Trevecca online student Danai Chinoda started college right out of high school but didn’t complete his degree. After coming back home to Nashville, Chinoda began working in the healthcare field.
That’s when he was called into the ministry.
“All the pieces of my life were coming together, except I did not have any formal education,” he said. “I began my search as I looked for a school that would accommodate my busy schedule as well as offer a quality education.”
As a minister, Chinoda knew he wanted to finish his bachelor’s degree at a Christian university. With work, ministry and family all vying for his attention, he also knew he needed flexible programs that would fit his schedule.
“I now believe that it was a divine drawing that brought me back to Trevecca as it embodied everything that I was looking for within a university,” he said. “I found an accredited Christian university that provides education for leadership and service.”
So Chinoda enrolled in Trevecca’s Bachelor of Arts in Christian ministry program and began working to complete his degree online. Designed for those called to full-time ministry and lay ministers who want to grow in the faith, the 30-credit-hour program is entirely online and can usually be completed in 15 months.
“Being a husband, father, full-time employee and minister, it was important for me to find a school that would fit my busy schedule,” he said. “I had never taken online courses before, but I soon learned how beneficial it was to attend a school that offered that option.”
While Chinoda wanted the flexibility of online classes, he still craved the interaction of traditional classroom learning. He says Trevecca’s online system has made that possible, even if he and his classmates aren’t sitting in the same classroom.
“The system is user friendly and provides a cyber-classroom atmosphere,” he said. “The professors assign assignments and engage in discussions with students.”
Chinoda says he’s already begun to apply what he’s learned to his work.
“I hope to become a leader in service to the community,” he said. “I have already begun to apply the education I have learned to my current career responsibilities. I believe my professional leadership skills are improving as I continue to pursue my degree.”
In May, Chinoda will walk across the stage and receive his diploma. He’s grateful and excited for what the future holds. He says it’s important that universities like Trevecca continue to invest in online education so that more students like him can achieve their goals.
“[Online education] meets the needs of those who desire to receive higher education but face challenges,” he said. “It allows people who have busy careers, limited funds, or live in remote locations the opportunity to receive higher education at their own pace. This experience has been rewarding, and I look forward to sharing my testimony with others that they may follow similar footsteps as they advance their education.”
The next start date for Trevecca’s bachelor’s program in Christian ministry is May 1. Learn more here or call 1-844-TNU-GRAD.