President Oren Paris III Interviewed On David Barton's WallBuilders' Program. Link To Podcast

President Oren Paris explained the meaning of Earn While You Learn on WallBuilders Live.

WallBuilders Live! dealt with two major issues on the program - Earn While You Learn - linked here on their website.

One concern is the secular content of higher education, which trains students apart from or against Biblical truths.

The Ecclesia College statement says:

We are called to study all disciplines in light of the Scriptures to “show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” learning to think and walk honestly before Him in the light of His truth according to our ever-increasing frame of reference.

A second concern is the spiraling cost of a bachelor's degree and the burden of student loan debt at graduation.

President Paris noted that the average student loan debt is now $25,000, while the average at Ecclesia College is under $6,000 - lower than almost any other school. Ecclesia does not put a cap on parental earnings, so no student is rejected for having too much family income.

Ecclesia is a a work-college, often called a work-study college. The students are required to work 15 hours a week and learn good work habits. Paris said, "They are held accountable for their work, and learn good work habits."

More details are available from podcast audio file - Earn While You Learn.

Music and sports are important components of Ecclesia College's mission.

Volunteering at Ecclesia College, Springdale, Arkansas

RV There Yet?

Seeing the country……Serving our Lord!

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The Neighborhood

Monday, August 18th, 2008 | Author: steph

So I haven’t shared too much about what we are actually doing here at Ecclesia College. It’s not because we haven’t been having a good time – we have, but just that the month has gone by pretty fast and we’ve been doing some pretty regular stuff. Jane and I have been working in the “Dome”, I’ve been manning the front desk, answering the phone and working on some spreadsheet/data entry for the upcoming school year (reminds me of my previous life!) and Jane has been doing everything from averaging grades to cleaning spots off the rugs. Gary and Neal have been working on completing some new residence space – mostly working on two matching bathrooms. They started with tiling – floors, walls, even the ceilings! That was pretty crazy! Have you ever heard of ceramic tile on the ceiling???? Well, it’s a done deal here.
So, real quick – here are some shots from the job….
The “Dome” – this is the main building on campus. It houses all of the offices, the library, bookstore, auditorium and I believe several classrooms.

One of the bathrooms in the beginning……….and near the end…..

Gary with Jane and Neil taking our wonderful mid-morning break!

And here’s a classic Gary shot – He just loves diving into a good electrical panel!

So that’s a nutshell of what we’ve been doing. But what I have really been enjoying is where we are parked. First of all we are parked right next to a lovely butterfly bush – and have been delighted with the variety (and abundance) of butterflies that have visited.

And between our rig and the butterfly bush we have hung our hummingbird feeder. And how we have enjoyed those antics! Lots of little hummingbird wars going on out there. And all of them moving too fast for this girl’s camera!

And on a totally un-related note, I thought I’d share this picture of our little blue-eyed Maddie. I’ve been having fun playing with my Photoshop Elements program – and came up with this today. I hope it brings you a smile. It brought one for me!

Away in a Manger - Twila Paris - Ecclesia College Spokesperson

http://www.normaboecklerart.com

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus - Twila Paris - Ecclesia College Spokesperson

http://www.normaboecklerart.com

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Tune: HYFRYDOL, Meter: 87.87 D
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

Silent Night - Twila Paris - Ecclesia College Spokesperson

http://www.normaboecklerart.com

"Silent Night! Holy Night!"
by Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848

1. Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

2. Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing, Alleluia.
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!

3. Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.


Text: Luke 2:8
Author: Joseph Mohr, 1818
Translated by: unknown
Titled: "Stille Nacht"
Composer: Franz Gruber, 1818
Tune: "Stille Nacht"

For God's Own Child, In Mercy Mild, Joins Thee to Him;How Greatly God Must Love Thee!

"O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is"
by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

1. O Jesus Christ,
Thy manger is
My paradise at which my soul reclineth.
For there, O Lord,
Doth lie the Word
Made flesh for us; herein Thy grace
forth shineth.

