At Missional University, we’re on a quest to identify, train, and empower a rare breed of individuals: missionizing purple squirrels. These are students who embody an extraordinary blend of passion, skill, and purpose, perfectly equipped to join God’s mission in the world. Our mascot, Missio, symbolizes this unique calling—a vibrant, dynamic fusion of intrinsic motivation and role competence that sets our graduates apart as transformative agents in their global communities and beyond. If you’re ready to deepen your faith, hone your expertise, and make a lasting impact, Missional University is the place to become a missionizing purple squirrel. Let’s explore what this means and why you should join us on this journey.

 

What Is a Missionizing Purple Squirrel?

The term “purple squirrel” originates in the recruiting world, describing a candidate who possesses a rare and ideal combination of skills, experiences, and qualities for a specific role. At Missional University, we’ve reimagined this concept through a missional lens, defining a missionizing purple squirrel as someone who merges exceptional professional competence with a deep, intrinsic passion for participating in the missio Dei—God’s redemptive mission in the world. This unique individual is not only highly skilled and adaptable but also driven by a heart for serving God, equipping others, and transforming communities through a gospel-centered purpose, presence, and proclamation.

A missionizing purple squirrel embodies two core dimensions:

1. Intrinsic Motivation: A burning passion to understand and participate in the missio Dei, a love for serving God, and a commitment to multiply Christian believers who merge their faith, career and service in the mission of God in the world.
2. Role Competence: Academic excellence, practical expertise, and a proven ability to apply skills effectively in real-world contexts.

These qualities merge red-hot intrinsic motivation with deep blue role competence. This combination together with a collaborative, humble, and innovative spirit, make missionizing purple squirrels rare but powerful agents of change. At Missional University, we don’t just seek these individuals—we cultivate them, deepening their “purple” through rigorous academics, experiential learning, and spiritual formation.

 

The Qualities of a Missionizing Purple Squirrel

What makes a missionizing purple squirrel so special? Drawing from the qualities of a purple squirrel in the professional world, we’ve tailored these attributes to reflect the unique mission of joining God at work in the world. Here’s what defines a missionizing purple squirrel:

• Rare Skill Set: Missionizing purple squirrels possess specialized skills that are both in demand and scarce. This might include expertise in areas like intercultural mission, community development, creative arts expression, theological education, or niche fields like environmental stewardship, behavioral healthcare, sports management, or urban mission. For example, a student might master biblical languages, trauma-informed rehabilitation, sustainable agriculture, criminal justice, or moral formation applying these skills to serve in God’s mission.
• Versatility: These individuals seamlessly blend hard skills (e.g., biblical exegesis, data-driven community analysis, geospatial analysis) with soft skills (e.g., empathetic leadership, intercultural communication, ethnic & reconciliation studies). A missionizing purple squirrel might lead a conflict mediation, organize a community outreach, and facilitate a theological discussion of mission—all in the same week.
• Proven Experience: Missionizing purple squirrels demonstrate a track record of success, whether through prior missional experience, professional achievements, or community impact. Their experiences align with their calling, showing tangible results that exceed expectations, such as launching a successful outreach program, mentoring others, or working with at-risk youth.
• Cultural Fit: Aligned with biblical values of humility, collaboration, and service, these students enhance team dynamics and embody a Christ-centered ethos. They thrive in diverse, multicultural settings, building bridges across communities.
• Innovative Mindset: Missionizing purple squirrels bring creativity to complex challenges, whether designing innovative missional models or finding new ways to share the gospel in secular contexts. Their fresh perspectives spark transformation in churches, nonprofits, government agencies, business organizations, and community neighborhoods.
• Quick Learner: With a hunger for growth, they rapidly acquire new skills, adapting to evolving missional needs or cultural shifts. Whether learning a new set of communication skills or mastering digital tools, they stay agile and responsive.
• Passion and Drive: Fueled by enthusiasm for God’s mission, missionizing purple squirrels exhibit a proactive commitment to excellence. Their passion inspires others, whether they’re leading a Bible study on the mission of God, advocating for justice, navigating cultural differences, or caring for creation.
• Strong Communication: They articulate their faith and ideas clearly, bridging gaps between theological concepts and everyday life. Whether sharing the gospel, teaching the integration of faith and work, or mentoring others in leadership skills, they connect with diverse audiences effectively.
• Unique Background: Their diverse experiences—cross-cultural upbringings, unconventional career paths, or interdisciplinary education—set them apart. A missionizing purple squirrel might combine a background in business with theological training to launch a social enterprise rooted in faith – and at Missional University, students customize their degree programs to equip them to serve in the mission of God in ways that God has called them. 

