Faith Viewbook

FAITH

& L E A R N I N G3200 College AvenueBeaver Falls, PA 15010

724.847.6500800.847.8255

www.geneva.edu

See you soon.

1 Faith and learning at Geneva College Dr. Ken Carson

3 Dig down deep and lay a foundation Dr. Esther Meek

5 By faith we understand Zack Ritchie

7 Examine my heart and my mind Wilfred Mutale

9 Filled with rare and beautiful treasures Michael & Brooke (Miller) Witterman

13 Growing in the knowledge of God Anna Speckhard

15 Praise the Lord and make music Lindsay York

17 Learn to do right, seek justice Dr. Daryl Sas

21 The kingdom of God is within you Abaigeal Smith

23 A spirit of power, love and self-discipline Dr. Tom Copeland

27 Serve one another in love Brian Panichelle

29 The Foundational Concepts of Christian Education

32 Come and visit Geneva College.

WhERE ARE you GoING?

“Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me…” Psalm 25:4-5a

At Geneva College, we believe that education is more than career training. It’s a pathway to purpose — a way for you to grow and develop into the person God designed you to be.

Photography courtesy of Molly Carson, Kevin Cooke, Kristen Miller and Jenny Pichura.

Contents

DEEp LEARNING.

Geneva College is home to an array of academic options. Professors with wide-ranging experience and expertise will expand your mind, challenging you to learn more about yourself and the world around you.

GRoWING FAIth.

You are created in the image of God and He has a unique purpose for your life. Geneva College will encourage you to deepen your faith, discover your calling and prepare to do the work God has planned especially for you.

REAL LIFE.

At Geneva College, education is an experience. Faith and learning extend beyond the classroom and apply to everyday life on campus, at home and in the workplace. As you develop your potential in all of these areas, you will discover how and where God wants you to serve Him.

ComE LEARN. FIND puRposE. Go sERvE.

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1

1 Deep learning. Growing faith. Real life.

DR. KEN CARsoNVice President for Academic Affairs

At Geneva College, faith and learning are inseparable. That’s because here Christian education is based on a simple assumption: that the world belongs to God. This means that each field of study explores a particular aspect of life in God’s creation. Every course is an opportunity to serve God wisely and faithfully. And every day, Geneva College will challenge you to learn how to live for God and pursue His calling in your life.

This is what we call the “integration of faith and learning.” Because God made the world and sent His Son, Jesus, to redeem it, He is at the center of all we do. No matter what you study here, you will discover the far-reaching impact of faith on your discipline. Our faculty are committed to helping you along this journey. As they challenge you to reach high academic standards, they will encourage you to grow in your faith and find God’s purpose for your life.

But an integrated Christian education extends beyond the classroom. We want you to live lives of obedience to Christ. We want you to discover and develop your gifts. We want to give you opportunities for leadership and prepare you for a lifetime of service, to God and to the world.

This mission of Christ-centered learning at Geneva College is outlined in a document called The Foundational Concepts of Christian Education (see page 29). This document, primarily authored by members of Geneva’s governing boards, was adopted by the faculty, administration and governing boards of the college in the 1960s. Ever since then, The Foundational Concepts has guided this institution by explaining the basis, the purpose and the implications of Christian education.

The Foundational Concepts is based on Geneva College’s commitment to the Reformed Christian faith. This means we believe in the absolute sovereignty of God and truth of the Bible. We believe that Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, became human in Bethlehem and died at Calvary, taking on Himself the just penalty of our sin. Christians are sinners who, through faith alone, have been given the free gift of the grace of God. But, more than that, Christ came to redeem all of creation. As a response, we believe that Christians must work as God’s ambassadors “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly” with our God (Micah 6:8).

The following pages provide glimpses of what we mean when we refer to Geneva as a “Christian college.” I invite you to think seriously about whether this is the place where God wants you to prepare yourself for life.

