Founder and President

Transcript

Now we’re gonna hear from the founder and president of The Institute for G.O.D., Gregg Garner. His visionary leadership wonderfully compliments the love he has for the faculty, the staff, and the students at the college. His passion for the work being done here and around the world is absolutely incredible, Gregg.

– Appreciate that, Alex. Paul the apostle, wrote the Corinthians saying that they were the only letters of recommendation that he and his team needed before a watching sometimes critical world. He said a story had been written on their hearts for others to read, and I am so inspired by the story that God has been writing on our students’ hearts. We believe that disciples who follow Jesus make history. There’s no way you can learn God’s hope for a beautiful, fruitful, productive, and peaceful world and not be a part of doing something to change that world as we know it. When God led me to start The Institute, I knew there were some changes to be made in post-secondary education. Classes were too conceptual and needed an integrated experiential component. Students needed social emotional learning incorporated into their curriculum with mentors to walk alongside them on their journey to adulthood. Spiritual formation shouldn’t be left to campus clubs or biographies in the library, but weaved into community life. Students need to graduate without debt, to venture forward unencumbered by their restraints a mortgage-sized payment puts on a young person’s dreams. And dreaming is what college students should be doing. Dreaming of that better neighborhood, city, and world, and that’s why our students come here to study the Bible, to take God’s Word as the impetus for effective community building, synthesizing traditional missional ambitions to spread the gospel with a modern paradigm that includes the marketplace and job creation. Trends pass. Traditions become irrelevant. Even educational approaches become outdated. But God’s Word, Jesus said it would be forever relevant down to the cross of the T and dot of the I. It’s time to really learn God’s Word. It’s time to make history. It is time to change the world.

– [All] That’s our story, Alex.

– Gregg, thank you for opening up and sharing your passions and your why behind The Institute for G.O.D. These are amazing students and we are so excited for what the future holds for all of them. Thanks again.