SBS Faculty Take Faith Further with Colson Fellows

At Second Baptist School, “walk in truth” is more than just a thematic statement. Thinking critically, living biblically, and leading courageously are not just a mission - each is a daily practice that students, parents, faculty, and staff continually strive toward. 

This year, thirteen faculty and staff members deepened their commitment to living out this calling through participation in Colson Fellows, a program designed to “establish a solid foundation for those who are new to the study of Christian worldview, and for those who are well-versed in Christian worldview and apologetics.” 

The Program Experience
From August through April, participants read, wrestled with ideas, reflected and discussed what it means to live biblically in a culture increasingly shaped by feelings over truth. Through essays, Scripture, books and small group conversations, they explored how worldview informs every aspect of life—from how we define identity to how we approach politics, work and worship. 

For many, it was both a deepening and a sharpening of their faith—challenging them not only to think differently but to live with greater clarity, courage, and conviction.

Faculty & Staff Presentations
Over the course of the program, four participants—Andrea Prothro, Oscar Villanueva, Ashley Corbin, and Derrick Hickle—shared key takeaways during faculty and staff professional development meetings. Their presentations reflected the essence of the Colson Fellows' mission: not merely to inform minds, but to transform lives through the truth of the gospel.

Andrea Prothro [Admissions]
“You can only lead those entrusted to you as far as you are yourself.” With this clear and compelling truth, Andrea Prothro emphasized the personal responsibility of walking daily with Christ, and in truth. 

At Second Baptist School, our passion is to lead every student into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ while equipping them to do with excellence that which God has called them to do. Andrea’s message reminded us that this mission begins with the spiritual health and example of our leadership and educators. 

Oscar Villanueva [Upper School Bible]
The mission and passion of Second Baptist School, however, are not accomplished by example alone, but by a community-wide commitment to a biblical worldview. “There is a way which seems right to man,” Oscar Villanueva said, quoting Proverbs, “but its end is the way of death.” 

Villanueva reminded colleagues to be discerning, especially when interacting with students, warning that many modern ideas may sound “Christian” but ultimately contradict the moral or spiritual truth of Scripture. He spoke of the subtle dangers of moralistic therapeutic deism—a belief system that reduces God to a cosmic fixer rather than Lord of all. 

We therefore must not display Jesus as someone to turn to when needed. Rather, we should live and speak in such a way that highlights John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Ashley Corbin [Lower School Bible]
It is through our interactions with the world and culture that we must display our unlikeness to it. Ashley Corbin offered a powerful analysis of current cultural flashpoints- from sexuality and identity to abortion and IVF- through the lens of a biblical worldview. 

She described culture as an iceberg: visible behavior may be shocking or confusing, but the battle lies beneath the surface, in questions of authority, identity and truth. Her presentation challenged faculty and staff to recognize the brokenness beneath the behavior and respond with both clarity and compassion. 

At SBS, this is the work we are called to do–helping students think deeply, live wisely, and stand on truth, even when it is countercultural.

Derrick Hickle [Middle School Bible]
Derrick Hickle provided a biblical framework for understanding life and culture through the grand narrative of Scripture—creation, fall, redemption and restoration. His session aligned with Second Baptist School’s mission to develop servant leaders who engage the world with wisdom and grace. From politics and economics to the dignity of work, he reminded faculty that everything we teach and model has eternal significance. 

Hickle closed his session with a powerful quote from Chuck Colson and Nancy Pearcey: “Christians who understand biblical truth and have the courage to live it out can indeed redeem a culture, or even create one. This is the challenge facing all of us in the new millennium.” 

This is the challenge that Second Baptist School embraces – not just in theory, but in daily practice – as we strive to prepare students to walk in truth and shape culture, wholly committed to Christ. 

As these faculty and staff members brought back what they learned through the Colson Fellows program, they didn’t just add to their personal knowledge—they deepened the school’s collective commitment to biblical worldview education. 

Their willingness to ask hard questions, engage culture through the lens of Scripture, and model authentic faith continues to shape the spiritual fabric of Second Baptist School, inspiring our community to think critically, live biblically and lead courageously.