Department of Ministry

Effective ministry in the urban church requires an ability to view the problems, resources, and purpose of the Church through the perspectives of Scripture, history, and culture. This course will involve students in an examination of how urban Christians can minister through leadership, education, evangelism, worship, community formation, and social involvement.
Required for Intermediate Certificate.

Spring I
Mondays, 6 pm - Blankley
Thursdays, 6 pm - Herbert
Saturdays, 9 am - Taylor

Over the centuries, have the mission and method of the Church gotten out of focus? An examination of the Church through the lenses of Scripture, history and culture will enable you to distinguish between form and function and formulate a philosophy of ministry that will make your church most effective in providing the kind of corporate experience necessary for producing mature believers.
Required for Intermediate Certificate.

Spring II
Mondays, 6 pm - Blossom
Thursdays, 6 pm - Taylor
Saturdays, 10:35 am - Taylor

Worship in the local church is often limited to one thing, preaching, music, etc. In this course you will develop a biblical understanding of what worship is, how we can worship, and critique several different models of worship in the local church.

Spring II
Thursdays, 7:35 p.m. - Herbert

Have you ever asked the question: Me, an evangelist? When people think of evangelism, they usually think of preaching the Gospel. Then, depending on how they see themselves as public speakers, they rate themselves as good or bad evangelists. But evangelism is more than content; it also involves one's own gift(s) and personal style. This course will help you clarify the message of the Gospel, identify your gift(s) and personal style, and challenge you to become a player in the Kingdom by impacting your world.
Required for Preliminary Certificate.

Spring II
Mondays, 6 pm - Watson
Thursdays, 6 pm - Herbert
Saturdays, 9 am - Thompson

In this course, we will focus on getting to know God like we have never known Him before. Students will spend 30 days examining both how to get to know God better and actually studying the attributes and names of God and their practical application in our lives.

Winterim 2012
Mondays, 6:00 p.m. - Watson

Satan wants nothing more than that people will be confused and ignorant about the true means of salvation (2 Cor. 4:4), because it is throught the Gospel alone that people can escape his realm (Acts 26:18). Only we have the message that can bring release. It is imperative for the Christian to have the absolute assurance of his own eternal life before he can live a productive life for God and help others to come to the position and assurance of right standing before God. The aim of the course is to explain the indispensable content of the message we need to proclaim to determine whether or not our hearers understand the message, and to provide a method that will lead them to believe the message that "has delivered us from the power of darkness" (Col. 1:13).
Fulfills required evangelism elective for Intermediate Certificate.

Spring II - Thompson
Thursdays, 6 pm
Saturdays, 10:35 am

Have you ever sat next to someone on the subway, at the park, or at an affair and you started talking about your faith in Jesus, and they interrupted you and said, "That's nice, but I'm Jewish."? Come and learn what to say next. The course will cover Jewish history, thought, and apologetics. If you can witness to a Jewish person, you can witness to anybody.
Fulfills required evangelism elective for Intermediate Certificate.

Spring II
Mondays, 6 pm - Moskowitz, and staff of Jews for Jesus

In today's world of conflict and change no one can escape the reality that Islam is spreading very fast. Since 9/11 the number o Muslims in the US has doubled. They are building mosques and Islamic centers throughout the country. There is an inevitable fear among Americans that the imminent threat of terrorism by Muslims in America in rising everyday. What does Islam teach about terrorism? What is Jihad? Are all Muslims estremists? Is Islam a religion of peace? What are the basic beliefs of Muslims? These and other questions will be answered in this course. Understanding Islam is the only way to reach Muslims in America and worldwide.

June
Mondays, 6 p.m. - Javed

This is a very basic course about Islam. Answers to very basic questions will build a foundation for other more critical courses in the Understanding Islam Certificate program, courses that will instruct about the articles of Islamic faith and the pillars of Islam that Muslims believe Islam stands on. This course will begin to lay the foundations for Islam beliefs. Students will learn why Muslims dress in particular ways (the women in veil and some men in long shirts worn as a gown). Other questions to be answered, Why do Muslims believe as they do? What is Ramadan? Why do Muslims go to Mecca for pilgrimage?
Required for Understanding Islam Certificate

Fall I
Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Javed

History exists to teach us about the evil and good done by people in the past so that we may avoid in the present such conflicts that cause evil. President Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance, it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.” Many Americans are anticipating an ideological invasion of Islam in the United States of America. They are afraid that Sharia is creeping into our society, and taking over inch by inch. This class will provide a brief history of Islam to show the expansion of Islam as a political, social, cultural, militaristic, and religious movement. It will reveal how the development of Islam in the past 1400 years has brought greater conflict in the world and will examine the behavior of Muslims toward other non-Muslim nations, while revealing hidden agendas of Arabic invasions in the past and the connection of these invasions with the present and future events.
Required for Understanding Islam Certificate

Fall II
Mondays, 7:35 p.m. - Javed