05/14/2026
We believe intercultural conversations are an important part of living in community as God's beloved church!
So each semester, a group of students, faculty, and staff at John Brown University take part in the Intercultural Engagement Colloquium. This semester’s course centered on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while next semester will explore immigration from a Christian perspective.
Together, participants looked at the role Christian faith played in Dr. King’s vision for justice, reconciliation, and human dignity. The semester culminated in a three-day immersion trip to Little Rock and Memphis, where students and staff encountered the history and impact of the Civil Rights Movement in a deeply personal way at the motel where Dr. King was shot, at the school where integration took place, and worshipping with a multiethnic congregation on Sunday morning.
What makes the colloquium especially meaningful is the way it invites our community to learn together. Alongside the course, faculty and staff participated in a semester-long book club reading Jonathan Eig’s 'King: A Life,' with several faculty and staff joining the trip as well.
Led by Drs. Ted Song and Keith Jagger, the Intercultural Engagement Colloquium is open to all students and explores topics at the intersection of faith, culture, and public life.
We’re grateful for spaces like this where students are encouraged to listen well, think deeply, and engage difficult conversations with Christ-centered humility and compassion.