Study In South Florida

South Florida. Coastal. Creative. Dense. Diverse. International. Transient. Vibrant. The city in which we live is a marvelous place. On the outside, it truly sparkles. As residents, we experience the grittiness of the city along with a distinctive coastal culture and all that glitters with the enclaves of wealth. Having one of the highest concentrations of wealth and poverty, this stark contrast makes South Florida an interesting place to do ministry. Ministry work here is a snapshot of the future for smaller cities in the United States and especially Latin America. The transient nature of South Florida and its sphere of influence is like a jewel or prism beaming the light of Christ to nations everywhere.

At Knox, we focus on the city as a positive. God loves cities and we do too. Author and pastor, Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church NYC says, “In these cities you have more images of God per square inch than anywhere else in the world.” God uses cities as epicenters for spreading Christianity throughout the world. The ministry challenges inherent to large port cities present distinct urban opportunities. So we draw from the richness of the gospel and the resonant cultural context that surrounds and informs us to guide our ministry to the city.

Diversity and Opportunity
The colorful canvas of South Florida displays every abstract brushstroke of life here—a diversity of people, thoughts, ideas, and beliefs that are never ending. Rather than retreat from the sensual culture, we are committed to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) where God has uniquely positioned us in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. The biblical precedent is, of course, Jeremiah 29 where the Jews retained their distinctive religious identity while living alongside the Babylonians by seeking the peace and prosperity of the city.

Our enduring goal is to bring glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31), to be salt and light, to love our neighbor (Galatians 6:10), and to work together in an interplay of service to and for our neighbors, congregations, city, ministry, and ultimately our Lord and Savior. To be that “city on the hill” (Matthew 5:14) is to be a consistent representation of the gospel in a society that is decaying culturally, morally, and socially.

God’s Work In the City
The articles from Knox Now included on this page give an idea of what it’s like to be here and study under our tremendous faculty. The vibrant ministries of our graduates highlight our efforts to connect the local church and mission in our own backyards by equipping pastors and laypeople with biblical and practical training, and perhaps to see the gospel in a different light. Knox graduates and representatives are now distributed all over the world. In addition to our website and social media, Knox Now is a portal for friends and students across the globe to be informed and interact—offering a practical and pastoral scope as well as action-oriented missional insights for our ministry partners to join us in doing God’s work in the city.