2. He whom the sea
And wind obey
Doth come to serve the sinner in great
meekness.
Thou, God's own Son,
With us art one,
Dost join us and our children in our
weekness.

3. Thy light and grace
Our guilt efface,
Thy heavenly riches all our loss
retrieving.
Immanuel,
Thy birth doth quell
The power of hell and Satan's bold
deceiving.

4. Thou Christian heart,
Whoe'er thou art,
Be of good cheer and let no sorrow move
thee!
For God's own Child,
In mercy mild,
Joins thee to Him;-how greatly God must
love thee!

5. Remember thou
What glory now
The Lord prepared thee for all earthly
sadness.
The angel host
Can never boast
Of greater glory, greater bliss or gladness.

6. The world may hold
Her wealth and gold;
But thou, my heart, keep Christ as thy true
Treasure.
To Him hold fast
Until at last
A crown be thine and honor in full
measure.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #81
Text: Luke 2: 7
Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1653, cento
Translated by: composite
Titled: O Jesu Christ, dein Kripplein ist
Composer: Johann Crueger, 1653
Tune: O Jesu Christ, dein Kripplein

Questions? Fill Out the Form - Or Email Us - Or Phone.

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Top of the Hill - Twila Paris

Top of the Hill

By Twila Paris

During the Vancouver Olympics, I watched, along with millions, as the USA-1 bobsledding team, led by Steven Holcomb, won the four-man bobsled competition in the Winter Games for the first time since 1948. I don't know much about bobsledding, but I've always enjoyed watching the precision teamwork and the crazy downhill ride that apparently can only be produced by runners on ice.

I have seen enough bobsledding to know that a great start is really important. Of course, this is true in any form of racing. However, it's not enough to begin well. You also have to finish well, and avoid the many potential pitfalls between the start and finish. And all the while, if you're bobsledding, the track itself moves you along at speeds beyond your control, faster than your ability to think. Your choices have to be so well rehearsed that they've become second nature, almost instinctive.

You've probably heard about the Whistler track. It's the fastest ever, to the point of being very dangerous. By the final day of bobsledding, they had purposely worked to slow the track a little. Even so, Steven Holcomb and the “Night Train” crew finished at a speed of 94 miles per hour.

There is one particular turn the announcers kept referring to as the 50/50 turn. I thought that must be some sport-specific terminology I hadn’t heard before. Then they explained that Holcomb had nicknamed the turn last year during initial practice runs, because approximately half the sleds were crashing at that point on the track.

When it was time for their final run, the USA-1 team was in the lead. At the top of the track, they performed with beautiful synchronicity—pushing, running, popping into the sled, heads down—they were off to an amazing start! This gave them a physical and psychological advantage. Now the task was to maintain focus, keep the standard where it had already been established, and finish the way they began. And they did it! An American team won the Olympic gold medal in four-man bobsledding for the first time in 62 years! Over the celebration, the announcer shouted, "They won the race at the top of the hill!"

We're all familiar with the Apostle Paul's reference to this life as a race. He finished well, and we want to do the same. In this race, too, an important part of a great finish is a great beginning. Sure, you can start badly and still finish well. God's grace and mercy see to that. But I don't think you can start badly and finish as well as you would have. This is why God gives us parents and says, "Train up a child in the way he should go..."

Children can't make their own good start. It's up to their parents to give them one. So we feed and clothe them and keep them out of the street and teach them to wash their hands. And as Christian parents, we model and teach true Christianity in our homes and communities. We know the track is dangerous, and we try to slow it a little, but still it carries our children along at an incredible pace.

So we teach them the eternal truths "when we're sitting in our homes, when we're walking in the way, when we lie down and when we rise up." We make the time for family worship even when we're exhausted. We prepare them with a godly education. A growing number of us are educating them at home so that we can personally assure every human aspect of that good beginning. And daily, we commit them to God.