Ken Carson, Ph.D.Vice President for Academic Affairs

Biblical studies, Christian ministries & philosophyBiblical StudiesBiblical LanguagesChristian Ministries MissionsPhilosophyYouth Ministry

Business, Accounting & managementAccountingBusiness Administration Finance/Economics Information Systems Management/Human Resources Marketing Sport ManagementBusiness/Aviation (dual major)

EducationElementary EducationElementary Education/Special EducationSecondary Education Certification Biology Chemistry English Math Music Physics Social Studies

math, science & EngineeringApplied MathematicsBiology Cardiovascular Technology Cell and Molecular Environmental Human Medical TechnologyChemical EngineeringChemistry Biochemistry Pre-Forensics Pre-Pharmacology Computer Science Hardware Information Systems Science/Math Programming Web Technology

Engineering Civil Computer Electrical Interdisciplinary Mechanical Physics

Communication, English & musicCommunication General Communication Integrated Media Public Relations Visual Communication WritingCommunication Disorders (Speech Pathology)EnglishMusicMusic BusinessMusic PerformanceWriting

history, human services, psychology, political science & sociologyHistoryHuman ServicesPolitical SciencePsychologySociology

pre-professional programs Pre-LawPre-SeminaryAllied Health Programs Pre-Chiropractic Pre-Medicine Pre-Nursing Pre-Optometry Pre-Physical Therapy Pre-Podiatry Pre-Veterinary

Independent majorsExamples include: Disability Law & Advocacy International RelationsVisual Design Marketing

Note: The Geneva College Catalog is the authoritative source of information on majors, programs, course requirements and academic standards. Updated annually, the catalog is available at www.geneva.edu/page/academics_college_catalog.

GENEvA CoLLEGE mAJoRs & pRoGRAms

2

Deep learning. Growing faith. Real life.3

According to Dr. Esther Lightcap Meek, philosophy is the study of the BHQs — the Big Hairy Questions: What is real? How do I know? What is right and good? What is it to be human?

“Your entire life is in some way a response to those basic questions,” Dr. Meek says. “Your only choice is whether you will do it poorly or well. And as Christians, we should want the biblical framework to shape how we respond.”

Dr. Meek doesn’t teach faith sometimes and philosophy at other times. She teaches both simultaneously. “I want all that I do to be philosophically aware and biblically permeated. If everything I do is both of those things, it’s going to be really great scholarship too.”

Philosophy is an important component of the humanities, which are key courses in Geneva’s core curriculum. The humanities explore the development of Western culture through the lenses of art, history,

philosophy, literature, music and religion. Through artifacts like paintings, poetry and historic events, students look at the cultural features that identify a particular worldview.

“Worldview is kind of like DNA,” Dr. Meek says. “We look at cultural pieces to discern the fundamental beliefs of the people who created them, and their times. This furnishes a window for us to understand humans and their worldviews — to learn from them and to redirect our own.”

No matter what your field — engineering, education, chemistry, accounting — you are responding to the Big Hairy Questions. There’s no getting around it. So will you be aware of the beliefs that shape your answers? Will you choose to shape culture for the kingdom of Christ or let society shape you?

DR. EsthER mEEKAssistant Professor of Philosophy

“STARTING WITH THE BELIEF THAT GOD IS THE SOURCE OF ALL TRUTH, EDUCATION BECOMES THE ExCITING ADVENTURE OF SEEKING TO APPROPRIATE KNOWLEDGE IN ALL ITS VARIOUS FACETS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.” ThE FoundaTional ConCEpTS

“He is like a man building a house, who

dug down deep and laid the foundation

on rock. When a flood came, the torrent

struck that house but could not shake it,

because it was well built.” Luke 6:48

DIG DOWN deep and lay a foundation

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Zack Ritchie grew up wanting to be like his dad. “I found myself mimicking every-thing that he did, from his walk with Jesus to the bad habits that I saw,” he says. But the things Zack picked up most from his father were his interests, including his job as a supervisor of the upper Hudson hydroelectric plants.

Zack knew he wanted to be an engineer, but he didn’t know how closely his faith could be intertwined with that calling.

Early in high school, Zack found out about Geneva College. New Song, Geneva’s traveling music ministry, was on tour through his area, and Zack’s family hosted one member for the night. “He was a chemical engineering major,” Zack says. “And that was the first time I’d heard about a Christian school that offered an engineering program.”

When Zack arrived at Geneva College as a freshman, he realized that its pervasive

“By faith we understand that

the universe was formed at God’s

command, so that what is seen was

not made out of what was visible.”

Hebrews 11:3

Christian commitment meant more than Bible classes and chapel. “In the introductory engineering course, there’s a lot about how to be a Christian engineer,” he says. “Your purpose as an engineer is not to make money, but to serve other people with the things that you’re making. It’s about your morals and doing the best work you can. You’re there to glorify God and look out for the safety of others. Everything else comes after that.”

