InterSections
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INTERNATIONAL LETTER
Global Christian Studies Hannah Diles
When Jesus walked along the shore of Galilee with his disciples, he often spoke of the kingdom of heaven, comparing it to things they could understand. To them, he entrusted the secrets of the kingdom.
The smallest seed, the most unexpected source of a great harvest, grows strong and provides blessings to many. This parable reveals the surprising nature of the kingdom: it may seem small but can become something expansive and life-giving. Even one person, though seemingly insignificant, can help bring light and growth to unfamiliar places.The image is one of deep roots and flourishing branches: a living, growing thing that multiplies and spreads.
This parable also carries implications for us as Christians, who are ultimately physical beings. For a plant to grow, a seed must first fall and be buried. Seeds, though small, need only to be scattered to take root in new soil. These truths reflect the apostle Paul’s call to ‘be transformed’ (Romans 12:2) by allowing God to work through us, both for personal transformation and kingdom growth. Missiologist Andrew Walls described Christianity not as a religion of steady, linear expansion, but of ‘serial growth.’ Unlike many other world religions, Christianity takes root within diverse cultural contexts, often experiencing rapid growth in particular regions. The church, therefore, is not tied to one place but is found wherever God’s people gather.
Research from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity reflects this shift. Over the past century, the centre of Christianity has moved from the Global North – North America and Europe – to the Global South, including regions of Asia, South America, Africa and Oceania. By 2017, an estimated 42% of the world’s Protestants were African, reflecting both growth and global movement.
As Christianity continues to expand in the Global South, the need for theological training and spiritually mature believers has become even more urgent. In many places, the number of Christians far exceeds the available resources to train leaders and thinkers equipped to address the questions and challenges within their cultural contexts.
This is where Global Christian Studies (GCS) comes in.
GCS provides a pathway for members of churches of Christ around the world to pursue graduate-level theological education without leaving their homes, families or ministries. By offering accessible training, GCS strengthens both individual believers and the broader church, supporting the kind of deep-rooted, sustainable growth reflected in Jesus’ parable.
Currently, GCS partners with three institutions: Harding School of Theology in Searcy, Arkansas; Heritage Christian University in Florence, Alabama; and Heritage Christian University in Accra, Ghana. Together, these partnerships help equip students for ministry, further academic study and service in their local contexts.
At present, GCS includes four graduates and 24 active students representing 16 countries across six continents. Each student is pursuing training designed to support real-world ministry and leadership.
While GCS is global in scope, it is also meaningfully connected to the Australian church. Currently, five students within the program have Australian ties, reflecting the same desire for growth, training and deeper theological formation present within congregations across Australia. Additionally, one of GCS’s overseeing congregations is based in Melbourne, further rooting this work in the life and mission of the Australian church. In this way, the story of GCS is not only happening abroad; it is one in which Australian Christians are active participants.
The GCS graduates are already bearing fruit. The first graduate, Kizito Jasper, serves in ministry while pursuing doctoral studies in Nigeria. Nancy Wu Won of Melbourne, Australia, serves in her local congregation’s women’s ministry while working full time. Ubong Okorie, also in Nigeria, is engaged in full-time preaching and missions, with plans for further study. The most recent graduate, Ndongesit Effeh, serves as a professor at Nigerian Bible College while continuing doctoral work.
Current student John Lim of Singapore reflects on the impact of the program:
‘The greatest reward has been being able to incorporate my learning and spiritual formation into everyday ministry. I feel both more confident and humbler when I go about my ministry, more equipped to respond to ministry issues or theological questions, and more sensitive and more loving of people. It has also been an oasis—a time away from the concerns of ministry to engage with the best minds of the Christian tradition and remember why I serve Christ in the first place.’
Looking ahead, GCS is encouraged by continued growth and the opportunity to invest in regions where the church is flourishing. The program seeks prospective students who live outside the United States, hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and desire to serve their local church communities. It also invites individuals and congregations to partner through prayer and financial support.
As Walls observed, ‘We live now at a time when the church is multicultural. I think that the fullness of the stature of Christ will emerge only when Christians from all these cultures come together.’
Together, we have this wonderful opportunity to participate in the ongoing growth of the global church. If you feel called to encourage a student to apply or to support the work of GCS, you can learn more at GCSpathway.org or contact gcspathways@gmail.com.
Hannah Diles is Director of Marketing for Global Christian Studies,
and is based in Searcy, Arkansas. hdiles1@harding.edu