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BIBLICAL REASONS TO BE A
LIFE-LONG LEARNER
As you
consider beginning a program of learning, at least two of your concerns will
most likely be whether you can afford it financially, and if you will be able to
find the time. Unless you are considerably different from the average
person, you will probably agree. Are these two concerns valid? In
truth...not really. God will not lead us into something we cannot finish.
The real question is whether we are willing to pay the price and invest the
time. If we are, and God is leading, cost and time will be no barrier.
In
fact, it is obvious that God actually expects His children to be life-long
learners. Since the Word of God comes to us in the form of a Book, it is
manifestly clear that God expects His people to be a learning (reading) people.
Formal study of the Word of God ought to always be rooted and grounded in the
Scripture. If you love studying the Bible, you will find every course at
Master's a blessing.
People
catch on to how much you know and understand the Bible. The more you know,
the more you can build on what you have already learned, and then pass it along
to others. The history of Christian ministry demonstrates that God
enlarges the field of service of those who have been willing to become untiring life-long students of His word. God will use those who
are willing to be "always prepared".
Finally, consider these two powerful Biblical reasons to be a life-long learner.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15 KJV). "And
the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou
to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2 KJV).
If you would teach others, you must yourself become a life-long learner.
We can help to prepare you on both accounts. By the way, you may find it
interesting to try our quick ten-question self-scoring
Bible Knowledge Test.
After that, we hope to hear from you.
MISSION AND PURPOSE
Our Mission
is to
develop and provide in-service ministry educational programs to mature,
mid-career, and late-career individuals whom God has called into His service
as full-time, bi-vocational, or lay servants; to keep such programs on the
cutting edge of ministry and technology; and to deliver the programs to the
students in a way that does not hinder their capacity to continue the ministry
in which they currently serve.
Our Purpose
is to restore, through practical Biblical education, the servant culture of
Christian ministry, by bringing to the God-called individual additional
ministry training and degree programs that meet his or her need as a worker in
an appointed field of service; and to promote ministry higher education as a
tool for more effective service rather than a means of obtaining position or
advantage.
THE
DIVISION OF
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
The Division of Undergraduate Studies
is responsible for the Associate and
Bachelor level Degrees offered. Degrees are offered in a
wide variety of concentrations designed to strengthen the student's ministry
contribution within the body of Christ. The
Certificate Option allows the student to gain the education and training desired,
but without the requirements of a complete degree program.
THE
DIVISION OF
GRADUATE STUDIES
The Division of Graduate Studies
is responsible for the
Master and Doctoral level degrees offered. Degrees are offered in
a wide variety of concentrations designed to build upon the student's previous
education and experience while enhancing his or her ministry contribution within
the body of Christ.
Build on What You Have...At Master's International
School of Divinity, You Begin Where You Are,
and Finish Where God Wants You to be.
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A FEW OF THE CHURCH GROUPS REPRESENTED IN OUR ALUMNI
A.M.E., A.M.E. Zion,
American Baptist, Anglican, Apostolic, Assembly of God, Baptist, C.M.E., Catholic, Christian Church, Church of Christ, Church of God in Christ, Church
of God, Congregational, Cumberland Presbyterian, Episcopal, E.V. Free, Four Square, Full Gospel, Independent,
Independent Baptist, Lutheran, Messianic Jewish, Methodist,
Missionary Baptist, Missionary Church, National Baptist, Nazarene, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Reformed, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventist, Southern Baptist,
Wesleyan, and many more.
Click
HERE to Access Links to the Ministries of Some
of Our Students, Graduates, Faculty and Administrators.
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Doctrinal Creed
Master's
International School of Divinity is free-standing and not associated with any church group or
denomination. We are Christ-centered, Bible-based and unapologetically
evangelical. The primary historical influence that has helped to shape
Master's comes from the sixteenth century Anabaptist movement
which stressed: the proper separation of church and state; congregational
autonomy; the true church consisting of the born-again; the voluntary
post-conversion baptism of believers; Scripture alone as the final authority in
all matters of doctrine; and the right of the church to exercise control over
its own educational programs.
In Particular, the Administration and Faculty
Believe in and Affirm:
1. The Divine inspiration of the Canonical Books of the Old and New Testaments as originally given,
and preserved throughout the ages as the only infallible, inerrant and
sufficient source of theology and doctrine
(Ps. 119:9, 89, 105; Matt. 24:35;
1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:25; 2 Pet. 1:21);
2. The Triune Godhead existing in One Eternal, Transcendent, Omnipotent, personal God, manifested in three Persons:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
(Gen.1:1; Ex. 3:14, 34:6; Deut.
6:4, 32:4; 1 Kings 8:27; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 90:2, 103:8, 116:5, 147:5; Isa. 6:3,
40:28, 57:15; Jer. 23:23-24; Mal. 3:6; Matt. 28:19; John 4:24, 14:16; Acts
17:28; 1 Cor. 8:4; 2 Cor. 13:14; Col. 1:17; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 1:2, 12 and 11:3;
2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 4:10 16);
3. Special creation of the existing space-time universe, including all of its basic systems and organisms in the six
literal days
of the creation week
(Gen. chapters 1 & 2; John 1:1-4);
4. The perfect, sinless humanity and absolute full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, indissolubly united in one
divine/human Person since His unique incarnation by miraculous virgin conception and birth
(Isa. 53:6; Matt. 28:18 20; Luke
1:35; John 1:1,14,18; Acts 2:22, 24 32; Rom. 1:3-4, 8:34; 2 Cor. 5:18-19; Eph.