Doing these things requires wisdom, intentionality, and sacrifice. It requires faithfulness and sometimes the willingness to humble ourselves, ask forgiveness, and start over. My parents did these things for me. And you and I do them for our children so that one day, by God's grace, it can be said of them, of an entire generation of Christian young people, and of their children too, "They won the race at the top of the hill."

Visit Twila's Website!

Dr. H. D. McCarty, Ecclesia College, Board of Regents

Dr. McCarty spoke at the dedication of  Crystal Bridges.
Among many other duties and roles, he is a brigadier general chaplain.

Board of Regents Member, Dr. H. D. McCarty


After thirty-nine years as Senior Pastor of the University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas he initiated a new and wider ministry through Ventures For Christ, Inc. The message of the Christ Life that energized his pastorate into a spiritual revolution for students and community in the last decades of the century has been refined and deepened. The message is now offered to hundreds in our churches who are seeking the liberating precision and radical release of "the rich mystery of Christ in you, your confidence of significance" (Colossians 1:28).

His effective pastorate, touching thousands, brought a famed reputation nationwide. Over 300 impacted by UBC have entered full-time vocational ministry. Some of these now lead national ministries and some of America's largest churches. They range from high ranking military chaplains, missionaries, seminary professors and key influencers in local church and para-church ministries. Between 18,000 to 20,000 University of Arkansas students were positively touched with the magnificence of Jesus Christ, as well as hundreds of adults and children. UBC became one of America's foremost mission and sending churches. He served as Chaplain of the Razorbacks for thirty years, and he had a distinguished thirty-three year career in the United States Air Force/Reserves/Air Guard, serving as both a pilot and chaplain. He retired as a Brigadier General (only the second Chaplain General in the 350 year history of the American Militia/National Guard). He wears fifteen decorations including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, the Combat Crew Readiness Medal and the Arkansas Distinguished Service Medal. He holds the degrees of B.A., M.Div., D.Min., as well as the Honorary D.D. and Litt. D. He did further doctoral work in philosophy and Greek and has served as an adjunct lecturer/professor at two seminaries, two universities, and two Bible institutes.

He has spoken in numerous venues throughout the nation and maintained a thirty-year television ministry with an audience of thousands. He wrote a weekly newspaper column, "Live It Up," for over twenty years which appeared in over a dozen newspapers. He has traveled broadly and led seven worship tours to Israel. In 2004, two special honors came as he opened the U.S. Senate in prayer on the National Day of Prayer and spoke at the Normandy Memorial in France commemorating D-Day's sixtieth anniversary. His community involvement included the presidency of the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club and serving as a board member of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the board of governors of the Washington Regional Medical Center. He recently finished a ten year term on the board of trustees at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He continues to serve on the board of reference for Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee, and is a board member of the Priority Bank, Fayetteville.

He has been married to his wife, Shirley, for over fifty years, and their daughter and son have given them five wonderful grandchildren. Next to honoring his family, Dr. McCarty's remaining ambition in life is to help as many people as he can to explore and experience the wonders of the Christ Life (Psalm 119:32 and John 8:51).

Dr. David Barton - Ecclesia College Board of Regents

David Barton

Board of Regents Member, Dr. David Barton

"Ecclesia College has recaptured much of the philosophy that characterized American higher education during its first three centuries.  Ecclesia provides a godly education with high academic standards, mentoring, and a work learning program, and is firmly committed to providing a scholarship to every deserving student who needs it.  As you search for the best education possible, I encourage you to look closely at Ecclesia College in Springdale, Arkansas."

-David Barton

Dr. David Barton is the Founder and President of WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization that presents America's forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage.

WallBuilders is a name taken from the Old Testament writings of Nehemiah, who led a grassroots movement to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore its strength and honor. In the same way, WallBuilders seeks to energize the grassroots today to become involved in strengthening their communities, states, and nation.

David is the author of numerous best-selling books, with the subjects being drawn largely from his massive library of tens of thousands of original writings from the Founding Era. He also addresses well over 400 groups each year.

