ABILENE, TexasThe book
Transformation at the Edge of the World: Forming Global Christians through the Study Abroad Experience, recently released by Abilene Christian University Press, explores the impact of off-campus study on the lives of students. The book was edited by Ronald J. Morgan of Abilene Christian Universitys ACU in Oxford program, and Cynthia Toms Smedley, director of Educational Immersions at the University of Notre Dame. Previously, she was the associate director of the CCCU BestSemester Uganda Studies Program.
CCCU Vice President for Student Programs Ken Bussema provided the foreword for the book, and BestSemester Middle East Studies Program Director David Holt contributed one of the chapters. Other contributors include:
- Janine Paden Morgan (Abilene Christian University; ACU in Oxford)
- John D. Barbour (St. Olaf College; semester in Asia)
- Andrea Smith Shappell (University of Notre Dame; Center for Social Concerns)
- Lon Fendall (George Fox University; semester in Bolivia-Paraguay)
- John Skillen (Gordon College; semester in Orvieto, Italy)
- Don Briel (University of St. Thomas; semester in Rome)
- Laura Montgomery and Mary Docter (Westmont College; Westmont in Mexico)
- Ronald J. Morgan (Abilene Christian University; ACU in Oxford)
- Scott McClelland, Karen Andrews, and Brad Berky (Westmont College; San Francisco Urban Program)
- Richard Slimbach (Azusa Pacific University; Global Studies Program, India, Philippines, and Haiti)
- Chris Elisara (Creation Care Study Program, San Diego, California; Belize, New Zealand, and Samoa)
- Thomas J. Meyers (Goshen College; Study Service Term, primarily working in developing countries)
What I enjoy most in this book is the contributors shared appreciation for the uniquely personal way each participant must wrestle to achieve their own insights and answers to fundamental questions of identity, group membership, and vocation, says Bussema. More importantly, the authors argue convincingly that willingness to serve the global community as agents of reconciliation, justice, and shalom is the primary catalyst in real student transformation. Reading this volume convinces me that study abroad experiences, affording rich opportunities to discover self, other, and God, are more important today than ever.
The 12 semester- or summer-long student programs offered by the CCCU are categorized as either culture-shaping programs or culture-crossing programs. Culture-shaping programs are: American Studies Program (Washington, D.C.); Contemporary Music Center (Nashville, Tenn.); Los Angeles Film Studies Center (L.A., Calif.); and Washington Journalism Center (Washington, D.C.). Included in the culture-crossing programs are: Australia Studies Centre; China Studies Program; Latin American Studies Program; Middle East Studies Program; Programmes in Oxford; Russian Studies Program; and Uganda Studies Program. All programs undergo regular site visit evaluations by the Student Academic Programs Commission (SAPC).
The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of 184 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world. There are now 109 member campuses in North America and all are fully-accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. In addition, 75 affiliate campuses from 24 countries are part of the CCCU. The Councils mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.
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