These qualities make missionizing purple squirrels not just exceptional students but also transformative leaders who merge faith, career, and mission into a seamless whole.

 

Missionizing: Joining God’s Work in Progress

To fully understand the missionizing purple squirrel, we must explore the concept of missionizing. At Missional University, missionizing is more than a buzzword—it’s a way of life. To missionize means to actively participate in God’s mission (missio Dei) by discerning where God is already at work and joining in with humility and purpose. Unlike traditional missionary work, which often emphasizes sending and initiating, missionizing is about partnership, collaboration, and holistic engagement. It’s about recognizing that God’s redemptive work is already unfolding and finding ways to participate through presence, relationship-building, and transformative action.

Missionizing is the ongoing practice of living out this call. It’s not a one-time event but a continuous process of discernment, service, and growth. A missionizer is someone who embodies this practice—a participant in God’s mission who engages with cultural humility, collaborates with others, and fosters mutual empowerment. At Missional University, we train students to become missionizers who don’t just share the gospel but live it out in their communities, workplaces, and beyond.

For example, a missionizing purple squirrel might work as a community organizer in an urban neighborhood, partnering with local leaders to address systemic issues while sharing Christ’s love through actions and words. Another might serve as a teacher in a rural school, weaving biblical principles into their curriculum while building relationships with students and families. In every context, missionizing purple squirrels join God’s work with sensitivity, creativity, and a commitment to transformation.

 

Why Missional University?

Missional University is uniquely positioned to empower students to become missionizing purple squirrels. Our approach is built on three pillars: stoking passion, pursuing excellence, and fostering experiential transformation. Here’s how we do it:

Stoking Passion (Intrinsic Motivation)

At the heart of every missionizing purple squirrel is a deep passion for serving God and equipping others. We nurture this intrinsic motivation by:

• Teaching the Missio Dei: Through courses in theology, missiology, and biblical studies, students gain a profound understanding of God’s mission in the world. They learn to see themselves as participants in a divine story that transcends time and culture.
• Cultivating Spiritual Formation: Our programs integrate prayer, worship, and reflective practices, helping students deepen their relationship with God and align their hearts with His purposes.
• Inspiring Service: We encourage students to channel their passion into practical action, whether through local outreach, global missions, or equipping others to serve in the mission of God. For instance, a student might lead a workshop to train church volunteers, igniting their passion for empowering others.

Pursuing Excellence (Role Competence)

Missionizing purple squirrels are not just passionate—they’re highly skilled. We provide rigorous academic training and practical experience to ensure graduates are equipped for their calling:

• Academic Excellence: Our faculty, composed of scholar-practitioners, deliver cutting-edge courses in fields like intercultural studies, community development, environmental studies, theological studies and more. Students gain a deep academic foundation tailored to their role.
• Practitioner-Focused Learning: Our curriculum emphasizes hands-on application. For example, a student studying urban mission might work with a local nonprofit to design a community program, applying their knowledge in real time.
• Specialized Tracks: From environmental mission to arts and worship, our diverse programs allow students to develop rare, in-demand skills that set them apart in their field.

Fostering Experiential Transformation

Becoming a missionizing purple squirrel is a transformative journey. We deepen the “purple” of our students through experiential learning that shapes their character and calling:

• Immersive Experiences: Students participate in internships, mission trips, and service projects that expose them to diverse contexts. A student might serve in a refugee resettlement program, learning to navigate cultural complexities while sharing Christ’s love.
• Collaborative Learning: Our programs foster teamwork and mutual empowerment, reflecting the collaborative nature of missionizing. Students work alongside peers, faculty, and community partners, learning from diverse perspectives.
• Transformative Reflection: Through guided reflection, students process their experiences, integrating their faith, skills, and mission into a cohesive identity as missionizers.

