44FALL ACADEMICS AS THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR began, the College of Bible and Ministry was eager to offer students new options for classes. Among these classes was the Christian Families course, co-taught by five professors and their spouses. The Christian Families class was an upper-level course for juniors and seniors. It provided Scripture-based principles designed for building a healthy family and displayed how the family model mirrored God pursuing the church. The goal for the new format of class was to provide more approachable content. The style and format of the class was aimed to encourage both male and female perspectives in a Christcentered relationship. Junior Lori Cosby expressed her excitement about the new class format. “I feel like the atmosphere is more open for conversation and discussion,” Cosby said. “I think with having a pair of teachers, it gives two different perspectives and different backgrounds and stories to share their experiences being married and a Christian.” Cosby and her classmates were taught by professor of Bible and ministry and Director of the Center of Missions Shawn Daggett and his wife Donna Daggett, who shared that their relationship impacted the way that class was taught. Each night prior to class, the Daggetts sat down to cover material to prepare, dividing the content between them. “It is my way to share my world with her,” Shawn Daggett said. The interpersonal work created opportunities for personal growth in their relationship, which fed into their example for the class. Donna Daggett hoped this class would connect to all students as the couple dynamic prepared content for Christian Families. In another section of the class, adjunct professor Terri Rine and her husband Dennis Rine shared their experiences and hoped for the new design of Christian Families. Terri Rine previously taught a women’s section of Christian Families and was eager to co-teach with her husband. “We select content that we most relate to,” Terri Rine said. She emphasized that their intention was to give the information of the class a genuine voice in relation to experience. For Terri Rine, the most important aspect of coteaching was building a bridge to share her experience to those walking the road behind them. WRITTEN BY HANNAH DILES Bring in Backup A couple-led Bible class appeals to Christian relationships in a new classroom format. BACK TO THE BOOKS In August 2021, Mac Sandlin and Jenni Sandlin pose before teaching together. Mac Sandlin was an assistant professor of Christian Families and Honors Bible classes. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall
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