1:19 22; Col. 3:4; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8, 4:15, 7:25; 1 Pet. 1:18, 2:22 and 24,
3:18; 1 John 2:1-2);
5. The substitutionary and redemptive sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of the world, through His literal
physical death, burial, and bodily resurrection followed by His bodily ascension into Heaven
(Isa. 53:6; Matt. 28:18 20; Luke
1:35; John 1:1,14,18; Acts 2:22, 24 32; Rom. 1:3-4, 8:34; 2 Cor. 5:18-19; Eph.
1:19 22; Col. 3:4; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8, 4:15, 7:25; 1 Pet. 1:18, 2:22 and 24,
3:18; 1 John 2:1-2);
6. Personal
salvation from the eternal penalty of sin, provided exclusively by the grace of
God on the basis of the atoning death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ,
to be received only through confession of, and individual faith in, His Person
and redemptive work on the cross, to be followed by baptism and conversion from
a life of sin to a life characterized by the empowering grace of the Holy
Spirit, giving evidence in loving service and adherence to the principles and
practices of the Christian Faith as set forth in the Holy Scriptures
(John 10:17-18; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim.
1:15, 2:5-6; Tit. 2:11-12; Heb. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:18; Matt. 1:21; John 3:14 17,
6:44; Rom. 3:10 12, 19, 20, 23; Eph. 2:1 3, 8-9; Ps. 51:3-4; Prov. 28:13; Isa.
6:1 5, 55:6-7; Matt. 3:2 and 8, 4:17; Luke 13:3, 15:18, 18:13, 19:8; John 16:8
11; Acts 11:18; Rom. 2:4, 10:9-10; 2 Cor. 7:9-10; 2 Tim. 2:25; Ps. 4:3; John
17:17; Acts 15:8-9; Rom. 6:19 and 22, 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 7:1; Gal. 2:20, 6:14; Eph.
5:26; Col. 3:3, 1 Thess. 4:3, 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 1:2 and
15-16; 2 Pet. 3:18; 1 John 5:6);
7. The future personal, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth to judge and establish His eternal kingdom
and to consummate and fulfill all His purposes, the works of creation, and redemption, with eternal reward for believers and eternal punishment for
the unsaved (1 Cor.
15:3 8 and 19 23; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:14 17; 1 John 3:2; Matt. 24:14,
36-51, 25:1-13; Mark 13:10, 32 37; Luke 21:27-28; John 14:1 3; Acts 1:11; 1 Cor.
15:58; Col. 3:1-4; 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11; Tit. 2:12-13; Heb. 9:28; James 5:7-8; 1
John 2:28-3:3; Rev. 1:7, 22:12-13; Isa.65:17, 66:22; Dan.12:2; Matt.25:42, 46;
Mark 9:42-48; John 5:28-29, 14:1-3; Eph. 1:3-14; Phil. 3:20-21; 2 Thess.1:8-9; 2
Pet.3:13; Rev.14:9-11, 20:10-15, 21:1-22:7 ).
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APPLICATION
INFORMATION
It is the policy of this
Institution to admit students on the basis of a fair and impartial judgment
based on the information provided to the
Admissions Department at the time of
application. Documentation of credits, advanced standing, non-college
level training, and all other admissions information may not be required at
the time of application. However, all students admitted to a program based
upon initial application information will be on academic probation for a period
of not more than 90 days following registration, during which time official
transcripts and all required validation must be received and approved by the
office of the Registrar.
REGISTRATION PROGRESS AND GRADING
Registration is the step
immediately following Application. At the time of Registration, tuition
and fees are due in full unless the student has agreed to Register using one of
the Institution's approved payment plans, in which case, the initial payment
required by the selected plan is due. The registrant may then commence
study, and is considered an official student at the Institution
(though some
form of academic probation may apply). The
initial Registration period is for five years. Nearly all
students are able to complete their program during this time (or sooner).
In the
event that the student has not completed the program at the end of five years, a
total program evaluation will be provided to determine the most suitable
program completion plan based upon requirements current at that time. This
policy assures the student that
unforeseen circumstances need not prevent him or her from graduating.
Student progress is measured without frequent
direct reminders to the student. This is an adult open learning program.
Student average age is forty-four, and most students are actively involved in
the daily responsibilities of Christian ministry and community service.
The open learning model of education provides significant advantages to
students, and permits study to be undertaken at the discretion of the student.
Nevertheless, the Dean of Students in cooperation with the Registrar, tracks
student progress and provides proactive and on-call student assistance.
Each course must be completed with a passing
grade of not less than a "C" (2.0 ) for undergraduate programs, and a "B" (3.0)
for graduate level programs. If a grade falls below the required minimum,
students are not automatically failed, but are assisted in knowing exactly what
is required for successful re-submission. The goal is always to assure the highest quality
education possible, and students may be confident that we actively work with
them toward this goal.
GRADUATION INFORMATION
After all academic and
financial requirements are validated by the office of the Registrar, the student
will be graduated. The student will have the option of graduating
off-campus (in abstentia). In which case, the degree will be mailed to the graduate.
The student will also have the option of attending the on-campus graduation
exercises held annually in Evansville, Indiana.
Graduation information is sent to all prospective graduates in January of each
year. Annual graduation exercises are extraordinary events, and students are
encouraged to consider adding this unique component to their educational
experience.
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