I sent this letter to our congregation last week and I am posting it here for you.  If you live in the Wise County area, and this is of interest to you, please feel free to call the office of e-mail me for more details and a Student Enrollment packet.  Application forms and Academic Release forms for our upcoming summer session are available for a very limited time. 

 The Center for Biblical Studies
Norton Presbyterian Church
1230 Church Street
Norton, VA  24230
(276) 679-3717
witsend@mail2mike.com

Dear Friend of Norton Presbyterian Church,

These are exciting days at Norton PC.  Thanks to a unique relationship between Global University and Norton PC, we are now known as The Center For Biblical Studies. Essentially, we are a branch campus of the University.  Imagine being able to take accredited college courses in the familiar surroundings of your own church!  Imagine being awarded a diploma in Biblical and Theological Studies without quitting your job and uprooting your family.  It’s possible, right now! 

Global University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), a nationally recognized agency under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Education.  DETC is also a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 

Global University is a Candidate with The Higher Learning Commission and an affiliate of the North Central Association.

The independent-study courses of Global University have been approved for educational benefit payments by the United States Veterans Administration and the United States DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support).

The University is a member of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), the Association of Christian Continuing Education Schools and Seminaries (ACCESS), the Asia Theological Association (ATA), the Asia/Pacific Theological Association (APTA), the Learning Education Resource Network (LERN), the Commission on Christian Higher Education (COCHE), the Council for Advancement and Support Education (CASE), the  American Theological Library Association (ATLA), and the Evangelical Press Association (EPA).

Thanks to a special arrangement with the Berean School of the Bible, part of Global University, we are able to offer high quality courses at substantially reduced prices.  You may pick and choose courses that interest you, or you may study toward your diploma in Bible and Doctrine.  Each course includes your text(s), workbooks (if needed), tests and quizzes.  Each course of study will also include a series of weekly lectures held at the church, which will provide you with the opportunity to ask questions and interact with other students. 

Officially the Center for Biblical Studies will open its doors to the general public in August; however, we are offering a summer course of study over the next few weeks especially for members of Norton PC.  Beginning shortly and running for approximately five weeks will be Solving Life’s Problems, a course designed to help Christians discover and apply Biblical principles of problem solving to everyday situations in our lives.  As you study this accredited course, you will discover the wonderful blessing of allowing your Problem-solver, Jesus Christ, to help you as you give your problems to Him.  Best of all, this course will give you the tools you need to help others as well as yourself.  This course, if taken outside the Center, would cost you in excess of $250.00.  However, registering through the Center, the total tuition for Solving Life’s Problems is $52.99!  This is not a typo; it is a benefit of being associated with Norton Presbyterian Church’s Center for Biblical Studies.  If you are interested in taking this course, please let me know as soon as possible.  While we are not advertising this summer course in the community, if you know of someone who could benefit from it, then we encourage you to invite them register.

This is an exciting opportunity for Norton PC.  This is something no other church in the area is offering.  As a small church, it is often difficult to find avenues of ministry within the community due to financial constraints and a lack of physical resources.  Here, thanks to the goodness of the Lord, the foresight of your Session and the good graces of the University, we have been given this wonderful opportunity to offer the fine people of Wise County access to a top quality Biblical and Theological education.  Most of all, it is affordable! 

This is not something all of you will be interested in.  But maybe you have felt a higher calling; the call to excellence in Bible knowledge.  Consider the words of Paul to young Timothy:

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  (2 Timothy 2:15).

We can help you.  If you feel this is right for you, please call the office or e-mail us right away.  Even if you are not interested in diploma, call for a list of courses we are planning to offer.  With knowledge comes not only confidence, but also a changed life.

[B]ut be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  (Romans 12:2)

Sincerely,

Rev. Mike Porter, B.S. Th.M. D.D.