But Zack has learned more than what engineering can do. He’s also developed a deeper appreciation for what engineering is. As he learns physical and mathematical principles, Geneva College’s Christ-centered focus points him towards the One who designed, created and controls the universe. “I love it,” he says. “The laws, the physics, how things work together — I want to figure it out. There’s no way that all could have happened randomly.”

ZACK RItChIEMechanical engineering major

by faith we UNDERSTAND

“THE FACTS OF THE UNIVERSE CAN BE UNDERSTOOD IN THE FULLEST SENSE ONLY WHEN VIEWED IN RELATIONSHIP TO GOD. ULTIMATE JUDGMENTS MUST FINALLY BE MADE IN THE LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD, THE HOLY SCRIPTURE, WHICH IS THE ONLY ADEQUATE AND INERRANT STANDARD OF TRUTH.” ThE FoundaTional ConCEpTS

Deep learning. Growing faith. Real life. www.geneva.edu 65

Deep learning. Growing faith. Real life.

If you were to ask Wilfred Mutale how he decided to come to Geneva, you wouldn’t be the first. “That is a very frequently asked question,” he smiles. Wilfred is from Zambia, and says, “It was beyond my imagination or conception that I would end up here.”

Growing up, Wilfred had gone to church with his mom every Sunday, but didn’t really understand his need for Christ until the ninth grade. “It’s been an awesome journey ever since, “ he says. “There are times when I fall, but I get up and keep running.”

Wilfred worked for five years after graduating from high school, then decided he wanted to continue his education. He learned about Geneva College through a friend. “I prayed about it, and the more I prayed and trusted God, the clearer my vision was becoming.” Wilfred decided that Geneva was the place for him, and on August 22, 2006, he stepped onto American soil for the first time.

Life at Geneva College has not only built Wilfred’s faith, but has also deepened his understanding of the world. He says his classes have given him the ability to ask life-changing questions and find real answers.

“For example, what is the significant thing in this life?” he says. “Do you see a world that’s being redeemed, where everything God has done is for a purpose? Or do you see a world that’s going to die, and live for life now because it’s all you’ve got? Those questions bring you closer to God.”

ExAMINE my heart and my mind

WILFRED mutALEBusiness major

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“EDUCATION THAT IS CHRISTIAN TAKES FOR ITS PERSPECTIVE THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF GOD, MANKIND AND THE UNIVERSE IN THEIR MUTUAL RELATIONS.” ThE FoundaTional ConCEpTS

“Test me, O LORD, and try me,

examine my heart and my mind; for

Your love is ever before me, and

I walk continually in Your truth.”

Psalm 26:2-3

7

Your work is your worship. No matter what you do, you can do it for the glory of God. When Mike Witterman and Brooke Miller learned this principle as students at Geneva College, they didn’t realize that God would use it to change their lives.

The couple got married after graduation, and Mike spent the next five years as the interim youth pastor at their church. Then he decided to go into business with his wife, who had been working for a year as an independent real estate agent. Making the transition wasn’t easy. “People asked him why he was leaving the ministry,” Brooke says. “And we told them, ‘He’s not leaving, he’s just going into a different kind of ministry.’”

As Christians in the real estate business, the Wittermans have a very real and very personal ministry. “I can’t even tell you the number of opportunities we’ve had to share our faith,” Mike says. “As people prepare to buy or sell a home, you learn a lot about what they value. And when people see who we are, they’re curious. There have been a number of situations where people are getting separated or divorced, and we have had the opportunity to come alongside them in prayer.”

And making faith the foundation of every transaction doesn’t just mean witnessing to clients. Each time the Wittermans close on a house, they bring two gifts — one for their client and one for the other agent. “We want to build positive relationships and show them there’s something different about us,” Brooke says. “That something is Christ in us.”

“By wisdom a house is built, and

through understanding it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled

with rare and beautiful treasures.”

Proverbs 24:3-4

filled with rare and beautiful TREASURES

mIChAEL WIttERmAN ’98 Christian ministries grad

BRooKE (mILLER ’99) WIttERmANSpeech communication grad

The housing market can be tough, especially during a time of economic crisis, but the Wittermans have learned to recognize God’s hand in every circumstance. “We’ve learned not to pray for success, but to pray for wonder,” Brooke says. “You can’t fathom what He can and will do.”

