Religion majors striving for excellence
February 11, 2011
Oklahoma Baptist University is a small Christian liberal arts university. Therefore, Religion majors strive to better themselves through a rigorous four years of learning, growing and preparing so that they may one day use the knowledge they have gained from OBU to instruct and better the lives of others.
Students and Professors alike are eager to dig deep into the Bible and grow and mature in their Christian walk. Many feel that OBU is the place which that can be done.
Junior Bible major Adam Livingston said, “Since I was sixteen I have felt that the only job that would ever suit me would be some sort of church ministry.
Thus, a Christian University was really the best option, and considering most ministers do not stay in one position I thought it would be helpful to have a major that was broad yet focused on the Bible.”
Dr Bobby Kelly, Professor of Religion, has been serving at OBU for the past fifteen years.
“ I would hope religion majors would be the most excellent students on campus,” said Kelly, “They should have the highest motivation to do their best.”
“These are students who will be ministering to people’s spiritual needs, and that is something at least as significant as someone who’s training to be a medical doctor or mental health care provider or any other field. Students in ministry should strive to be excellent in every way.”
According to the OBU website, OBU School of Christian Services’ goal is to, “Promote the intellectual and spiritual development of OBU students through a thorough engagement with the classical disciplines of religion and philosophy as well as the applied disciplines of Christian ministry, all within the context of OBU’s liberal arts curriculum.”
Students come to OBU to be challenged, taught and to grow in their spiritual lives.
Timothy Livingston, Freshman Bible major, said, “I have selected a Bible major because two summers ago I felt God’s call to ministry for my life. I don’t know exactly what that ministry is going to look like, so Bible seemed like a good choice that would be well used in any field of ministry God has for my future.”
Livingston chose to study at OBU because he believes that God pointed him in that direction for many reasons he may not fully understand yet.
“I don’t know exactly what I’ll do with my degree,” said Timothy, “All I know is that I have been called by God, and now I am trusting in him to take care of my future ministry, whatever that may be.”
Like Livingston, freshman Bible major Davey Billings was called into ministry a year before college. “I wanted to go to a college with a ministry program and I was familiar with the campus because my sister graduated in 2003.” said Billings, “I loved the campus and was very comfortable here, so I decided to apply, and here I am.
Professors at OBU expect excellence from their students, and want them to succeed in their lives after college.
“I want my students to leave OBU transformed in every way.” said Kelly.
“ I hope they are able to understand the world at a deeper level, see the complexities of it, become completely dissatisfied with simplistic answers to complex problems, to develop a love for learning beyond what we can teach them at OBU, and have all the tools at their disposal to do whatever is it God has called them to do.”
Like the professors, students also have high expectations of their experience at OBU. Adam said.
“Overall I would like to come out of OBU with a fresh view of the Bible, one that is less tainted by my past and more influenced by what the text actually has to say.
“Both Peter and Paul claim the Scriptures are the words of God, words that have objective meaning. If this is true then what I think is irrelevant, the goal is to stay as faithful to the scriptures as possible.”
Billings wants to be able to fully understand what it is he believes and wants to be able to communicate that effectively in his future. “I want to explore God’s word in new ways and learn more about its history and what it actually says.” said Billings, “I also want to explore different religions as well, and learn what it is they believe.”
Like both Adam and Billings, Timothy strives to gain a better understanding of God as a whole, “The only thing I really want to get out of being at OBU and pursuing my major is to know God more and have a better understanding of his word.” said Timothy.
Each year many students come to OBU with the hopes of getting a degree in Religion, and gaining both knowledge and understanding of the word of God. Professors eagerly await their arrival and look forward to beginning a journey of a lifetime.