His exhaustive research has rendered him an expert in historical and constitutional issues and he serves as a consultant to state and federal legislators, has participated in several cases at the Supreme Court, was involved in the development of the History/Social Studies standards for states such as Texas and California, and has helped produce history textbooks now used in schools across the nation.

David was named by Time magazine as one of America's 25 most influential evangelicals, and he has received numerous national and international awards, including Who's Who in Education and DAR's highest award, the George Washington Honor Medal. His work in media has merited several Angel Awards, Telly Awards, and the Dove Foundation Seal of Approval.  Participating as a key figure both on and off the stage, David assembled with Glenn Beck and many Evangelical leaders in Washington D.C. at the Restoring Honor event on the national mall with hundreds of thousands in attendance.

David and his wife Cheryl have three grown children, Damaris, Timothy, and Stephen, and reside in Aledo, TX.

Ecclesia College Board of Regents - Pat Boone, Eric Metaxis, Twila Paris

Pat Boone has long been a favorite among conservative Christians.

EC Board of Regents

“It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbour. The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbour’s glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and only the backs of the proud will be broken.”

⎯ C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Since 1975, Ecclesia has been committed and positioned to faithfully serve the whole Body of Christ for the advancement of His Kingdom. While holding to foundational, Christian values, and at the same time transcending denominational barriers, we have strong relationships with many different believers. Among these, our Board of Regents is a denominationally diverse group of leaders who exceptionally model and share our wholehearted involvement in the advancement of God’s Kingdom under the Lordship of Christ.

The Ecclesia Board of Regents are reputable, exemplary leaders of the greater Body of Christ who strengthen our common bond with fellow believers throughout the world in the faithful advancement of God's Kingdom.

Please click on the names below to find out more about our featured Board of Regents members:

David Barton

Phillip Brassfield

Pat Boone

Steve Henderson

Dennis Lindsay

H. D. McCarty

Eric Metaxas' book, Amazing Grace,
became the movie about Wilberforce's mission to end slavery in England.

Eric Metaxas

Twila Paris is well known as a Christian singer -
and is also the daughter of Ecclesia's founder, Oren Paris II.

Twila Paris

Winkie Pratney

Valentin Vale

Seven Reasons To Choose Ecclesia College

Students Comments on Their Experience at Ecclesia College

Forever A Loan - At I Owe U.Students and Parents Are Looking for Alternatives to Student Loan Slavery

Work-study schools like Ecclesia College in Northwest Arkansas have an another approach to higher education.


7 Reasons To Choose Ecclesia College
Character Development

With "Christ in us, the hope of glory," the whole Ecclesia College educational experience focuses on developing and living out the character of Christ in order to display His glory and bring about His Kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven."

True Success
Ecclesia College prepares students for true success in every area of life.  In addition to Character Development all students develop job skills and gain experience in their chosen vocation through our student work program, internships, and other hands-on experiences.

Cost 
We believe so strongly in the importance of Christian Higher Education that we are committed to giving every student who needs one, a financial aid package that would offset the cost of tuition.

Biblical-Based Classroom
Because all truth is God's truth, all education (Bible, Business, Psychology, Arts, Sciences, etc.) is done from the Biblical perspective.  In teaching not only the "what," but also the "why" and the "how-to," true knowledge comes on the foundation of faith and character (2 Peter 1:5).

Discover Your Place in God's Kingdom
We will work with your parents and home pastor to help you find your place and purpose in God's Kingdom (whether pastor, missionary, business, education, arts, etc.), and equip you with the best tools and training to make you successful.

Mentoring for Life
To lay hold of a greater passion for God and His ways, as well as foster an ever-increasing Biblical Christ-life that is real, practical and powerful, every Ecclesia College student has a support system of faculty, administration, and fellow students to assist and encourage them in their walk with God and all other areas of life.

Christian Service 
Students practically walk out the life and mission of Jesus Christ by working alongside local churches to reach out to our community, as well as ministering around the world in places like China, India, El Salvador, Turkey, and Mexico.

