New college program helps students navigate urban culture
ABBOTSFORD, BC—Part of the curriculum of a new program that Columbia Bible College will launch this fall includes a 10-day visit to New York City. But it will be no vacation. Its intent is to expose young adults to contemporary urban culture.
The program is called Praxis.
"'Praxis' means 'to live out' or 'to practise something,'" says program director David Warkentin. "So this program asks, what does it mean to live out our Christian faith in an urban context?"
The eight-month certificate program is designed both as a "bridge year" for high school graduates planning at some point to further their education, as well as for students completing a postsecondary degree who want to learn how to integrate their Christian faith into their future workplace.
The academic portion would focus, for example, on social justice, the Church and urban church planting, faith in the marketplace, and culture and the arts. Students will then come alongside one of the college's church or ministry partners to get some real-time experience working in their chosen area.
"We really want to tailor Praxis to each individual student," says Warkentin, "by having flexibility in the course work and in their engagement with different ministries, so as to allow them to explore their own calling."
The New York trip will take place near the end of the program.
Warkentin believes Praxis fulfills a desire expressed by some young adults and even their parents for a year of practical faith formation.
"I've worked a little bit with our other discipleship program, Quest," he says. "What both programs offer is that additional one-on-one mentoring leadership. You're connecting with other students and processing all these things. Then you're also living that out maybe in ways that a regular first-year student isn't going to get."
Warkentin is hopeful Praxis will have 10 to 12 students enrolled in its inaugural year.
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