Dr. H. Wayne Ballard, Interim PresidentFounded in 1996 with a vision to serve nontraditional students and second-career seekers, CCCTS has become a harbor for those who feel their time for learning may have passed. Yet at this institution, it’s never too late to begin again. Rooted in faith, embracing diversity, and deeply committed to community, it offers a place where anyone can pursue their educational journey—no matter the stage in life.
Just consider the story of Thomas Mills, a recent graduate whose journey embodies the spirit of CCCTS.
In his sixties and battling terminal cancer, Mills’s only ambition was to earn his undergraduate degree, which he had waited over forty years to complete. As graduation neared, his health declined. Unsure if he would make it, Interim President Dr. H. Wayne Ballard, together with members of the management board and the vice president of academic affairs, prepared a certificate for Mills. Dr. Ballard then personally drove three hours to deliver it to his home—a gesture that said, “You’ve already finished strong.”
“Moments like that remind us why Charlotte Christian College exists—not just to grant degrees, but to walk with people through life’s hardest journeys. It’s where ministry meets education, and every student’s story matters,” says Ballard.
Against the odds, Thomas walked the graduation stage that spring, to the loudest applause, embraced by Ballard in a moment of triumph. He passed away a few months later, but his legacy lives on as a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to fulfill a calling.
Programs with a Purpose
Thomas’s journey is just one example of how CCCTS transcends the role of an institution to become a community that empowers students. As a broadly evangelical, nondenominational institution, the college welcomes students from a wide array of Christian traditions. Many are already in ministry—pastors, chaplains, and counselors—seeking to deepen their biblical knowledge and theological training while balancing families and careers.
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Moments like that remind us why Charlotte Christian College exists—not just to grant degrees, but to walk with people through life’s hardest journeys. It’s where ministry meets education, and every student’s story matters
Its academic programs range from associate degrees in biblical studies to doctoral degrees in ministry. Core areas include pastoral studies, urban ministry, and biblical studies, with an emphasis on real-world application and community impact. The college also offers counseling and chaplaincy tracks to meet the needs of today’s churches and families.
Following COVID-19, the college transitioned to a primarily online model, allowing it to reach students across the East Coast and internationally. Yet it remains rooted in its urban Charlotte community, committed to serving the city’s needs and those of underserved populations.
Faithful Educators and Bold Futures
Under Ballard’s leadership, the college is expanding its reach through certificate programs, including one for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and another designed to support preschool educators. It is also forming strategic partnerships with international communities, such as Vietnamese people groups across the Carolinas and Congolese churches in Belgium and the Congo—offering both accredited and non-accredited certificates to meet students wherever they are.
At the heart of this mission is a devoted faculty of scholars and practitioners. From professors with Princeton credentials to long-serving pastors and multilingual mentors, the CCCTS faculty represents a blend of academic rigor and sacrificial service. Some, like Professor Emeritus David Paulson, continue to tutor students in Greek and Hebrew with little compensation, simply out of love for the work.
As the college enters a new era of leadership following the departure of founding president Dr. Eddie Grigg, its purpose remains clear: to empower believers with the skills to lead, serve, and transform their communities. Whether through a pastoral call, a classroom discussion, or a late-night online course, CCCTS continues to stand as a place dedicated to equipping diverse and nontraditional students for ministry and service.
