American Family Radio thanks sponsor Preborn for supporting pro life advocacy
Dr. Jessica Peck: We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsor, PreBorn. When a mother meets her baby on ultrasound and hears their heartbeat, it's a divine connection. And the majority of the time, she will choose life. But they can't do it without our help. Preborn needs us, the pro life community, to come alongside them. One ultrasound is just $28. To donate, dial pound 250 and say the keyword BABY or visit preborn.com/AFR hello,
: and welcome to the Dr. Nurse Mama show, prescribing Hope for Healthy Families here on American Family Radio. Here's your host, professor, pediatric nurse practitioner, and mom of four, Dr. Jessica Peck.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, hey there, friends, and welcome to my favorite time of day, getting to spend time with you, prescribing Hope for Healthy Families.
One in four private, nonprofit colleges could close within the next decade
Listen, we've got a really, really tough topic on the agenda for today, but one that is not may be quite as tough as some of the other things that we face, but something that is on the conversation that is, quite honestly, a popular punching bag in the media these days, is what I see is higher education. Now, for generations, really, the American path has seemed increasingly simple. In the last century, it seems like the formula for success is work hard, get good grades, go to college, earn a degree, build a successful life. But today, families are really navigating a dramatically different landscape. We see college costs continuing to rise. In some cases, it feels like skyrocketing student debt remains a burden for many graduates. There are a lot of families navigating that, a lot of students navigating that. A lot of policy talk about that. And we're seeing alternative educational pathways increasingly emerging now. At the same time, artificial intelligence AI is drastically reshaping, but the workforce and rapidly changing what degree you should get. A, common question that I hear families asking is, what career is AI proof? And we see employers who are increasingly focused on skills alongside credentials. And now we see a startling prediction that suggests that nearly one in four private, nonprofit colleges could close within the next decade. And this is not just about education. This is a conversation that's going on in families because even at a young age, what do parents think about? They think about, how are we going to pay for college? How are we going to save for college? Should my child go to college? And that may not be the career path for every single person. But parents are wondering now, even if the schools they've trusted for generations, are they still trustworthy? Are they going to be around? And students are asking whether a, degree is really worth the financial investment, especially in an Age of side gigs and side hustles and all kinds of way creative ways to make an income. We also see churches and Christian communities who are really concerned about the future of faith based higher education and the unique role that Christian colleges in particular play in shaping worldview, character and leadership. Now, this conversation is way more than enrollment numbers and budgets. It's about helping families make wise decision in a culture that is rapidly changing. Now, as Christians, we know that our hope is never found in one institution. But institutions matter because they are forming people and more importantly, that than that, they're forming leaders of the next generation. So how do we navigate this moment? With wisdom rather than fear.
Van Mylar is Vice President of Client Strategy and Growth for Apex Media Partners
Well, today my guest is Van Mylar of Apex Media Partners. Now he's here to help us understand what's happening, why it matters, and how families can confidently prepare for the future. And as we begin, I have to disclose I have a bias towards Christian education because I experienced that. I love it, I believe in it, it. But I was the first person in my family to go to college. I was the first woman in my family to get a bachelor's degree. And now I have five degrees. And I have found great meaning in that. But I recognize that God has a different path for everybody. But clearly, as a professor wanted to disclose, yeah, I have a vested interest here. Now, Van I'm so glad that your help us here. You're here to help us sort all of this out. I'm sure by the end of the hour we will have solved every problem and the world can just go on about his business. Is that about what we can expect?
Van Mylar: That's what we can expect, Jessica. Yes.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, I'm so glad to have you here, Van
Christian families are asking harder questions about college, about return on investment
you know, for many families the idea that college feels just so unstable is really difficult. But the warning signs really have been there for years. Help us understand the scope of the issue. What is your stake in this and what are you seeing as the, the projections and why experts are so concerned?
Van Mylar: I think that's a great question. I think when we go Back to the 1960s, there were 3.6 bursts per household. Today there's 1.6 bursts per household. So that cohort of 16, 17, 18 year olds is now half of what it used to be. So there are less 18 year olds. The pool of 18 year olds is less to pull from. That is definitely a factor. There's been a demographic shift for sure. I think the second, crisis of confidence, is really the value of a four year degree. Families, Christian families too, are asking harder questions. About the return on investment, than ever before. if I'm going to invest in a Christian education, $50,000, $60,000. What am I expected to get for that? so that is a very good question. And third, I think a lot of private independent schools, particularly Christian schools, are tuition dependent. So when enrollment slips even slightly, they feel their financial model unravel very fast. Because a lot of Christian schools in particular don't have big, endowments, for example. So I think we're watching. And what I've observed is a slow decline, but not, not so much a slow decline, but we're watching a structural collapse in slow motion. And the institutions that I've seen that are least equipped to weather it are often the ones that do the most important work, like Christian schools. Forming the whole person, not just the credential, but who you become as a person.
Dr. Jessica Peck: I'm so glad that you said that because that's one of the things that I really appreciate about Christian education is that it is so holistic in nature. And that is, that is so important because we're talking about not only skills acquisition, knowledge acquisition, but character formation. And that is really important.
There are 442 private nonprofit colleges that could be at risk within decade
Now one thing that I heard in the news is that there are 442 private nonprofit colleges that could be at risk within the next decade. Is this what you've heard? And what, what is driving that? Particularly? You know, you talked about the, the population decreasing, the ROI questions, tuition dropping. It feels like there's just this massive cultural collision that's happening with that, decline that's already been happening. What, what do you see as driving why now? What's happening right at this moment?
Van Mylar: I think right now the, the smaller private schools have not prepared for this moment. So the signs have been there. Scripture tells us, and Jesus said, you can tell what the weather is, but can you tell what the signs are? And I think this has been coming for a long time, this moment. And I don't think a lot of small private, universities, particularly Christian, have really prepared for it. For example, like a lot of the small private schools have more of the humanities, and social sciences, like counseling and education and biblical studies and, and becoming a pastor and those kind of. And a lot of those schools haven't prepared. Stem, for example, is really important to be strong in the math and the sciences and the engineering, ah, kind of degrees. so I think that, universities haven't kept up with what's going on in the marketplace. And I think now they're seeing the result of that and also, Jessica, I think that a lot of schools have maybe hired too many staff. I've heard about administrative bloat. Like there's too many people. Like when an 18 year old comes to a university, they want to be the parent of the student and watch them 24, 7 and be there whenever, every time there's a need, I think that's going on as well. So, you know, it's hard to put my finger on one thing but stewardship and you know, proper management of the finances and where you're investing, I think all those things are really important when you're leading a university.
What do you see as the unique challenges facing specifically Christian schools compared to secular counterparts?
Dr. Jessica Peck: What do you see as the unique challenges facing specifically Christian schools as compared to their secular counterparts? Do you see a difference there?
Van Mylar: I think the thing I see with Christian schools, because I'm an advocate, I'm a graduate of Christian schools, is I think the same thing applies to them as it does, the secular schools. But I think that they have to be doubling down on their mission and their identity and who they are. They cannot imitate secular schools. They cannot. In my view, if my mission is to train champions for Christ, if that's my mission, that's what I need to double down on. I don't need to emulate what other schools are doing per se, but I do have to be aware of what God is telling me to, how to lead that school and then, then go in that direction. And I think a lot of Christian schools, the ones that are surviving today that I see are the ones that have doubled down on who they are as a Christian university and their identity in Christ. And what they do is front and center. It's not promoting a certain degree or a certain program. It's we are Christian school and we, are excited about being a Christian school.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, it's interesting because it feels like this, this tension. There's almost a paradox there because yes, what you're describing is so encouraging to hear like, yes, be confident in your values, you know, stand firm in your face. That is encouraging to see. But there are so many pressures culturally, you know, looking at the rapid changes that have occurred in different governmental levels and, and cultural host hostility towards Christian values. Yet at the same time we see families having an increasing demand for that. They're looking for that. They're looking for somewhere that's going to give them a good roi, that is going to stand firm in their faith, that is that they can trust to send their kid to and not feel like they're going to be indoctrinated by something that they're, that is contrary to their stated beliefs. What do you say? See as the drivers of family demand, of, of student demand. What kind of schools are they looking for?
