UPLAND — Taylor University is featured in a BYUtv documentary series exploring the influence of faith-based learning in colleges across the country.
The series, “Higher Ed: The Power of Faith-Inspired Learning,” highlights Taylor graduate Elisabeth Nieshalla, Class of 2024; senior Hannah Wylie; and Taylor University President Michael Lindsay.
“We followed two students to specifically get an individual human story,” said executive producer Erik Christensen. “We wanted to see what life was like before coming to the institution and why they wanted to go there in the first place.”
Nieshalla discussed how she once found her identity in accomplishments but said her time at Taylor shifted her perspective toward finding her identity in Christ.
Wylie spoke about her opportunity to attend an Ivy League university but made the intentional decision to enroll at Taylor instead because it offered something unique.
“I’ve loved my Christian university experience,” Wylie said. “It has been deeply impactful in my spiritual, academic and personal growth, so I was proud to participate in such a series.”
Christensen said the production team realized there are many faith-based institutions across the world, especially in the United States, and that they sensed there were important stories to tell.
The series also includes narratives from institutions such as the University of Notre Dame, Biola University, Oakwood University, The Catholic University of America, and Brigham Young University, which is affiliated with BYUtv.
“We were so eager to hear what faith-based learning meant to their institutions and their students,” Christensen said.
Christensen said the team hoped the documentary would explore whether there is “a higher way” in education – and whether that higher way includes a foundation of faith.
They found that combining faith-based and secular education can create something greater, according to Christensen.
“Everything we do at BYUtv, we try to have God be in it,” he said. “We often say, ‘How is God in this?’ I think we are constantly striving for that inspiration – the feeling of the Spirit inspiring us in our choices, in our decisions and in our actions.”
According to Christensen, the documentary was about two years in the making.
“I think we really have felt inspired,” he said. “We’ve really felt the Spirit of God guiding this process.”
When Taylor reached out to BYUtv to host an on-campus screening, Christensen said he and his team were supportive of the idea.
He added that BYUtv seeks to highlight stories of people who use their faith to navigate life’s challenges.
“It doesn’t mean everything’s perfect,” Christensen said. “But the stories of people who use their faith to find positive transformation and redemption in their lives are something BYUtv seeks out.”
“That’s hopefully what all our programming does, each in its own unique way,” he said.
Christensen said BYUtv’s programming library is intentionally built on faith-based principles, with content designed to be both transformative and redemptive.
“It’s not meant to be preachy or heavy-handed,” he said. “It’s meant to share a story that’s engaging and entertaining, but that values faith and represents it in positive ways.”
Higher Ed: The Power of Faith-Inspired Learning is available to stream for free on the BYUtv platform. Viewers can access it through the BYUtv website or the BYUtv app on iPhone, Apple TV or Roku.
