Catalyzing Intellectual Christian Community in the US and Beyond
I was recently asked to explain the significance of the phrase “intellectual Christian community.” At Christian Halls International, this idea is at the core of who we are and what we seek to cultivate wherever we go. We have been catalyzing intellectual Christian community since our beginning in Uganda in 2018 before taking our work to the US and Brazil in 2019. Today, we support over 40 local communities–churches, schools, co-ops, and businesses–as they seek to transform lives by renewing minds. So what does this mean for us?
Intellectual. We must take seriously the life of the mind, for it is the mind that will determine our steps, whether they will follow God’s way or stray from it. Although we tend to separate mind from heart and reason from emotion, the concept of the heart in Hebrew blended these into one. Thus, what we feel influences what we think and vice versa. The fruit of our thoughts is displayed in our words, our decisions, and our actions. We must fill our minds with truth, beauty, love, and godly wisdom to honor God and guide our families and communities through a darkened world (Phil. 4:8, Col. 3:2, 2 Cor. 3:18). We must destroy lies, speculations, and worldly “wisdom” that would seek to ground our lives in deadly quicksand (2 Cor. 10:5, 2 Tim. 4:3-4, Acts 3:19). We study to sharpen our minds and discipline them in order to discern God’s perfect will and to use our gifts for the flourishing of our society. (2 Tim. 2:15, Rom. 12:2-8, Eph. 2:10). Our minds must be renewed! As such, Christian Halls not only provide formal academic studies, but engage students in critical thinking and practical application through small group tutoring and one-on-one mentoring.
Christian. Our learning would be temporary and in vain if it did not have a solid foundation in the Word and character of God. We are unapologetically surrendered to Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of faith, the One for Whom and by Whom all things were created. To Him we look for guidance, wisdom, purpose, and power. Through faith in Him we receive the Holy Spirit who enlightens, convicts, and animates our lives. We literally have the mind of Christ! At CHI, we pursue Christ-centered education, striving to ground our understanding of the world, our place in it, and our work in the person and will of God. Christian Halls are thus characterized by prayerful connectedness to Christ and a commitment to a Christ-centered worldview and ethic. Our university partners share this commitment, whether it is expressed through their pedagogical approaches, personnel management, or business relationships.
Community. We were made for fellowship. Two are stronger than one and a cord of three strands is not easily broken (Eccl. 4:12). Where two or three gather, Christ is in their midst (Matt. 18:20). We were made to sharpen, encourage, comfort, and inspire one another towards goodness and beauty. In community, we can not only identify and cultivate our talents, but we can multiply our effectiveness. It is not enough for an individual to be locked away studying on his own. The true potential of his ideas will be unlocked as they gain social currency in the context of community. Community can magnify the work of the Spirit in us. At Christian Halls, we debate, we laugh, we create, and we discover while challenging each other to consider the fullness of the glory of God. The very concept of a hall implies a place of gathering, discussing, celebrating, even worshiping. It is not a solitary room, but a place for family, friends, and neighbors. We gather in local Christian Halls while simultaneously fostering connectivity across the nation and the globe. We must not cease gathering together to spur one another toward love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24-25).
This vision of intellectual Christian community calls us to intentional, lasting relationships with Christ and one another. It is serious, prayerful, and fun! It assumes local engagement and governance with supportive pathways to broader impact. It aspires to life transformation and human flourishing in God’s ways. At CHI, this is what we build in the US, Brazil, and beyond. Come join us!
