Donald W. Sweeting, Ph.D.
Donald W. Sweeting, Ph.D., is Chancellor of Colorado Christian University. Previously he was president (2016-2022) where he helped lead the university to its 13th consecutive year of record enrollment in a decade where higher undergraduate enrollment declined 17%.
Dr. Sweeting is a noted educator, minister, academic and author. From 2010-2016, Dr. Sweeting served as the president of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Fla., where he also served as the James Woodrow Hassell Professor of Church History and regularly taught courses in church history, pastoral theology, and ministry leadership.
An ordained minister in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), Dr. Sweeting served as senior pastor of Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Greenwood Village (a Denver suburb) for 12 years. His ministry culminated with Cherry Creek Presbyterian hosting the denomination’s annual general assembly in 2010. In addition to pastoring, Dr. Sweeting taught as an adjunct faculty member at Denver Seminary. Before moving to Colorado, he served for 11 years as a church planter in northern Illinois helping to found the Chain of Lakes Community Bible Church.
Prior to entering into pastoral ministry, Dr. Sweeting served as an assistant to Chuck Colson and staff at Prison Fellowship in Washington, D.C., and had internships with Congressman John B. Anderson (R-Illinois) in Washington, D.C., and John MacArthur at Grace Community Church in California.
Dr. Sweeting’s college education began at Moody Bible Institute (MBI) where he majored in Bible-Theology. In 2016, Dr. Sweeting received the Alumnus of the Year award from MBI. Dr. Sweeting earned a B.A. in History from Lawrence University, as well as a B.A./M.A. from Oxford University in England. During his time at Oxford, Dr. Sweeting led the Theological Students Fellowship (affiliated with Inter Varsity). Dr. Sweeting also spent a year of graduate work at Regent College in British Columbia, Canada studying under J. I. Packer and others. He then went on to receive his doctorate in Church History and Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois. At Trinity he worked under the supervision of Dr. John Woodbridge and Dr. Harold O. J. Brown. Dr. Sweeting’s dissertation was on the relationship between Catholics and Evangelicals in the United States from 1960 to 2000.
In addition to a diverse professional background, Dr. Sweeting has served with numerous ministries and organizations. He has served on the board of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), the executive committee of the Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents (FESP), as chairman of the Theology Committee for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and on the board of John Stott Ministries in the United States. He also was a signer of the Protocol which formed the Langham Partnership International, a London-based international ministry that aims to equip and train upcoming global church leaders by providing scholarships, building seminaries, and training preachers. Dr. Sweeting is also a founding and senior fellow of the International Alliance of Christian Educators (IACE).
Dr. Sweeting speaks and preaches around the country. His writings have appeared on Fox News, The Washington Times, Newsmax, The Washington Examiner, The Jerusalem Post, Real Clear Religion, Townhall, The Federalist, The Epoch Times, World Opinions, Christianity Today, Gospel Coalition, and The Christian Post. He is the editor of the CCU Review. He has also co-authored several books, including How to Finish the Christian Life: Following Jesus in the Second Half of Life, (Moody Press) which he wrote with his 88-year-old father.
Dr. Sweeting and his wife, Christina, have three adult sons and a daughter.
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21 Comments
Don,
I stumbled across your blog. Enjoyed your article on homeschooling. We have four children as well and homeschooled all of them from kindergarten through high school (at least the first three. Our youngest is 13 so we have a few more years to go). Glad to hear you are doing well. We have been living in the Dallas, Texas area for the last 10 years. I work for UPS as the Communications manager for the area. I look forward t reading more of your blogs.
John Manning
John, Thanks for your comments. Conscientious home schooling parents need all the encouragement they can get. It is not easy, but in the end, there can be a lot of deep satisfaction in it and wonderful fruit from it. You’re not done, neither am I. 13 is a critical age you know. God bless you in your relationships.
Don
Great posts about Lausanne Global Conversation. Do you know if the talk by the North Korean woman you wrote about is available online to view? I’d love to be able to watch it.
Kevin
Have not found it, so I don’t think so.
Don
Stumbled on your blog thru facebook and since there are not that many Sweetings out there, I needed to comment. My wife Sharon and I also have four kids and homeschooled in the early years. God changed our path about nine months ago and we are now in Kenya with Wycliffe Associates, providing construction management at a site where they translate the Bible into signed languages for the Deaf. By any chance are you related to George Sweeting? I attended Phila College of Bible in the 70’s and was always asked if I where related but at the time I didn’t even know who he was.
Our adventure is shared on a blog, stm4me.com
Mark Sweeting
Mark, God bless you for your ministry in Kenya with Wycliffe. Yes, George is my dad. He is 86 and still going strong in the Chicago area.
Okay, I’ve got to find out about your background. We are obviously related! Are you on facebook? If you are let’s connect that way.
HI DON: from Sarasota. Attended Cherry Creek some during my yrs in Denver. Trinity Grad. Studied with F Schaeffer, there is more. Would like to interact with you indepth re: how to ignite gifted church members so each takes seriously our calling to act as ‘members of His body’,,,
My sense is over the passt decades the ‘church’ , in our push to get bigger and bigger, we find ourselves essentially marginalized in our society.
May we talk?
