More than twenty-five years ago, three colleagues and friends—Gerry Grudzen, Bill Manseau, and I—found ourselves gathered around a kitchen table during the annual meeting of the Federation of Christian Ministries. What began as a conversation among passionate ministers soon became the seed of a vision that would touch the lives of students and faith communities around the world.
At the time, we recognized a growing need. Many gifted women and men felt called to ministry but lacked access to affordable, relevant theological education. Traditional seminaries were often expensive, geographically inaccessible, or rooted in models that no longer addressed the realities of contemporary ministry. The world was changing rapidly. Communities were becoming increasingly multicultural, interfaith relationships were expanding, and new forms of ministry were emerging beyond the walls of institutional churches.
We dreamed of creating something different.
Around that kitchen table, we imagined a “university without walls”—a place where students could receive excellent theological and pastoral formation regardless of where they lived. We envisioned an educational community that would honor diverse spiritual traditions, encourage critical thinking, and prepare leaders to serve in a world marked by cultural diversity, religious pluralism, and a deep hunger for compassion and justice.
Our dream was rooted in a simple but powerful belief: theological education should be accessible to everyone who feels called to serve. We believed that ministry formation should not be limited by financial barriers, denominational boundaries, or geographic distance. We wanted students to engage contemporary theology, pastoral practice, spirituality, social justice, and interfaith dialogue in ways that were both academically rigorous and deeply relevant to real-life ministry.
Like many dreams inspired by the Spirit, what seemed impossible at first gradually became possible.
Through countless hours of planning, collaboration, and prayer, Global Ministries University was born. What began as an idea shared among friends evolved into an innovative educational institution serving students from many countries, cultures, and faith backgrounds. Long before online learning became commonplace, GMU embraced distance education as a way of building a global learning community.
Over the years, GMU has educated pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, community leaders, educators, and ministers serving in a wide variety of contexts. Students have come from Christian traditions, interfaith communities, and independent ministries. Many have entered the program carrying years of practical experience but seeking deeper theological grounding and pastoral skills. Others have discovered their vocation through their studies and gone on to create transformative ministries in their own communities.
One of the gifts of GMU has been its commitment to honoring the wisdom students bring with them. Education is not merely the transfer of information from professor to student. Rather, it is a sacred conversation in which everyone teaches and everyone learns. Faculty and students alike become companions on a journey of discovery, exploring together the questions, challenges, and opportunities facing faith communities in our time.
Looking back, I am filled with gratitude for Gerry Grudzen and Bill Mansesu, whose vision, creativity, and dedication helped bring this dream into being. None of us could have imagined all that would unfold from that simple conversation around a kitchen table. Yet perhaps this is how the Spirit often works—beginning not with grand institutions or elaborate plans, but with people willing to dream together about what might be possible.
The story of Global Ministries University reminds me of Jesus’ words: “Where two or three are gathered together…” Great movements often begin with small gatherings of people who dare to imagine a different future.
What started as a conversation became a community. What began as a dream became a university. And what was born around a kitchen table continues to equip leaders who are bringing compassion, justice, wisdom, and hope into a changing world.
For me, that remains one of the most beautiful lessons of this journey: never underestimate what can happen when people gather in faith, share a vision, and trust the Spirit to guide the way forward.
https://www.globalministriesuniversity.org/gmu-receives-full-accreditation-from-eahea/
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