“IT IS THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION TO SEEK THE REALIZATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF THE INDIVIDUAL AS THE IMAGE OF GOD THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOD-GIVEN CAPACITIES. THE FULFILLMENT OF THESE POTENTIALITIES IS REACHED INSOFAR AS STUDENTS DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO GOD’S GLORY IN THEIR VOCATIONS AND DAILY LIVES.” ThE FoundaTional ConCEpTS

Deep learning. Growing faith. Real life. www.geneva.edu 109

In 1848, Geneva College was founded by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA). The college opened in the little town of Northwood, Ohio, then moved to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania in 1881. Geneva College was named after Geneva, Switzerland. During the Reformed Christian faith movement in the 1500s, Geneva, Switzerland was a hub of activity and the home of Reformation leader John Calvin.

Deep learning. Growing faith. Real life.11 www.geneva.edu 12

On the pathway to purpose, faith is your foundation.

“Geneva recognizes God’s purpose to use humble and willing people to transform and redeem all aspects of the world for His own glory. Rather than isolate Christians into their own social spheres, Geneva trains young people to interact with the world with godliness and wisdom.” Audrey JosephPolitical science major

The mission of Geneva College is to glorify God by educating and ministering to a diverse community of students for the purpose of developing servant-leaders, transforming society for the kingdom of Christ.


When Anna Speckhard came to Geneva College, she thought she could kill two birds with one stone. “I’m a Christian, so it’s good that I’m at a Christian school where I can grow in my faith while I pursue academics,” she told herself. But during her freshman year, Anna started to realize that Geneva College didn’t separate the “education” part from the “Christian” part.

“I always knew I should do well in school, just because it’s a good thing,” she says. “But my professors at Geneva showed me why. ‘Are you really doing this for God? Is this a part of your service for Him?’”

As a political science major, Anna had to confront political theories and issues from a Christian point of view. That didn’t mean finding the Bible verses to support her own views; it meant starting with Scripture to see what God said was true. “You have to start from the truth about God, the world, and mankind before you evaluate the belief

systems of our society,” she says. “We need to be asking ourselves not only are the things we’re thinking Christian, but is the way we’re thinking Christian?”

Anna got together with a few friends to see if they were learning the same things she was. The group soon grew and started meeting on a regular basis to talk about life, faith and how to live as Christians in their fields. No matter what their majors were, they all found they had something in common: using their gifts to serve God and make the world a better place.

“Faith and learning are not two different things you try to mix together,” Anna says. “Faith is the perspective from which you learn everything: who you are, who God is and what He’s done for you.”

This concept completely changed Anna’s view of God and of her calling as a Christian. Now she wants to give future students the same vision. She plans to pursue graduate studies in political science and theology and hopes to teach at the college level.

ANNA spECKhARD ’07Political science grad

14

“WHILE EDUCATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE TRUTH, IT DOES SEEK TO ESTABLISH THE STARTING POINT APART FROM WHICH ULTIMATE TRUTH CAN NEVER BE LEARNED. IT BECOMES ESSENTIAL, THEREFORE, TO ESTABLISH THE DIRECTION FOR EDUCATION FROM THIS CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE…” ThE FoundaTional ConCEpTS

“And we pray this in order that you may

live a life worthy of the Lord and may please

Him in every way: bearing fruit in every

good work, growing in the knowledge of

God.” Colossians 1:10

GROWING in the knowledge of God

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“You can tell that they really care about us and want us to grow,” Lindsay says. “But if something hard is going on in your life, they understand and show you grace.”

By the way they live their lives and approach their subject, these professors show their students the true meaning of excellence. “Success is doing what God wants you to do,” Lindsay says. “It’s seeking to glorify Him in everything. Even if the world doesn’t notice what you’re doing, God takes delight in it.”

Inspired by her own music professors, Lindsay plans to teach voice and piano after she graduates. “I see being a music teacher as a way to minister to kids and to show Christ to them,” she says.

praise the LORD and make MUSIC

LINDsAy yoRKMusic education major

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“CHRISTIAN EDUCATION ENDEAVORS TO DEVELOP EACH STUDENT’S CAPACITY FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE WORLD AS GOD’S CREATION, IN ALL ITS CULTURAL RICHNESS, REALIZING THAT ALL OF LIFE AS A COHERENT WHOLE IS RELATED TO GOD AND HIS REDEMPTIVE ACTIVITY.” ThE FoundaTional ConCEpTS

“It is good to praise the LORD and make

music to Your name, O Most High.”

