June 19, 2015
For Immediate Release

 

By Josh Christian, student news writer

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - “I wanted everyone to know that Christianity is alive and well and even flourishing in other parts of the world,” Dr. Twyla Hernandez, assistant professor of Christian missions at Campbellsville University, said.

Hernandez made the statement in a recent interview about the journal article she wrote titled, “Christianity does not equal U.S: A Global Perspective.” The journal was written in response to Pew Reasearch Center's article, “America's Changing Religious Landscape.”

In the article, the Pew Research Center capitalizes on the decline of Christianity in the United States. Statistics from the article also show the rise of the religiously unaffiliated, or atheists, agnostics and “nothing in particulars.”

“When thePew Report first came out, there was all manner of ‘gnashing of teeth' by the religious gurus who were, for all intents and purposes, predicting the death of Christianity,” Hernandez said.

Despite these, otherwise negative comments in the face of Christianity, Hernandez wrote a piece to capitalize on Christianity's growth.

“Christianity is a global religion and has never been limited to just what is happening in one country,” Hernandez said.

However, Hernandez did not expect the reviews her article received. Not long after her article was written, George Bullard, head of the Faith Soaring Learning Community network, invited her to be a call presenter, with two others, on a panel discussing her journal. This call took place on May 28.

“I am always honored when anyone takes an interest in something I have written or spoken about. This particular subject matter is something that I have a specific passion about, so it was even more gratifying,” Hernandez said.

This subject matter is not new to Hernandez as she teaches the global aspects of Christianity in some of her classes.

“Most of the information came from research I did in preparation for a course I co-taught in the spring with Dr. Jeff Eaton, pastor of Hope Community Church in Lawrenceburg, Ky., where we examined past and present spiritual awakenings around the globe,” she said.

Hernandez hopes to be able to continue to write more journals like this.

“Sometimes it is difficult to find time given my other responsibilities as professor, director of the Hispanic Baptist Bible Institute and being a pastor's wife. But I love to write, and my goal is to continue to do so,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez received her bachelor of art's degree from Middle Tennessee State University with a major in English before going on to obtain her master of divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She received her Ph.D. in evangelism and church growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Hernandez is also the executive director of the Hispanic Baptist Bible Institute and has been since 2005. Before coming to Campbellsville University, she was the director of Great Commission Ministries as well as a research associate in the Billy Graham School of Missions. Hernandez has also served in many other various positions.
Hernandez is married to Clemente Hernandez, pastor of Iglesia Bautista El Faro.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.