Academics

BIBLE DOCTRINES – BID: In this course, the Bible will be used to establish and define essential and foundational doctrinal truths. During this course, the student will obtain a basic working knowledge of the major doctrines of the Bible. Each doctrine will be studied separately, defined and examined from the Bible. The practical application of each doctrine will be noted for its practical application in the life of a believer. Please note that some doctrines will not be handled in depth as they will be studied in other courses in the curriculum.

HERMENEUTICS: This course is designed to develop in the student the skill of biblical interpretation. Students receive an overview of the most widely accepted rules of Biblical Interpretation, including contextual, historical, and grammatical interpretation. Special emphasis is given to the role and influence of the Holy Spirit in interpreting the Scriptures, and the proper application of the Scriptures. This course includes classroom lectures as well as exercises in Bible interpretation.

BIBLICAL FINANCES: God has so much to say in His word regarding our finances, yet this vital subject has either been ignored by the body of Christ or distorted. God is very clear that His will is for each believer to have their needs met and to have an abundance to give and be a great blessing. He also gives us much instruction on steps that will take us toward this goal and warnings to avoid that will keep us from it. This course will not only give a strong theological base of God’s will regarding finances, but clearly point the way to experience His plan. The Biblical Economics course will help the students to understand God’s will and goal for their personal financial life and introduce them to the wisdom and skills necessary to live in God’s best.

BLOOD COVENANT – BLC: God has initiated how we are to relate to him throughout the Bible. These agreements are referred to as “covenants” and were always sealed by blood. This course will help the student understand why God requires the blood of another in order to have a relationship with Him. The student will understand our links to the Old Covenant and the reality of our New Covenant. As the truths of the New Covenant are believed, so much other truth from God’s word will be seen more clearly.

CHRIST THE HEALER – CTH: In this course, students are expected to come to understand that sickness and disease are not from God and it is God’s will to heal ALL. Specific attention will be given to the will of God concerning healing, how to receive your healing, hindrances to receiving divine healing and how to keep your healing.

DEVELOPING THE LEADER WITHIN – DLW: This course is designed to help you develop the attitudes, skills and character traits you will need to become the leader God has called you to be. You may need to establish new patterns of thought and action, and break old habits that have been keeping you back.

EFFECTIVE PRAYER – EFP: Prayer is the invitation from God to each believer to fellowship with Him in a real and intimate way. The Word of God gives an account of prayers prayed by men and women of God throughout the ages. The believer is also given instruction on how to pray, what to pray for and other vital details of prayer so that this aspect of our Christian life can be fruitful. This course will comprehensively help students to understand and walk in the privileges of New Testament prayer.

EPHESIANS – EPH: Ephesians is a classic example of Paul’s strategy to grow and develop believers towards maturity and fruitfulness. Its truths will establish believers to that end. It is also a wonderful guide for helping leaders develop others towards the goal that God has for them of Christ-likeness. This course is a systematic study of the progression of thought and to dig into the great truths of this New Testament epistle

FAITH FOUNDATIONS – FAF: Every believer is called to live a lifestyle of faith. Faith is the natural response towards God from a human heart that is convinced that He loves them and will keep His word. This assurance gives the believer great stability and strength and causes him to rise up above the circumstances of life and see God’s hand of strength. The importance of this Bible subject cannot be overemphasized as it is the only way we enter into God’s best and please Him. This course will help establish each student in the understanding of what Biblical faith is and is not. It will help them to grow and activate their faith and help others to live a similar lifestyle. The Faith Foundations course will help the student to deepen their faith walk with God and to enjoy the benefits of trusting God as never before.

PNEUMATOLOGY: This course defines the nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 and the students study the scriptural examples of each gift of the Spirit. They learn to examine the operation, purpose, and benefits of these gifts in the Church today.

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD MISSIONS – IWM: This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the many aspects of world missions with specific emphasis on the Biblical basis for missions; the history of missions; culture and worldview; the status of world evangelization today; the unfinished task and strategies to finish that task; and the role of the African church in today’s wave of missions. Special attention will be given to the Great Commission. This course will also examine the gospel and define its properties. This course will acquaint students with how the minister bridges the gap between the nationals and the missionary. All of the issues and topics examined in this course will be consistent with the responsibility of every believer, in regards to the command of Jesus.

NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY – NTS: The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the New Testament from Matthew through Revelation and includes a brief background study of the inter-testamental period between Malachi of the Old Testament and Matthew of the New Testament. The survey includes historical and expository information on each of these books. The overview includes authorship, historical setting, purposes and themes and other pertinent information to bring clarity regarding the thought and message of each book.

