Charismatic Seminary Becomes University, Prepares to Expand Global Reach

The King’s College and
Seminary, one of the first charismatic seminaries founded on the West Coast,
announced its university status Sunday during graduation ceremonies held at its
main campus in suburban Los Angeles.

School officials said
they met accreditation requirements to achieve university status several years
ago, but proceeded with the name change this year to enable what
is now known as The King’s University to expand its international
outreach.

“The increasing
possibilities for international influence are flowering around us all the
time,” said Jack W. Hayford, D.Litt., a former president of the International
Church of the Foursquare Gospel and founding pastor of The Church on the Way in
Van Nuys, Calif. “In many nations, the term seminary is just not
understood or known. … The communications clarity that comes through the use of
the term university is rather pivotal at the international level.”

The King’s University currently
offers modules in Hong Kong and conferred its first degrees there this year.
The school also has specialized programs in Messianic Jewish studies, and hosts
a two-week summer session at England’s Oxford University, with the next course
scheduled for Aug. 9-21.

That international
outreach could grow further with recent opportunities for the university to
host courses in Israel and develop educational partnerships in South Africa.
“There are increasing open doors, notably with the spread of Internet studies
today,” Hayford said.

Housing what may be the
first Pentecostal-charismatic seminary on the West Coast, The King’s University
exists to prepare leaders to make disciples who will “penetrate” the
marketplace, their homes and their cities, Hayford said.

“If you don’t shape new
believers into disciples, then that’s all you get is believers,” he said. “The
penetration of the church comes through disciples. Not just merely people who
claim faith, but people who learn to live and to grow in the power of the
Spirit and the stability of a discipled life.”

Since it was founded in
1997, nearly 1,000 students have graduated from The King’s University, with
roughly 800 students enrolled each year at one of its three U.S. campuses and
online.

The university offers
one-year certificates in biblical studies and Christian ministry, an
associate’s degree in Christian ministry, a bachelor’s degree in theological
studies, master’s degrees in practical theology and divinity, and a doctoral
degree in ministry. It also sponsors the School of Pastoral Nurture, a weeklong
mentoring session Hayford leads nine times a year with 30 to 45 pastors.

With the name change,
university leaders plan to expand the school’s worship ministry offerings and
develop business management, Christian counseling and communications programs.

“The King’s exists to
equip Spirit-filled, Spirit-formed and Spirit-empowered servant leaders,” said
Paul Chappell, Ph.D., executive vice president and
chief academic officer of The King’s University. “It obviously focuses
on folks in vocational ministries but recognizing the vision, the dream was to
reach out to include leaders going into whatever vocation God was calling
them.” 

On Sunday, 86 students received degrees under the
school’s new moniker. Honorary doctorates were awarded to Robert Morris, pastor
of Gateway Church near Dallas and the commencement speaker, and Jean Darnall, a veteran healing evangelist and
missionary who was mentored by Foursquare founder Aimee Semple McPherson.