

Teams of students led by Prof. Matt Decker, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling, are gaining valuable experience in the field. Last year nine OCU students joined Prof. Decker on a research trip to Ghana, West Africa. Their goal was to research rates of mental health symptoms among West Africans and to assess the level of Psychological Flexibility among Ghanaians. In May 2014, Decker and 12 OCU undergraduates returned to Ghana to continue the research and practice the skills they’ve learned in the classroom.
Prof. Decker uses the research trips to teach students interview skills used in ministry and apply lessons from the classroom. Students report that their lives are being changed, and some are even considering serving in this mission field in the future. Prof. Decker is known for his research and collaboration with Western Michigan University, and students love his academic research approach to ministry. Dr. Hank Kelly, OCU Provost, believes that Decker’s research is a milestone in enhancing the degree options at OCU.
The mental health symptom research is part of a larger catchment study of mental health in West Africa. Students interviewed nearly 100 participants and were part of the largest single data collection event of the entire multi-year, multi-site data collection process, which will continue for several years. The Psychological Flexibility data and the student interview results were shared and combined with data from other universities.
Articles of Interest
Trailblazer Baseball Hosts Local Student Battling Cancer
Published: April 8, 2020
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - Back in February, the Ohio Christian Baseball team helped
host a local student battling cancer in the community. Sam, who currenlty has
spinal ependymoma, came to campus on February 24th to hang out with the team
and experience a practice.
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - Back in February, the Ohio Christian Baseball team helped
host a local student battling cancer in the community. Sam, who currenlty has
spinal ependymoma, came to campus on February 24th to hang out with the team
and experience a practice.
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - Back in February, the Ohio Christian Baseball team helped
host a local student battling cancer in the community. Sam, who currenlty has
spinal ependymoma, came to campus on
Ohio Christian Hosts A New Leaf Inc. For Afternoon of Fun
Published: December 17, 2019
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - On December 8th, Ohio Christian University hosted an
afternoon of games and inflatables in the Maxwell Center gymnasium for A New
Leaf Inc., a local foster care center. In total, 400 kids attended the annual
holiday party.
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - On December 8th, Ohio Christian University hosted an
afternoon of games and inflatables in the Maxwell Center gymnasium for A New
Leaf Inc., a local foster care center. In total, 400 kids attended the annual
holiday party.
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - On December 8th, Ohio Christian University hosted an
afternoon of games and inflatables in the Maxwell Center gymnasium for A New
Leaf Inc., a local foster care center. In total,
Festival of Carols Shares Message of Christ
Published: December 10, 2019
The Ohio Christian University Music Department shared an impactful message of
Christ’s birth in its annual Christmas concert, Festival of Carols. The
concert presented this story of glory to audiences of almost 500 on both Dec.
7 and 8 in the Ministry
The Ohio Christian University Music Department shared an impactful message of
Christ’s birth in its annual Christmas concert, Festival of Carols. The
concert presented this story of glory to audiences of almost 500 on both Dec.
7 and 8 in the Ministry
The Ohio Christian University Music Department shared an impactful message of
Christ’s birth in its annual Christmas concert, Festival of Carols. The
concert presented this story of glory to
Trailblazers Send Love Overseas For Christmas Season
Published: December 10, 2019
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - The Ohio Christian University Athletic Department spent the
month of November gathering supplies to show the love of Christ this holiday
season, packing 20 boxes to be sent overseas as a part of Operation Christmas
Child.
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - The Ohio Christian University Athletic Department spent the
month of November gathering supplies to show the love of Christ this holiday
season, packing 20 boxes to be sent overseas as a part of Operation Christmas
Child.
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - The Ohio Christian University Athletic Department spent the
month of November gathering supplies to show the love of Christ this holiday
season, packing 20 boxes to be sent
Trailblazers Send Love Overseas For Christmas Season
Published: November 30, 2019
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - The Ohio Christian University Athletic Department spent the
month of November gathering supplies to show the love of Christ this holiday
season, packing 20 boxes to be sent overseas as a part of Operation Christmas
Child.
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - The Ohio Christian University Athletic Department spent the
month of November gathering supplies to show the love of Christ this holiday
season, packing 20 boxes to be sent overseas as a part of Operation Christmas
Child.
CIRCLEVILLE, OH - The Ohio Christian University Athletic Department spent the
month of November gathering supplies to show the love of Christ this holiday
season, packing 20 boxes to be sent
Archived Articles of Interest
Youth Leadership Conference Focuses on Engaging Youth Culture
Published: January 11, 2019
On Thursday, March 7th, Ohio Christian University is hosting an all-day Youth
Leadership Conference focusing on Engaging Youth Culture.
The program is ideal for all church pastors and youth pastors. Focused
breakout sessions will cover these key topics:
- Mental Health and Suicide
- Refreshing your Ministry
- Developing World Changers by Partnering with Non-Profits
- How Media is Shaping your Students
- Working with Church Leadership
Keynote speaker Dr. Walt Mueller is an authority on youth culture and family
issues.
