Reflection: The Care of Creation

The first pages of the Bible detail the intentional, magnificent creation of the heavens and earth and all that exists and dwells within them. At each stage of this creation, God reflected upon it and saw that it was good. When it came time for Yahweh to create humankind in His image, Genesis 2:15 tells us, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (ESV). The Lord entrusted the task of caring for the garden to Adam. Yahweh looked upon His creation with love, stated that it is good, and then entrusted humanity to look after His good creation.

Throughout the Bible, we learn how we should care for and interact with our fellow image-bearers, but “love your neighbor as yourself” extends beyond relational interaction to include care for all of creation. To care for and protect what Yahweh has created and determined as good is to love God and love others. Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (ESV). God is glorified through the work of his creation, and it is important to see Him and glorify Him in creation beyond that which is found in humanity.

For many years, Toccoa Falls College has paved a way for students to positively impact communities through ecological and economic ministry through our Sustainable Community Development program. While this program has flourished, placing many graduates around the world who are positively impacting underserved communities, TFC sought to expand our sustainability programming by introducing an Environmental Science & Sustainability program. 

This program builds on the biblical worldview of the Sustainable Community Development program but focuses more on ecological studies. It is an interdisciplinary program that blends the natural and social sciences to equip students to address today’s most pressing environmental challenges, emphasizing the Christian responsibility to steward God’s Creation with wisdom, care, and integrity. Through this versatile degree program, graduates are equipped with the tools to enter fields such as agriculture, conservation, public policy, urban planning, and more. TFC’s small class sizes, coupled with a large, environmentally rich campus, allow students to engage in in-depth, personalized study focused on their specific passions and areas of interest. Students can utilize the vast ecological resources on campus, as well as the Lawson Center for Sustainable Community Development, to fully immerse themselves in their studies and gain practical, hands-on experience. Whether it’s managing natural resources, crafting sustainable business policies, or working in environmental law, students develop the scientific knowledge, practical skills, and ethical framework needed to make a lasting impact—locally and globally. We are eagerly anticipating the work our graduates will undertake as they seek to make Yahweh known through the renewal and preservation of His beautiful creation.