Mission Statement:

Lincoln Christian University is a Christian higher education community whose mission is to nurture and equip Christians with a Biblical worldview to serve and lead in the church and the world.  The principal means we use to accomplish this mission are teaching, learning, leading, and serving through undergraduate and graduate programs offered in three schools, each of which has a distinct educational goal:

The School of Undergraduate Studies is a residential undergraduate school whose educational goal is to prepare servant leaders who know God's Word, engage God’s world, and pursue God’s will for their lives.

The Seminary is a graduate theological school whose educational goal is to develop servant leaders to equip churches and church-related organizations to carry out Christ’s Great Commission in the world.

The Hargrove School of Adult & Graduate Studies is an undergraduate and graduate school for working adults whose educational goal is to enable servant leaders to be more effective in their chosen professions through programs delivered through non-traditional means taught from a Christian worldview.

The University’s three schools have each adopted student learning outcomes and individual program objectives to further clarify their educational goals.  Each school, under the University umbrella, offers its own degree and certificate programs to accomplish these outcomes and objectives in support of the University’s larger mission.

Our priority as faculty and staff is the education of our students as part of a lifelong learning process. The School of Undergraduate Studies identifies itself as a Christian college committed to helping students know the Christ and make Him known.  All students take a common core of classes that builds a solid foundation in Biblical studies, in the liberal arts, and in professional practice, for service inside and outside the church.  The Seminary identifies itself educationally as a graduate theological school focused on professional leadership ministry within its understanding of “the priesthood of all believers.”  The Hargrove School identifies itself as an undergraduate and graduate school for Christian adult learners to become more effective in their chosen professions through non-traditional means, including evening, weekend, and online programs.  In every program at every level we are committed to excellence in a holistic model of education that helps students develop intellectually, spiritually, socially, and physically.  To that end, our faculty and staff strive to serve not only as instructors and scholars, but as role models and mentors.

Undergirding our educational approach is a fundamental commitment to a Biblical worldview.  We want our students to look at and live all of life from a distinctively Christian perspective that is derived from Scripture so they can “think with the mind of Christ.”  We want them to see everything through the larger Biblical story of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. We also want our students to understand and respect those with other worldviews in order to engage them with integrity and with grace.

As a Christian higher education community, we are committed to Christ and His church, locally and globally.  Founded in 1944 by Earl Hargrove, a church pastor turned college president, Lincoln has religious roots in the Restoration Movement (sometimes called the Stone-Campbell Movement), a unity movement of independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ committed to the authority of Scripture.  While we have our doctrinal distinctives, we welcome all those who share our common concern for Christ’s church and God’s world.  Located in America’s heartland, we have a heart for the world in all its diversity because God does.

As a private, religious school in the Judeo-Christian tradition, we value the dignity and worth of all people in a pluralistic society.  We strive to be a Christian community committed to covenantal relationships with ourselves and to collaborative relationships with others in the pursuit of our mission.  Our campus culture is characterized by collegiality, compassion, and concern for all.  We believe leadership is best done by serving others, based on each person’s gifts, passion, and sense of calling.  We also believe learning is enhanced by serving, and we view service learning as a hallmark of our campus community.

To help fulfill our mission we have adopted a vision and a set of core values and beliefs, as well as four institutional goals:

Develop a mission-minded community of servant leaders with engaged students, staff, and faculty

Develop a mission-minded culture of learning with appropriate academic programs and support services

Develop a mission-minded campus of quality with enhanced facilities and finances

Develop a mission-minded connectivity with others through improved relationships with alumni, churches, donors, and other constituents

All of our planning, our policies, and our programs are directed toward these ends as we seek to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us by God and His people.