Director, The Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today

Biola University, United States

Updated: 1 day ago
Location: La Mirada, CALIFORNIA

The Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today

What would happen if Biola — one of the most respected universities in the world today for biblical fidelity — was more intentional about understanding the work of the Holy Spirit and developing a greater passion to be led by the empowering and life-giving Spirit of God?

This is the question at the heart of the Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today. Funded by a generous donation, this initiative will provide resources for a biblical examination of the person and ongoing work of the Holy Spirit — including research, publications, conferences, events and services for students. The center will be a home for biblical scholars who wish to provide greater attention to not just a theology of the Holy Spirit but also the awakening and empowering of the Holy Spirit. It will be a training ground for students and faculty who want a greater infusion of the Spirit’s enablement to be more effective in evangelism, praying for the sick, bringing deliverance to the oppressed and defeating the power of sin.

Biola has a long tradition of emphasizing the importance of the Word of God. This community has long sought to know God through his Word and to obey all that it says, including the Great Commission. What we now seek is to balance this with a renewed emphasis on the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. Biola wants to learn from the extraordinary ways that the Spirit is working globally and for our students to experience this empowerment to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that this may indeed be a place where God pours out his Spirit in palpable ways that call us to bolder lives of obedience, service and evangelism.

With so many forces that are not healthy pressing upon Christian colleges and universities today, Biola sees this center as a powerful counterweight and perhaps the answer to spiritual drift. We would be so bold as to pray and plan that through this project Biola would be a place where God would begin a revival the likes of which we have never seen and the impact of which would be globally felt, advancing the gospel around the world.

Activities and Initiatives

Global Leader-in-Residence. Each year, the center will provide two one-week intensive residencies at Biola University for a prominent Christian leader with international influence to educate the Biola community about the work of the Holy Spirit currently around the world. This leader will seek to inspire a passion for Holy Spirit-infused ministry on a global scale and the role every Christian plays in the Great Commission.

Faculty fellows research program. Each semester, the center will fund a two-course release for two professors to work collaboratively on a research project of interest that supports and fulfills the center’s purpose.

Biennial International Student Conference on Spirit Empowerment. One of the center’s most far-reaching projects is the launching of a much-needed international conference at Biola, drawing numerous students from around the world to help them be transformed by discovering a new openness to the reality of the Holy Spirit and his transforming power, with the goal of advancing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Biennial symposium. Featuring papers published by the faculty engaged in research, the center would sponsor a biennial symposium open to the Biola University community and the public at large.

Spirit empowerment vespers. Each month, the center will host evening services for prayer and focus on Holy Spirit empowerment. These evening “vespers” will have as a focus Spirit-led renewal on campus and will bring in guest speakers who will teach and lead our students toward a movement of Spirit renewal, calling students to greater boldness and witness in their lives.

Collaborative work with Biola University departments. The center will come alongside and enhance the work of existing departments and efforts, including Chapel Programs, Christian Formation & Ministries, Student Missionary Union, the Center for Christian Thought, the Institute for Spiritual Formation, the Office for Educational Effectiveness (including faculty development), the Office of Integration of Faith and Learning, and all seven academic schools of the university.

Position Description

The Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today is a multi-year initiative to serve as a catalyst for intentional, lasting spiritual revitalization within the Biola University campus and community toward the goal of strengthening the university’s commitment to evangelism.

Position Summary

The Director will implement the aspirations for this project. The Director will be responsible to ensure that the objectives of the center — as described in the attached description approved by the funders — are clearly articulated and that the activities of the center are focused on achievement of the stated goals. The Director has primary responsibilities of setting the overall tone for the center, supervision of the center’s personnel, coordinating with various offices across the university, communicating with international Christian leaders and agencies, and managing the day-to-day work of the center. The Director will work with an advisory committee approved by the President, the Provost, and the Dean of Talbot School of Theology and made up of both internal and external members. The Director will report to the Dean of Talbot School of Theology and may also have faculty status.

Application Information

Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2024 through the “Job Openings” link at biola.edu/hr. Questions about the position may be directed to Katie Nakamura, Executive Assistant to the Dean of Talbot School of Theology, at [email protected].

Job Description

  • Communicates and implements the mission and vision for the center.

  • Directs planning and execution of all center-related activities. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Hire and supervise an administrative assistant who will provide support with the work of the center.

  • Works with University Communications and Marketing in developing a website and publicizing events and programs.

  • Oversees the center’s yearly budget and budgeting management processes.

  • Prepares presentations and reports to represent the center to the internal Biola community as well as external audiences.

  • Stewards the center’s office facilities, ensuring proper upkeep and intended use.

    • Qualifications

  • Evident and attested experience of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in the candidate’s own personal life and ministry.

  • Familiarity with the work of the Holy Spirit in the global Christian context. Experience and demonstrated competence in intercultural ministry contexts, and theological sensitivity in matters of cultural diversity.

  • Caring and sensitive, yet passionate. Has the ability to communicate the work of the Spirit to varied Christian constituencies. Strong, stable and mature Christian faith.

  • Maintains working knowledge of contemporary Christian scholarship related to the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit as well as evangelism.

  • Master’s degree required, earned doctoral degree preferred.

  • Creative energy; entrepreneurial skill; ability to convene people.

  • Self-initiating person with demonstrable managerial skills who is organized and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

  • Demonstrated experience in successful completion of multiple significant projects, events and responsibilities.

  • Excellent writing and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to think on one’s feet, to speak clearly, concisely and effectively in large and small groups and to present information and ideas concisely and persuasively to multiple constituencies.

  • Maintain a lifestyle consistent with sound Christian principles and the standards of conduct of Biola University.

  • Agreement with the Biola University Articles of Faith and Theological Distinctives and the Talbot School of Theology distinctives.

    • Reporting Responsibility

    •  Reports to the Dean of Talbot School of Theology.

    • Supervises Administrative Assistant and student interns.

    Doctrinal Statement

    The university’s doctrinal statement remains the foundational document regarding the theological position of Biola University. From its inception, Biola’s position has been and remains Christian, Protestant and theologically conservative. Prospective and existing employees must affirm that their personal theological beliefs are in agreement with the Biola doctrinal statement. A prospective or an existing employee’s church affiliation will also be considered in determining his or her understanding of and compliance with Biola’s theological position.

    For more information about Biola’s doctrinal statement, please visit biola.edu/about/doctrinal-statement . Talbot distinctives will be provided to candidates.

    Dr. Edward J. Stetzer

    Dean, Talbot School of Theology

    Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is the Dean and Professor of Leadership and Christian Ministry at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He also serves as Distinguish Visiting Scholar at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University, where he teaches twice a year. Stetzer has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates; and written hundreds of articles and a dozen books. He is Regional Director for Lausanne North America , the Editor-in-Chief of Outreach Magazine , and regularly writes for news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. His national radio show, Ed Stetzer Live , airs Saturdays on Moody Radio and affiliates. Stetzer serves his local church, Mariners Church, as Scholar in Residence & Teaching Pastor. 


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