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY I – OTS: The emphasis in this course is not on historical facts but on pertinent truths. The Apostle Paul had this in mind when he wrote to the Corinthians concerning Old Testament history. “Now all these things happened unto them (Israelites) for ensamples (examples, types); and they are written for our admonition (instruction), upon whom the ends of the world (ages) are come.” I Cor. 10:11. Through the study of the history of God’s Covenant People, Israel, God’s nature, the sin of man and its consequences and the great mercy of God is revealed in the plan of redemption. The “Scarlet Cord” of redemption is seen through the Old Testament from the beginning. This course is designed to show how the Old Testament contains a wealth of illustrative material. These become concrete pictures of abstract truths, thus making it easy to learn to apply truth to life. An attempt is made to have the Old Testament, “come alive.”

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY II – OTS: The emphasis in this course is not on historical facts but on pertinent truths. The Apostle Paul had this in mind when he wrote to the Corinthians concerning Old Testament history. “Now all these things happened unto them (Israelites) for ensamples (examples, types); and they are written for our admonition (instruction), upon whom the ends of the world (ages) are come.” I Cor. 10:11. Through the study of the history of God’s Covenant People, Israel, God’s nature, the sin of man and its consequences and the great mercy of God is revealed in the plan of redemption. The “Scarlet Cord” of redemption is seen through the Old Testament from the beginning. This course is designed to show how the Old Testament contains a wealth of illustrative material. These become concrete pictures of abstract truths, thus making it easy to learn to apply truth to life. An attempt is made to have the Old Testament, “come alive.”

PERSONAL EVANGELISM – PEV: The purpose of this course is to equip the student to be effective in the personal ministry of the gospel to the lost. God gave His church a Great Commission to present the Gospel to the whole world. The course will develop a Biblical understanding of why we must reach those outside of God’s family. Methods of personal evangelism will also be understood and practiced.

PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT – PGD: It is the will of God that every believer grows up in Him – to be perfected, developed, and matured for the work of the ministry. Christ is the perfect example of being mature, the One by Whom we should measure our lives. In this series, you will see that the greater our development, the greater our work of ministry will be, and the greater our contribution to the overall building of the body of Christ.

RIGHTEOUSNESS – RIG: The subject of Righteousness is one of the least understood doctrines of the Bible today. Yet, it is the very reality that God gave men access into through the plan of redemption. Therefore, a practical study of Righteousness will be the emphasis of this course. This course is designed to introduce the revelation of Righteousness and to encourage application of this reality to our personal lives on a daily basis.

SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE – SFS: From life’s outset, we find ourselves searching to satisfy some inner, unexplained yearning. Our hunger causes us to search for people who will love us. Our desire for acceptance pressures us to perform for the praise of others. We strive for success, driving our minds and bodies harder and harder, hoping that because of our sweat and sacrifice, others will appreciate us more. Although forgiven by God, many of us enter our Christian life with a wrong self-perception because of baggage from our past. The Search for Significance course will demonstrate the frustration and hopelessness of searching for a lasting sense of self-worth in the world and show how this sense of self-worth can be found, as we trust in Christ and what He has done for us.

THE AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER – TAB: This course will give the student clear
instruction on how Jesus obtained victory for every believer. It will also give clarity on
how that victory is practically implemented in the life of a Christian. The victory that
Jesus won over the enemy was not for Himself but for people who had been held
captive by the enemy.

CHARACTER OF GOD – COG: God had gone to great lengths to make Himself known to mankind. Through His word, He has clearly defined His boundaries – where He starts and stops. He tells us who He is and who He is not. He tells us what He does and what He does not do. Far too many Christians believe that God is a mystery that can never be understood. This course will show the student large amounts of Biblical evidence how God can be known and therefore relied upon in a relationship.

THE HOLY SPIRIT – THS: Jesus said in John 14 that He would pray the Father and
He would send another Comforter that would abide with us forever. One must
recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit as an experienced reality. The focus of this
course is on the person, work and present-day ministry of the Holy Spirit. Special
attention will be given to the Deity and Person of the Spirit and our personal
fellowship with Him. This course emphasizes the necessity of the Holy Spirit in the
personal life and public ministry of the believer.

CHURCH HISTORY – CHH: This course is to provide an overview of the story of the historical development of the Christian Church. It is an introductory course that will look at the key persons, events and theological trends that have shaped the church to what we see it as today. This is not a course of dates, names and theological classifications to be memorized for an exam. It is hoped that these details will be learned as part of the process of seeing the story of how the church has developed within its historical contexts and has come to be as it is now.

