2022 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Athens College of Ministry. Looking back, the College was founded by five trustees with a vision to create a Christian higher education institution in our local community. The College opened its doors for fall semester 2012 as the Athens School of Ministry & Worship Arts, leasing space from Watkinsville First UMC.
There were three guiding principles during the College’s first decade. First the trustees determined that the College would be interdenominational, believing that it is God’s desire for His followers to unify around the centrality of Jesus while upholding the inerrancy of the Bible. Second, the institution worked tirelessly to forge a “hub” of Christian unity. By hosting a pair of annual conferences, a fall day of community service—ServeAthens ICN, and a yearly Pastors Appreciation event, the College has created opportunities for locals to build relationships across traditional dividing lines by seeking and serving Christ together.
The College’s third guiding principle was to become accredited. As such, the institution opened its doors under “religious exemption” granted by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC). By 2015, its programs moved from “religious exempt” status to “fully authorized” by the State. Under full authorization, the institution was allowed to rename itself Athens College of Ministry (ACMin).
Building on its GNPEC authorization, ACMin selected the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges & Schools (TRACS) as its U.S. Department of Education-approved accrediting body. In 2017 ACMin qualified for provisional accreditation status, and was awarded full accreditation in 2020. Immediately following, ACMin became accredited to offer its programs nationally via distance education—a necessary step in the wake of the pandemic.
In the same way that the Israelites of the Old Testament looked back to remember God’s strength and favor at the Red Sea, the Trustees and leadership of the College credit every success to God’s favor, His provision through the many saints who have financially supported this endeavor, and the top-quality, hard-working faculty and staff who have co-labored tirelessly to build an accredited institution with excellence.
100% of the College’s students agree or strongly agree that their courses have been of excellent quality, they have grown in their ability to disciple others into Christlikeness, and they have grown in their understanding and practice of servant leadership (2022 Annual Student Survey). ACMin students have served through numerous community agencies as a required component of their professional formation. 100% of its graduates are working in their respective areas of preparation. And in partnership with Adventures in Missions—often known as the “World Race,” headquartered in Gainesville—the College is building leaders with a global perspective.
Moving into the next decade, the College will remember its solid foundation as it seeks to expand its impact. The next significant step is to change the institutional name to “College of Athens.” The Athens College of Ministry will continue to exist as a primary division of the College, offering its undergraduate and graduate degrees in ministry, counseling, divinity, etc. A second division, the School of Transformational Leadership, will house new, upcoming degree programs designed to build future leaders in education, nursing, and other marketplace enterprises. An undergraduate leadership degree has already been approved by the State and will debut in the coming months pending TRACS approval. Through the pair of divisions—Ministry and Leadership—the College of Athens (CoA) will expand its capacity to fulfill its mission; the preparation of Christian leaders for the Church, the marketplace, and around the globe.
Under the leadership of its Campus Development Project Manager, Mr. Michael Motsinger, and working in conjunction with Smith Planning Group and ensembleD Architecture and Engineering, the College will continue the development of its campus property on Barnett Shoals Road. Having a residential campus is key to building the type of relational community that is vital to students’ personal formation. The campus will allow the College to expand its base of operations as well as provide pleasant leisure spaces for residents in the surrounding area.
Our fervent prayer (from Psalm 90:16-17) has been and will continue to be:
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
May the favorof the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
To learn more about the College of Athens and its programs, visit collegeofathens.edu.
#collegeofathens #CoA
collegeofathens 