What Happened When Alex Kenjeev Paid His Student Loan in Cash - DailyFinance

What Happened When Alex Kenjeev Paid His Student Loan in Cash - DailyFinance:

Since then, the anonymous alum has stepped forward as Alex Kenjeev, a 2009 law school graduate of the University of Toronto.

Kenjeev, who works for venture capitalist firm O'Leary Ventures, told Business Insider the $114,000 payment was the last chunk left of $190,000 in loans he took out during school. He'd spent years dragging out his payments while pouring most of his income into a start-up. As for why he paid in cash, Kenjeev said he wasn't proving some point about the dangers of credit cards or trying to show off. He just thought it'd be really funny. 

'via Blog this'

Student Debt is Killing the Church

Work colleges like Ecclesia keep
student loans far below national averages.

Student Debt is Killing the Church:

From Home-Brewed Christianity

One Trillion Dollars! U.S. student loans have reached a new high at the same time the economic prospects are reaching a new low for graduates. This isn’t just bad news for the students, their families, and future children – it is a serious problem for the church. Our students who are increasingly graduating with more and more debt will shape the future of the church. It seems that this issue needs to be treated as a justice issue across the country and as a genuine concern for our future risk-taking church leaders.  Here are five reasons school debt is threatening the future of the church.

1. School Debt is Vocational Slavery. When you have a student loan payment of 300 dollars a month a bunch of jobs are off the table. It shouldn’t be a surprise that working for and with ‘the least of these’ are rarely financially lucrative. For example, if you just finished law school and gotta start payments you don’t get to advocate for immigrants or work for environmental justice, you gotta pay the bills.
2. School Debt Kills Tithing. I know the math is obvious BUT if you are writing a big check every month for your student loans until you are 45 years old that is a bunch of money that previous generations had available to give to the church and its ministries. When fewer and fewer people have money available to give to a church certain people and their needs get priority and internally focused expenditures get priority over externally focused spending.
3. School Debt Tames Prophets. You can have a conviction, a calling, and a platform but if you don’t have economic security for you and your family you can stay quiet, vague, and distracted from your convictions. In this past year I have received over 20 emails from ministers who said “I wish I was in a situation financially where I could say and work towards X.” X = some social justice issue God says we should care about. What is their main burden? Student loans and health care.
4. School Debt Destroys Community. If you have to get a job that supports your family and your loans then you are more likely to have your check dictate where you move, when you work, and how long you work. This extra financial burden has led many of my friends to move away from their family and faith communities and take a job they hate at hours that eliminate growing new relationships in a new town. As a church this type of relational oppression is problematic and shouldn’t be accepted as part of the ‘game.’  The saddest part about this is our students are already indentured to the system before they are aware of what they are choosing.
5. Student Debt Squelches Ecclesial Entrepreneurship. What stops a gifted and called minister from taking the risk and planting a new missional community? Purchasing her own health insurance and having to write student loan checks. When taking the risk of starting a community that connects and serves the generations most impacted by student debt it doesn’t help the church for both the planters and the congregants to be riddled with exorbitant student loans. If you are deciding between a risky entrepreneurial move and jumping through the hoops of your denominational superstructure for a benefit secure job it’s easy to see how student debt could turn the tide away from ecclesial entrepreneurship.

'via Blog this'

Staggering Facts about Ecclesia College's Low Student Loan Debt versus Student Loan Debt at Private and Public Schools

International Students Enjoy Ecclesia College

Ecclesia College

9653 Nations Drive

Springdale, AR, 727621-479-248-7236

www.ecollege.edu

Dear International Students,
Welcome to Ecclesia College!  The process of entering college in another country can often be challenging.  But here at Ecclesia, we are committed to making the process easy by helping you every step of the way.  Email us at myfuture@ecollege.edu and we will correspond with you or talk with you on the phone personally until the application and enrollment process is complete and you are happily settled here at Ecclesia.

Note: Ecclesia College Scholarships and EC Online Subsidies greatly reduce your tuition both on campus and online (eg. tuition is reduced from $475 to $266.30 per credit hour for online education), but no additional scholarships are available at this time.  Scroll down to view summaries of our Financial Aid opportunities for international students.