 

The Impact of Missionizing Purple Squirrels

When you become a missionizing purple squirrel, you don’t just change your own life—you transform the world around you. Our graduates are making a difference in countless ways:

• Multiplying Missionizers: A missionizing purple squirrel might train church members to lead small groups, empowering them to share their faith confidently.
• Serving Communities: From launching sustainable development projects to advocating for justice, our graduates address real-world needs with creativity and compassion.
• Bridging Cultures: In a globalized world, missionizing purple squirrels build bridges across cultures, fostering understanding and collaboration in diverse settings.
• Innovating Ministry: Whether through digital platforms or new ministry models, our graduates find fresh ways to share the gospel and serve others.

For example, consider Dr. Latham, a global faculty member at Missional University who brings more than twenty years of international leadership experience with socioecological programs to his role. As a missionizing purple squirrel, he draws from his extensive work in community resilience, disaster preparedness, and climate change adaptation—gained through senior positions with Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision, the United Nations, USAID, and WHO—to develop curriculum that prepares students to address complex global challenges through faith-integrated solutions. His unique blend of systematic theology expertise, environmental policy background, and real-world experience leading rapid response teams across multiple continents makes him a transformative educator who equips future leaders for missional impact—and he represents the caliber of faculty who make Missional University distinctive.

 

Why Enroll at Missional University?

If you’re inspired to become a missionizing purple squirrel, Missional University is the place to start. Here’s why:

• A Community of Missionizers: You’ll join a vibrant community of students, faculty, and alumni who share your passion for God’s mission. Together, you’ll learn, grow, and make a difference.
• Tailored Programs: With 100% flexible online courses, our programs fit your life and calling, whether you’re a working professional, a ministry leader, or a recent high school graduate.
• Global Faculty: With nearly 100% of faculty with a terminal degree in the areas in which they teach, our global online faculty represent countries on six continents and many different socio-cultural backgrounds.
• Global Impact: Our focus on intercultural studies and global mission prepares you to serve anywhere in the world, from urban centers to remote villages.
• Affordable Excellence: We’re committed to making education accessible, offering scholarships and financial aid to support your journey.
• Mentorship and Support: Our faculty and staff provide personalized guidance, helping you discern your calling and develop your unique gifts.

 

Your Journey to Becoming a Missionizing Purple Squirrel

Enrolling at Missional University is more than a step toward a degree—it’s an invitation to join a transformative movement. Here’s what your journey might look like:

1. Discover Your Calling: Through our introductory courses, you’ll explore the missio Dei and discern how God is calling you to serve. You might discover a passion for youth ministry, community development, or theological education.
2. Develop Your Skills: Our programs equip you with the academic and practical tools to excel in your role. You’ll master specialized skills while honing your ability to adapt and innovate.
3. Deepen Your Faith: Through spiritual formation and experiential learning, you’ll grow closer to God and develop a heart for missionizing.
4. Make an Impact: As a missionizing purple squirrel, you’ll graduate ready to lead, serve, and transform communities, equipped with the skills and passion to make a lasting difference.

 

Join the Movement

The world needs missionizing purple squirrels—individuals who combine rare skills, deep faith, and a passion for God’s mission. At Missional University, we’re committed to empowering you to become one. Our mascot, Missio, represents the vibrant, transformative potential within you. By enrolling, you’ll join a community dedicated to stoking your passion, pursuing excellence, and fostering transformation.

Don’t wait to answer God’s call. Visit Missional University’s website to learn more about our programs, apply for admission, or connect with our admissions team. Whether you’re called to serve in a church, nonprofit organization, business, government agency or your local community, Missional University will equip you to become a missionizing purple squirrel—a rare, remarkable leader who changes the world for Christ.

Take the first step today. Embrace your calling, deepen your purple, and join us in God’s mission. The world is waiting for you.