Psalm 92:1

When Lindsay York gets up on stage, she doesn’t want to be the center of attention. Each time she stands to sing or sits down to play, she hopes to point others to the Ultimate Composer.

Lindsay believes God has gifted her as a musician, but doesn’t think her calling involves what the world might expect. “I don’t want to be a concert pianist trying to impress the world,” she says. “I know God wants me to work really hard at what I’m doing, not because I want to be the best…but because I want to glorify Him.”

The dynamics of the music department have helped Lindsay develop her skills and her perspective on what’s really important in life. “The professors give you lots of personal attention,” she says, “and you’re not in competition with all the other music majors. We’re all trying to help each other get better.”

And the faculty at Geneva College don’t just talk about God — they live in a way that brings Christ into the classroom. Constantly challenged to work harder and reach higher, students learn to give their all for Christ.



When it comes to integrating faith and learning, there are three things Dr. Daryl Sas drives home for his students. “First, it’s not enough just to pray before class,” he says. “Biblical truth should change the way you look at your discipline.”

Second, we aren’t here by accident. “We are not part of a genetic lottery in which human beings are the result of a random roll of the dice. If you see people as the result of mere chance, you’re going to treat them that way.”

Third, Dr. Sas says that faith should say something about how you approach your discipline. “What you do in the classroom and in your job ought to be done faithfully because all of it is done for the God who made you.”

Dr. Sas challenges students to confront ethical issues in biology with distinctively biblical principles. In his biomedical ethics class, students investigate controversial topics such as abortion, assisted suicide, assisted reproduction, embryonic stem cell use and healthcare allocation. The class

“Learn to do right! Seek justice,

encourage the oppressed.”

Isaiah 1:17

DR. DARyL sAsProfessor of Biology

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“STUDENTS, AS CREATURES OF GOD, ARE UNDER HIS MANDATE BOTH TO LEARN AND APPLY ALL KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF KNOWING AND GLORIFYING GOD. THEY SHOULD NOT BE SHELTERED FROM NON-CHRISTIAN VIEW- POINTS, BUT MUST BECOME ABLE TO EVALUATE ALL KNOWLEDGE CRITICALLY, TO GAIN FROM THAT WHICH IS TRUE AND TO DISCARD ERROR.” ThE FoundaTional ConCEpTS

LEARN to do right, seek justiceassumes the role of a hospital ethics committee, and uses the standards of biblical justice, selfless love and obedience to weigh each case study.

“Most ethical case studies present evidence from both perspectives but with no principles. There’s no right or wrong answer,” Dr. Sas says. “But when I present students with a problem, we ask, are there any biblical commands that speak to this situation? Are people receiving just consequences? and finally, what would be the selfless thing to do? Our ultimate standard is loving God above all and our neighbor as ourselves.”

70%Deep learning. Growing faith. Real life.19

Geneva College students and prison inmates learn side by side in Criminology, a sociology class held at the Beaver County Jail. Professor of Sociology Dr. Brad Frey teaches the course in conjunction with the jail’s director of treatment, chaplain and a number of guest speakers.

On the pathway to purpose, faith is your textbook.

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In study-abroad programs ranging from two weeks to a full semester, students make the world their classroom. Geneva partners with institutions in Italy, China, the Middle East, Spain, Latin America, Lithuania, Australia, England, New Zealand and more.

“Teaching redemptively means teaching with the hope that our fallen world can be transformed. It means that we teach with imagination, in an active and purposeful manner, so that we engage our students to learn about God’s world.”Dr. Adel AikenProfessor of Education

Over 70 percent of Geneva College students complete an internship. This is a great opportunitiy to put classroom learning to the test and find out what it’s like to live your faith in the workplace.

“Faculty here at Geneva have made something great through their passion for what they do. I can’t help but notice how those very interests and passions mold a community in which they all work together.”Josiah ClarkBiblical studies major


“What is true? The word of God. What is valuable? The people of God. What will last? The kingdom of God.” These words from her grandfather have shaped Abaigeal Smith’s priorities, from academics to her life on campus.

“Christ made people the center of His ministry,” she says. “And that’s what He calls us to do, too.” Combining her interest in biology with her love for people, she plans to spend three years studying biology at Geneva College, and then transfer to a partner institution to complete her nursing courses.

Abaigeal could have chosen a school that provided a more direct route to a nursing degree, but she wanted the Christ-centered education and close-knit community that Geneva College provides.