To learn more about studying on campus at Ecclesia College, call 479.248.7236 or email mhelmick@ecollege.edu.

To learn more about enrolling in Ecclesia's ONLINE Courses click here.

Transcripts should be sent to:

Attn: Registrar/International
Ecclesia College
9653 Nations Drive
Springdale, AR 72762

We're here for you!

Titus Hofer
Admissions Director

Call 1.479.248.7236  Extension 223

Financial Aid for On Campus International Students

SCENARIO #1 (Living ON campus, NOT receiving Ecclesia Need-Based Scholarship.)

✓ Benefiting from $1,000 Ecclesia College Subsidy
✓ Benefiting from $1,100 Special Ecclesia Need-Based Scholarship
✓ Benefiting from $2,475 Work Learning Money (15 hrs per week) *
✓ Living ON campus

TUITION: $2,550 Out-of-Pocket Per Semester
ROOM, BOARD & FEES: $2,950 Out-of-Pocket Per Semester
Total: $5,500

All international students must fill out the "EC International Student Tuition Scholarship Application."  This application will be used to determine eligibility for receipt of the need-based scholarship of $1,065.  Additional need-based scholarship may be available based on student's extenuating circumstances.  The maximum need-based scholarship per semester is $2,590.

Financial Aid for International Students Studying Online

All students studying ONLINE receive a generous tuition subsidy, however no additional scholarships are currently available.

* See our Catalog for all determining criteria regarding Work Learning and living off campus.

Ecclesia College - Board of Governance

Board of Governance

Board Members

James Barnes, Chairman of the Board
Lecturer, Waxahachie, TX

Don Wallace 
Pastor, Assembly of God, Effingham, IL

Inez Paris 
Ecclesia College, Springdale, AR

Joseph Barnes 
Pastor, Abundant Life Church, Hardy, AR

Jack Wright 
Businessman, Fayetteville, AR

George Hiller 
Businessman, Atlanta, GA

Oren Paris III
President, Ecclesia College, Springdale, AR

Joe Salcido, III 
Pastor, Life Center Church, El Paso, TX

Steven D. Vold, M.D.
Ophthalmologist, Rogers, AR

Jerry Sadler
Pastor, Siloam Springs, AR

Joseph Wood
Deputy Secretary of State, Fayetteville, AR

Greetings from the President of Ecclesia College

Oren Paris III is the president of Ecclesia College

Dear Friends, Our world is changing. But we know that God’s ways have not changed and are still perfect. When it comes to helping shape our minds and the minds of our students, we are determined to follow His ways so that His purposes will be fully realized in our lives. There is a particular order He prescribes to us in II Peter 1:5-10. As we follow this prescription for knowledge, we arrive at an increasing understanding of Him, the Truth Who sets us free. According to Scripture, the proper foundation for knowledge is first “faith” and then “character." In Christ we continually add faith, character and knowledge, in that order of cyclical increase. Knowledge gained through any means apart from the foundation of Christ inevitably leads us to spiritual ignorance and eventual ruin. Begin with the wrong premise, and you will arrive at the wrong conclusion.

We encourage you to stand firmly against the trends of this present culture to pursue a faith and character-based education. And we invite you to do it here at Ecclesia College. Here we always emphasize—whatever your major—setting your mind on the things above so you will be rooted and grounded in unshakable Truth.

Allow us to help equip you with godly knowledge, skills and credentials so you can be even more effective for His Kingdom in your sphere of influence!

Oren Paris III
President, Ecclesia College

Twila Paris - From Wikipdia.Spokesperson for Ecclesia College

Twila Paris is well known for her Christian music.
She is the spokesperson for Ecclesia College.

Biography from Wikipedia

[]Musical career

Since 1980, Twila Paris has released 22 albums, amassed 33 number one Christian Radio singles, and was named the Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year three years in a row. Many of her earlier songs such as "He Is Exalted", "We Will Glorify," "Lamb of God," and "We Bow Down," are found in church hymnals or otherwise sung in church settings.

