Olivet Holds Training Session for Dmin Mentors
Director of Olivet University’s Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies, Dr. Tom Cowley, led a training session for mentors in San Francisco, CA, with hopes of enhancing guidance for Doctor of Ministry candidates. Dr. Cowley guided a team of Dmin mentors on best practices and reviewed the status of its current candidates.
Mentors listened to lectures on the rewards and challenges of guiding doctoral candidates. ”There is nothing more rewarding than mentoring and coaching a Dmin candidate,” said Dr. Cowley during his lecture.
The session included refresher training modules for Turabian formats of papers and other resources that can be utilized for improving mentorship skills. The Turabian video tutorials were also created as resource training for Dmin students.
The session also included report updates on the Zinzendorf School’s progress, its upcoming colloquium, and new website. Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies’ Co-President Dr. Joseph Ray Tallman, greeted participants and gave a report on the program’s developments and distinctive. Olivet University’s IT team also presented updates on the development of Zinzendorf’s intranet website platform that can be used for resources and interaction between faculty, staff, students, and mentors.
Video recordings of the session are available on the D.Min intranet for candidates to access from their countries.
Olivet Hosts WEA Mission Commission Discussion Panel
Olivet University greeted guests from the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Mission Commission at the school’s campus in San Francisco, CA. The Mission Commission’s Executive Director, Dr. Bertil Ekstrom, and his team were hosted on a tour of the campus and discussion panel with students.
The panelist from the Mission Commission included mission leaders from around the world including Bertil Ekstrom (Brazil/Sweden), Adriaan Adams (South Africa), K and Pramila Rajendran (India), David Ruiz (Guatemala), Kees Van der Wilden (Netherlands), and Timothy Halls (USA). Each panelist shared advice on today’s growing mission field, as well as answering questions on mission topics such as cooperative teamwork, cultural barriers, and geography of church planting.
One discussion explored the pros and cons of technology used for missions. Though devices and social networks have facilitated communications there are some drawbacks.
“Technology can’t replace emotional connections,” commented Adriaan Adams, a representative from South Africa.
Other discussions included strategy for missions and how more resources could be provided to areas where Christ is not yet known. The panelists provided advice to student questions such as how to recognize where God is calling them to do missions.
The panel discussion concluded with a prayer by Dr. Joseph Ray Tallman, Co-President of the Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies and a member of the WEA Missions Commissions. He prayed for both the WEA Missions Commission leaders and students who may be future missionaries.
Olivet University and the WEA are educational partners in the WEA Leadership Institute. The WEA Mission Commission creates forums that facilitate mutual communication between global leaders and missional bodies. Along with consultation and evaluative functions, the commission provides a proactive voice for the worldwide church. The WEA Mission Commission is part of the World Evangelical Alliance, a global network that includes over 100 international member organizations. The 160-year old Alliance has partnered with Olivet University in key areas consistent with the school’s mission, commitments, and goals.
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Olivet University Collaborates in the Romans Project
Olivet University is helping the Romans Project by providing video lectures for the project participants.
The Romans Project was begun four years ago by John Corey, a retired missionary in Africa, and Downtown Bible Class in Oregon. The goal of the project is to equip English-speaking pastors in developing countries primarily in Africa and Asia with sound Biblical teachings and encourage them to preach expositional sermons based on in-depth study of the text. An MP3 player with nearly 500 hours worth of Bible teachings will be sent to each participant who completes the requirements. Already 9000 pastors in seven African countries have completed the reading of the book of Romans 20 times and copied the entire nook in their own hand and have received the MP3 player.
The audio message begins with 109 messages of Romans, but now the teachings include other books including the Gospel of John, 1 & 2 Timothy, Genesis, and much more. It is a portable library useful to pastors wherever they are and has been especially helpful to pastors in remote areas with no other resources.
