Don and MaryAnn Klassen knew what kind of college experience they did not want to give their daughters, but living in California they did not know about Boyce College until their oldest daughter’s junior year of high school. Hearing about Boyce College from “The Briefing,” President R. Albert Mohler Jr.’s daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview, Don began researching the school and signed up to attend Preview Day with his daughter.
While on campus, Don observed families interacting on campus: dads playing on the grass with their kids, moms with their babies, families interacting together because they live there.
“I had never seen anything like that at an undergrad, four-year school,” Don said. “I went to a secular school and saw everything that goes along with that when you live on campus, so I knew that I didn’t want my daughters going to that, and when I saw the family atmosphere on Boyce and Southern’s campus, that was a big thing for me.”
The family atmosphere promotes values the Klassens desire for their daughters like discipleship and the importance of church membership. They said Boyce College stands out as a Christian college because it re-enforces the beliefs and values they know to be of most importance.
Boyce College was reinstated to fill the need in higher education of a confessional, Christian college, Don recalled Dr. Mohler stating at Preview Day. During the open Q and A forum, Mohler illustrated stories of friends who sent their child to college, either secular or Christian, and their child returned home either confused about their faith or believing differently than they had been raised.
“We’ve witnessed that with friends of ours whose whole thought process changed in college, and once it’s your kids turn, you see the importance of being in the right place so that doesn’t happen.”
The Klassens recognize Boyce College is the right place for their daughter due to its intentionality and clear beliefs.
Living in California, there is a wide gap between California and Louisville, Kentucky, so when the Klassens dropped their daughter off her first semester, they knew they “were entrusting [her] to a place [they] felt good about.”
Now two years into her program at Boyce College, the Klassens are confident their daughter is growing spiritually and being equipped to enter the workforce with a business as missions mindset.
“Her focus is using her degree for the Lord and serving the Lord in whatever business area she chooses,” MaryAnn said. “That’s encouraging to hear her want to serve the Lord in her degree and know that even in a secular area, she can work with lost people and serve the Lord while she’s doing it.”
The Klassens recognize Boyce College is the right place for their daughter due to its intentionality and clear beliefs. They are confident their daughter sits under professors who teach with a “very high view of Scripture and handle God’s Word with reverence.”
“We became donors probably about the same time that our daughter started at Boyce,” Don said. “We had never really given any thought to supporting a seminary, but as we learned more about what’s going on at Southern [and Boyce], [have gotten] to know Dr. Mohler a little better, [and seen] what’s going on at Boyce, Southern, [we know] it’s just a wise investment for the kingdom.”
The Klassens see firsthand the training and discipleship their daughter receives at Boyce College and said they feel really confident referring people there, from those who desire to go into ministry or those who want to study engineering or sciences, by starting with the worldview certificate before going off to a public university.
“Even just for the price of it, you feel like you’re getting a good value for your money for your kids education,” MaryAnn said. “We feel like it’s really awesome for what you get; you get a top-notch education and spiritual guidance.”