DBU’s Global Community: Creating Kingdom-Minded Schools Across the World

"The world is in desperate need of individuals who will lead with victorious character and develop their communities to be a better place for future generations. DBU's Global Community is a network of like-minded international schools who together are striving to produce the next generation of leaders" (Abhinav Lal).

The International Office on campus has seen the world's desperate need for leaders and has answered the call with great zeal. The Global Community at Dallas Baptist University partners with over 40 schools in more than 14 different countries and aims to engage, equip, and empower like-minded institutions all around the globe.

Abhinav Lal is currently an international student from New Delhi, India, in pursuit of his Master of Arts in Christian Ministry at DBU. He has seen the impact of The Global Community in his own life and its alignment with his personal calling.

"Jesus Christ has called me to equip leaders for the nations and become a witness of his Word to the community," states Abhinav, who is a scholarship recipient through Ryan International Group of Institutions in India and has worked as the student worker on the DBU campus in support of the Strategic Initiative Coordination for The Global Community since 2019.

"As a global University, we have sensed a call to create a consortium to join our international partners together," Abhinav explains. "Through this collaboration, we desire to foster long-term educational, cultural, and professional enrichment for schools around the world."

Through partnership with The Global Community, schools receive access to educational training events, student programs and scholarships, access to DBU's Honors Scholars' Academy for high school students, connections to Alumni Ambassadors at DBU, and other various educational materials.

"The Global Community consortium represents our effort to serve the needs of Christian educators around the globe who don’t have easy access to Christ-centered higher education," explains Randy Byers, Vice President for International Affairs at DBU.

"In our travels, we found that teachers and administrators are eager to learn how to integrate their faith. Utilizing a hub and spokes model with DBU as the hub, we facilitate exchange amongst our 200+ campuses who represent almost half a million students, DBU, and partner K-12  schools in the United States.  We are filling a vital need in our efforts to serve the Kingdom and transform lives."

In 2020, The Global Community hosted an International Forum on Education and Leadership, where 200 school administrators and teachers were in attendance from all over the world. This was only one of six different virtual training events The Global Community held throughout the year.

David Martinez Longoria serves as the head of Integrity School, one of DBU's Global Community partner schools in Mexico.

"The Global Community has had an impressive positive impact across our recent high school cohorts, especially among students who have the vision to come to the U.S. to continue their undergraduate studies at a Christian University," David explains. "In the past years we have had some Integrity School Alumni attend and graduate from DBU; but more recently the Honors Scholars' Academy has allowed our High School juniors and seniors to advance college credit hours at DBU while still studying at Integrity School."

David believes DBU is truly sowing seeds of excellence throughout the world through The Global Community Honors Scholars' Academy. "Through this program, DBU is truly making a difference around the globe."

Because there is great strength in unity, DBU is blessed to partner with so many educational institutions around the globe. With hopes of continuing to grow the program, The Global Community is actively seeking ways to provide resources to their partners and encourage the Body of Christ outside of the United States. Though our partners may be thousands of miles away, it is the redeeming power of Jesus Christ that unites us as one body. "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1).