Distance Education
Distance education for outreach through OHSCO prepares and equips members in a congregation to be the experts for their outreach ministry. If a congregation sees outreach ministry as a vital component of their entire local ministry, but recognizes their lack of expertise and skill for that ministry, then OHSCO is able to support that ministry through non-credit college level outreach education in a partnership of growing, learning, and servant hood. It is also possible to receive undergraduate college credit for courses completed.
New On-line Outreach Course
OHSCO has one course up and running using distance learning techniques. It is entitled Principles of Christian Outreach. Take a look! You will be asked for a username and password. The username is "PMstudent" and your password is "student." It is case sensitive! The course surveys outreach principles which churches can apply to their own contexts. It can be taken for university credit, continuing education credits, or one's own personal growth and development (free!!!). Each require different touches by a professor or guide and have different costs associated with them. Contact OHSCO to inquire.
The Model
OHSCO is in the discussion phase to determine which other courses might be prepared for on-line distribution and the most effective method for teaching outreach courses on-line.
Distance/on-line course assumes the following:
- Distance ~ There are generally no face-to-face meetings between professor and participant. Each participant has access to a computer, the internet, and has email capabilities.
- Flexibility ~ Programs/courses can be developed which meet the outreach needs of the congregation, i.e., content, context, time issues, location, etc.
- In-Ministry Education ~ People learn while they use their gifts in the outreach ministries of the local congregation.
- Groups ~ Participants may take a distance course in a group, not just as an individual. Meeting in a group while moving through the course increases learning, conversation, and positive outcomes.
- Individualized Learning ~ Individuals may access on-line courses as well. The amount of professional support will be determined by three things: 1) the desire to receive academic credit for the course, 2) the desire to be in conversation with an expert in the area being studied without receiving academic credit, or 3) the desire to simply access outreach information for one's own personal development or to gather helpful information for outreach ministries.
The Courses
OHSCO is willing to develop courses which support and promote the outreach cause of the church. As congregations request expertise in an area of outreach, OHSCO is willing to design and teach them. Some courses now in development stage:
- Great Commission Living - a course preparing people to be Gospel witnesses for Christ
- Leadership Development in the Church - a course which develops Christian leaders with Biblical principles and studies leadership methods and strategies
OHSCO also has other courses which are taught in the outreach major at Concordia University which are being considered for on-line distribution.
For more information about OHSCO's outreach distance education opportunities, email OHSCO or call the office at 651-641-8701.
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