“The biggest part of my growth at Geneva has happened outside the classroom,” she says. That’s one reason why she decided to become a Residence Assistant (RA) during her sophomore year.

“As an RA, you live with the girls and find out what’s going on in their lives, what their dreams are, where they are with Christ,” she says. “There’s never time off, just like there’s never time off from life.”

The next summer, Abaigeal had the opportunity to put knowledge and faith into action on a medical missions trip to Uganda. She worked as a nurse’s assistant at a clinic in the Karamoja region, one of the most isolated and underdeveloped areas of the country. “There are no doctors in the clinic, so everyone working there moves up a level,” Abaigeal says. While nurses made diagnoses, she and other assistants took vital signs and administered medication and immunizations.

In addition to confirming her desire to be a nurse, the trip gave Abaigeal a new sense of her calling to build Christ’s kingdom. “Your job and your position are great, but that’s not what matters ultimately,” she says. “When it comes right down to it, you just have to care about people.”

ABAIGEAL smIthBiology (pre-nursing) major

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the kingdom of God is within YOU

“THE GOAL OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF MATURE STUDENTS WHO, AS INDIVIDUALS, HAVE WELL-INTEGRATED PERSONALITIES; AND WHO, AS WELL-ORIENTED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, ARE BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE FAMILY, THE CHURCH, THE NATION AND THE WORLD.” ThE FoundaTional ConCEpTS

“Having been asked by the Pharisees

when the kingdom of God would come,

Jesus replied, ‘The kingdom of God does

not come with your careful observation,

nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There

it is,” because the kingdom of God is

within you.’” Luke 17:20-21


“For God has not given us a spirit of

fear and timidity, but of power, love,

and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Dr. Tom Copeland isn’t afraid to tackle the tough questions, and he wants his students to do the same. One of these is, “If God is love and if He is sovereign, why does He allow evil to happen?”

“It’s a knotty question — God’s sovereignty in the presence of evil — and we’re left with a lot of questions,” Dr. Copeland says. “I don’t know what my conclusion is in some ways. But I do know that we can rest peacefully knowing that all things work together for those who love God. We can’t know the mind of God, but we do know His character.”

Before becoming a political science professor at Geneva College, Dr. Copeland worked in Washington D.C. in the government services division of LexisNexis. He was hired to train federal agents and intelligence analysts to use open source information and intelligence to locate drug dealers and terrorists. After 9-11, much of his work dealt with homeland security. Now Dr. Copeland teaches a class on global terrorism, helping students understand not just the facts of terrorism, but why it happens.

“It’s a hot topic and students are interested,” he says. Throughout the semester, the class explores the history of terrorism, its definition, tactics and the motives behind terrorist attacks. Students also learn about the various responses to terrorism, including homeland security, intelligence and the use of torture. “We’re trying to raise really deep moral questions and have students grapple with them,” Dr. Copeland says. “Our goal is to help them understand how to be responsible citizens — how to be for the cause of Christ and faithful in executing the responsibility of Christians. If something is evil, they need to say something about it and make their voices heard.”

DR. tom CopELANDAssistant Professor of Political Science

“CHRISTIAN EDUCATION EMPHASIZES THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN ORDER THAT STUDENTS MAY BE YIELDED TO HIM AS THEIR SAVIOR FROM SIN, AND THAT THEY MAY SEE IN CHRIST THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE AND MEANING OF THE WHOLE UNIVERSE.” ThE FoundaTional ConCEpTS

A SPIRIT of power, love and self-discipline

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On the pathway to purpose, faith is your life.

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Geneva College encourages student-athletes to strive for excellence in the classroom, on the playing fields and in life. Building character and spiritual growth, these students develop individually and as a team. The college offers 15 intercollegiate sports: men’s baseball and football; women’s softball, tennis and volleyball; and both men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, and track and field teams.

Faith is an inseparable part of the Geneva College experience. It is part of academic life and social life. It impacts choices in college and after graduation. Faith determines the depth of friendships and decisions about the future. Faith is everything.

“There is nothing more important than showing Christ and being light and love to a broken world — every day, even when it feels so lonely and heavy. He is good and gracious, and He provides a kingdom of brothers and sisters to work with us. He is worth sharing.”Gretchen WilliamsEnglish education major

“You, my brothers, were called to be

free. But do not use your freedom to

indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve

one another in love. The entire law is

summed up in a single command: ‘Love

your neighbor as yourself.’”

