Jonathan Pettigrew is a professor in the School of Human Communication at Arizona State University. In part 1 of our interview, he shares how his journey from campus minister to professor shaped his understanding of student discipleship, faith-learning integration, and ministry through academia. He offers deep reflections on spiritual formation, parenting, and how Christian professors can pursue scholarship as an act of worship.

Read more about Jonathan Pettigrew on Meet The Prof:
https://meettheprof.com/view/professors/entry/jonathan-pettigrew/

Main Takeaways:

• Professors can influence hundreds, while ministers can often go deeper with a few.
• Faith-learning integration means connecting Christian worldview with academic discipline.
• The Holy Spirit guides how Christian faculty reflect faith in teaching and research.
• Life’s trials—like parenting during a PhD—can become spiritually formative.
• Teaching is a form of discipleship, and learning can be a form of worship.

CHAPTERS
00:01 – Introduction & Arizona Weather
03:00 – What Professors Can Learn from Campus Ministers
06:49 – Embarrassing & Funny Professor Moments
09:02 – Jonathan’s Journey to Faith
10:30 – Growth as a Summer Youth Minister
14:16 – Decision to Pursue a PhD
16:11 – Spiritual Formation During PhD & Early Marriage
21:17 – What Is Faith-Learning Integration?
23:49 – Stories and Strategies from Professing Christ
26:03 – Holy Spirit’s Role in Scholarly Faith Integration
29:26 – Why Learning Is God’s Idea
30:02 – Closing Reflections & Preview of Part 2

Keywords:
Jonathan Pettigrew, Arizona State University, faith-learning integration, Professing Christ, Christian faculty, campus ministry, spiritual growth, youth ministry, PhD journey, academic calling, Holy Spirit, parenting, discipleship, communication, Christian worldview, student impact, Christian professor, Meet The Prof, higher education faith, Christ-centered learning, scholarship and faith, Bible study, teaching as worship.

Books mentioned in podcast:

Professing Christ: Christian Tradition and Faith-learning Integration in Public Universities, https://www.amazon.com/Professing-Christ-Faith-learning-Integration-Universities/dp/0999146335

Family Communication and the Christian Faith: An Introduction and Exploration

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Resources:

• Faculty Commons – https://www.facultycommons.org/
• A Grander Story – https://a.co/d/8VoYXSV
• EveryStudent.com – https://www.everystudent.com/

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