At the beginning of Spring 2013, Dr. Richard Calenberg, the overseas director of the Romans Project and a New Testament professor at Olivet University, and Rev. Scott Gilchrist, the Senior Pastor of Southwest Bible Church, recorded three sessions from the course, New Testament II: Acts and Pauline Epistles, at Olivet University’s campus in San Francisco.
“I am glad that the school is helping pastors in countries who are in desperate need of good Bible studies,” said Jonathan Park, the program director of Olivet Theological College & Seminary (OTCS).
Their recorded video lectures on Romans, 1 Timothy, and 2 Timothy will be used for the project participants in Philippines and other Asian countries. Olivet students have been encouraged to enroll in the Romans Project and many are now reading Romans repeatedly in the hope of receiving this valuable resource.
The video lectures will be also available at the school’s YouTube channel soon.
Heads up Olivet University Students: Free Live Webcast of Exponential 2013 with Rick Warren, Francis Chan, Craig Groeschel, and More
The Exponential 2013: DiscipleShift has announced to offer free high-quality live webcast, allowing those who are not able to attend the conference in Orlando, Fla. during April 22-25 to join the big-name speakers including Rick Warren, Francis Chan, and Craig Groeshcel completely online.
This conference on discipleship will focus on five key “shifts” for the church to make and release disciples, which are reaching to making, teaching to modeling, attending to participating, connecting to transforming, and attracting to deploying.
According to its website, the conference in Orland is already sold out with 5,000 registered to attend. While they are still taking names in the waiting list, an alternative solution is to attend what they call the “next best thing to being on-site at Exponential”.
“Jesus gave the Great Commission to everyone,” says Exponential Director Geoff Surratt in a statement on March 20. “These early registration numbers indicate that churches see this webcast as an important equipping tool to challenge and inspire everyone in the church.”
The statement also added that they believe more than 30,000 viewers around the world could be reached through webcast.
Information on webcast registration and other details could be found at exponential.org/webcast.
Dr. Schirrmacher Reflects on Pope Francis
Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, Executive Chair of Theological Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance and a Doctoral Advisor at Olivet University, has shared his reflection on the election of the new pope and hope for the continuation of “truly fair and honest theological discussions”.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was announced as the new head of the Catholic Church, as the result the papal conclave on March 13, 2013. Bergoglio selected Francis as his papal name.
As the Catholic Church met her first non-European pope in more than a thousand years, Dr. Schirrmacher commented that the Catholic Church has given prominence to the global south.
“By means of the decision to elect a non-European, the Catholic Church has clearly accepted and given prominence to the fact that the center of gravity of world Christianity has shifted to the global south,” Dr. Schirrmacher wrote.
Dr. Schirrmacher further commented on the humility and the care for the poor of the new pope.
“It is astonishing that a bishop of the poor has been selected,” wrote Dr. Schirrmacher, “who as a Jesuit would have been expected to be a closet liberal among the cardinals but by means of the selection of his papal name has indicated that his vow of poverty has programmatic significance.”
Dr. Schirrmacher also wished Pope Francis will have a greater understanding of evangelicals.
“There have been some tensions between evangelicals and Catholics in Latin America, but in Argentina the new Pope has neither been known as someone who avoids the needed theological discussions nor describes evangelicals as “sectarian.’ We can hope for the continuation of truly fair and honest theological discussions of both our differences and commonalities.”
The entire comment of Dr. Schirrmacher is posted at the Christian Post: http://alturl.com/k3vkb
With Calvin in the Theater of God
Recently, Desiring God ministry published a new book about the life of John Calvin on its website.http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/books/with-calvin-in-the-theater-of-god
Book recommended - The Mission of God by Christopher Wright
The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (IVP 2006) by respected Christopher Wright leads us on a journey through the grand narrative of Scripture using a “missiological hermeneutic”.