Galatians 5:13-15

It was a bitterly cold day in February when Brian Panichelle got a phone call from a 78-year-old client. The pipes in her home were frozen and she needed help. As her insurance provider, Brian knew all he had to do was give her the name and number of a reliable plumber and tell her to call him with the bill. But as a Christian, he knew that something more was required of him.

“Give me 20 minutes and I’ll be right there,” he told her. Then he went home, grabbed his coveralls, a flashlight and a hairdryer, and spent two hours thawing the pipes under her floor.

“Every situation is not a crisis,” Brian says. “But my job is to give people the immediate attention they need to address the problem they’re facing.”

All of us, no matter what we do, are in the business world, Brian explains. “We’re dealing with people, providing something, finding what we need. It all comes down to how well you deliver that product or service, and how well you deal with the people.”

Brian discovered that business was his niche when he took his first marketing classes as a freshman at Geneva College. “After graduation, I spent a year and a half in the corporate world and found out it wasn’t for me.” He started working with his father in the insurance business, then purchased his own Nationwide office a few years later.

“My Geneva education has had a profound impact on the way I do things in my business,” Brian says. “The way I see it is that there’s nothing new under the sun. While other people are looking at the current trends in the business world, I’m just looking at how to love my neighbor.”

serve one another in LOVE

BRIAN pANIChELLE ’97Business grad

“THE CURRICULUM SHOULD LEAD STUDENTS TO GRASP THE FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE A LIFE GLORIFYING TO GOD, CONFRONTING HONESTLY AND CONFIDENTLY THE PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES OF NEW KNOWLEDGE, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE WELFARE OF SOCIETY UNDER GOD.” ThE FoundaTional ConCEpTS

Deep learning. Growing faith. Real life.27 www.geneva.edu 28

prefaceStarting with the belief that God is the source of all

truth, education becomes the exciting adventure of

seeking to appropriate knowledge in all its various

facets under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Education

that is Christian takes for its perspective the biblical

view of God, mankind and the universe in their

mutual relations.

While education in a Christian context does not

guarantee truth, it does seek to establish the starting

point apart from which ultimate truth can never be

learned. It becomes essential, therefore, to establish

the direction for education from this Christian

perspective, and the following statement has been

drawn up in an attempt to make this clear as related

to Geneva College. In no sense should it be considered

as the last word, but it purports to be the foundational

concept upon which scholarship under God may

thrive and expand.

This view of education rests upon the historic

Christian faith contained in the Scriptures, symbolized

by the open Bible on the seal of the college. Holding

to the summary of this faith as contained in the

Westminster Confession of Faith of the mid-seventeenth

century, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North

America has endeavored for over 150 years to offer

through Geneva College an education that articulates

the implications of the sovereignty of Jesus Christ

over all of His creation.

“For with Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy light

shall we see light.” psalm 36:9

THE FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS of Christian Education

the theological Basis for Christian EducationThe Christian View of God.God is one being, existing in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is a personal being, possessing in Himself all that personality means yet without limitation. He is the self-existent Creator, Preserver and Controller of the universe in its totality.

The Christian View of Mankind.Men and women are unique among all living creatures, being distinguished from the animals by being created in the image of God as rational, moral and spiritual beings. The purpose of human life is to glorify and to enjoy God, and only when life is so viewed can the highest happiness, welfare and honor be experienced. We are created as immortal beings. Earthly life is therefore preparatory to the life after death and should not be regarded as an end in itself, though as God’s creation the present earthly life has a real value of its own. By our relationship to Adam, as representative of the human race, we are fallen creatures. By moral revolt against God, we lost both our position of communion with God and our ability to consciously reflect God’s glory, and instead became devoted to the worship and aggrandizement of self. Our fall into sin affected not only our moral nature but also our intellect, making us prone to error, and requiring divine revelation to determine ultimate standards and values in all fields. The moral and intellectual effects of sin are such that we are incapable of removing them by our own effort. Jesus Christ, as the second Adam, died and rose again as our representative, in order that we who are chosen of God, regenerated by the Spirit, and by faith identified with Christ in His death and resurrection might be restored to fellowship with God in the Holy Spirit and enabled to glorify God actively in our lives. As believing Christians, having realized our union with Christ and hence our own death to sin and rising to newness of life in the Spirit, we renounce self-centeredness as a lifestyle and seek in every phase of our experience to understand and reflect God’s glory.

