One program your support makes possible is the Society of Christian Scholars’ annual grant for research. This grant empowers Christian professors to integrate their faith into their academic work, opening doors for gospel influence. Our grant recipient for 2025, Dr. Brooke Jenkins, is a powerful example of how your partnership is equipping Christian academics to shine the light of Christ on university campuses.
Dr. Jenkins’s research explores
how positive emotions such as happiness and calmness shape physical health, particularly in adolescents with asthma. Her recent project used advanced inhaler sensors to measure both medication use and technique—key factors in effective asthma management. Dr. Jenkins shares:
My research is grounded in the belief that every person is created in the image of God, with intrinsic worth and a capacity for resilience and flourishing. This lens shapes how I design studies that promote emotional well-being and health.
Dr. Jenkins acknowledges the pressure in the social sciences to keep faith compartmentalized from scholarship. Yet she has found that this very challenge creates unique openings for gospel influence:
On the first day of class, I share about my overall program of research. Around the second or third week of class, I have a “getting to know you” portion of class where I share for five minutes about where I have lived, my family, and my faith. I then pass out index cards and ask students to write anything they’d like to share about themselves with me on their notecards. I then try to follow up with students on things they’ve mentioned.
Because Christian perspectives are increasingly rare in academia, when students encounter someone who holds faith and scholarship together with thoughtfulness and integrity, it stands out. I’ve had students approach me after class to share that they’re exploring faith or struggling with questions about purpose and identity. These moments remind me that God is at work in ways I can’t always see.
Your support enables Christian scholars like Dr. Jenkins to carry the hope of Christ into universities—both through their academic excellence and through the quiet, meaningful conversations that happen beyond the classroom.
Please pray for Dr. Jenkins and other Christian professors. Ask God to give them boldness and wisdom as they reflect Christ through their teaching, research, and mentorship. Thank you for helping open doors for gospel influence in universities around the world.
For Christ and the university,
Stan
In this episode of the College Faith podcast, we discuss how to be honest with God when you are upset, angry, or grieving. I’m joined by Dr. Keith Campbell, author of Of Heroes and Villains, which explores prayers of lament in the New Testament. Keith received his Ph.D. in New Testament from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Global Scholars.
In this episode of the Thinking Christianly podcast, J.P. Moreland and I are joined by Cambridge-trained neuroscientist Dr. Sharon Dirckx to discuss my new book Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. We discuss evidence that we are more than just a body, the importance of open dialogue, and more.
Our July prayer calendar is now posted on our website. Download the prayer calendar to pray for professors, students, and current needs in higher education.
