Starting a New "Great Commission School"

[steve]

I have already posted all of the following under another thread, but thought I should give it a thread of its own also, so here it is...

By September of this year (2009), my youngest child will be on his own, like the rest. I will have, I expect, much more freedom and flexibility than I have had in the past 36 years, during which time I have been married and/or raising kids. I plan to finish the book I am now working on, and then, probably, to start up another Great Commission School.

Unlike the nine-month school I used to run in Oregon, I am thinking of a 12-month school, divided into three-month, stand-alone modules—i.e. 1) The Law and Historical Books; 2) The Poetry and Prophetic Books; 3) The Gospels and Acts; and 4) The Epistles and Revelation.

These would be spread over a two-year (or 21-month) period. There would be a three-month module, followed by a three-month break, then another module, another break, etc. It is possible that each module would be held in a different country, since I have been asked to start schools in Ireland, South Africa and Thailand in recent months. It is not likely that very many people wishing to take the course would find the schedule amenable to their taking the whole course (on four different continents!). This would require them to have more money (for travel, meals and housing— there would be no charge for the classes) and more flexibility for travel than most people can come up with. But that would not be very important, since the modules would be posted on the internet as they were completed, and anyone could take the whole course, or the modules that they could not attend "live," by means of internet videos or mp3s. People could show-up as on-site students for one or more of the modules, as their schedules and finances would allow, and take the rest of the course from the comfort of their homes on-line.

This program would be superior to the past schools that I ran in Oregon for the following reasons:

1. It would allow 12 months, rather than nine, for me to cover the whole Bible, allowing me more time to say everything I want to say, instead of rushing through material as I sometimes had to do before;

2. The three-month gaps would allow me a chance to study, prepare and recuperate from the previous module before launching into another, so that I would not burn myself (or the students) out, as I eventually did, after sixteen years, in Oregon with an unbroken nine-month stint (the breaks would also permit me to teach elsewhere than my own school during the six free months each year;

3. I am hoping that my connections with YWAM might lead to venues for the school in many countries. Many YWAM bases have students in their lectures for three months, and then they go out on outreach in other countries (leaving their bases largely unoccupied) for three months. If I could strike a deal to rent the facilities of YWAM bases for three months at a time, while their students are away, this would be a win-win situation. YWAM would win by being able to rent out their unused dorms and other facilities during their off-months, and we could win by never needing to own or manage our own real estate;

4. The mobility of the school, from place-to-place, would bring it into proximity to Christians in other countries who could never afford to fly to America for such studies. If modules were conducted in Africa, Asia and South America, as well as in Europe, Australia and (sometimes) the USA, then it would be a truly international program, having a global impact—even without needing to set up, organize, and staff year-round schools in all these places (as we once contemplated doing when we had the Oregon school).

5. Many countries do not allow tourists to visit for more than 90 days at a time on a "visitor" visa (the only kind of visa that is easy for anyone to get). If the school were to be longer than three months in any one country, would-be students could face visa problems, since we would not be an accredited school, and our students would thus not qualify for official "student" visas.

When would we begin these schools? At least not until I finish my current book and probably no sooner than fall of 2010 (if the world is still here, and international travel is still feasible, by then). That would provide me with time to make all the necessary arrangements, prepare my lectures, and recruit students. Thus a probable schedule would be as follows:

Fall, 2010: Module 1: The Law and the History Books (Thailand?)
Winter: No school
Spring, 2011: Module 2: The Poetry and Prophetic Books (Ireland?)
Summer, 2011: No school
Fall, 2011: Module 3: The Gospels and Acts (South Africa?)
Winter: No school
Spring, 2012: Module 4: Epistles and Revelation (Australia? South America? Who knows?)

Depending on the availability of facilities, we might have to jog the schedule so that the classes are held in winter and summer, and take the breaks in spring and fall. We'll see.

In our schools, all staff (including myself) are unpaid volunteers, receiving only food and housing free (as well as the opportunity to sit-in on the classes). We have usually operated on a skeletal staff, requiring only kitchen help and a few other logistical helpers to take care of paperwork, finances, management of housing, recording of lectures, etc. Preferably, all staff will have the spiritual maturity to also double as mentors and/or counselors to students, as the need arises. Thus we won't need many staff volunteers per module, but because of the nomadic nature of the program, it might require new staff in various locations. I would not object to the same people serving on staff for multiple modules at various locations.

If we can not use YWAM facilities, then we will have to secure others. The need is to feed and house a small, adult student body (some of them married couples). The number of students may be anywhere from 12 to 20. I would not expect many more than that. There would have to be similar housing for myself and staff. It would also be necessary to have a classroom, which could remain set-up and in use every weekday for three months. Obviously, this requires a special kind of real estate. Some small churches might be able to accommodate classroom and food preparation, while housing could be obtained elsewhere nearby. A very large house, or an old hotel, with many bedrooms and bathrooms (and good plumbing!) could also be used. I have run schools in such facilities in the past. A camp ground is another possibility (we held the original school in a defunct, military-prep boarding school), but many YWAM bases, which are already set-up to accommodate similar programs would be ideal. One principal concern would be to secure the plant at the lowest possible price, allowing people of modest means to participate. If anyone out there knows of suitable facilities that fit this description (either in the United States or in other lands, of course), I would be very grateful to be informed of them.

Anyway, this is what I have been thinking—even planning—for the not-so-distant future. If some of you (or your college-aged kids) might want to participate in some way (as students or staff), feel free to email me, and I will keep a list, and contact you when the time comes.

[mattrose]

That's very exciting. I'll pray for this ministry.

[featheredprop]

Steve,

Last week I was driving through the town of Altoona, PA (east of Pittsburgh). I passed a large sign outside of a building that read, "Great Commission School." I did a double-take because I knew that was your school's name. I suppose there's no relation?

peace,

dane

[steve]

Never heard of them! We incorporated, in 1983, as "The Great Commission Community," because we were not just a school but a Christian community as well. The school was one of the ministries of the community. Within a few years, we decided that being a school was more what the Lord intended for us to be doing, so, even though we did not change the name of the corporation, we just started referring to our school as The Great Commission School. So, technically, we were never incorporated as "The Great Commission School," though we never heard of anyone else that was going by that name. Maybe we should use the name "The Narrow Path School."

[Suzana]

"School of The Narrow Path" has a nice ring to it.

[steve]

True.

[JasonR]

Most Bible schools should be called "The Great Tuition"
The last time I looked into a Seminary school around here it was over $30,000

Anyways this is really exiting news Steve!

As much as I would truly love to be part of this experience in person, financially and with my job and young family it doesn't seem likely at this time,
although if there is any possiblity, I would jump at it.
Adding the online part of the school is really great, I would at the least love to participate in that, and to be able to help out financially.

Thanks for your Ministry Steve

[Jason]

Steve, will this interfere with the radio program at all? Spending so much time abroad would seem to make it impossible. Then again, you're the only guy I know who would broadcast from an airport terminal so....

[steve]

Wherever I can connect to the internet, I can do the broadcast. I would expect to continue the broadcast from whatever location the school may be functioning in.

[Sean]

Great news Steve! I pray that all goes well! May God continue to bless your ministry Steve.