“To an already impressive list of publications dealing with the Bible and mission, Chris Wright now adds what must surely be his magnum opus. This remarkably comprehensive work does nothing less than point the way ahead for the global Christian movement in the twenty-first century, and in the process it challenges a host of received assumptions in biblical scholarship, Christian theology and missionary practice. I believe Wright’s book will be seen as the most important work of its kind since David Bosch’s contribution in the 1990s, and, like that work, it is likely to be read, discussed and hopefully applied to practice for years to come.” says David W. Smith, International Christian College, Glasgow.
In this book, Wright gives us a new hermeneutical perspective on Scripture, which provides a solid and expansive basis for holistic mission. He emphasizes throughout a holistic mission as the proper shape of Christian mission. God’s mission is to reclaim the world—and that includes the created order—and God’s people have a designated role to play in that mission. We need to see the “big picture” of God’s mission and how the familiar bits and pieces fit into the grand narrative of Scripture. Beginning with the Old Testament and the groundwork it lays for understanding who God is, what he has called his people to be and do, and how the nations fit into God’s mission.
Dr. Tony Sargent will teach Pastoral Theology next week
Dr. Tony Sargent is the Principal Emeritus of International Christian College in Glasgow Scotland. Dr. Sargent will visit Olivet University as a conjunct professor to teach Pastoral Theology.
Dr. Sargent served as president of International Christian College from 1998-2009. Prior to his service at ICC, he was senior minister of Worthing Tabernacle Church in Worthing, England for nearly thirty years. Dr. Sargent currently serves as director of several Christian organizations, including Operation Mobilisation, AIM and Elam Ministries. He is committed to various social ministries in India, and holds memberships on the Council of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland and Compassion in World Farming.
The course Pastoral Theology will start next Tuesday.
Olivet University Public Statement to Recent Media Publications
Recent reports in Christian media outlets have incorrectly categorized Olivet University and Dr. David Jang, founder and former president of Olivet University who no longer holds a formal position in the institution’s management.
Olivet University is dedicated to Evangelical doctrine and Bible-based higher education, as stated in our Statement of Faith, which clearly outlines our firm commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. All Olivet board members, faculty, staff members and students adhere to this statement, which also guides the teaching and instruction of the University.
“Having been involved with Olivet for several years — first as a visiting teacher and on a regular basis in administration beginning in 2010, I have not detected the slightest indication of anything but orthodox teaching, preaching, and worship consistent with the wider Evangelical movement,” said Dr. Donald Tinder, the Dean of the theological college of the university, who has been responsible for recruiting professors and approving textbooks.
Dr. Tinder, who also had been a former associate editor of the Christianity Today, has compared Olivet’s movement to the tradition of Youth with a Mission (YWAM), Operation Mobilization (OM), and Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ).
“History has demonstrated that new movements invariably face criticism, both from established organizations and detractors who are uninformed or have an agenda, which is why leadership of such entities should not be discouraged in the face of opposition,” Dr. Tinder added. “From the New Testament Acts era to the present, wherever the true Church is especially active, rivals with a different gospel often emerge. But the accusations that Olivet is such a contender simply cannot be substantiated. Neither has Olivet nor its founder acted like any of the older or contemporary alternatives to biblical Christianity.”
STUDENT TRAINING & INTERNSHIPS
Olivet specializes in training young men and women with the practical skills to preach the Gospel in various fields of Christian ministries and puts a strong emphasis on ministry internships. Our students are given many hands-on experiences to successfully promote entrepreneurship, particularly with Internet business startups. Olivet offers its students opportunities to serve, work and learn alongside seasoned ministry leaders in multiple fields on a global scale, pairing passionate ministries with equally passionate students who desire to use their God-given gifts to serve His Kingdom.
Although Olivet does not own or have influence on the decision makings of those ministries, the institution is proud of the works of the students and alumni in the Christian world.