Most sincerely RON BERGEN
Hello Mr. Sweeting,
I am an alumni of Moody Bible Institute (’02) and now work as a Licensed Professional Counselor at Lawrence University, Appleton WI. My husband and I were just looking at the schedule for Founder’s week next year and notice that you are scheduled to speak.
I wanted to tell you that people still remember your legacy at Lawrence University. Shortly after I arrived at Lawrence I heard about a group of students who left moody and came to LU to be missionaries in the late 1970’s (I think). I was also told that the Christian ministry on campus would bring in over 100 students and had an extraordinary impact on the student body. Now that I work at LU, I wanted to thank you and the other moody students who left such a rich heritage behind. It’s a privilege to serve Christ at LU!
Sincerely,
Deborah Wetzel
deborah.wetzel@lawrence.edu
Dr Sweeting,
Heard you do the Sermon at The Falls Church (Falls Church, VA on Oct 16th, 2011 on Revelation 2:18-29 – Church of Tyratira. Just wanted you to know, you helped me see the Seminary I was attending (Wesley Theological {Methodist}) was leading me to be too tolerant of non-Biblical beliefs. Non-Inspiration of God’s word, embracing the LGBT agenda. I was trying to be a voice, but was convicted (after 3 semesters and a lot of prayer) that I was indeed in the wrong place. Starting Capital Bible Seminary in two weeks (going after a counseling degree) with not a lot of transfer credits, but a clear conscience. I am using the Post 911 VA program and didn’t find the Reformed Seminary on the VA list. Hope you all can get added sometime. Blessings Jeff Hilton,
Jeff,
I just returned from a weekend where John and Susan Yates were the speakers! What a joy to be at The Falls Church this past Fall.
Jeff, you have made a huge decision. Even though you have to back up a bit in your training, I pray that this decision bring great gospel, and theological riches into your life and ministry that enables you to be a wonderful counselor.
Blessings
DS
Don,
I have thoroughly enjoyed your new book and have already passed it around to several “second half” people who are trying to figure out how to finish strong.
Peace
Kevin McBride
Don,
Thoroughly enjoyed the new book. Have already passed it aorund to several “second halfers” trying to figure out how to finish strong.
Peace
Kevin McBride
Thanks Kevin. We see so many people who do not have a vision for the second half of life. It was born out of that concern and opportunity.,
Blessings
Hello Don,
I am also a blogger on WordPress. While finishing a piece on All Saints last night, I did a Google image search for ‘All Saints’. The artwork most appealing was from a blog you wrote last year- All Saints 2011.
I always try to credit the material I have borrowed and so have referenced your blog. The artwork has been very popular! There are some asking for information on artist and such. When returning to your blog I was not able to find any details.
Do you have any information that I might share with others? It would be wonderful to know more about this artist.
I look forward to hearing from you.
In God’s peace,
Carrie+
Carrie
One of my student interns did this. I sent your note to him. He may respond to you with more information.
His email is Fromscarlet@mac.com
Don
Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hello, Don,
I am a literary publicist and came across one of your blog posts. I am currently working with a client whose books I think you would appreciate. His name is Dr. Theodore Morrison Homa. His books are Archimedes’ Claw and Standing at the Gates of Heaven and the Precipice of Hell: A doctor’s experience with the After Life. I would like to talk to you about guest blogging, or even just sending you a copy of one or both of his books. Do you have an email where I can tell you more? You may contact me a landryleigha (at) gmail (dot com). I have included Dr. Homa’s website as my own in the comment login so as not to have this marked as spam.
Best,
Leigha Landry
only part of your message came through
Don,
You may remember me, you may not. I was working at Metro Jewelers for Al Joseph when he came to sell the store and I was getting ready to move to Denver Seminary in 1993. I met you a couple of times there as a Moody Student.
I wanted to write and just say thanks for all your doing during this time. My son Ben is graduating from CCU here in 2020. I appreciate all your doing to make graduation as good as it can possibly be. My Daughter Alina, Lord willing, will begin in the fall at CCU. CCU has been a great place for my son. He has a good job offer and Lord willing that will stay in place.
I am grateful for all that CCU has done as well. I am a missionary church planting pastor in rural America with RHMA. RHMA.org. Steve Woodburn has been a class act to work with and has helped us navigate the financial Landscape of CCU. We being another four years in few short months and I am thinking my last daughter will be there as well in 22-23.
I enjoy reading your blog as well.
Jay
Thanks for your note. I just relaunched this blog and we are still getting lots of bugs out of it, so I apologize for not seeing this until this morning.
Al was a great guy. He came to faith under my dad’s ministry at Moody Church. He was amazingly generous. He prayed for me regularly. We bought our engagement ring there
as did many a Moody student. It was so sad when he had his stroke. He was a blessing to us.
Congratulations on your son graduating. Know that we are all lamenting that this year’s graduation has to be different. And we are planning on being back in the Fall, Lord willing.
But what a season this has been! Thanks for your prayers and God bless you in your important ministry of church planting.
Don
Great interview on Fox TV. I haven’t heard too many commentators attributing the campus support of Hamas to Neo-Marxism and anti-colonialism…at least not as directly as you. I agree.
Regards.
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