Amma Syncletica said: "In the beginning, there is struggle and a lot of work for those who come near to God. But after that, there is indescribable joy. It is just like building a fire: at first it's smoky and your eyes water, but later you get the desired result. Thus we ought to light the divine fire in ourselves with tears and effort." "Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by him, to him, and for him. First and foremost we are called to Someone (God), not to something (such as mother, politics, or teaching) or somewhere (such [...]

"5 minutes into the sermon, I knew I was in trouble. People weren't with me. At the 10-minute mark, people were falling asleep. One man near the front began to snore. And worse, he didn't disturb anyone. No one was listening." (Paraphrase from Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson.) Most preachers have these kinds of experiences where the congregation is not connecting with them. What would it take to become a more effective communicator of God's Word? Horizon Seminary offers a course to help you engage your listening audience. This course will consist of weekly reading; presentations; discussions; and assignments. Participants will [...]

How does biblical theology fit with present-day counselling theory? What does it mean to be a Christian counsellor? Biblical scholar Dr. Susan Wendel and registered psychologist Heather Tomes team up to bring theological reflection into the world of counselling practice. How do biblical perspectives about God's purposes and plans for redemption shape our understanding of counselling? As students reflect on these questions of integration and articulate their own approach, it will help to align their hearts with the heart of God. The Course June 5 - 9, 2023 (Monday - Friday) 9:00 [...]

Some churches use technology well; some do not. Many use it simply because it is done by other churches or because it is common in western culture. Rarely do questions around theological and philosophical implications of the power of technology arise. For example, the screen increasingly functions as a primary epistemological source in Western society, eclipsing "hard copy" print (i.e., books). What does this mean for faith that has held a book as a central epistemological source for centuries? The Technology & Communication for Ministry course provides practical skills in using key technologies and will also build a framework for [...]

Horizon has a variety of ministry-related modular courses to empower Christian leaders in their work of serving the Kingdom. Offered in the spring of 2023, these can be taken for credit OR can be audited for a more relaxed, informative format. Online options are available for those who can't attend in person. Consider sending your church's ministry team members or lay people! The Courses April 24 - 28, 2023 (Monday-Friday) 9:00am - 4:00pm College course. Pre-course reading and assignment required. Effective public speaking in any forum is a combination of art and [...]

From its inception, the book of Revelation has inspired imaginations and spawned diverse interpretations: it perplexes readers even as it fills them with wonder. Revelation provokes feelings of despair and hope. Why, then, do we so often shy away from reading this book? People typically avoid reading Revelation because they find it difficult to understand. In the first place, they struggle to decipher its symbols—primarily because these images held different meanings for first-century Jewish readers than they do for us. In the second place, if we read Revelation primarily as a book of predictions about the future (e.g., nuclear war, [...]

Horizon College students are required to participate in weekly practical ministry as part of their education. This year, our students have contributed more than 700 hours of hands-on ministry since September! We invited our ministry mentors and students to gather and celebrate the impact this year's ministry has had – not only on those ministered to, but on our students and the mentors themselves. Horizon student body president, Deloney Krahn shared these words: "Ministry Formation has given us all volunteer experience in ministry. It has helped us learn to lead, it has helped some of us [...]