Van Mylar: I think the school that Christian families are looking for are Christian schools that when the professor walks into the classroom, he has prayed that morning, he is grounded in the word of God and that he can bring that biblical worldview to the classroom. And having been at both secular schools and Christian schools, professors do bring their worldview into the classroom. And I think that, you know, when you have 18 and 19 year olds are very impressionable and it's, it's very, very important to be the example of Christ, of a Christian school. and I think that's what they're looking for. If I send my, my children to a Christian school, that's what I would expect. And I also think that parents need to get more involved with their kids education and, and go to the school and, and get involved in many different ways. And I think you can do that.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Yeah, you can. It is challenging because there are laws like FERPA that you know, provide some firewalls between parents and kids. Once they turn 18, you know, their educational record is theirs. And believe me, Van as a professor, I have tried to navigate that many times. Many times when I think, oh, your parents really should know about this, but how can they. And then some, that some students who want their parents to know and then they can't. So it's just a good reflection of how complex the landscape is. But I will tell you, Van having taught in both secular and Christian institutions, it is really so encouraging when I have a student who's coming to me and they're struggling with something rather than saying, hey, I'm so sorry that you're going through this and I am cheering for you and I'll do everything that I can to support you and you can do this, I mean those things are all great things to say, but to be able to encourage them with scripture, to pray over them, to be able to connect them to a chaplain, to spiritual resources, to a Christian counselor, oh my goodness. I cannot even tell you the difference that I have seen that make in the life of a student. But it doesn't mean there's not challenges ahead. And when we return, we'll talk about some more reasons why Christian colleges are so vulnerable, but more importantly, why they still matter and how believers can think biblically about these changes without falling into fear or panic, and how to make the best decisions for Your kids and your family, where should they go to college, if at all? We'll talk about that when we come back.
A generous monthly gift of any amount will help sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast
Hello, I'm Jessica peck, host of Dr. Nursemama. Did you know that this content is listener supported? Without people like you, this podcast would not exist. And that's why we need you. A generous monthly gift of any amount will help sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast. Please consider becoming a monthly financial partner today by visiting afr.net/give that's afr.net/give friend we're living in the defining moment today. A woman facing an unexpected pregnancy can order the abortion pill online, often before anyone has the chance to tell her she is loved, that she's not alone, or that there is hope. That's why you are needed right now. You were made for this moment. At preborn Network clinics, mothers are welcomed with compassion, practical support and a free ultrasound. And when she sees her baby and hears that tiny heartbeat for the very first time, fear often gives way to hope. In fact, more than 80% of abortion vulnerable women choose life after seeing their baby on an ultrasound at a PreBorn Network clinic. That one moment can save a baby's life and open a mother's heart to the hope of Jesus Christ. This is our moment to stand. For those who cannot speak for themselves, just $28 provides one life saving ultrasound. $140 helps rescue five babies. Please don't wait. Dial pound 250 and say the keyword baby. That's pound 250 baby. If you're a business owner, would you consider a larger donation to claim a write off? Your best gift would be appreciated. A stand alone gift of $15,000 will sponsor an ultrasound machine for a needy clinic, helping to save countless babies lives for years to come. All gifts are tax- deductible. Together we can save lives one heartbeat at a time. preborn.com/AFR why you ever chose me?
Nobody by Casting Crowns with Matthew West: There's always been a mystery all my life I've been told I belong at the end of the night with all the other not quite we'll all never get it right. But it turns out they're the ones you were looking for all this time. Cause I'm just a nobody Trying to tell everybody, everybody all about somebody will save my soul Ever since you rescued me you gave my heart a song to sing. I'm living for the world to see nobody but Jesus I'm living for the world to see nobody but Jesus.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Welcome back.
Only 30% of the public have confidence in higher education, survey finds
friends, that is Nobody by Casting crowns with Matthew West. And today we are Talking about being a somebody. Kids growing up and deciding what do they want to be when they grow up. Most kids when they're four or five, they want to be a fireman or an astronaut or a teacher or maybe a parent, a mom, a dad. There are all kinds of dreams that are born in the hearts of children, even starting from a young age. And as parents, it's our job to help set our kids up for success, to help them provide for themselves, for a family in the world, to be able to follow God's calling in their life, to know God's voice and to step into the world that he is designing for them. The ways that they're uniquely gifted, talented to do. And for some kids that will involve a college journey. But getting into college and going to college and the whole conversation about college has really changed in the last generation. And Gen Z especially, especially is questioning is this still a good return on my investment? Now we're talking about a lot of Christian colleges having financial struggles. A lot of colleges across the board are navigating a lot of new challenges. We've seen challenges financially since Cove We've also seen challenges since the advent of AI and people wanting degrees that are going to give them a good return on their investment. So today I'm talking with Van Mylar with Apex Media Partners and he is helping Krish Christian Colleges to figure out successful strategies to be able to equip Christian men and women for leadership through their chosen vocation or profession. Now he's given us some interesting food for thought and thinking. Why are colleges struggling? What is going on that's different? He pointed out that the population is about half of what it used to be in the 1960s. We are talked about questions about return on investment. We've talked about tuition dependent, being tuition dependent and when that tuition goes away, having financial struggles as an institution. And I've also talked about just the influences of technology and how do you balance a, ah, humanities degree and what do you do with that versus a STEM degree? Science, technology, engineering and math. Now for me, as I said, I was the first woman in my family to go to college. No one did before that. It has been a really, it's been a really big blessing in my life and I really feel like I've had so many wonderful Christian professors who have poured their lives into me and who have really equipped me and shaped me to help become a leader. And you know, Van I think that when we hear this discussion, when just people generally hear this discussion in the media of this, you know, we have really kind of an animosity towards higher education. And especially when we see Christian colleges that are caught in the crossfires, it can be really discouraging. How should we interpret the news on this moment? How should we be discerning and what we hear and recognize the very real challenges of ideological drift and financial trouble and, and legitimate questions on ROI versus, you know, those those news lines that would unfairly denigrate the value of a Christian education. How do we be wise and discerning in that?
Van Mylar: I think that's a really great question. As I've been, reading about this topic, only 30% of the public have confidence in higher education. So I think for a believer, we hear this out in the marketplace, but we must not mistake disruption, for defeat. The church has always operated in this tension between permanence and change. Right. Higher education, Christian higher education is not really any different. So in an op ed I wrote about, faith formation. In the future of Christian Education, I wrote about Philip Potter. He was a Yale graduate. He was a rising star at Morgan Stanley. He was featured in the NewSong York Times, but by every conventional measure of success. But his HR department, had a policy against that. So because he was becoming successful, he wanted everybody to know about it, including his family and friends. So when pressure came, he fell apart because he, he didn't like. He, he didn't lack intelligence, but he lacked formation. He'd been educated but not shaped. His conscience hadn't become cultivated alongside his competence. So this story of these elite secular education, is just different today. And that's exactly why I think, we can't afford to lose the Christian educations because we really need them in our society today.
Dr. Jessica Peck: I think there's a lot of families who are wondering like, is this still relevant? And there may be families who are debating between a secular institution and between a Christian institution and sometimes, you know, especially the private institution that's going to be more cost banned, that's more expense. But you talked from the beginning about roi. What do you think families should look at? and, and thinking, okay, is a Christian education still relevant in today's culture? What would you say to those famil families?
Van Mylar: I think, yeah, so the return on investment. So I think that if you were looking at $50,000 a year for four years, so it's $200,000 a year. I think what's really important in looking at that investment is will you. Will the student and maybe the family incur a lot of debt? So a lot of, families I know that are sending their children to Christian universities in particular, the student will sign over on that debt. It's not all the families carrying that debt, but the student will sign the loans. So, Jessica, here is a thing that if I have student debt, so looking at the roi, right, Am I going to be able to pay that in 20, 30 years? Am I going to have so much debt as a male that I can't get married and have a family because I have so much debt? I can't have relationships, and I have to carry this burden of debt. So I think in looking at the roi, you need to be looking at also the debt that you're going to, incur at the four years. And I think a lot of students, a lot of families don't look at that. Particularly students, when you're 18 years old and you're signing that loan, and I saw it when I went to college, you're signing a loan for 10,000, 20,000, $30,000. You're not a money manager. You don't know what to do, how to use that money, or how to manage it. So I think in looking at the roi, that's important. And then the future, you know, if you're going into the humanities, for example, or ministry, and you're making 40, $50,000 a year off of that $200,000 investment or whatever your debt load will be. If I went into the trades and I became an electrician, I could be a master electrician in five years making $100,000. So. And I wouldn't incur all the debt because I would be trained or the training for trades is a lot less us. So the calling, too. You know, when you incur an roi, if you are called by God and you know that in your heart, that you have this vision that God has given you for your life, then in my view, does the ROI matter in the terms of eternity? Because we're here to serve God and Jesus alone with the gifts and talents he's given us. And if you feel that you're better served by going to a Christian university, that you, that. That the gifts that talents and God has given you can be illuminated and expanded in a Christian university, then I say, yes, go to a Christian university, because God has called you to that.
