Our School of Nursing and Allied Health at HBU does its work of teaching, research, and clinical training in relationship to the healing professions. And it does so within the framework of our Christian mission.
Christian Worldview
This recent series of blogs has been devoted to understanding the educational work of HBU with respect to a Christian worldview. As a reminder, such a worldview is grounded in the story of the Bible, which has, thus far, reached its greatest climax in the ministry of Jesus, especially culminating in his death and resurrection, followed by the gift of the Spirit, which empowers his people to do his work in the world.
The bulk of Jesus’ ministry involved the preaching of the kingdom of God, which ultimately led to, and now also defines, his death. His death was not accidental or a tragic event. That is, since he was vindicated by God through the resurrection, we realize in retrospect that his death is the fulfillment of his preaching about God’s kingdom, where ultimately the entire creation will be restored.
The Healing Ministry of Jesus
Put another way, it is important to appreciate the healing ministry of Jesus to understand the nature of the kingdom that God has begun to establish through the reign of Christ and the gift of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
You can read about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit here.
So, one more time, we go back to the story of the Bible. This fallen creation is under a curse, and that curse of death and corruption extends not only to individual persons, to human beings, but includes the entire created order (see, for example, Romans 8:18-23; see also Genesis 3). But the coming of Jesus points to the coming restoration of the created order. When Jesus announced the reign of God, he especially employed miracles to punctuate and validate his preaching and his claim that God’s empire was now dawning in his person (see Matthew 4:23-24; 12:22-28).
Some of the miracles of Jesus – for example, the stilling of the storm on the Lake of Galilee – are what might be called nature miracles, which are also signs of the coming restoration of the created order, when the ravages of the curse upon the creation will be lifted. But in addition to that kind of miracle, most of the miracles of Jesus relate to the healing of persons, when the blind receive their sight, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the dead are raised (see Luke 7:18-23).
Thus, as mentioned already, the miracles of Jesus are signs of the soon-to-be dawning day of restoration. Not all storms were stilled in the ministry of Jesus, nor were all the sick healed, but through the powerful wonder-working ministry of Jesus, the signs of this coming restoration were compelling and sufficient. Indeed, in the Gospel of John, the miracles are in fact called “signs.” They point to the authority of Jesus as the Christ, the King, and point to the kingdom of God being revealed in and through his words and deeds – culminating in his suffering servant death on behalf of many (see Isaiah 53:11; Mark 10:45).
All healing is God’s healing.
Our School of Nursing and Allied Health carries on the healing and teaching ministry of Jesus by enabling our students to be prepared to do God’s ongoing work of healing in the world. Of course, there are many in the healing professions who do not acknowledge their work as Christ’s work, but in fact all healing is God’s healing. It is done by his power, whether by the body’s ability (as made by God) to tend toward healing when it is sick; or, by the use of skills, techniques, devices, and medicines discovered and created by human ingenuity (itself a gift of God, whether acknowledged or not); or by the strange, more rapid and sudden infusions of God’s energy – we call these miracles and wonders – to do rapidly what He by creation and in his gracious watch care does through his human agents, especially those in the healing professions.
The great blessing of acknowledging God’s gracious wisdom and power in all of healing is one of the benefits of HBU’s ability and willingness to teach and understand the healing arts as a gift from God.
Though our work for and prayers for healing do not always occur how – or especially when – we wish, all healing comes from God, and all prayers of faith for healing are ultimately answered graciously by God on the great day of resurrection. Even, by the way, when our prayers for healing are answered here and now, they are only provisional. Remember the story of Lazarus, who was raised from the dead. Truly he was raised from the dead, but that resurrection was not like the resurrection of Jesus. Lazarus was raised back to the body he had before – raised to die again.
Share in the work of the kingdom of God.
But the kingdom of God has dawned in the preaching, healing, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It has been extended in power to the followers of Christ, who are immersed by the Spirit because of their faith in Jesus. Therefore, all the works we do as his followers are signs of the kingdom of God. And HBU’s School of Nursing and Allied Health serves specifically, here and now, through the nurses, doctors, researchers, teachers, therapists, and other practitioners of the healing arts as a teaching and healing agent of the kingdom of God.
The students, faculty, staff, and alumni of this school, not to mention all those who benefit from the loving care that our students and alumni give them, have a share in the work of the kingdom of God. This work is a witness to the world regarding God’s great empire, still yet to be completely fulfilled, but already initiated through Christ.
HBU School of Nursing and Allied Health
The School of Nursing and Allied Health at HBU currently offers three undergraduate degree programs: nursing (with a traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and an online RN-BSN program), kinesiology – wellness management, and kinesiology – sports management.
The Traditional BSN: Students start the traditional BSN program as juniors after completing the nursing prerequisites and core curriculum. Students are admitted twice a year – typically 60+ students are admitted in the fall and 50 in the spring. Clinical training in the hospitals maintains a faculty-student ratio of 1-10 in compliance with the Texas Board of Nursing standards for clinical education. 85-90% of traditional BSN students will have job offers before they graduate; within six months after graduation, 99-100% of traditional BSN alumni are employed. Many students also start graduate programs within a year of graduation. Note: getting a nursing RN job is contingent on passing the RN licensure exam after graduation. Learn more about the traditional nursing degree at HBU.edu.
Online RN-BSN: This online program was launched in August 2015 and already has more than 100 students. These students are Registered Nurses (RNs) who have Associate Degrees in Nursing, but are interested in completing the necessary coursework to receive a BSN. The program is competency based and is flexible with a student’s schedule. Learn more about the online RN-BSN program at HBU.edu.
Kinesiology: Wellness Management and Sports Management are the two possible majors within Kinesiology that a student may choose. Many Wellness Management students are interested in attending graduate school in the fields of Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy while others are pursuing Teaching Certificates for coaching and take some classes in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Sports Management students take a blend of kinesiology and business classes. Learn more about the Department of Kinesiology at HBU.edu.
Companies connected to the School of Nursing and Allied Health include the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, Houston Methodist System, CHI St. Luke’s System, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Harris Health System, Texas Children’s Hospital System, HCA Hospital System, Ft. Bend ISD, Houston ISD, Katy ISD, multiple public and private clinics, Tomball Regional Hospital, Lone Star College, Houston Community College, Wharton Co. Junior College, Constellation Field, Minute Maid Park, and various sports teams.
Related blogs:
- Faith & College: Humanities and Humility
- Faith & College: The Honors College
- How should you be studying in your college classes?
Edited by Joannah Buffington