Dr. Rory Christensen

Professor of Ministry Leadership
Profile image for Dr. Rory Christensen
B.B.L. in Biblical Literature (Ozark Christian College)
M.A. in New Testament (Johnson University)
M.A. in Pastoral Leadership (Cincinnati Christian University)
D.Min. in Church and Parachurch Leadership (Lincoln Christian University)

My favorite part about teaching at Johnson is: Seeing the kingdom potential in each student and playing a part in developing them into the kingdom workers, leaders, and communicators God created them to be. Getting to teach a hundred to reach a million!

When I’m not teaching, I love to: Make a memory with my family, drink black coffee, hit a good movie, pound the pavement, cook a good book, strum a guitar, or cheer my daughters on.

In my classes, students should expect: Laughter, challenge, encouragement, engagement, interaction, insight, and respect.

My best advice to a new student in my program is: Live out a “build on” not a “get through” approach to your education; don’t just get through classes, learn as much from them as you can so that your base of knowledge expands, and so you develop and grow as a result. Also, invest in relationships, ask good questions, laugh often, serve with joy, walk toward responsibility, do quality work, and keep the vision that brought you here alive!

Because of my influence, I most want my students to become: More fully developed and equipped for the kingdom work God is calling them into.

The myth-busting truth about my discipline I most want people to understand is: Our culture is in deep need of people who lead and live the way Jesus taught and modeled it: spiritually alive, intellectually astute, interpersonally vibrant, sacrificially committed, ethically spotless. It needs more people who communicate clearly, challenge appropriately, lead courageously, care unreservedly, and live for God’s glory!

A quote that influences how I live is: “Who we teach you to love is more important than what we teach you to know.” – Seth Wilson