The Christian View of the universe.The universe, as the creation of God, serves to reveal God; and its revelation is true, valid, and useful in itself. The created universe, being full of God’s glory, is to be understood, appreciated, ruled and used by us. God in His goodness has bestowed upon us the ability to discover and use truths about the universe, which may be learned irrespective of a person’s spiritual relationship with Him. In seeking to understand the truth of the universe in all of its dimensions, we are responsible to use every faculty and effort, but the facts of the universe can be understood in the fullest sense only when viewed in relationship to God. Ultimate judgments must finally be made in the light of God’s Word, the Holy Scripture, which is the only adequate and inerrant standard of truth.

the purpose of Christian EducationInasmuch as we were created to glorify God,

Christian education seeks to develop the students’

abilities to know God and to relate themselves and

the created universe to God through the study of His

Word and works. Christian education emphasizes the

person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ in order

that students may be yielded to Him as their Savior

from sin, and that they may see in Christ the ultimate

purpose and meaning of the whole universe.

It is the purpose of Christian education to seek

the realization of the potential of the individual as

the image of God through the development of God-

given capacities. The fulfillment of those potentialities

is reached insofar as students devote those capacities

to God’s glory in their vocations and daily lives.

Christian education endeavors to develop each

student’s capacity for the enjoyment of the world as

God’s creation, in all its cultural richness, realizing that

all of life as a coherent whole is related to God and His

redemptive activity. The goal of Christian education is

the development of mature students who, as individuals,

have well-integrated personalities; and who, as well-

oriented members of society, are building the kingdom

of God in the family, the church, the nation and

the world.

www.geneva.edu 30Deep learning. Growing faith. Real life.29

A campus visit is one of the best ways to find out if Geneva is right for you. Meet with your admissions counslor, sit in on a class, tour the campus and interact with faculty and students. Ask questions and tell us all about yourself. We want to hear about your goals, interests and how you want to grow through your college experience.

For more information, contact the Office of Admissions at 800.847.8255 or [email protected]. You can also go to the Geneva College Web site at www.geneva.edu.

COME visit Geneva College.

the Implications of Christian Educationimplications for the School.

All persons responsible in any way for the functioning

of an educational institution share in the pursuit

of its goals. In Christian education this becomes

particularly significant since no task, teaching or

other, is unrelated to God; and also because all

personnel should demonstrate in their lives an end-

purpose of Christian education. Everyone shares

in the transmission of knowledge, but only those

consciously committed to Jesus Christ as revealed in

the Scriptures can envision and reach the goals of

Christian education. To realize the goals of Christian

education all faculty members should seek to under-

stand more completely and to teach more effectively

their particular disciplines with academic excellence

within a consistent biblical world and life view.

implications for the Student.

While students may attain a high degree of

knowledge through the grace given to all, in order

for them to attain the goals of Christian education,

they must be in submission to the person of Jesus

Christ, that sin and its effects in their own person-

alities may be overcome. Students, as creatures of

God, are under His mandate both to learn and to

apply all knowledge for the purpose of knowing and

glorifying God. They should not be sheltered from

non-Christian viewpoints, but must become able to

evaluate all knowledge critically, to gain from that

which is true and to discard error. Students should be

aware of God’s call on their lives and thus see their

education as an opportunity to prepare for their life

work, whatever those fields of endeavor may be.

31 www.geneva.edu 32

implication for the Curriculum.

In Christian education the curriculum is

built upon the foundation that the historic Christian

faith is permanently true, and that it is the integrating

factor of a truly Christian education program. Since

Christian education leads toward an understanding

of God, mankind and the universe in their inter-

relatedness, the curriculum will have a strong

emphasis on both the humanities and the sciences,

theoretic and applied, as well as a basic core of biblical

studies. The curriculum should lead students to

grasp the foundations of learning so that they can

live a life glorifying to God, confronting honestly

and confidently the problems and challenges of new

knowledge, and contributing to the welfare of society

under God.

implications for Moral discipline.

Standards of moral discipline must be maintained

according to the moral law of God, which He has set

forth in Scripture. Therefore, discipline is to be

exercised on the basis of God’s Word. Discipline

exercised in Christian love and firmness not only

deters licentiousness, but also teaches in principle

how to live under Christ’s Lordship and how to live

with other people on the basis of righteousness.

Moral discipline must always be exercised in an

attitude of helping the offender in the context of the

doctrine of sin and its solution in Jesus Christ.


Documents

Faith Viewbook