As a child she released her first album, Little Twila Paris, in 1965. The album included songs drawn from among those she sang with her family in their evangelistic outreaches.

Paris released her first full-length album, Knowin' You're Around, in 1980, and along the way she has written books, recorded children's music, and created worship songs. Her song "God Is In Control" won a GMA Song of the Year award in 1995 and her 1992 Sanctuaryrelease won the GMA Praise & Worship Album of the Year. She has won five GMA Dove Awards and three American Songwriter Awards.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Paris released mainly contemporary Christian pop songs. But in recent years, she has focused on recording new versions of some of her worship standards and writing new praise and worship music. Her 2005 album He Is Exalted: Live Worshipcollects a number of favorite songs commonly used in praise and worship of Paris's and presents them in a more typical style of liveworship music. After her song "He Is Exalted" was used in churches in Brazil, Paris re-recorded it in the Portuguese translation they were using. This version appears on her 1992 album Sanctuary.

Although associated for much of her career with Star Song Communications, EMI switched her to Sparrow Records in 1996, before her contract ended after 2003. In 2005, she switched to the praise and worship label Integrity Music for He Is Exalted: Live Worship.

Twila released Small Sacrifice on December 26, 2007, which was available only through her Web site and at Lifeway Christian Stores. This album married the two parts of her career by including both inspirational pop/adult contemporary songs and original praise and worship compositions. Her first radio single from Small Sacrifice was "Live to Praise." Small Sacrifice was released for wider distribution by Koch Records on February 24, 2009.

In 2012, Twila released a patriotic-themed project that includes two new cuts ("God of Our Fathers" and "America the Beautiful") and ten cuts that Twila hand-picked from other projects. The purpose of the project is to inspire patriots with themes of God's protection and love, even in difficult times.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Twila toured extensively. As a new artist, she opened for the Imperials. After receiving her first #1 hit, she began headlining her own concert tours, with such notable opening artists as Wayne Watson, Clay Crosse, Phil Keaggy, Avalon, Aaron Jeoffrey, Fernando Ortega, Out of the Grey and Michele Tumes. She was featured in the Young Messiah tour and co-hosted with Steven Curtis Chapman both the My Utmost for His Highest and Child of the Promise tours. In the 2000s, she continues to tour but not as extensively. In 2011-2012, Twila participated in the Christian Classics tour with Steve Green, Wayne Watson and Michael Card.

[]Musical influence

Paris has created a body of work in a modern hymn style. Her compositions are included in hymnals used by several Christian denominations^[1] and various Charismatic churches.^[2] Paris was influenced in her early career by the music of Keith Green, Kelly Willard, and Jamie Owens-Collins.^{[citation needed]} Her single, "Do I Trust You" was written in response to Keith Green's untimely death in 1982.^{[citation needed]} Willard and Owens-Collins sang background vocals for her on her Keeping My Eyes On You album and sang as a trio on the hymn "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms" on The Warrior Is A Child.

[]Personal life

Twila Paris is the daughter of Oren II and Rachel Inez Paris. Oren Paris II is the founder and Chancellor of Ecclesia College inSpringdale, Arkansas. Twila has been married to Jack Wright for more than 25 years, and has a son, Jack Paris Wright who was born in 2001. She has three siblings — Starla Novak, Oren Paris III, and Angie Paris Snyder.

