I knew it was one of the most significant moments of my life. Worshiping God alongside 5,000 people from over 200 countries at the 2024 Lausanne Congress in Korea, I was overwhelmed with joy—joy that brought tears to my eyes. While I learned so many things by attending the congress as part of the North American delegation, I was chiefly impacted by seeing God at work all over the world. Yes, God has blessed me and my family, the people I love, and the places where I live and work. It was also a great reminder that God deeply cares about every nation, including the people in countries I barely knew about. He truly wants to see all people on earth experience the love and grace that only comes through faith in Jesus.  

So it is not surprising that the gospel message continues to prevail around the world, along with the growing interest in integrating faith and life, including educating the next generation of believers. The CCCU community has also grown more global as we have welcomed more non-U.S. member institutions into our organization. This is wonderful news worth celebrating, as we have so much to learn from one another. Still, there is much work to be done, and I hope that we can be more intentional in developing relationships across institutions worldwide. 

During my seminary days, I found Acts 17 one of the most compelling passages in the Bible. This is where Paul reasoned both in the synagogue and in the marketplace in Athens; he understood his audience and their cultural and historical context. While he proclaimed the same gospel message of Jesus Christ, he delivered it in a way uniquely suited to his listeners. Paul’s knowledge and experience across cultures shone at that moment, and I believe this is more relevant than ever in today’s world as we engage with people from various cultures—not only abroad but also in our own communities. 

While international Christian universities vary in age, they tend to be younger than their U.S. counterparts. One of the most valuable things international members can gain from CCCU membership is the experience U.S. schools have accumulated in integrating faith and learning. This work begins in the classroom and extends well beyond it, encompassing hiring policies, programming for spiritual formation, and the development of students’ character through residence life. These efforts shape how students think about knowledge, human flourishing, and their role in God’s kingdom. Although U.S. institutions have not found all the answers, the effort that has unfolded over many decades—including mistakes and missteps—can serve as a valuable resource for younger Christian universities. 

At the same time, this is a wonderful opportunity for U.S. institutions to learn from international members and collaborate with them to help students become global leaders. Seeing how the integration of faith and learning differs across cultural and historical contexts can deepen our own understanding of integration and benefit all the students we teach. Furthermore, as we seek to develop global citizens capable of leading people interculturally and internationally, collaboration with partners abroad is essential. Together, the CCCU community can produce future leaders with a perspective and understanding of the Global Church, and we should cherish this opportunity, as such collaboration was more difficult years ago. 

So what steps can we take to strengthen global education within the Christian higher education community? First, we should pray for our sister Christian universities around the world as they do the good work of educating the whole person for God’s kingdom. Second, we should stay engaged with the world within our own context. This may sound daunting, but it could be as simple as hosting a meal for international students on your campus—being curious about their experiences, listening to how they are processing studying abroad, and learning about what is happening in their home countries. The insights gained from a deepened relationship can be remarkable. Lastly, we should consider developing a deeper and broader relationship with universities abroad. This may include establishing exchange programs, arranging joint mission trips, or having a faculty member spend their sabbatical at a sister Christian university abroad. The CCCU Global Engagement Commission was recently established for this very reason, and I look forward to seeing our community work more closely together to ultimately help our students think and live more globally. 

Jesus calls us to make disciples of all nations for His kingdom, and we have the privilege of participating in this great commission. Yet this is not a task we can accomplish alone. We will have far greater opportunities to fulfill it when we collaborate globally, crossing cultures and boundaries, so that our students better understand the global context and become the next disciple-makers of all nations wherever they go. May the Lord bless our work in equipping our students as global leaders, and may we continue to draw closer together and seek His guidance as we pursue greater collaboration. 

Ted Song serves as Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Intercultural Engagement Officer at John Brown University, where he joined the faculty in 2012. Trained in engineering (Ph.D.), theology (M.Div.), and law (M.S.L.), he also serves as the CCCU Senior Fellow for Global Engagement and as a Peer Reviewer Team Chair for the Higher Learning Commission. He previously chaired the CCCU Commission on Kingdom Diversity and Biblical Unity and was an inaugural CCCU Presidential Fellow.