UNDERSTANDING GRACE – UGR: This course will help the student to understand
the vital doctrine of grace. While grace is a major theme of the New Testament, it is
often neglected or misunderstood. This course will give a deep and wide foundation
to the student and assist their heart to be established in grace. Grace is the ability of
God that saves, sanctifies and empowers the believer for life and ministry.

LIFE & MINISTRY OF JESUS – LMJ: This course will focus on the life of Jesus, emphasizing His pattern of ministry for His disciples to follow. Jesus had a distinct strategy that caused His effectiveness. The keys will be seen and studied. The student will be instructed to build their ministry motives, plans and results after the ministry of Jesus.

SUPPORTIVE MINISTRY I – SUM: This course was developed by Rev. Tony Cooke
for the purpose of recognizing and establishing the student with a clear
understanding and value for the role of help and support in ministry as an essential
heavenly assignment. Each lesson is infused with a clear biblical perspective and
full of valuable ministerial experience providing real world application.

BOUNDARIES – BND: All ministry is done in relationship with others. There are many pitfalls in ministry when one does not understand personal responsibility in the context of interpersonal relationships. This course will describe and show what these concepts are and are not. The student will learn how to set up proper personal boundaries in their life to relate and minister to others in a healthy and God-honoring way. The Boundaries will help the student to understand their own personal responsibility towards in both protecting and resourcing their life.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH – CHY: The purpose of this course is to give you a closer look into the heart and skills necessary to minister to children and youth. The student will understand God’s heart and the priority that children and youth ministry must be in kingdom work. Different principles and techniques of ministering to young people will be examined in depth. The student will have a good working knowledge of how to lead children and youth ministry.

DEVELOPING LEADERS AROUND YOU – DLA: A leader’s effectiveness is best enhanced by their ability to develop others. This course will equip you with the skills to develop others to reach their potential for the Kingdom of God. People can grow, develop, and become more effective if they have a leader who understands their potential value. This course will show you how to identify and train potential leaders and foster a productive team spirit.

HOMILETICS 1: This class is to prepare the student to develop effective, responsible research habits and methodology in sermon preparation. The course is designed to help the student learn how to prepare and deliver a message from inception through the process of delivery. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding the audience and relating effectively to them in their context.

Homiletics 2: (Homiletics) This class is to practically prove the student’s ability to develop effective sermon research preparation and delivery. The course is designed to help the student learn how to prepare and deliver a message from inception through the process of delivery. Because Africa is Africa, special care will be taken to preserve the integrity of cultural style within the communication process.

EFFECTIVE MINISTRY – EFM: This course will focus on key areas in the life of a minister or Christian worker that will cause long term fruitfulness. While much in ministry is beyond our control, the student will learn areas of emphasis that will determine ministry success. Much will be shown about our personal responsibility and the action steps to be taken.

ESCATOLOGY: As Christians we need to have an expectation of our Lord and Savior coming again. This subject will shed light on what is going to happen in the future on planet earth in view of scripture. This course will build faith and confidence in the student and help develop a healthy balanced expectancy of our Lords return with concern for the lost.

CHURCH PLANT (PASTORAL ELECTIVE): The emphasis on this course is to convey the methods, processes and procedures required to accomplish God-given mandates. Through appropriating these methods, processes and procedures in our lives, we will instill a maximum effectiveness for God in His designed work and bring about a succession plan for future generations.
Every leader must be equipped to lead Godly change – motivated and feeling value by contributing to something significant; achieving God’s mandates; laying a solid foundation for all God wants to build. This course will help you passionately facilitate the effective leading of your people deep down into your ministry.
It’s not just what you accomplish today but what you set in motion for tomorrow. God wants us to transform His people in the process of transacting His work.

ITINERANT, MISSIONARY, EVANGELIST (SUPPORTIVE ELECTIVE) – IME: Throughout the New Testament, we see the vital role of those who travel from church to church or those who went to other lands to evangelize and pioneer churches. These ministries are key to the health and expansion of God’s kingdom in the earth. They are not to be discounted nor treated as second-class functions. This class will show examples from God’s word of these types of ministries and the principles that would guide them to have long-term success and significance.

INTRODUCTION TO PASTORAL MINISTRY (PASTORAL ELECTIVE) – IPM: The New Testament church is described in great detail in the book of Acts and in the Epistles. Pastors are called to lead this wonderful institution and the importance of their role cannot be overemphasized. This course is designed to provide an overview of the basic elements of the New Testament role of a pastor. It will also show the Biblical functions of a vital and healthy church and its design.

INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING – ITC: This course is designed to provide an overview of the basic elements necessary in providing effective spiritual care and support to those in crisis. Special attention will be given to the counseling nature of God, as well as the believer’s role in working with God’s Word and Spirit in providing meaningful ministry to individuals. The course will address basic skills necessary in providing quality pastoral care, such as effective listening and effective communication, confidentiality, recognizing one’s limitations, and how to ask for outside help.

SUPPORTIVE MINISTRY (SUPPORTIVE ELECTIVE) II: Many believers have grown discouraged as they embark on a life of faith. As they transition from a sight and feeling based lifestyle to one that believes in God, they face challenges. This class will help the student to learn how to practically apply faith in everyday situations and to go from theory to reality. Many misconceptions will be looked at from a scriptural perspective. The student will learn how to have real faith in God and in His word even in the face of difficult situations. Typical faith-failure will be studied and understood. An emphasis will also be placed regarding faith in ministry situations and dealing with others.

LIFE OF WORSHIP – LOW: This course will consist of an in-depth study of why we were created – to worship. It will also bring out the different aspects required for us to live a life of worship and how this can be used both personally and corporately to ultimately glorify and magnify our creator.

MARRIAGE, FAMILY & MINISTRY – MFM: This course looks at God’s design and plan for the home. Various integral components of a God-honoring marriage and family will be studied from a Biblical sense, with an emphasis on practical implementation. It will also consider the unique role that the family plays in ministry and following the will of God.

MASTER PLANNING – MPL: God has so much to say in His word regarding planning for the future. God is very clear that His will is for each believer to have an abundant and orderly life. He also gives us much instruction on steps that will take us towards these goals and warnings of things to avoid that will keep us from them. This course will not only give a strong theological base of God’s will regarding planning, but clearly point the way to experience His plan.

MINISTERIAL ETHICS – MNE: This course will investigate the ethical side of ministry. It will discuss a number of key issues including: how a person handles themselves with others, their motives, proper relationships to the opposite sex and use of ministry finances. The course will give a framework and key foundational truths that will equip the student to make decision in the future based on God’s standards as set forth in His word. Many examples from scriptures will show how leaders adhered to these principles or violated them. The Ministerial Ethics course will give students some vital keys to achieve longevity and fruitfulness of ministry.

MINISTRY FINANCES – MNF: God has so much to say in his word regarding financing ministries, yet this vital subject has either been ignored by the body of Christ or distorted. God is very clear that His will is for every ministry to have its needs met and to have an abundance to spread the gospel and be a great blessing. He also gives us much instruction and practical steps that will take us towards this goal and warnings to avoid that will keep us from it. This course will not only give a strong theological base of God’s will regarding ministry finances, but clearly point the way to experience His plan. The Ministry Finances course will help students understand God’s will and goal for their ministry finances and introduce them to the
wisdom and skills necessary to run the finances of their ministries in a manner that is above reproach.

PRACTICAL MINISTRIES SYMPOSIUM – PMS: This course is designed to increase the understanding of different supportive departments in a ministry or a church as well as how to perform doctrinal pastoral functions.

PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING – POT: Teachers are called by God to make a difference in the lives of their students. This course will help develop the teaching gift inside of you by making you aware of how you can cooperate with the Biblical job description of a teacher. This course will help you to become more effective as a teacher who teaches for the purpose of life-change.

TRUTH & ERROR – TAE: This course examines New Testament warnings concerning unsound doctrine and unsound spiritual leadership. We will look at what the Scripture says about judging and the believer’s responsibility to examine what we hear. We will also discover Biblical ways of weighing and responding to erroneous teaching and unhealthy leadership.

THE MINISTRY GIFTS – TMG: This course is designed to prepare the student to recognize and work with the Divine call and ministry gifts that Christ has given to the church. Clarification will be provided to help avoid many of the commonly accepted extremes, over emphasis and misplaced authority that is often attributed to the ministry functions of Apostles and Prophets. Additionally an overview of church government will further empower the aspiring leader to understand and work with and within the different forms of governance.

TRIUMPHANT CHURCH – TRC: This course will establish the student in the truth of Satan’s defeat providing them with the ability to walk in the victory that God has intended for every believer. By having a clear understanding of the myths and truth about the devil, the student will have knowledge that will keep them from being destroyed. The “battle” for victory in life is over when you understand the victory that we have in Jesus.

TEAM LEADERSHIP LAB I & II – TLL: This is a practical skills course which is designed to integrate classes from first and second year studies. The course will examine how leaders can use creative and systematic processes to develop shared vision, communicate it to internal and external groups, and translate it through strategic planning processes into effective action. Students will be placed in teams to put to use the vital ministry skills of processing and planning in a group.