Jessica: Van, there's a lot of decisions to make about college debt
So, there's a lot, a lot of decisions to make when you're looking at roi, Jessica.
Dr. Jessica Peck: There really is. I mean, you are. I feel like we are just making parents feel seen right now. They are like, yes to all the things because it's like, yes, I want you to follow your dreams, I want you to go and pursue what God has called you. But I don't know about you signing off for this debt. You know, honestly, Van as you were talking, I was thinking, man, there's gotta be some financial advisors out there who. This would make such a great ministry in a church to meet with young people and to be able to talk with them objectively and show them some numbers. Because it's really hard for young people to think developmentally long term. The long term to them is like, you know, three months, like that's a long time away. And I'm thinking about four years from now when that first payment comes due. And then you're thinking, oh my gosh, how do I even live?
Dr. Jessica Peck: Live.
Van Mylar: Yeah, I, I think that's, that's really, that's really good stuff you just said. and I think that when you get out of college, right, and you see that first payment on 60 grand or 70 grand, you're going to be living with your parents. So you're going to, can you afford to live on your own when you graduate from college? Because you've been developing independence and now you've got to live with mom and dad again. So that is really something to consider. but hopefully, you know, you can take the life skills and the formation and really think through and, and the, the financial counselor thing is really important. Jessica, I'm glad you mentioned that. I think that would be a great ministry for for universities to have that as a separate thing to be counseled on signing a loan. And what does that mean, especially at some of these interest rates today and that what does that mean for your future? So when you get out of school after four years, you do understand you're going to have $70,000 in debt and you need to be thinking about how you're going to pay that off. And your first payment, by the way, is going to be $700 or $600. And you, how are you going to pay that? And if you get married in college, like I know a lot of students, got married in college, now you have the responsibility of a family, of a wife, of taking care of your family. So a lot of things to consider. when you're in college and it's not about having fun, of course you should have fun. Of course you should build relationships, but also seek God's wisdom.
Van Mylar: And get into prayer groups and seek God's wisdom as you're going through school and let God direct You through college, particularly about money matters, because we're called to be good stewards of the resources God has given us, not to waste it on, on frivolous things. When you need to be focusing on what if God has called you that education, in my view and my family, you work, you work three or four jobs to pay for that. You see what work is like, maybe you get a work study in college so you know what work is like. So you don't end your four years and say, and start getting into the workforce, but you understand what hard work is. Because, once you graduate, life changes. Yeah, life changes after four years. And you need to be asking God, really, life is going to change. What does that mean? M for me, Lord.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, Van I can't help but think of my own personal experience as I shared. I was the first woman in my family to go to get a university degree. And there was someone in my church who told me, oh, hey, if you do this missions program, it was actings. For anybody who remembers acting, that's not an active program anymore. But they said, oh, you can get a scholarship for, for school. And Van I thought that meant like they paid for everything. And then when I did the program, I literally did this program for four years and then went to the church office and was like, okay, where's my scholarship? And it was a thousand dollars. And I didn't know that even back then a thousand dollars was not enough to pay for college. And I know, there's a lot of families that are in that kind of situation where they're navigating, trying to explore college for their kids, kids when they didn't go to college. And it can feel really intimidating and really overwhelming. So the right choice for me was to go to community college. And I worked three jobs, just like you said. Van I worked three jobs and paid my way through school and I got that degree, you know, that I needed and then stair step my way different and, and God has a sense of humor, you know, because I feel like he put me back at a university I wanted to go to at a Christian university. And now I'm. I didn't get to be a student there, but I get to be on the teaching end of that. And I, I'm thinking this, this might be one of the advantages of AI. I've been hearing a lot about this being a level setting for students because we certainly when I was growing up, we did not have access to a financial advisor. That would never be something we could do. And although colleges often have A financial advisor, like when I took my kids to orientation, they would say, oh, talk with our financial planner. And they were great. They were really helpful. But they also have a vested interest. They want my student to go there, they want that enrollment. And I just would love to see. I'm just casting this vision out there for whoever is listening. I would love to see, you know, just maybe a ministry that comes out of a non profit, something that just has the interest in the student just to give parents more confidence. But I also see that AI may give some families some access to tools like financial planning that they wouldn't have had before. And the last thing that I'll say, on what you said to respond, Van is that one of the most amazing things that I have seen is so many students who have given me their own personal testimony saying I felt God call me to this specific university, but there was no financial way. And then they will tell me a story of how God miraculously provided, how they got a scholarship, got into a program. Just some sort of wild encounter that God could have only ordained. And so if God has called you, he can make a way. And don't underestimate the power of praying over your children's path. Start praying now that God would give you wisdom. The book of James tells us he gives freely to all who ask. And when we come back, we'll have some more advice about practically thinking about a trade route or technical training or college and what role churches and Christian communities should play in this. We'll be right back.
Buddy Smith Jeff Chamblee: We live in a day when America's families are under attack like never before. Buddy Smith, senior vice president of the American Family Association. The war against biblical principles rages on numerous fronts. The Internet, Hollywood, Washington, D.C. america's corporate boardrooms, and the list goes on. At American Family association, we're committed to standing against the enemies of God, the enemies of your family. And we recognize it's an impossible task without God's favor and your partnership. Thank you for being faithful to pray for this ministry, to give financially and to respond to our calls for activism. What you do on the home front is crucial to what we do on the battlefront. We praise God for your faithfulness and may he give us many victories in the battles ahead as we work together to restore our nation's biblical foundations.
Jesus Loves by Zach Williams: All the renegades, the rebels and the runaways, all the prodigals who got a little lost along the way and all the backsliders upon, not us down in a rut, these are the ones who are the ones that Jesus loves Every dream shattered bruised and battered, barely hanging on Every heartbroken lonely soul sitting all alone and every outcast stuck in their past Scared of letting go these are the ones, the ones that Jesus chose. Come on in the door is open in the sailors on the table Stancy is waiting they saved it just for you no more ride, no more high Come on in and you will find that you don't have to be
Dr. Jessica Peck: someone Jesus love Welcome back, friends. That is Jesus Loves by Zach Williams. And that is a message that every Christian parent is trying to give their child from the moment they know that they are going to arrive. And it is a, it is, the longest days and the shortest years of your life when your kids are young. I have four. I know this myself self. And looking at the 18 years that you have to really help them to be an adult to follow God's calling in their life, does that mean college? Does that mean trade school? Does that mean entering the workforce? What does that mean? What does the calling look like for your child? And it is an increasingly complex landscape to navigate. College costs are rising and there's questions about is a Christian education still worthy it. And we are saying today that we believe that it is. But we're also acknowledging the challenges that are facing Christian higher education today. And the future may look different than it did a generation ago, even half a generation ago, but families still need some practical wisdom for navigating these educational decisions today. And many listeners, you may even have students preparing for college right now, or maybe you're, they're little and you're still worrying about preparing or saving for that or others may have children enrolled at institutions that you're just not sure about. We need some practical steps and that's why I'm talking today to Van Mylar.
Apex Media Partners helps faith based nonprofits and Christian universities navigate audience shifts
He's a seasoned media strategist, a fundraising expert, and the vice president of client strategy and revenue growth at Apex Media Partners. And he specializes in helping faith based nonprofits, Christian ministries and universities navigate these changing financial landscapes and audience shifts. Van can you tell us a little bit about the work that you do to help Christian, institutions of higher education and what your, what tools you're bringing to them to help them navigate these turbulent waters.
