What Does It Take to Start a Christian College

Starting a college while institutions across higher education are closing requires more than an entrepreneurial idea. For Dr. Sarah Hummel, President of Seapointe College, it required fortitude, spiritual discernment, and a willingness to keep following God when the path ahead was anything but predictable. Sarah shares the deeply personal journey that eventually led to the founding of Seapoint College, including a calling that unfolded over years, the painful closing of the institution she previously led, and the unexpected invitation to build again. From starting with ten students to pursuing a vision for small, formational Christian college communities, Sarah offers powerful lessons about obedience, dependence on God, mission-driven leadership, and trusting that the resources and people needed for the journey will come in God's timing. ___ Tune In to Discover ▫️Why silence and solitude have become foundational practices for Sarah’s leadership ▫️How a calling from God unfolded over years and eventually led Sarah into Christian higher education ▫️Why mission, vision, and guiding principles came before the operational work of launching Seapointe College ▫️How unmet expectations have taught Sarah to depend on God rather than people or resources ▫️Why Seapointe envisions small, formational college communities that strengthen the neighborhoods around them ___ Inside the Episode 01:40 - Why “fortitude” defines the experience of starting a college 04:05 - Silence, solitude, and the spiritual practices that keep Sarah grounded 17:00 - Wrestling with God over whether she was really supposed to start again 20:57 - The first steps Sarah took to turn the idea of a new college into reality 23:58 - Why mission, vision, and values must come before the operational details 27:50 - Learning to trust God when people and expected resources do not come through ___ To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player. ___ The Biblical Higher Ed Talk podcast is brought to you by The Association of Biblical Higher Education and is proud to be part of The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast Network. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.