Harding University College of Bible and Ministry - COBAM

2026 Inspire Lectureship Track Highlight: Helping the Church Hear Hurt

In our upcoming sessions, we invite you to join the track Helping the Church Hear Hurt: Listening the Way God Listened to David, which explores how to strengthen connections within the church through the vital skill of listening. This track features Dr. Riley Pate, the director of clinical supervision at Life Within Counseling Group and a dual-licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist who earned his doctorate from Regent University. Dr. Pate also serves as affiliate faculty at Harding School of Theology, where he specializes in teaching counseling skills to ministers. He is joined by Thomas Ritchie, the founder of Life Within Counseling Group and a licensed professional counselor with advanced degrees from Harding. Mr. Ritchie is clinically trained in trauma-focused therapies, including TF-CBT, EMDR-II, and Brainspotting, with expertise in working with children, families, foster care, and adoption. Together, they will examine how God listens to the complexities of the human heart, beginning with how hurt impacts the hearer and moving toward discerning what is truly helpful and healing. The series concludes by discussing how to integrate mental health into the church, specifically focusing on the professional nuances of referring individuals in versus referring them out.
This track is also available as a one-hour seminar credit. CRN 92504, BRES 3113

To register and view the complete schedule, please visit https://www.harding.edu/events/lectureship/

2026 Inspire Lectureship Highlight

Session Title: Summer in the Psalms, Psalm 37

Join Dr. Michael Claxton, Professor of English, for a literary and spiritual exploration of Psalm 37. Known for his engaging teaching style, Dr. Claxton will delve into the themes of patience, trust, and the assurance that those who delight in the Lord will find the desires of their hearts.

To register and view the complete schedule, please visit https://www.harding.edu/events/lectureship/

Inspire Lectureship Keynote Highlight

Our Monday morning Chapel session on September 21 will feature Keynote Speaker Dr. Mac Sandlin. As Harding University’s Director of Theological Studies, Dr. Sandlin is a respected scholar known for helping believers find their place within the grand narrative of Scripture. He will be speaking on the "Story" genre of the Psalms in his keynote, "His Love Endures Forever. Psalm 136." It is a session designed to ground us in the enduring faithfulness of God.

To register and view the complete schedule, please visit https://www.harding.edu/events/lectureship/

2026 Inspire Lectureship Track Highlight: Harding School of Theology: Scholarship for the Church

Harding School of Theology continues its mission of providing scholarship for the church by bringing faculty insights directly to this year's lectureship. This track offers a rigorous yet accessible look at biblical studies and spiritual formation, featuring sessions on the intertextual echoes of Isaiah in the Lord’s Prayer and the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and the church. We are honored to feature Dr. Keith Stanglin, Executive Director of the Center for Christian Studies and Professor of Historical Theology, alongside Dr. Jeff Peterson, a Professor of New Testament with a Ph.D. from Yale University. Participants will also benefit from the administrative and missional expertise of Dr. Evertt Huffard as he revisits the essentials of spiritual leadership for the modern era.

To register and view the complete schedule, please visit https://www.harding.edu/events/lectureship/

The first truck has left the building. The new HST Library will soon be open!

The move from Memphis to Searcy has officially begun! Over the next several weeks, thousands of books will be carefully relocated as we continue this exciting transition. If all goes according to plan, the move is expected to be completed by the end of July. We look forward to welcoming you to the completed space soon!

Our very own Dr. Andrew Baker, President of the National Christian School Association, has a seat on the world stage this week, presenting at the Vatican on "Fostering Hope and Compassion for Traumatized and Vulnerable Children."

🌍 On Day 3 of the Global Summit, we'll be exploring how to heal trauma and build resilience through love, connection, and community.

This session brings together global experts to examine how love, spirituality, and human connection serve as the ultimate foundations for children's well-being.

From cultivating compassionate school environments to integrating psychosocial support for refugee and displaced youth, the panel will delve into interfaith perspectives and multi-sectoral partnerships that actively heal trauma.

📅 5 June 2026
🕙 09:30 CET
📍 Onsite: Vatican City
🌐 Online: https://globalsummit2026.vfairs.com/

The Global Summit 2026: Fostering Hope for Children is organized by the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard, World Vision International, and Society for Global Flourishing, in collaboration with Arigatou International and various partners.

Session Title: The Lord Is Near, Psalm 34

Dr. Donny Lee, Dean of the College of Education, joins our series to discuss the comforting truth that "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted." Drawing from Psalm 34, Dr. Lee will share testimony on God’s presence during times of trouble and the deliverance found through seeking Him.

To register and view the complete schedule, please visit https://www.harding.edu/events/lectureship/

We are honored to host Keynote Speaker Anthony Walker on Wednesday evening, September 23. Anthony has served the Highway 231 Church of Christ for many years, blending twenty years of preaching experience with a unique, creative approach to ministry. He will be guiding us through the "Confidence and Trust" genre with his keynote address, "God’s Favorite Scripture. Psalm 23." Come and be encouraged by this deep dive into one of the Bible's most beloved passages.

To register and view the complete schedule, please visit https://www.harding.edu/events/lectureship/