Van Mylar: So at Apex Media Partners, when we work with universities, we try to really understand who they are and their mission, their vision. Every school has a unique, DNA, if you will. So we try to understand that. We sit down with the executive team and, and some of the marketing team to find out what that is what the communication has been out into the marketplace. And so we evaluate that. But today, I think more than ever, it's finding where they live in terms of, their social media habits, their screen habits, their, streaming habits, audio, visual, and trying to understand how we can reach them. Because everybody is not just reached today. you know, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, it was primarily television and radio, but today, there's so many ways to reach people. We need to understand what that pathway is for their particular Persona, who would have a high affinity for the education that they're offering, the specific brand of education, if you will. So we try to tap into that, and then we design. We have tools, we use a lot of tools that look at, web analysis, for example, social media, what people are going to your website, and where are they going other than your website, and what social media tools do they favor? So if we look at. At, say, 10,000 people came to your website, we can look at all their media behaviors. We can look at all their lifestyle behaviors as well. So, and some of the other tools are. Are what creative do people respond to? So you can take out multiple creatives so quickly today, Jessica, because of the tools we have, we can change things so quickly and put it out same day. I remember back in the day, for television, it took several weeks to get a spot ready to get out on, tv. Radio was quicker, but TV took weeks to shoot it with the cameras and everything. Today you can just upload, like, the same day.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Times have changed. M. You're making me feel old, Van
Van Mylar: I'm old, Jessica. So, yeah, I know what you're saying. I've seen so many iterations over the decades, but I, think it's fun. And, I think AI adds to that. As you're talking about AI as a tool, just to, confirm what you're looking at and taking all that information and putting it into a nice plan for that particular university. Because I think AI tools do that really well.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, it's interesting because you've kind of given us a backstage look to some of the marketing and recruiting that goes on, which is a necessary part of the business of higher education. But it is really interesting to see, you know, you're right, on TV now. I was not a sports fan growing up fan, so I really didn't know about other colleges that were out there. I mean, my kids ask me, they're like, how did you not know about these colleges? I'm like, Well, I was born before the Internet, like, so you have to understand the world was small. So if I wasn't watching college football or college basketball, like, I didn't know about these schools that were out there. And then we had the age of the Internet, you know, where you could look up everything. But honestly, Van I do wonder how AI will change that because everyone has such a hyper personalized media stream that's coming to them and we have all forces at work competing for that small pool of students like you talked about. That's a reality that families need to face, that your student is going to be actively recruited. And don't you want, you know, the Christian education, Christian, institutions of higher education to be in that mix? Because I've talked to a lot of students who have gone to a small Christian university that I never heard of, but it was so perfect for what that student needed at that moment. Whether it was a program, whether it was a culture issue, you know, just like, for specifically like a location or where they wanted to be or the, the values of the school, you know, it just tapped into what God was calling them to do for their life. Maybe it was a culture of missions or something that. And I, and I've seen that. But it can be hard to find those places. What advice do you have for families who think, you know, I would really like to look into institutions of Christian higher education. What do you get? what advice do you give them to actually find them and have them be influential? Because social media can really sway a, kid's attention really easily. And it can be hard to be the parent over in the side. Like, have you thought about this one?
Dr. Jessica Peck: No.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You should look at this. You know, it just, it can become a point of tension, I think quickly.
Van Mylar: So that. That's a great question. I think there's a lot of guides out there that you can look at. But I think that what I'm seeing is that professors at the university, if I was looking for a Christian college, I would want to see if, if those professors were published, right? And reading their published article or works of the school, how are they representing Christ, how are they representing the Christian community? And what expertise do they have at that university? So I do a little bit deeper digging. I know US and Newsroom Report has a ranking and you can get Christian rankings too. I don't know if I want to believe all that per se because they're more superficial kind of M measurements. but I would want to get into. All Christian schools aren't the same. So I would want to. If you identified three or four Christian schools, I want to know what they're communicating, what they're publishing, and do they really have a strong biblical worldview for my child.
Dr. Jessica Peck: That is really good advice.
Jessica: I think churches could play a role in preparing youth for college
VAN what, what role do you see the church playing in this? You know, because we know that kids are in youth ministry, and hopefully kids should be engaged in a church community, whether that's life group or whatever discipleship structure that is there for, students. But what role do you see between the church and institutions of Christian higher education?
Van Mylar: So I think that if churches. And I know that some churches strug. Struggle with youth programs and getting youth to come come to church. But I think that if you have youth coming to your church, and maybe there's a certain age, Jessica, maybe it's 12 or 13, 14, to have. You can have different courses at churches is about thinking about what God is calling you to. And I don't know what age that should be, but I think that the church could play a role in preparing, Preparing youth for their future. I know we do these, I don't know if it's Briggs Meyer or. We do these, Dis.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Personality.
Van Mylar: Yeah, these personality things. But I think the church needs to really, I don't know if it build deeper community with your youth, because community is really important. And I know that, like you mentioned, Jessica, youth, are distracted in so many ways today, and they're always on their phone like this, and to get them off the phone is really a big deal. so, I think we need to make it. And I'm not really sure because I'm not into all these big, big entertainment programs that some churches have. But I do believe that churches can prepare their youth and prepare families too. I mean, they could. The church could have a, yearly or quarterly or biannually course on how to prepare your child for college or even on finance. I mean, there's all kind of things that church could do to. To help families and particularly, youth to, to get ready for their future.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, one of the, the most impactful assignments that my kids had when they were in high school was some of those practical life skills. And I think sometimes, you know, we focus on the faith and the character formation. Those things are important. But the practical life skills are important too. And that seems to be. Be something that is increasingly lost in this generation. We have parents who just do more and more and more for their kids. So I was not that mom. Van I, I would, you know, I like when they were going to do their driver's license, I said, hey, if you're old enough to drive a car, like, you have to navigate this all on your own. I will answer any question that you have. I will be right here. I will check everything for you. But you have to bring it to me. I'm not doing it for you. Same with college application, all of those things. We've got to really be more intentional about some of those practical skills. But one of the most impactful assignments they had was where they had to say what they wanted to be and then where they wanted to live and then do a budget for that. And it was so funny because all of my kids came home with these really big dreams, you know, this luxurious living lifestyle on a, you know, 30, $40,000 salary. And I'm like, okay, yeah, that is not going to happen. And so they kind of think, okay, ooh, well, okay, I'm gonna have to adjust my lifestyle or I'm gonna have to choo career. But I think kids need that kind of help. And then in looking at that church, college connection, one of the most important things, I think, Van is the church's partnership with the Christian Institution of Higher Education. Now, I've done a lot of college visits with my own kids, and one of the most revealing questions that I could ask when we would do a tour would be to say, how do you help your students connect to a local church? Body.
: Body.
Dr. Jessica Peck: And that would tell me a lot. If they looked at me like a deer in the headlights, like, there's plenty of churches here. Like. Like, I. What I would think is pick up the yellow pages. I'm like, okay, that tells me everything. They say, like, oh, here's this event that we have where all of the local churches come, and you can meet all of the pastors here, and here's the, you know, the bus options that we have to get you there. And here's how we. Here's the directory that we have that told me a lot about how that Christian education, institution valued the church partnership. But, you know, Van I appreciate you having this conversation today. And we have discussed a lot of different things, and institutions may change and educational models may evolve. And sadly, we do see some colleges who are closing their doors. But the good news is that the calling of parents remains the same. Helping kids discover God's purpose for their life, develop wisdom to follow that path, pursue truth, and faithfully steward their gifts and to know what they believe and to be able to defend it. The goal is not just earning a degree. It's becoming the person that God created you to be and using your life to glorify Him. Thank you so much for joining us today. And if you are in anywhere in that journey, if you are in the early stages of thinking, how am I going to afford college? Or if you are in those states stages of making college visits, or maybe you're making college payments or you're helping your kids enter a trade, an apprenticeship, a technical training, a certification, a gap year, a ministry, an entrepreneurial pathway. Whatever pathway you're pursuing for your children, I pray, as I always do, that the Lord will bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you. And I'll see you right back here next time. We'd like to thank our sponsors, including PreBorn. PreBorn has rescued over 400,000 babies from abortion and every day their network clinics rescue 200 babies lives. Will you join PreBorn in loving and supporting young moms in crisis? Save a life today. Go to preborn.com/AFR the views and
Jeff Chamblee: opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
American Family Radio thanks sponsor Preborn for supporting pro life advocacy
Dr. Jessica Peck: We would like to take a moment to thank our sponsor, PreBorn. When a mother meets her baby on ultrasound and hears their heartbeat, it's a divine connection. And the majority of the time, she will choose life. But they can't do it without our help. Preborn needs us, the pro life community, to come alongside them. One ultrasound is just $28. To donate, dial pound 250 and say the keyword BABY or visit preborn.com/AFR hello,
: and welcome to the Dr. Nurse Mama show, prescribing Hope for Healthy Families here on American Family Radio. Here's your host, professor, pediatric nurse practitioner, and mom of four, Dr. Jessica Peck.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, hey there, friends, and welcome to my favorite time of day, getting to spend time with you, prescribing Hope for Healthy Families.
