SCU announces new Director of Graduate Studies

Southwestern Christian University is excited to announce Matt Bennett as our new Director of Graduate Studies.

“Matt brings a wealth of knowledge from his service in missions,” said Dr. Adrian Hinkle, SCU Vice President of Academic Affairs. “He is tasked with generating excitement within the graduate studies and building a platform for growing the graduate programs.”

Since 1993, Bennett has been committed to “Mobilize the Reached to Evangelize the Unreached.” This vision has taken him around the world teaching, training and mobilizing the body of Christ to complete the Great Commission. With an B.A. in Christian Education from Emmanuel College and a M. A. in Missiology from Regent University, his expertise in the Muslim world, micro-businesses, and community development has positioned him to equip the church to reach the end-time harvest.

He and his wife, Janese, served as IPHC Missionaries in London, England and Turkey, focusing on Turkish speaking people until 2006, when they moved to Oklahoma where Bennett served as Executive Director of People to People Ministries from 2006-2017 for IPHC WMM. He is currently the president of Spirit Life Ministries, a teaching ministry began by Garnet and Frances Pike.

Garnet Pike was one of the founders for the Graduate Studies program at SCU in 1993 and served as the first Dean of Graduate Studies. Bennett said he is excited to have the opportunity to build upon his father-in-law’s legacy and continue with his life’s work.

“I believe to effectively reach the world we have to equip, empower and mobilize the church to engage the lost and I see Southwestern Christian graduate school as a tremendous tool that can be used to accomplish this,” Bennett said.