Our GOALS

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

DEVELOPING CHRISTIAN WORLD VIEW

Developing Christian World View

Every human being holds a “worldview”—a set of assumptions about the world that govern behavior in the world. Worldviews are revealed by how one answers fundamental questions of life, such as: Does God exist? What is the nature of God? How did the universe originate? Does it have a purpose? What are human beings? How should they relate to one another?

NU helps students not only to know about God, but to experience God and develop a personal relationship with Him. It encourages growth in godliness, so that students forsake sin, bear the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16-26), and develop a Christ-like character. NU challenges students to commit their energies and their abilities to the “mission of God”—God’s redemptive work in the world.

NU actively promotes “spiritual formation,” which it defines as being with Christ, becoming like Christ, and engaging in the work of Christ according to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. The NU motto—“Missional Living”—embodies these concerns.

DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE

Developing Professional Knowledge

NU helps students develop a Christian worldview informed by the Scriptures—that is, an understanding of God, His Creation, and His purposes. Such a worldview enables students to view life holistically; it gives meaning and purpose to all the knowledge and skills they gain at the NU. A Christian worldview is the added dimension of a NU education that sets it apart from education gained at a secular college or university. Other schools may address the whats and the hows, but NU also addresses the whys. Other students may learn where the human race has been, but NU students also learn where it is headed. Others may explore how life could be lived, but NU students reflect on how it should be lived.

How does NU equip students to fulfil the Great Commission and promote the Kingdom of God? First, the faculty has developed academic programs that include two primary types of studies: Bible and Theology focus on God’s self-revelation in history as recorded in the Christian Scriptures, which gives meaning and purpose to life. Missional living includes missional theology & ministry, Christian heritage, and other disciplines that explore the missional world.

DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL SKILL SETS

Developing Professional Skill Sets

: NU educates people to developing professional competencies for effective service. NU equips students to serve as Christ’s ambassadors in traditional ministry roles and in a variety of strategic disciplines and professions that intentionally further the Great Commission and advance the Kingship of God. NU does not accept a sharp division between the sacred and the secular, as if God were not Lord of all Creation, all branches of knowledge, and all disciplines.

Professional Studies equip students for a broad range of professions, such as congregational ministry, cross-cultural missions, Christian education, Christian executives and organization, religious music, worship media arts, Christian music, creative arts, and others.

A NU education takes a missional living approach to every academic program. Professors promote faith integration, encouraging students to “think theologically” and live out the practical implications of Christian faith of the missional living in their professions and in every area of life. Toward this end, NU professors stress the missional living issues in almost every course. With the missional living, students explore the “big ideas” that have shaped various disciplines, professions, and cultures, along with major critiques of those ideas from both Christian and non-Christian perspectives.

The university requires matriculated students to participate in the “Missional Church Service-Learning Program.” This program is specifically designed to provide opportunities for

application of classroom information within a local church setting. Students are expected to serve under an institutional leader as well as a field supervisor.