One in four private, nonprofit colleges could close within the next decade
Listen, we've got a really, really tough topic on the agenda for today, but one that is not may be quite as tough as some of the other things that we face, but something that is on the conversation that is, quite honestly, a popular punching bag in the media these days, is what I see is higher education. Now, for generations, really, the American path has seemed increasingly simple. In the last century, it seems like the formula for success is work hard, get good grades, go to college, earn a degree, build a successful life. But today, families are really navigating a dramatically different landscape. We see college costs continuing to rise. In some cases, it feels like skyrocketing student debt remains a burden for many graduates. There are a lot of families navigating that, a lot of students navigating that. A lot of policy talk about that. And we're seeing alternative educational pathways increasingly emerging now. At the same time, artificial intelligence AI is drastically reshaping, but the workforce and rapidly changing what degree you should get. A, common question that I hear families asking is, what career is AI proof? And we see employers who are increasingly focused on skills alongside credentials. And now we see a startling prediction that suggests that nearly one in four private, nonprofit colleges could close within the next decade. And this is not just about education. This is a conversation that's going on in families because even at a young age, what do parents think about? They think about, how are we going to pay for college? How are we going to save for college? Should my child go to college? And that may not be the career path for every single person. But parents are wondering now, even if the schools they've trusted for generations, are they still trustworthy? Are they going to be around? And students are asking whether a, degree is really worth the financial investment, especially in an Age of side gigs and side hustles and all kinds of way creative ways to make an income. We also see churches and Christian communities who are really concerned about the future of faith based higher education and the unique role that Christian colleges in particular play in shaping worldview, character and leadership. Now, this conversation is way more than enrollment numbers and budgets. It's about helping families make wise decision in a culture that is rapidly changing. Now, as Christians, we know that our hope is never found in one institution. But institutions matter because they are forming people and more importantly, that than that, they're forming leaders of the next generation. So how do we navigate this moment? With wisdom rather than fear.
Van Mylar is Vice President of Client Strategy and Growth for Apex Media Partners
Well, today my guest is Van Mylar of Apex Media Partners. Now he's here to help us understand what's happening, why it matters, and how families can confidently prepare for the future. And as we begin, I have to disclose I have a bias towards Christian education because I experienced that. I love it, I believe in it, it. But I was the first person in my family to go to college. I was the first woman in my family to get a bachelor's degree. And now I have five degrees. And I have found great meaning in that. But I recognize that God has a different path for everybody. But clearly, as a professor wanted to disclose, yeah, I have a vested interest here. Now, Van I'm so glad that your help us here. You're here to help us sort all of this out. I'm sure by the end of the hour we will have solved every problem and the world can just go on about his business. Is that about what we can expect?
Van Mylar: That's what we can expect, Jessica. Yes.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, I'm so glad to have you here, Van
Christian families are asking harder questions about college, about return on investment
you know, for many families the idea that college feels just so unstable is really difficult. But the warning signs really have been there for years. Help us understand the scope of the issue. What is your stake in this and what are you seeing as the, the projections and why experts are so concerned?
Van Mylar: I think that's a great question. I think when we go Back to the 1960s, there were 3.6 bursts per household. Today there's 1.6 bursts per household. So that cohort of 16, 17, 18 year olds is now half of what it used to be. So there are less 18 year olds. The pool of 18 year olds is less to pull from. That is definitely a factor. There's been a demographic shift for sure. I think the second, crisis of confidence, is really the value of a four year degree. Families, Christian families too, are asking harder questions. About the return on investment, than ever before. if I'm going to invest in a Christian education, $50,000, $60,000. What am I expected to get for that? so that is a very good question. And third, I think a lot of private independent schools, particularly Christian schools, are tuition dependent. So when enrollment slips even slightly, they feel their financial model unravel very fast. Because a lot of Christian schools in particular don't have big, endowments, for example. So I think we're watching. And what I've observed is a slow decline, but not, not so much a slow decline, but we're watching a structural collapse in slow motion. And the institutions that I've seen that are least equipped to weather it are often the ones that do the most important work, like Christian schools. Forming the whole person, not just the credential, but who you become as a person.
Dr. Jessica Peck: I'm so glad that you said that because that's one of the things that I really appreciate about Christian education is that it is so holistic in nature. And that is, that is so important because we're talking about not only skills acquisition, knowledge acquisition, but character formation. And that is really important.
There are 442 private nonprofit colleges that could be at risk within decade
Now one thing that I heard in the news is that there are 442 private nonprofit colleges that could be at risk within the next decade. Is this what you've heard? And what, what is driving that? Particularly? You know, you talked about the, the population decreasing, the ROI questions, tuition dropping. It feels like there's just this massive cultural collision that's happening with that, decline that's already been happening. What, what do you see as driving why now? What's happening right at this moment?
Van Mylar: I think right now the, the smaller private schools have not prepared for this moment. So the signs have been there. Scripture tells us, and Jesus said, you can tell what the weather is, but can you tell what the signs are? And I think this has been coming for a long time, this moment. And I don't think a lot of small private, universities, particularly Christian, have really prepared for it. For example, like a lot of the small private schools have more of the humanities, and social sciences, like counseling and education and biblical studies and, and becoming a pastor and those kind of. And a lot of those schools haven't prepared. Stem, for example, is really important to be strong in the math and the sciences and the engineering, ah, kind of degrees. so I think that, universities haven't kept up with what's going on in the marketplace. And I think now they're seeing the result of that and also, Jessica, I think that a lot of schools have maybe hired too many staff. I've heard about administrative bloat. Like there's too many people. Like when an 18 year old comes to a university, they want to be the parent of the student and watch them 24, 7 and be there whenever, every time there's a need, I think that's going on as well. So, you know, it's hard to put my finger on one thing but stewardship and you know, proper management of the finances and where you're investing, I think all those things are really important when you're leading a university.
What do you see as the unique challenges facing specifically Christian schools compared to secular counterparts?
Dr. Jessica Peck: What do you see as the unique challenges facing specifically Christian schools as compared to their secular counterparts? Do you see a difference there?
Van Mylar: I think the thing I see with Christian schools, because I'm an advocate, I'm a graduate of Christian schools, is I think the same thing applies to them as it does, the secular schools. But I think that they have to be doubling down on their mission and their identity and who they are. They cannot imitate secular schools. They cannot. In my view, if my mission is to train champions for Christ, if that's my mission, that's what I need to double down on. I don't need to emulate what other schools are doing per se, but I do have to be aware of what God is telling me to, how to lead that school and then, then go in that direction. And I think a lot of Christian schools, the ones that are surviving today that I see are the ones that have doubled down on who they are as a Christian university and their identity in Christ. And what they do is front and center. It's not promoting a certain degree or a certain program. It's we are Christian school and we, are excited about being a Christian school.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, it's interesting because it feels like this, this tension. There's almost a paradox there because yes, what you're describing is so encouraging to hear like, yes, be confident in your values, you know, stand firm in your face. That is encouraging to see. But there are so many pressures culturally, you know, looking at the rapid changes that have occurred in different governmental levels and, and cultural host hostility towards Christian values. Yet at the same time we see families having an increasing demand for that. They're looking for that. They're looking for somewhere that's going to give them a good roi, that is going to stand firm in their faith, that is that they can trust to send their kid to and not feel like they're going to be indoctrinated by something that they're, that is contrary to their stated beliefs. What do you say? See as the drivers of family demand, of, of student demand. What kind of schools are they looking for?
Van Mylar: I think the school that Christian families are looking for are Christian schools that when the professor walks into the classroom, he has prayed that morning, he is grounded in the word of God and that he can bring that biblical worldview to the classroom. And having been at both secular schools and Christian schools, professors do bring their worldview into the classroom. And I think that, you know, when you have 18 and 19 year olds are very impressionable and it's, it's very, very important to be the example of Christ, of a Christian school. and I think that's what they're looking for. If I send my, my children to a Christian school, that's what I would expect. And I also think that parents need to get more involved with their kids education and, and go to the school and, and get involved in many different ways. And I think you can do that.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Yeah, you can. It is challenging because there are laws like FERPA that you know, provide some firewalls between parents and kids. Once they turn 18, you know, their educational record is theirs. And believe me, Van as a professor, I have tried to navigate that many times. Many times when I think, oh, your parents really should know about this, but how can they. And then some, that some students who want their parents to know and then they can't. So it's just a good reflection of how complex the landscape is. But I will tell you, Van having taught in both secular and Christian institutions, it is really so encouraging when I have a student who's coming to me and they're struggling with something rather than saying, hey, I'm so sorry that you're going through this and I am cheering for you and I'll do everything that I can to support you and you can do this, I mean those things are all great things to say, but to be able to encourage them with scripture, to pray over them, to be able to connect them to a chaplain, to spiritual resources, to a Christian counselor, oh my goodness. I cannot even tell you the difference that I have seen that make in the life of a student. But it doesn't mean there's not challenges ahead. And when we return, we'll talk about some more reasons why Christian colleges are so vulnerable, but more importantly, why they still matter and how believers can think biblically about these changes without falling into fear or panic, and how to make the best decisions for Your kids and your family, where should they go to college, if at all? We'll talk about that when we come back.
