A Growing Formation Movement

At your commissioning in 2023, you offered an oath to the new Colson Fellows. Can you share what was on your heart as you stood before your fellow believers and classmates that day?

As a career military officer, it’s fair to say there are few greater honors than officiating the commissioning ceremony of another officer. ... Importantly, an officer's commissioning ceremony culminates a rigorous program of preparation for what lies ahead, and the analogy for a Colson Fellows commissioning is obvious to anyone who has ever run that race. The commissioning is in one sense a conclusion of what has gone before but is in the best sense a commencement of what is to come. Standing on the Colson Center stage as a new Colson Fellow, having been granted the honor of administering an oath to my colleagues and likening it to our responsibilities in keeping with The Great Commission, caused my worlds to collide in the best of ways. I will never forget that moment and remain forever grateful for that opportunity.

The Colson Fellows Program emphasizes integrating a Christian worldview—Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration—into every sphere of influence. How did your experience as a Colson Fellow shape you?

The Colson Fellows Program has provided both a mindset and a skillset that God continues to use to conform me to the image of His Son. As a former industrial engineer, I'm a systems guy, so getting clarity on what we mean by biblical worldview and being taught each component of it gave me a holistic understanding of the Christian worldview and how the whole story fits together. As a result, I not only think more clearly about the Christian worldview, but I also articulate it more faithfully to others. As president of a distinctively Christian higher education institution like Liberty University, being a Colson Fellow impacts me every day in training Champions for Christ to make a real difference in their respective spheres of influence all around the world.

If you were encouraging a potential Fellow, perhaps a young leader or an educator, what would you tell them about why they should consider this program?

To borrow a phrase from Nike, just do it. It is a rigorous program but is worth every second and worth every penny. For expert and novice alike, the Colson Fellows Program will help you think through the major issues of our day in the company of fellow travelers who want to be as faithful and effective as possible in this cultural moment. Trust me when I tell you that being a Colson Fellow will pay huge dividends for the rest of your life. Just do it!