Education
A Higher Calling for Many HARNETT COUNTY IS KNOWN FOR TRAINING FUTURE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
A
higher power plays an important role in higher education at three colleges and universities in Harnett County. Campbell University, Foundations Bible College and Heritage Bible College all enjoy strong traditions of training people for the ministry. In fact, Campbell University has been providing Christian-based education for 123 years. “In our Divinity School department, we prepare people for positions in careers that include church leadership, social work, chaplains in hospitals and Scripture teachers,” says Michael G. Cogdill, dean of the Campbell University Divinity School. “The enrollment in our Divinity School is always around 100 students, with the ratio usually being about 55 men and 45 women.” Speaking of women, Cogdill says many are being called to be pastors and church leaders these days, with certain denominations more open to the concept than others. “For example, Methodists can have women pastors, and Episcopalians now have women priests,” he says. “We welcome any woman who seeks the ministry. If a woman wants training to become a pastor or any other important position in her church, there is no better place to enroll than Campbell.” The university also opened a graduate school in 1996 and offers four master’s degrees in Christian education, divinity, divinity/business administration and divinity/ community counseling. “There is also one doctoral program being offered – a doctor of ministry degree,” Cogdill says. “Campbell
HARNET T COUNT Y
University also has a referral placement operation in place to help graduates find jobs. We have a database that lists church-related career openings across the nation.” Meanwhile, Foundations Bible College, which started in 1974, offers a comprehensive study of the Bible and an understanding of historic Christian doctrine. Its campus includes a School of Religion, School of Church History and a School of Christian Education. Heritage Bible College was founded in 1971 with the express purpose to train ministers for the Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church. But today, its doors are open to any denominational group. “Nowadays, we train students for Assembly of God, Church of God, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian – anyone who feels like they have a divine calling to go into ministry,” says Dr. Elvin Butts, president of Heritage Bible College. “We have concentrations in pastoral ministry, Christian education, Christian counseling, and worship and music.” The 80 students enrolled at Heritage Bible College can earn four-year bachelor’s degrees in religious education and a number of two-year associate’s degrees. “Our well-trained faculty helps students both academically and practically in their preparation to be church leaders,” Butts says. “We are well known for our quality education, especially judging from the fact that we get calls all the time from church officials in this region and beyond who are looking for youth pastors, music ministers or congregation leaders.” – Kevin Litwin I M AG E S H A R N E T T C O U N T Y. C O M
25