A generous monthly gift of any amount will help sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast
Hello, I'm Jessica peck, host of Dr. Nursemama. Did you know that this content is listener supported? Without people like you, this podcast would not exist. And that's why we need you. A generous monthly gift of any amount will help sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast. Please consider becoming a monthly financial partner today by visiting afr.net/give that's afr.net/give friend we're living in the defining moment today. A woman facing an unexpected pregnancy can order the abortion pill online, often before anyone has the chance to tell her she is loved, that she's not alone, or that there is hope. That's why you are needed right now. You were made for this moment. At preborn Network clinics, mothers are welcomed with compassion, practical support and a free ultrasound. And when she sees her baby and hears that tiny heartbeat for the very first time, fear often gives way to hope. In fact, more than 80% of abortion vulnerable women choose life after seeing their baby on an ultrasound at a PreBorn Network clinic. That one moment can save a baby's life and open a mother's heart to the hope of Jesus Christ. This is our moment to stand. For those who cannot speak for themselves, just $28 provides one life saving ultrasound. $140 helps rescue five babies. Please don't wait. Dial pound 250 and say the keyword baby. That's pound 250 baby. If you're a business owner, would you consider a larger donation to claim a write off? Your best gift would be appreciated. A stand alone gift of $15,000 will sponsor an ultrasound machine for a needy clinic, helping to save countless babies lives for years to come. All gifts are tax- deductible. Together we can save lives one heartbeat at a time. preborn.com/AFR why you ever chose me?
Nobody by Casting Crowns with Matthew West: There's always been a mystery all my life I've been told I belong at the end of the night with all the other not quite we'll all never get it right. But it turns out they're the ones you were looking for all this time. Cause I'm just a nobody Trying to tell everybody, everybody all about somebody will save my soul Ever since you rescued me you gave my heart a song to sing. I'm living for the world to see nobody but Jesus I'm living for the world to see nobody but Jesus.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Welcome back.
Only 30% of the public have confidence in higher education, survey finds
friends, that is Nobody by Casting crowns with Matthew West. And today we are Talking about being a somebody. Kids growing up and deciding what do they want to be when they grow up. Most kids when they're four or five, they want to be a fireman or an astronaut or a teacher or maybe a parent, a mom, a dad. There are all kinds of dreams that are born in the hearts of children, even starting from a young age. And as parents, it's our job to help set our kids up for success, to help them provide for themselves, for a family in the world, to be able to follow God's calling in their life, to know God's voice and to step into the world that he is designing for them. The ways that they're uniquely gifted, talented to do. And for some kids that will involve a college journey. But getting into college and going to college and the whole conversation about college has really changed in the last generation. And Gen Z especially, especially is questioning is this still a good return on my investment? Now we're talking about a lot of Christian colleges having financial struggles. A lot of colleges across the board are navigating a lot of new challenges. We've seen challenges financially since Cove We've also seen challenges since the advent of AI and people wanting degrees that are going to give them a good return on their investment. So today I'm talking with Van Mylar with Apex Media Partners and he is helping Krish Christian Colleges to figure out successful strategies to be able to equip Christian men and women for leadership through their chosen vocation or profession. Now he's given us some interesting food for thought and thinking. Why are colleges struggling? What is going on that's different? He pointed out that the population is about half of what it used to be in the 1960s. We are talked about questions about return on investment. We've talked about tuition dependent, being tuition dependent and when that tuition goes away, having financial struggles as an institution. And I've also talked about just the influences of technology and how do you balance a, ah, humanities degree and what do you do with that versus a STEM degree? Science, technology, engineering and math. Now for me, as I said, I was the first woman in my family to go to college. No one did before that. It has been a really, it's been a really big blessing in my life and I really feel like I've had so many wonderful Christian professors who have poured their lives into me and who have really equipped me and shaped me to help become a leader. And you know, Van I think that when we hear this discussion, when just people generally hear this discussion in the media of this, you know, we have really kind of an animosity towards higher education. And especially when we see Christian colleges that are caught in the crossfires, it can be really discouraging. How should we interpret the news on this moment? How should we be discerning and what we hear and recognize the very real challenges of ideological drift and financial trouble and, and legitimate questions on ROI versus, you know, those those news lines that would unfairly denigrate the value of a Christian education. How do we be wise and discerning in that?
Van Mylar: I think that's a really great question. As I've been, reading about this topic, only 30% of the public have confidence in higher education. So I think for a believer, we hear this out in the marketplace, but we must not mistake disruption, for defeat. The church has always operated in this tension between permanence and change. Right. Higher education, Christian higher education is not really any different. So in an op ed I wrote about, faith formation. In the future of Christian Education, I wrote about Philip Potter. He was a Yale graduate. He was a rising star at Morgan Stanley. He was featured in the NewSong York Times, but by every conventional measure of success. But his HR department, had a policy against that. So because he was becoming successful, he wanted everybody to know about it, including his family and friends. So when pressure came, he fell apart because he, he didn't like. He, he didn't lack intelligence, but he lacked formation. He'd been educated but not shaped. His conscience hadn't become cultivated alongside his competence. So this story of these elite secular education, is just different today. And that's exactly why I think, we can't afford to lose the Christian educations because we really need them in our society today.
Dr. Jessica Peck: I think there's a lot of families who are wondering like, is this still relevant? And there may be families who are debating between a secular institution and between a Christian institution and sometimes, you know, especially the private institution that's going to be more cost banned, that's more expense. But you talked from the beginning about roi. What do you think families should look at? and, and thinking, okay, is a Christian education still relevant in today's culture? What would you say to those famil families?
Van Mylar: I think, yeah, so the return on investment. So I think that if you were looking at $50,000 a year for four years, so it's $200,000 a year. I think what's really important in looking at that investment is will you. Will the student and maybe the family incur a lot of debt? So a lot of, families I know that are sending their children to Christian universities in particular, the student will sign over on that debt. It's not all the families carrying that debt, but the student will sign the loans. So, Jessica, here is a thing that if I have student debt, so looking at the roi, right, Am I going to be able to pay that in 20, 30 years? Am I going to have so much debt as a male that I can't get married and have a family because I have so much debt? I can't have relationships, and I have to carry this burden of debt. So I think in looking at the roi, you need to be looking at also the debt that you're going to, incur at the four years. And I think a lot of students, a lot of families don't look at that. Particularly students, when you're 18 years old and you're signing that loan, and I saw it when I went to college, you're signing a loan for 10,000, 20,000, $30,000. You're not a money manager. You don't know what to do, how to use that money, or how to manage it. So I think in looking at the roi, that's important. And then the future, you know, if you're going into the humanities, for example, or ministry, and you're making 40, $50,000 a year off of that $200,000 investment or whatever your debt load will be. If I went into the trades and I became an electrician, I could be a master electrician in five years making $100,000. So. And I wouldn't incur all the debt because I would be trained or the training for trades is a lot less us. So the calling, too. You know, when you incur an roi, if you are called by God and you know that in your heart, that you have this vision that God has given you for your life, then in my view, does the ROI matter in the terms of eternity? Because we're here to serve God and Jesus alone with the gifts and talents he's given us. And if you feel that you're better served by going to a Christian university, that you, that. That the gifts that talents and God has given you can be illuminated and expanded in a Christian university, then I say, yes, go to a Christian university, because God has called you to that.
Jessica: Van, there's a lot of decisions to make about college debt
So, there's a lot, a lot of decisions to make when you're looking at roi, Jessica.