[]Discography

• Little Twila Paris (1965)
• Knowin' You're Around (1980)
• Keepin' My Eyes On You (1982)
• The Warrior Is A Child (1984)
• Kingdom Seekers (1985)
• Same Girl (1987)
• For Every Heart (1988)
• It's The Thought (1989)
• Cry For The Desert (1990)
• Sanctuary (1991)
• A Heart That Knows You (1992)
• Beyond A Dream (1993)
• The Time Is Now (1995)
• The Early Years (1996)
• Where I Stand (1996)
• Perennial: Songs For The Seasons Of Life (1998)
• True North (1999)
• Signature Songs (2000)
• Bedtime Prayers (2001)
• Greatest Hits: Time & Again (2001)
• House of Worship (2003)
• 8 Great Hits (2004)
• Simply (2005)
• He Is Exalted: Live Worship (2005)
• Ultimate Collection (2006)
• Looking Up (2006)
• Small Sacrifice (2007)
• God Shed His Grace (2012)

Source: www.twilaparis.com

[]Top Ten Singles in the 1980s and 1990s (Adult Contemporary Christian Charts)

• No. 1 The Warrior is a Child (1984-11-02)
• No. 2 Do I Trust You (1984-12-26)
• No. 1 Runner (1986-04-01)
• No. 2 Lamb of God (1986-06-25)
• No. 10 He is Exalted (1986-10-20)
• No. 1 Prince of Peace (1987-09-07)
• No. 7 Holy is the Lord (1987-11-16)
• No. 2 Bonded Together (1988-03-21)
• No. 4 Send Me (1988-06-13)
• No. 1 Every Heart That is Breaking (1988-10-31)
• No. 1 True Friend (1989-02-06)
• No. 3 Never Ending Love (1989-05-15)
• No. 1 Sweet Victory (1989-09-04)
• No. 1 I See You Standing (1990-09-17)
• No. 6 How Beautiful (1991-01-07)
• No. 7 Cry For the Desert (1991-03-18)
• No. 1 Nothing But Love (1991-07-22)
• No. 7 Undivided Heart (1991-10-14)
• No. 1 The Joy of the Lord (1992-02-10)
• No. 1 I'm Still Here (with Bruce Carroll) (1992-05-25)
• No. 1 Destiny (1993-01-18)
• No. 5 A Heart That Knows You (1993-04-12)
• No. 1 God is in Control (1994-02-21)
• No. 1 Neither Will I (1994-06-13)
• No. 2 Watch and Pray (1994-09-19)
• No. 4 Seventy Years Ago (1995-01-23)
• No. 1 The Time is Now (1995-04-24)
• No. 4 Faithful Friend (with Steven Curtis Chapman) (1996-05-13)
• No. 1 (I Am) Not Afraid Anymore (1996-08-26)
• No. 1 Run to You (1999-10-25)

[]Gospel Music Association Awards

• Praise and Worship Album of the Year, Sanctuary, 1992
• Female Vocalist of the Year, 1993
• Female Vocalist of the Year, 1994
• Female Vocalist of the Year, 1995
• Song of the Year, "God is in Control", 1995
• Special Event Album of the Year, My Utmost For His Highest, 1996
• Special Event Album of the Year, Tribute - The Songs of Andrea Crouch, 1997
• Special Event Album of the Year, God With Us - A Celebration of Christmas Carols, 1998
• Long Form Music Video of the Year, My Utmost for His Highest, 1999
• Children's Music Album of the Year, Bedtime Prayers, Lullabies and Peaceful Worship, 2002

Source: www.doveawards.com

[]Books

• Making A Christmas Memory (1990) (With Jeanie Price)
• In This Sanctuary: An Invitation To Worship The Savior (1992) (co-authored with Dr. Robert Webber)
• Celebrate The Gift of Jesus Every Day (1993, 1994)
• Perennial: Meditations For The Seasons Of Life (1998)
• Bedtime Prayers and Lullabies (2001)

[]References

1. ^ Praise for the Lord, ed. John P. Wiegand (Nashville: Praise Press, 1997), Nos. 738, 928 936, 950, 982, 984, ISBN 0-89098-119-1;Songs of Faith and Praise, ed. Alton H. Howard (West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 1994), Nos. 60, 176, 365, 559, 577, 578, 718,ISBN 1-878990-34-9.
2. ^ Morgenthaler, Sally. Worship Evangelism: Inviting Unbelievers Into the Presence of God. Toronto: Zondervan Canada. 1999

Twila Paris is the daughter of Oren Paris II
and the sister of Oren Paris III.