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What is scripture? How do we study it? Why do we study it? What tools are there to help us? And does it really have anything to say to today’s challenges so many years after it was written?

This course can be taken on its own or as part of a 5 course Certificate in Bible and Theology. Participants independently work through seven weeks of guided reading and reflection which culminates in a two-day in-person retreat on September 22 and September 23 at West Side Christian Church in Springfield, Illinois.

Teaching Fellow: Dr. Derek Voorhees

Cost: $250

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What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus (discipleship)? How does a disciple become like Jesus (spiritual formation)? And how does a disciple invest in and entrust all of that to others (multiplication)?

This course can be taken on its own or as part of a 5 course Certificate in Christian Ministry. Participants independently work through seven weeks of guided reading and reflection which culminates in a two-day in-person retreat on September 25 and September 26 at First Christian Church in Decatur, Illinois.

Teaching Fellow: Dr. Caleb Brown

Cost: $250

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The Gospels tell the story of THE turning point in history: Jesus. We will not only think about Jesus (information) but seek to think like Jesus in our daily lives (transformation). We will answer two questions: (1) who is Jesus to you, and (2) who are you to Jesus?

This course can be taken on its own or as part of a 5 course Certificate in Bible and Theology. Participants independently work through seven weeks of guided reading and reflection which culminates in a two-day in-person retreat on November 17 and November 18 at West Side Christian Church in Springfield, Illinois.

Teaching Fellow: Dr. Tyler Stewart

Cost: $250

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What does it mean to lead? Are leaders born with inherent traits? Prepared by education? Forged by experience? What do they do? Cast a bold vision? Foster trust? Inspire? Plan? Serve? Should they seek authority? Influence? What does it mean to lead from above? From alongside? From below? What does it mean to lead yourself? What do you do when you fail? When you succeed? And perhaps most importantly, why lead at all? To what (or perhaps to whom) do we lead people?

This course can be taken on its own or as part of a 5 course Certificate in Christian Ministry. Participants independently work through seven weeks of guided reading and reflection which culminates in a two-day in-person retreat on November 20 and November 21 at First Christian Church in Decatur, Illinois.

Teaching Fellows: Dr. Chuck Sackett and Dr. Silas McCormick

Cost: $250

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With fewer people entering the ministry - and fewer staying - we need to do what we can to invest in, encourage, and care for those who serve. That’s why we are pleased to offer our very first E-Group.

We will accept nominations and applications until October 1, 2025, at which time, we will select 10 to 12 pastors who are not at the beginning or end of their career, to join encouragement group led by pastor and author J.R. Briggs.

Participants will gather for a two-day retreat December 2 and 3, 2025, and then participate in monthly online sessions for the next six months. Our hope is that this investment not only provides encouragement in the moment, but also helps build caring peer relationships that will last a lifetime.

We are so committed to building a community of care for pastors, that we're covering half ($500) of the participation costs for each pastor selected. Our hope is that each pastor's church will cover the remaining ($500) participant's costs. No one will be turned away due to an inability to pay, so even if you don't know a pastor who needs this right now, please consider financially partnering with us to offer it for those who do.

Facilitator Cost: Dr. J.R. Briggs

Participant Cost: $500

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What is the church? How did it come to be? And how (and why) did a small band of disciples commissioned by a man who never left Palestine spread his message across the globe?

This course can be taken on its own or as part of a 5 course Certificate in Bible and Theology. Participants independently work through seven weeks of guided reading and reflection which culminates in a two-day in-person retreat on February 23 and February 24 at West Side Christian Church in Springfield, Illinois.

Teaching Fellow: Dr. Fred Johnson

Cost: $250

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What is culture? How is it shaped? How does it shape us? How do we distinguish theological values from cultural ones - and help others to do the same? And how do we understand a cultural context well enough to introduce Jesus into it in respectful and meaningful ways?

This course can be taken on its own or as part of a 5 course Certificate in Christian Ministry. Participants independently work through seven weeks of guided reading and reflection which culminates in a two-day in-person retreat on February 26 and February 27 at First Christian Church in Decatur, Illinois.

Teaching Fellows: Dr. Silas McCormick and Brady Cremeens

Cost: $250

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How do we study the Bible well enough to effectively share it with others? What tools and techniques can help us make its life-changing story both exciting and accessible to others? How do we communicate clearly to educate, inspire, and encourage?

This course can be taken on its own or as part of a 5 course Certificate in Christian Ministry. Participants independently work through seven weeks of guided reading and reflection which culminates in a two-day in-person retreat on April 30 and May 1 at First Christian Church in Decatur, Illinois.

Teaching Fellows: Dr. Mark Scott and Casey Scott

Cost: $250

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Jesus’ birth followed thousands of years of anticipation. What is the story of that anticipation? The Old Testament was Jesus’ Bible. How did he read it? Teach it? Live it? How do we recapture that anticipation and read, teach, and live Jesus’ Bible today?

This course can be taken on its own or as part of a 5 course Certificate in Bible and Theology. Participants independently work through seven weeks of guided reading and reflection which culminates in a two-day in-person retreat on April 27 and April 28 at West Side Christian Church in Springfield, Illinois.

Teaching Fellow: Dr. Mark Mangano

Cost: $250

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