Kilns College in Bend Now Offering Masters Degree in Social Justice

Graduate program is the first of its kind in the nation for a Christian College

Kilns College, a non-denominational Christian college in Bend,is inviting graduate students to apply for its Master of Arts Degree in Social Justice, which begins in September. This is Kilns College’s first graduate level program, and is also noteworthy because it is the only Christian college in America to offer this type of program.

“A few other Christian colleges offer similar degree names, but none is like our program, which features an innovative marriage of theology, philosophy, ethics and practicum experience,” said Ken Wytsma, president of Kilns College.

Wytsma is a nationally known advocate for social justice in both secular and religious circles. His book “Pursuing Justice” was recently released by Thomas Nelson, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. He is also founder of The Justice Conference, an annual international forum that brings together people of many nations who share a concern for the oppressed.

Wytsma will be one of the instructors in the one-year degree program, which features courses such as Systematic Theology for Christian Social Justice; A People’s History of Justice in the Modern Era; and A History of Africa Since Independence. Tuition for the graduate program is $237 per credit.

“My sense is most people are passionate about some cause – helping the poor, feeding the hungry, resolving international strife or dealing with inequality here in America,” Wytsma said. “And many of these passionate people have a desire to go deeper in their understanding of social injustices. Kilns offers that opportunity from both a universal and theological perspective – when you study justice, you learn about God; and when you learn about God, you learn about justice.”

For more information about Kilns College’s Master of Arts Degree in Social Justice, go to http://www.kilnscollege.org/graduateadmissions or email Vice President of Development Melissa McCreery at melissa@kilnscollege.org.

About Kilns College

Since 2008, Kilns College (http://www.kilnscollege.org) has been educating students with a missions and social justice focus so they can make a positive impact in the world. With their commitment to strengthening a person’s commitment to service, Kilns faculty members conduct classes, mission trips and service projects in innovative ways that help men and women determine their purpose in life. Personal development is achieved by uncovering an individual’s passions in tandem with their discovery of God’s calling in their life.

Student housing is available on campus, which is located in a Central Oregon city well known for its outdoor pursuits and pristine beauty. Coupled with its affordable tuition, Kilns College is an ideal place to live and learn about opportunities every person has to make a significant impact in the world.

About “Pursuing Justice: The Call to Live & Die for Bigger Things”

Ken Wytsma’s book provides a balanced Biblical and world perspective on the subject of justice. He uses personal stories and Christian references to bring awareness to injustices throughout the world, while providing a call to pursue justice everywhere at all costs. The book was published in 2013 by Thomas Nelson.

Ken, the son of a Dutch immigrant, learned about social injustice firsthand as a child from his mom and dad who sponsored a Cambodian refugee family to live with them. The chilling stories he heard about the genocide in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime changed his life. He went on to earn graduate degrees in philosophy and religion, and has worked and consulted with international relief agencies like World Relief and Food for the Hungry.

About the Justice Conference

The Justice Conference (http://thejusticeconference.com) is an annual gathering designed to educate and inspire students, teachers, business people, social entrepreneurs, and pastors to care for the vulnerable and oppressed. It was founded by Ken Wytsma with a group of like-minded friends in Bend, Oregon, who dreamed of impacting a generation for justice. Since its inception in 2010, it has grown to become one of the largest international biblical and social justice conferences in the world.

The two-day conference has become an annual pilgrimage for justice workers from all over the world, having attracted attendees from 44 states and more than two dozen countries. The movement promotes dialogue around justice-related issues such as human trafficking, slavery, poverty, HIV/AIDS and human rights. The 2013 conference was held in Philadelphia and the 2014 Justice Conference will be held Feb. 21-12 in Los Angeles.