Prior to joining the faculty of Summit Christian College (SCC) in 2005, I had maintained Wyoming residency for 35 years. In my opinion, Wyoming was “Big Wonderful Wyoming,” and no other state could compare. Today, six years later—six years of enjoying life in western Nebraska—I still have an unexplainable fidelity for the state of Wyoming.
Somewhere in my adolescence, I became a Denver Bronco fan. Today, even though I do not normally watch football, when I enter a room during a Bronco game, Scott, the Bronco fan comes back to life. My heart races as the game unfolds. I cheer loudly when they do well. I feel miserable when they do poorly. Can you relate? We all seem to have unexplainable and even irrational fidelities to states, teams, brand names, and organizations.

Although I am a faithful supporter and advocate of SCC, in this case, my fidelity is not unexplainable or irrational, nor is it blind devotion to an organization known as Summit Christian College. Long before the popularity of the Purpose Driven . . . literature, someone shared this simple expression with me: “Our purpose is not to have an organization; however, we are organized in order to fulfill our purpose. My fidelity to SCC centers on one thing: fulfillment of purpose or mission.

As the fall semester begins, Summit Christian College celebrates her 60th year of ministry. While the mission of SCC has been articulated in various ways since 1951, the purpose and mission has remained the same throughout the years: provide a sound biblical education for men and women who have a desire to serve in God’s kingdom. The founders of the college purposely limited the scope of the education programs to areas of ministry that included missions, pastoral leadership, worship and youth ministry, Christian education, and evangelism.     Throughout her 60 years of operation, SCC’s leadership has made conscious decisions to maintain her narrow focus. While it may have been a questionable business move, it clearly expresses SCC’s fidelity to mission. During the same 60 years, many Bible Colleges have taken deliberate steps to broaden the scope of their education programs offering degrees in fields outside of ministry. Believing very strongly in the priesthood of all believers, I give thanks to God for the colleges that provide quality Christian based programs in other fields of study. At the same time, I give thanks to God that SCC has been able to focus exclusively on preparing people for ministry.
Today, Summit Christian College exists to provide an affordable quality education for those who desire to serve the Lord both vocationally and non-vocationally in areas of ministry, missions, and Christian Education. Our graduates are able to complete their education without student loans. This is possible in part because SCC has remained faithful to its mission and maintained a very streamlined operation. But it has also been possible because of so many individuals and churches share SCC’s fidelity to mission.

As the incoming Academic Dean of Summit Christian College, I have the pleasure of working with men and women who not only have a like fidelity to SCC, but also have a like rationale for their fidelity: the mission.

Summit Christian College educates people for Christian Leadership.