Working with youth and young kids is a huge privilege as well as an increasingly challenging task. Pastors and children's ministry leaders have a lot on their plates these days, and many feel ill-equipped to effectively address the needs of the young people they minister to, particularly in the area of mental health. Mental health challenges affect everyone, and young people are hardly exempt. According to Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence.1 Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance [...]

If you're asking the question "Why would I pay for Christian higher education?", I get it. A few years ago I began a working relationship with Horizon College & Seminary, and as a result I have been challenged to examine why I (and many others I know) have seemingly felt a general indifference towards Christian post-secondary institutions. I haven't studied the subject, but it seems to me that personal and spiritual development– even within traditionally Christian families– is continually being lowered further and further down the list of "worthy investments". Sure, we all agree it's worth something. Just not our time [...]

The Canadian Mental Health Association is observing Mental Health Week in Saskatchewan. The subject of mental health is tough but timely, and likely one you've already heard much about or have direct experience with. With all the helpful and informative initiatives encouraging us to speak openly about our struggles and seek support, the reality is, there is still just so much struggle. And, unfortunately, it is not going away anytime soon. Luke Gordon, Associate Pastor of Next Gen Ministries & Elim Church Young Adults, shares that in a recent survey, 17% of the young adults in their church group indicated [...]

We make a lot of choices, some important, some not so serious. Still other choices will shape our stories in profound, irrevocable ways. There is a famous story of an early Anabaptist reformer named Dirk Willems. During the time of the Reformation, many Anabaptists were persecuted for their theological convictions that differed from the state churches around them. Dirk, arrested and imprisoned in the Netherlands, managed to escape. While fleeing across the ice with his captors in pursuit, Dirk realized that one of his captors had fallen through the ice into the frigid water.1 What choice would he make? [...]

Continued from > Peace Amidst Violence, Part I "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. [...]

A module is a course that allows you to fit the classroom instruction portion of the course into just 5 days, typically Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. Following the classroom portion, you have six weeks to complete assignments and coursework. Modules are a great option if you have limited time to spend in the classroom! What is the difference between a module and a standard course? The difference is in the way the course is spread out over the semester it falls in. The Horizon academic year has 3 semesters, and each semester has two [...]