Recent reports in Christian media outlets have incorrectly categorized Olivet University and Dr. David Jang, founder and former president of Olivet University who no longer holds a formal position in the institution’s management. 

Olivet University is dedicated to Evangelical doctrine and Bible-based higher education, as stated in our Statement of Faith, which clearly outlines our firm commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. All Olivet board members, faculty, staff members and students adhere to this statement, which also guides the teaching and instruction of the University. 

"Having been involved with Olivet for several years -- first as a visiting teacher and on a regular basis in administration beginning in 2010, I have not detected the slightest indication of anything but orthodox teaching, preaching, and worship consistent with the wider Evangelical movement," said Dr. Donald Tinder, the Dean of the theological college of the university, who has been responsible for recruiting professors and approving textbooks.

Dr. Tinder, who also had been a former associate editor of the Christianity Today, has compared Olivet’s movement to the tradition of Youth with a Mission (YWAM), Operation Mobilization (OM), and Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ).

"History has demonstrated that new movements invariably face criticism, both from established organizations and detractors who are uninformed or have an agenda, which is why leadership of such entities should not be discouraged in the face of opposition,” Dr. Tinder added. “From the New Testament Acts era to the present, wherever the true Church is especially active, rivals with a different gospel often emerge. But the accusations that Olivet is such a contender simply cannot be substantiated. Neither has Olivet nor its founder acted like any of the older or contemporary alternatives to biblical Christianity." 

STUDENT TRAINING & INTERNSHIPS

Olivet specializes in training young men and women with the practical skills to preach the Gospel in various fields of Christian ministries and puts a strong emphasis on ministry internships. Our students are given many hands-on experiences to successfully promote entrepreneurship, particularly with Internet business startups. Olivet offers its students opportunities to serve, work and learn alongside seasoned ministry leaders in multiple fields on a global scale, pairing passionate ministries with equally passionate students who desire to use their God-given gifts to serve His Kingdom.

Although Olivet does not own or have influence on the decision makings of those ministries, the institution is proud of the works of the students and alumni in the Christian world.

OLIVET'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE EVANGELICAL WORLD

Olivet University actively contributes to major Evangelical events, promoting the Gospel around the globe, which they have done in the past with such reputable organizations as World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), Ralph D. Winter’s TOKYO 2010 Conference, the 2007 Global Leaders Forum in Washington, D.C. and the Lausanne III Congress: Cape Town, South Africa in 2010.

WEA:  Works included the development of websites for WEA alliances to expand their reach online and delivering education online through WEA’s International Leadership Institute program. 

Olivet students and alumni worked under ministry directors to develop numerous websites that reached out to thousands of viewers, whether for Evangelical outreach, coordinating events, or training.  The collaborative effort results in connecting millions worldwide for delivery of education and preparing future leaders to serve Jesus Christ.

TOKYO 2010:  Olivet University supported the Tokyo 2010 Conference, a gathering born out of the vision of the late Dr. Ralph D. Winter, where mission agencies convened on a global level for its 100th anniversary since the 1910 World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh.  Olivet supported the website and resource database for the conference and continues its partnership to this day. 

Global Leaders Forum in Washington D.C. – Olivet’s top leadership participated in an international forum of Christian leaders in Washington D.C. hosted by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and Micah Challenge USA. Hundreds of prominent Evangelicals from across the United States and the Global South gathered at the two-day summit to discuss common social concerns of the United Nations and the evangelical community. 

The Lausanne III Congress: Cape Town 2010: Several Olivet leaders were invited to participate in the Lausanne III Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition, Olivet University was one of the official hosting sites for Lausanne’s GlobalLink site, the online portion of Cape Town 2010. The site connected more than 700 locations around the world to participate remotely in the Cape Town 2010 conference to discuss issues facing the church.  Olivet also contributed to designing the GlobalLink’s interface design for its online platform.

 

GLORIETA CONFERENCE CENTER

Olivet University leadership is currently leasing an unused space on the Glorieta Conference Center in Glorieta, N.M., from LifeWay Christian Resources while continuing discussions regarding the full purchase of the property. 

University leadership are honored that LifeWay would consider Olivet to steward the Glorieta Conference Center, which has been a center for changing countless lives through faithful biblical teaching and preaching for more than 60 years. Glorieta’s mission has always been to point people to Christ, which Olivet University is committed to continue to do through education and training of the next generation of leaders called to fulfill the Great Commission through church ministry and missions.

While negotiations have not yet been finalized, pending a review of theological compatibility by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) to be completed this fall, both Olivet University and LifeWay are dedicated to ensuring the preservation of Glorieta's 60-year history and perpetuation of its legacy of transformation through our complimentary vision and are working through agreed upon provisions to that end.

Olivet University President and Chancellor Dr. William L. Wagner, a lifelong Southern Baptist and former Second Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention, said, "Everything we do is driven by a desire to glorify God." 

Dr. Tinder said, "Three factors especially attracted me: (1) the opportunity to teach students who so far mostly came from, and would be returning to serve in, a part of the world where the Church is especially growing and, as always, in need of sound teaching as well as godly fervor; (2) the fact that they were not simply seeking to build up their own small part of the body of Christ, but also wished to help strengthen the entire Evangelical movement through their very active role in the World Evangelical Alliance; and (3) the fact that the School did not simply exist on its own, but rather students and graduates would have opportunities for ministry and enterprise with myriad partnering organizations."

Olivet University became fully accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education in 2009. Today, the University has seven colleges and divisions including the Jubilee College of Music, Olivet College of Journalism, Olivet College of Art & Design, Olivet College of Information Technology, Olivet College of Language Education, and Olivet College of Business. An institute committed to training ministry-bound men and women as biblical scholars and leaders to share the Gospel, its vision is for a world transformed for Jesus and the Kingdom of God at every level—from the human heart to the realm of world culture.

The University is currently located in the heart of San Francisco, California, at the former University of California Berkeley’s Extension campus. 

For media inquiries, please contact:  media@olivetuniversity.edu