Mueller is the founder of the Center for Parent/Youth
On Thursday, March 7th, Ohio Christian University is hosting an all-day Youth
Leadership Conference focusing on Engaging Youth Culture.
The program is ideal for all church pastors and youth pastors. Focused
breakout sessions will cover these key topics:
- Mental Health and Suicide
- Refreshing your Ministry
- Developing World Changers by Partnering with Non-Profits
- How Media is Shaping
On Thursday, March 7th, Ohio Christian University is hosting an all-day Youth
Leadership Conference focusing on Engaging Youth Culture.
The program is ideal for all church pastors and youth pastors
Church Service Day 2018 – Goodwill Trumps Rain!
Published: September 26, 2018
Church Service Day is an annual opportunity for Ohio Christian University
(OCU) students to practice giving back to area churches and charities through
hands-on work projects completed all on a single day!
Church Services Day 2018, undertaken on September 26, proved a worthy
addition to this traditional service-above-self event! About 400 students
lent their energies to 31 work projects in local churches, residences, and
charity organizations.
After an early breakfast, students formed into teams and received directions
to and instructions for their projects. Eager teams headed out to
Church Service Day is an annual opportunity for Ohio Christian University
(OCU) students to practice giving back to area churches and charities through
hands-on work projects completed all on a single day!
Church Services Day 2018, undertaken on September 26, proved a worthy
addition to this traditional service-above-self event! About 400 students
lent their energies to 31 work projects in
Church Service Day is an annual opportunity for Ohio Christian University
(OCU) students to practice giving back to area churches and charities through
hands-on work projects completed all on a
Students Serve in British Columbia
Published: September 19, 2018
By Amber Ginter ‘19
When three Ohio Christian University students first considered summer job
plans, traveling to British Columbia, Canada, to work at Malibu Club, a Young
Life Youth Camp, wasn’t on their radar.
Boarding the flight across the continent, senior Amber Ginter and sophomores
Liam Benson and Benjamin Johnson took a leap of faith to see what God had in
store for them. Completing 2,650 miles of airplane, ferry, and car travel,
the students arrived at Malibu Club situated on the bank of a remote British
Columbia island. Choosing to serve high school juniors and seniors for a
By Amber Ginter ‘19
When three Ohio Christian University students first considered summer job
plans, traveling to British Columbia, Canada, to work at Malibu Club, a Young
Life Youth Camp, wasn’t on their radar.
Boarding the flight across the continent, senior Amber Ginter and sophomores
Liam Benson and Benjamin Johnson took a leap of faith to see what God had in
store for them. Completing
By Amber Ginter ‘19
When three Ohio Christian University students first considered summer job
plans, traveling to British Columbia, Canada, to work at Malibu Club, a Young
Life Youth Camp, wasn’t
OCU Leads the Way at Local Alzheimer's Event
Published: August 25, 2018
AlzheimerGroupPhoto.jpg
Sixty faculty, staff, and students, including President Dr. Jon Kulaga and
his wife Lena, participated in the Circleville, Ohio, 2018 Walk to End
Alzheimer’s, one of over 600 similar events held annually nationwide.
Ohio Christian University (OCU), the top local sponsor, was tasked with
underwriting the spinning flowers along the route, earning the title Promise
Garden Sponsor. Team captain, Kelsey Cutright, Director of Student Life at
OCU, had this to say of the event, “It was an upbeat atmosphere. There was
exciting music, and everyone walked in a
AlzheimerGroupPhoto.jpg
Sixty faculty, staff, and students, including President Dr. Jon Kulaga and
his wife Lena, participated in the Circleville, Ohio, 2018 Walk to End
Alzheimer’s, one of over 600 similar events held annually nationwide.
Ohio Christian University (OCU), the top local sponsor, was tasked with
underwriting the spinning flowers along the route, earning the title
AlzheimerGroupPhoto.jpg
Sixty faculty, staff, and students, including President Dr. Jon Kulaga and
his wife Lena, participated in the Circleville, Ohio, 2018 Walk to End
Alzheimer’s, one
2018 Summer Camps Underway
Published: June 12, 2018
Twenty-two Ohio Christian University students are participating in the
University’s 2018 summer camps counseling program.
These students have completed over 50 hours of training over the course of
their spring semester to prepare them to effectively and confidently serve at
16 camps for children in over five states this summer.
Student team leader Hunter Petty shares the group’s excitement about
becoming camp counselors, “As a kid, my life was impacted through OCU camp
counselors. Now that I am a student, I have the chance to impact kid’s
lives and it is an amazing opportunity! Being
Twenty-two Ohio Christian University students are participating in the
University’s 2018 summer camps counseling program.
These students have completed over 50 hours of training over the course of
their spring semester to prepare them to effectively and confidently serve at
16 camps for children in over five states this summer.
Student team leader Hunter Petty shares the group’s excitement
Twenty-two Ohio Christian University students are participating in the
University’s 2018 summer camps counseling program.
These students have completed over 50 hours of training over the course of