It’s never too late to go back to school.
Published October 24, 2018 in Summit Magazine
“Typical college age” is a thing of the past as today’s online students pursue higher education years after high school graduation. Many CSU students, including the one you’ll meet in this article, came back to school later in life to pursue career goals and follow God’s leading.
Keith Stark: Going Back to Go Down Under
Australia, England, Guam, Germany, Czech Republic.These are places Clarks Summit University graduate and Mesa, Arizona, native Keith Stark has called home during his 25-year U.S. Air Force career. There is one place, though, that beckoned to him after his retirement because of its desperate need for a permanent pastor.
When Stark was assigned by the military to a solar observatory that supported NASA in Exmouth, Australia, God soon led him to Exmouth Christian Fellowship Church, where he became head pastor. The Starks made it their mission to return there once their time in the military ended.
“The church in Australia always had a special place in my heart,” Stark admits. “My wife and I would have dreams about walking through the dusty streets praying for the town. We both felt called to return. Per God’s direction, we started saving money to fund our return 10 years before I actually retired. In March 2017, that day finally came, and after nine continuous years without a pastor, our little church finally has one again.”
When visa requirements dictated Stark must attain his degree within nine months or be required to leave the country, CSU’s admissions team accepted the unique challenge, and this veteran began working on his degree online at a daunting pace. “CSU’s admissions staff mentors are my heroes,” Stark claims. “They took my time issues seriously and got me started right away.” He also credits the financial services team at CSU, saying they make it an easy process—exactly what he needed as an adult student.
Stark first started earning his degree in 1985, stopping to serve in the military. More than 30 years later, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree with an Integrated Studies and Bible major in 2018, after months of diligent online study. To Stark, “CSU means a biblically sound opportunity to rapidly finish a degree due to engaged instructors and an energized, personally responsive administration.” Keith and Cheryl, along with their five daughters, love serving in the little Outback church. Stark is now pursuing his master’s degree at CSU.
-Jessica Eddy is a senior Communications-Writing major from Worthington, Pennsylvania