OLIVET’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE EVANGELICAL WORLD
Olivet University actively contributes to major Evangelical events, promoting the Gospel around the globe, which they have done in the past with such reputable organizations as World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), Ralph D. Winter’s TOKYO 2010 Conference, the 2007 Global Leaders Forum in Washington, D.C. and the Lausanne III Congress: Cape Town, South Africa in 2010.
WEA: Works included the development of websites for WEA alliances to expand their reach online and delivering education online through WEA’s International Leadership Institute program.
Olivet students and alumni worked under ministry directors to develop numerous websites that reached out to thousands of viewers, whether for Evangelical outreach, coordinating events, or training. The collaborative effort results in connecting millions worldwide for delivery of education and preparing future leaders to serve Jesus Christ.
TOKYO 2010: Olivet University supported the Tokyo 2010 Conference, a gathering born out of the vision of the late Dr. Ralph D. Winter, where mission agencies convened on a global level for its 100th anniversary since the 1910 World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh. Olivet supported the website and resource database for the conference and continues its partnership to this day.
Global Leaders Forum in Washington D.C. – Olivet’s top leadership participated in an international forum of Christian leaders in Washington D.C. hosted by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and Micah Challenge USA. Hundreds of prominent Evangelicals from across the United States and the Global South gathered at the two-day summit to discuss common social concerns of the United Nations and the evangelical community.
The Lausanne III Congress: Cape Town 2010: Several Olivet leaders were invited to participate in the Lausanne III Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition, Olivet University was one of the official hosting sites for Lausanne’s GlobalLink site, the online portion of Cape Town 2010. The site connected more than 700 locations around the world to participate remotely in the Cape Town 2010 conference to discuss issues facing the church. Olivet also contributed to designing the GlobalLink’s interface design for its online platform.
GLORIETA CONFERENCE CENTER
Olivet University leadership is currently leasing an unused space on the Glorieta Conference Center in Glorieta, N.M., from LifeWay Christian Resources while continuing discussions regarding the full purchase of the property.
University leadership are honored that LifeWay would consider Olivet to steward the Glorieta Conference Center, which has been a center for changing countless lives through faithful biblical teaching and preaching for more than 60 years. Glorieta’s mission has always been to point people to Christ, which Olivet University is committed to continue to do through education and training of the next generation of leaders called to fulfill the Great Commission through church ministry and missions.
While negotiations have not yet been finalized, pending a review of theological compatibility by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) to be completed this fall, both Olivet University and LifeWay are dedicated to ensuring the preservation of Glorieta’s 60-year history and perpetuation of its legacy of transformation through our complimentary vision and are working through agreed upon provisions to that end.
Olivet University President and Chancellor Dr. William L. Wagner, a lifelong Southern Baptist and former Second Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention, said, “Everything we do is driven by a desire to glorify God.”
Dr. Tinder said, “Three factors especially attracted me: (1) the opportunity to teach students who so far mostly came from, and would be returning to serve in, a part of the world where the Church is especially growing and, as always, in need of sound teaching as well as godly fervor; (2) the fact that they were not simply seeking to build up their own small part of the body of Christ, but also wished to help strengthen the entire Evangelical movement through their very active role in the World Evangelical Alliance; and (3) the fact that the School did not simply exist on its own, but rather students and graduates would have opportunities for ministry and enterprise with myriad partnering organizations.”
Olivet University became fully accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education in 2009. Today, the University has seven colleges and divisions including the Jubilee College of Music, Olivet College of Journalism, Olivet College of Art & Design, Olivet College of Information Technology, Olivet College of Language Education, and Olivet College of Business. An institute committed to training ministry-bound men and women as biblical scholars and leaders to share the Gospel, its vision is for a world transformed for Jesus and the Kingdom of God at every level—from the human heart to the realm of world culture.
The University is currently located in the heart of San Francisco, California, at the former University of California Berkeley’s Extension campus.
For media inquiries, please contact: media@olivetuniversity.edu
For more Olivet University News visit www.olivetnews.com
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