Dr. Jessica Peck: There really is. I mean, you are. I feel like we are just making parents feel seen right now. They are like, yes to all the things because it's like, yes, I want you to follow your dreams, I want you to go and pursue what God has called you. But I don't know about you signing off for this debt. You know, honestly, Van as you were talking, I was thinking, man, there's gotta be some financial advisors out there who. This would make such a great ministry in a church to meet with young people and to be able to talk with them objectively and show them some numbers. Because it's really hard for young people to think developmentally long term. The long term to them is like, you know, three months, like that's a long time away. And I'm thinking about four years from now when that first payment comes due. And then you're thinking, oh my gosh, how do I even live?
Dr. Jessica Peck: Live.
Van Mylar: Yeah, I, I think that's, that's really, that's really good stuff you just said. and I think that when you get out of college, right, and you see that first payment on 60 grand or 70 grand, you're going to be living with your parents. So you're going to, can you afford to live on your own when you graduate from college? Because you've been developing independence and now you've got to live with mom and dad again. So that is really something to consider. but hopefully, you know, you can take the life skills and the formation and really think through and, and the, the financial counselor thing is really important. Jessica, I'm glad you mentioned that. I think that would be a great ministry for for universities to have that as a separate thing to be counseled on signing a loan. And what does that mean, especially at some of these interest rates today and that what does that mean for your future? So when you get out of school after four years, you do understand you're going to have $70,000 in debt and you need to be thinking about how you're going to pay that off. And your first payment, by the way, is going to be $700 or $600. And you, how are you going to pay that? And if you get married in college, like I know a lot of students, got married in college, now you have the responsibility of a family, of a wife, of taking care of your family. So a lot of things to consider. when you're in college and it's not about having fun, of course you should have fun. Of course you should build relationships, but also seek God's wisdom.
Van Mylar: And get into prayer groups and seek God's wisdom as you're going through school and let God direct You through college, particularly about money matters, because we're called to be good stewards of the resources God has given us, not to waste it on, on frivolous things. When you need to be focusing on what if God has called you that education, in my view and my family, you work, you work three or four jobs to pay for that. You see what work is like, maybe you get a work study in college so you know what work is like. So you don't end your four years and say, and start getting into the workforce, but you understand what hard work is. Because, once you graduate, life changes. Yeah, life changes after four years. And you need to be asking God, really, life is going to change. What does that mean? M for me, Lord.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, Van I can't help but think of my own personal experience as I shared. I was the first woman in my family to go to get a university degree. And there was someone in my church who told me, oh, hey, if you do this missions program, it was actings. For anybody who remembers acting, that's not an active program anymore. But they said, oh, you can get a scholarship for, for school. And Van I thought that meant like they paid for everything. And then when I did the program, I literally did this program for four years and then went to the church office and was like, okay, where's my scholarship? And it was a thousand dollars. And I didn't know that even back then a thousand dollars was not enough to pay for college. And I know, there's a lot of families that are in that kind of situation where they're navigating, trying to explore college for their kids, kids when they didn't go to college. And it can feel really intimidating and really overwhelming. So the right choice for me was to go to community college. And I worked three jobs, just like you said. Van I worked three jobs and paid my way through school and I got that degree, you know, that I needed and then stair step my way different and, and God has a sense of humor, you know, because I feel like he put me back at a university I wanted to go to at a Christian university. And now I'm. I didn't get to be a student there, but I get to be on the teaching end of that. And I, I'm thinking this, this might be one of the advantages of AI. I've been hearing a lot about this being a level setting for students because we certainly when I was growing up, we did not have access to a financial advisor. That would never be something we could do. And although colleges often have A financial advisor, like when I took my kids to orientation, they would say, oh, talk with our financial planner. And they were great. They were really helpful. But they also have a vested interest. They want my student to go there, they want that enrollment. And I just would love to see. I'm just casting this vision out there for whoever is listening. I would love to see, you know, just maybe a ministry that comes out of a non profit, something that just has the interest in the student just to give parents more confidence. But I also see that AI may give some families some access to tools like financial planning that they wouldn't have had before. And the last thing that I'll say, on what you said to respond, Van is that one of the most amazing things that I have seen is so many students who have given me their own personal testimony saying I felt God call me to this specific university, but there was no financial way. And then they will tell me a story of how God miraculously provided, how they got a scholarship, got into a program. Just some sort of wild encounter that God could have only ordained. And so if God has called you, he can make a way. And don't underestimate the power of praying over your children's path. Start praying now that God would give you wisdom. The book of James tells us he gives freely to all who ask. And when we come back, we'll have some more advice about practically thinking about a trade route or technical training or college and what role churches and Christian communities should play in this. We'll be right back.
Buddy Smith Jeff Chamblee: We live in a day when America's families are under attack like never before. Buddy Smith, senior vice president of the American Family Association. The war against biblical principles rages on numerous fronts. The Internet, Hollywood, Washington, D.C. america's corporate boardrooms, and the list goes on. At American Family association, we're committed to standing against the enemies of God, the enemies of your family. And we recognize it's an impossible task without God's favor and your partnership. Thank you for being faithful to pray for this ministry, to give financially and to respond to our calls for activism. What you do on the home front is crucial to what we do on the battlefront. We praise God for your faithfulness and may he give us many victories in the battles ahead as we work together to restore our nation's biblical foundations.
Jesus Loves by Zach Williams: All the renegades, the rebels and the runaways, all the prodigals who got a little lost along the way and all the backsliders upon, not us down in a rut, these are the ones who are the ones that Jesus loves Every dream shattered bruised and battered, barely hanging on Every heartbroken lonely soul sitting all alone and every outcast stuck in their past Scared of letting go these are the ones, the ones that Jesus chose. Come on in the door is open in the sailors on the table Stancy is waiting they saved it just for you no more ride, no more high Come on in and you will find that you don't have to be
Dr. Jessica Peck: someone Jesus love Welcome back, friends. That is Jesus Loves by Zach Williams. And that is a message that every Christian parent is trying to give their child from the moment they know that they are going to arrive. And it is a, it is, the longest days and the shortest years of your life when your kids are young. I have four. I know this myself self. And looking at the 18 years that you have to really help them to be an adult to follow God's calling in their life, does that mean college? Does that mean trade school? Does that mean entering the workforce? What does that mean? What does the calling look like for your child? And it is an increasingly complex landscape to navigate. College costs are rising and there's questions about is a Christian education still worthy it. And we are saying today that we believe that it is. But we're also acknowledging the challenges that are facing Christian higher education today. And the future may look different than it did a generation ago, even half a generation ago, but families still need some practical wisdom for navigating these educational decisions today. And many listeners, you may even have students preparing for college right now, or maybe you're, they're little and you're still worrying about preparing or saving for that or others may have children enrolled at institutions that you're just not sure about. We need some practical steps and that's why I'm talking today to Van Mylar.
Apex Media Partners helps faith based nonprofits and Christian universities navigate audience shifts
He's a seasoned media strategist, a fundraising expert, and the vice president of client strategy and revenue growth at Apex Media Partners. And he specializes in helping faith based nonprofits, Christian ministries and universities navigate these changing financial landscapes and audience shifts. Van can you tell us a little bit about the work that you do to help Christian, institutions of higher education and what your, what tools you're bringing to them to help them navigate these turbulent waters.
