respond” and co-author of “Humanity,” part of the Theology for the People of God series. She is a frequent contributor to WORLD Radio’s Culture Friday and is a writer at BlondeOrthodoxy.com.

for the event is open now. More information can be found at colsoncenter.org/greenville.

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Tigerville, SC —91������ (NGU) will host Christian Worldview Week March 3–5. The event will focus on “Vocation and Human Flourishing,” and will feature keynote speakers Christina Crenshaw and Daniel Darling.

“Christian Worldview Week is an annual opportunity for the university to reinforce our commitment to helping students cultivate and apply a biblical worldview for the sake of being transformational leaders for church and society,” said Dr. Nathan Finn, executive director for the Institute for Faith and Culture at NGU. “I’m excited that Christina Crenshaw and Dan Darling will be with us this year to help our community think about how our vocations help us to flourish and help us to promote the flourishing of others.”

Crenshaw and Darling will give talks during chapel and at Performing Arts and Lecture Series (PALS) evening events.

Crenshaw is an author who focuses on the intersection of faith and culture. She has served in faculty or research roles at California Baptist University, Baylor University, and Dallas Theological Seminary. Crenshaw is a fellow of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Her first book will be published this fall and focuses on how a biblical view of justice offers a better approach than secular misunderstandings of justice.

She will be speaking in Turner Chapel on Monday, March 3 at 10 a.m. and in Hamlin Recital Hall on Tuesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. Her talks include: “Beyond the Sacred and Secular Divide: Christian Leadership for Every Vocational Sphere of Influence,” and “Redeeming Justice: Reclaiming God’s Vision for Doing Good.”

Darling is assistant professor of faith and culture at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also directs the Land Center for Cultural Engagement. He is also the Church Engagement Strategist and a Research Fellow for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

Darling has written numerous books, including the bestselling “Characters” series. He is also a columnist for WORLD Opinions and hosts ‘The Way Home’ podcast. He will be speaking in Turner Chapel on Wednesday, March 5 at 10 a.m. and conclude Christian Worldview Week with a lecture in Hamlin Recital Hall at 7 p.m.

His talks include: “Inside and Outside: Intentional Formation for Your Life in The World,” and “Created to Create: Why the Work of Your Hands Matters to God.”

Tigerville, SC—91������ Theatre will present ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ at the Billingsley Theatre beginning February 20.

The show follows the lives of the delightfully unconventional Sycamore family, a group of free-spirited dreamers who live life on their own terms. From firework-making to xylophone-playing, the Sycamore’s joyful pursuit of happiness is thrown into chaos when their daughter Alice, the only “normal” one, falls in love with the son of a straight-laced, wealthy family.

“When the Kirbys arrive for dinner on the wrong night, the stark contrast between the two families sets off a series of comedic misunderstandings, reminding us all that life is best lived with love and lots of guffaws,” said Joshua Scott, director of ‘You Can’t Take it With You.’

Through this production, Scott said the audience will be reminded of what truly matters in this life.

“At its heart, this production is about what truly matters—relationships over riches, experiences over status, and choosing joy,” he said. “I hope the audience leaves not only entertained but also reminded that wealth and possessions are fleeting, while love, family, and genuine happiness endure. The Sycamores may be eccentric, but their commitment to embracing life’s adventures with open arms is something we can all admire.”

Audiences may notice significant differences between today’s culture and the social norms that are presented in this play, according to Scott.

“Over the decades since ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ first graced the stage, the quirks that once made the Sycamore family a spectacle have mellowed into near normalcy. What might have scandalized Alice or horrified the Kirbys in 1936—women penning plays, men scoffing at paying taxes – now barely raises an eyebrow,” said Scott. “The passage of time and sweeping social change have transformed the family’s so-called eccentricities from outrageous to almost ordinary. How to be able to tell that component of the story was a fun challenge.”

Cast members for ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ include: Dylan Thompson (Martin “Grandpa” Vanderhof), Rebecca Panagiotacos (Penelope “Penny” Sycamore), Chappie Livdahl (Paul Sycamore), Sadie Beaumont (Alice Sycamore), Paden Lipe (Tony Kirby), Caleb Wright (Anthony W. Kirby), Corrie Owen (Miriam Kirby), Anslee Johnson (Kolenkhov), Aviya Baluch (Essie Carmichael), Seth Atkins (Ed Carmichael), Rachel Forester (Rheba), Maddux Schmidt (Donald), Payden Atwell (Mr. De Pinna), Isabelle Western (Gay Wellington), Logan Stewart (Wilbur C. Henderson), Cara Neil (FBI Agent 1), Payten Anderson (FBI Agent 2), Grace Turner (FBI Agent 3), and Carmen Wells (The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina).

Directorial and Management positions include: Joshua Scott (Director), Daniel Johnson (Stage Manager), and Payten Anderson (Assistant Stage Manager).

“As the director, what excites me most is watching our theatre family grow through collaboration, creativity, and a shared purpose. Seeing our cast and crew use their unique talents to bring this story to life, while also honoring and glorifying God through their work, is such an incredible joy,” said Scott.

‘You Can’t Take It With You’ will run February 20–22 and February 27–March 1 with showtimes starting at 7:30 PM nightly. General tickets are $15. Premium tickets are $20. Students are allowed one free ticket and faculty and staff two free tickets.�� All tickets must be picked up with a valid ID at the box office in the School of Theatre.

Tigerville, SC—91������ (NGU) has released its Fall 2024 Dean’s List.

Undergraduate students named to the Dean’s List carry a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher while taking a minimum of 12 hours. Online and traditional students recognized for their academic achievements are alphabetized by last name.

Congratulations to our students!

Fall 2024 Dean’s List