California Baptist University
Having a heart to serve is a start but a biblical and theological foundation is also needed to effectively minister to people in and out of church. Students leave CBU’s Christian studies program with a deeper understanding of Christianity and a deeper love for Christ, well prepared for seminary or ministry.
All full-time faculty in the School of Christian Ministries are experts in their field, gladly grounded in biblical truth, and completely committed to the historic beliefs of the Christian faith. Many have served as pastors and youth leaders, and all are active members of local churches. They seek to honor God by lovingly investing their time in students and modeling the Christian life.
An investigation of the testimony provided by the Gospels concerning the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
A historical and theoretical consideration of interpretative methodology as illustrated by and applied to selected texts from various portions of the biblical materials.
A survey of the development of the Christian church from the close of the New Testament period to the present time.
SLO 1: Biblically Centered: Demonstrate biblical literacy of the Old and New Testaments,
including historical, contextual and literary parameters, and principles of biblical
interpretation.
SLO 2: Theologically Grounded: Christian studies majors will know and integrate the
historic doctrines of the Christian faith.
SLO 3: Historically Informed: Christian studies majors will integrate their learning
with the people, events and ideas that have shaped the Christian faith in the past.
SLO 4: Philosophically Conscious: Students will know the basic parameters of the Christian
worldview.
SLO 5: Ethically Engaged: Demonstrate the implications of commitment to Jesus Christ
through development of personal character and engagement of societal and communal
responsibility consistent with the biblical faith.
SLO 6: Practically Equipped: Apply their theological commitment/foundation to the
church, in both its local and global contexts, as servant leaders.
As you make decisions about college, keep in mind the full social, spiritual and educational experience awaiting you at CBU. Here, you will be supported by professors, staff and fellow students who will help you discover your strengths and challenge you to do more than you ever thought you could. Let us equip you with the education, training and opportunities you'll need to start making a unique difference doing what you love.
Apply today! When you complete and submit your application to CBU, a friendly and knowledgeable admissions counselor will guide you through the admissions process and all the necessary steps to become a Lancer.
"I have wanted to go into ministry my whole life and this seemed like the best school
for me to do so. I love the teachers—I have good relationships with them and they
have become mentors to me."
Dakota Baker, 2018
"I chose Christian studies to prepare for full-time ministry. The Christ-centered curriculum
has enriched me spiritually and I think I am well prepared for seminary."
Nate, 2017
"I am able to learn about God and how to apply God's Word to my life every day. My
professors are very interested in making sure I understand the Bible well. The environment
feels very safe and I feel very free to ask questions."
Brian Drummond, 2020
"I learned how to read and interpret Scripture, how to discern, and how to share what
I am learning with those around me. I saw extreme improvement in my writing, research
and reading habits, and I have made friendships at CBU that I hope to have for the
rest of my life."
Emily Culmer, 2017
I pastored for more than 10 years before becoming a professor of theology at CBU. Pastoring is very much a part of my DNA. I bring that into the classroom as I interact with students and impart biblical truths to them. I don’t want my students to just pass the class, as important as that is. I want them to be transformed by the Word of God by the end of the semester.
I became interested in church history because I wanted to become a better student of the Bible. I thought it would be helpful to know how Christians from long ago drew instruction and inspiration from Scripture. When I teach students about the history of the church, I try to help them see why people in the past thought the way they did, why their world made sense to them, and how we can benefit from their insights while avoiding their errors.
My approach to teaching is a healthy mix between lectures and student-driven Q-and-A sessions. I hope my students understand that the testimony of the Old Testament is the history of God’s redemptive story, which culminates in Jesus. My classes involve daily discipline and rigorous reading of not-so-simple texts. I think this type of education can open up avenues and categories for students who are looking for purpose.
Since I was a teenager, I’ve loved reading the New Testament. I feel blessed to have had the chance to study it at the highest possible levels and I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned. I’m an information junkie and love details, which fits well with my main research quests—Greek and Latin manuscripts of the New Testament. Getting to work with the tangible relics of early Christianity is truly exhilarating.
I pastored for more than 10 years before becoming a professor of theology at CBU. Pastoring is very much a part of my DNA. I bring that into the classroom as I interact with students and impart biblical truths to them. I don’t want my students to just pass the class, as important as that is. I want them to be transformed by the Word of God by the end of the semester.
I became interested in church history because I wanted to become a better student of the Bible. I thought it would be helpful to know how Christians from long ago drew instruction and inspiration from Scripture. When I teach students about the history of the church, I try to help them see why people in the past thought the way they did, why their world made sense to them, and how we can benefit from their insights while avoiding their errors.
My approach to teaching is a healthy mix between lectures and student-driven Q-and-A sessions. I hope my students understand that the testimony of the Old Testament is the history of God’s redemptive story, which culminates in Jesus. My classes involve daily discipline and rigorous reading of not-so-simple texts. I think this type of education can open up avenues and categories for students who are looking for purpose.
Since I was a teenager, I’ve loved reading the New Testament. I feel blessed to have had the chance to study it at the highest possible levels and I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned. I’m an information junkie and love details, which fits well with my main research quests—Greek and Latin manuscripts of the New Testament. Getting to work with the tangible relics of early Christianity is truly exhilarating.
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Yeager Center B217
Riverside, CA 92504
Dr. Chris Morgan, Dean
(951) 343-4248
calbaptist.edu/school-of-christian-ministries
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Applied Theology, BAT
Intercultural Studies, B.A.
Philosophy, B.A.