Van Mylar: So at Apex Media Partners, when we work with universities, we try to really understand who they are and their mission, their vision. Every school has a unique, DNA, if you will. So we try to understand that. We sit down with the executive team and, and some of the marketing team to find out what that is what the communication has been out into the marketplace. And so we evaluate that. But today, I think more than ever, it's finding where they live in terms of, their social media habits, their screen habits, their, streaming habits, audio, visual, and trying to understand how we can reach them. Because everybody is not just reached today. you know, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, it was primarily television and radio, but today, there's so many ways to reach people. We need to understand what that pathway is for their particular Persona, who would have a high affinity for the education that they're offering, the specific brand of education, if you will. So we try to tap into that, and then we design. We have tools, we use a lot of tools that look at, web analysis, for example, social media, what people are going to your website, and where are they going other than your website, and what social media tools do they favor? So if we look at. At, say, 10,000 people came to your website, we can look at all their media behaviors. We can look at all their lifestyle behaviors as well. So, and some of the other tools are. Are what creative do people respond to? So you can take out multiple creatives so quickly today, Jessica, because of the tools we have, we can change things so quickly and put it out same day. I remember back in the day, for television, it took several weeks to get a spot ready to get out on, tv. Radio was quicker, but TV took weeks to shoot it with the cameras and everything. Today you can just upload, like, the same day.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Times have changed. M. You're making me feel old, Van
Van Mylar: I'm old, Jessica. So, yeah, I know what you're saying. I've seen so many iterations over the decades, but I, think it's fun. And, I think AI adds to that. As you're talking about AI as a tool, just to, confirm what you're looking at and taking all that information and putting it into a nice plan for that particular university. Because I think AI tools do that really well.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, it's interesting because you've kind of given us a backstage look to some of the marketing and recruiting that goes on, which is a necessary part of the business of higher education. But it is really interesting to see, you know, you're right, on TV now. I was not a sports fan growing up fan, so I really didn't know about other colleges that were out there. I mean, my kids ask me, they're like, how did you not know about these colleges? I'm like, Well, I was born before the Internet, like, so you have to understand the world was small. So if I wasn't watching college football or college basketball, like, I didn't know about these schools that were out there. And then we had the age of the Internet, you know, where you could look up everything. But honestly, Van I do wonder how AI will change that because everyone has such a hyper personalized media stream that's coming to them and we have all forces at work competing for that small pool of students like you talked about. That's a reality that families need to face, that your student is going to be actively recruited. And don't you want, you know, the Christian education, Christian, institutions of higher education to be in that mix? Because I've talked to a lot of students who have gone to a small Christian university that I never heard of, but it was so perfect for what that student needed at that moment. Whether it was a program, whether it was a culture issue, you know, just like, for specifically like a location or where they wanted to be or the, the values of the school, you know, it just tapped into what God was calling them to do for their life. Maybe it was a culture of missions or something that. And I, and I've seen that. But it can be hard to find those places. What advice do you have for families who think, you know, I would really like to look into institutions of Christian higher education. What do you get? what advice do you give them to actually find them and have them be influential? Because social media can really sway a, kid's attention really easily. And it can be hard to be the parent over in the side. Like, have you thought about this one?
Dr. Jessica Peck: No.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You should look at this. You know, it just, it can become a point of tension, I think quickly.
Van Mylar: So that. That's a great question. I think there's a lot of guides out there that you can look at. But I think that what I'm seeing is that professors at the university, if I was looking for a Christian college, I would want to see if, if those professors were published, right? And reading their published article or works of the school, how are they representing Christ, how are they representing the Christian community? And what expertise do they have at that university? So I do a little bit deeper digging. I know US and Newsroom Report has a ranking and you can get Christian rankings too. I don't know if I want to believe all that per se because they're more superficial kind of M measurements. but I would want to get into. All Christian schools aren't the same. So I would want to. If you identified three or four Christian schools, I want to know what they're communicating, what they're publishing, and do they really have a strong biblical worldview for my child.
Dr. Jessica Peck: That is really good advice.
Jessica: I think churches could play a role in preparing youth for college
VAN what, what role do you see the church playing in this? You know, because we know that kids are in youth ministry, and hopefully kids should be engaged in a church community, whether that's life group or whatever discipleship structure that is there for, students. But what role do you see between the church and institutions of Christian higher education?
Van Mylar: So I think that if churches. And I know that some churches strug. Struggle with youth programs and getting youth to come come to church. But I think that if you have youth coming to your church, and maybe there's a certain age, Jessica, maybe it's 12 or 13, 14, to have. You can have different courses at churches is about thinking about what God is calling you to. And I don't know what age that should be, but I think that the church could play a role in preparing, Preparing youth for their future. I know we do these, I don't know if it's Briggs Meyer or. We do these, Dis.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Personality.
Van Mylar: Yeah, these personality things. But I think the church needs to really, I don't know if it build deeper community with your youth, because community is really important. And I know that, like you mentioned, Jessica, youth, are distracted in so many ways today, and they're always on their phone like this, and to get them off the phone is really a big deal. so, I think we need to make it. And I'm not really sure because I'm not into all these big, big entertainment programs that some churches have. But I do believe that churches can prepare their youth and prepare families too. I mean, they could. The church could have a, yearly or quarterly or biannually course on how to prepare your child for college or even on finance. I mean, there's all kind of things that church could do to. To help families and particularly, youth to, to get ready for their future.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, one of the, the most impactful assignments that my kids had when they were in high school was some of those practical life skills. And I think sometimes, you know, we focus on the faith and the character formation. Those things are important. But the practical life skills are important too. And that seems to be. Be something that is increasingly lost in this generation. We have parents who just do more and more and more for their kids. So I was not that mom. Van I, I would, you know, I like when they were going to do their driver's license, I said, hey, if you're old enough to drive a car, like, you have to navigate this all on your own. I will answer any question that you have. I will be right here. I will check everything for you. But you have to bring it to me. I'm not doing it for you. Same with college application, all of those things. We've got to really be more intentional about some of those practical skills. But one of the most impactful assignments they had was where they had to say what they wanted to be and then where they wanted to live and then do a budget for that. And it was so funny because all of my kids came home with these really big dreams, you know, this luxurious living lifestyle on a, you know, 30, $40,000 salary. And I'm like, okay, yeah, that is not going to happen. And so they kind of think, okay, ooh, well, okay, I'm gonna have to adjust my lifestyle or I'm gonna have to choo career. But I think kids need that kind of help. And then in looking at that church, college connection, one of the most important things, I think, Van is the church's partnership with the Christian Institution of Higher Education. Now, I've done a lot of college visits with my own kids, and one of the most revealing questions that I could ask when we would do a tour would be to say, how do you help your students connect to a local church? Body.
: Body.
Dr. Jessica Peck: And that would tell me a lot. If they looked at me like a deer in the headlights, like, there's plenty of churches here. Like. Like, I. What I would think is pick up the yellow pages. I'm like, okay, that tells me everything. They say, like, oh, here's this event that we have where all of the local churches come, and you can meet all of the pastors here, and here's the, you know, the bus options that we have to get you there. And here's how we. Here's the directory that we have that told me a lot about how that Christian education, institution valued the church partnership. But, you know, Van I appreciate you having this conversation today. And we have discussed a lot of different things, and institutions may change and educational models may evolve. And sadly, we do see some colleges who are closing their doors. But the good news is that the calling of parents remains the same. Helping kids discover God's purpose for their life, develop wisdom to follow that path, pursue truth, and faithfully steward their gifts and to know what they believe and to be able to defend it. The goal is not just earning a degree. It's becoming the person that God created you to be and using your life to glorify Him. Thank you so much for joining us today. And if you are in anywhere in that journey, if you are in the early stages of thinking, how am I going to afford college? Or if you are in those states stages of making college visits, or maybe you're making college payments or you're helping your kids enter a trade, an apprenticeship, a technical training, a certification, a gap year, a ministry, an entrepreneurial pathway. Whatever pathway you're pursuing for your children, I pray, as I always do, that the Lord will bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you. And I'll see you right back here next time. We'd like to thank our sponsors, including PreBorn. PreBorn has rescued over 400,000 babies from abortion and every day their network clinics rescue 200 babies lives. Will you join PreBorn in loving and supporting young moms in crisis? Save a life today. Go to preborn.com/AFR the views and
Jeff Chamblee: opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
Van Mylar, Vice President of Client Strategy and Growth for Apex Media Partners, talks with Jessica about the challenges private Christian universities are facing. They also discuss the things parents should consider when looking at private Christian higher education.
https://giving.preborn.com/preborn/checkout/afa?sc=43490GF2022&campaign=404750
Chapters:
(00:00) American Family Radio thanks sponsor Preborn for supporting pro life advocacy
(00:49) One in four private, nonprofit colleges could close within the next decade
(03:41) Van Mylar is Vice President of Client Strategy and Growth for Apex Media Partners
(04:41) Christian families are asking harder questions about college, about return on investment
(07:25) There are 442 private nonprofit colleges that could be at risk within decade
(10:03) What do you see as the unique challenges facing specifically Christian schools compared to secular counterparts?
(15:26) A generous monthly gift of any amount will help sustain American Family Radio and specifically this podcast
(18:11) Only 30% of the public have confidence in higher education, survey finds
(27:10) Jessica: Van, there's a lot of decisions to make about college debt
(38:18) Apex Media Partners helps faith based nonprofits and Christian universities navigate audience shifts
(45:19) Jessica: I think churches could play a role in preparing youth for college
Live
Did you know American Family Radio is listener-supported? Your monthly financial support will allow us to continue upholding Godly values through our numerous channels, like American Family Radio, One Million Moms, The Stand magazine, and many more.
Become a Great Commission Partner TODAY to help AFR transform culture by rebuilding the family. When you donate today, you’ll get access to:
