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How Do You Enrol or Begin, Prices, Lessons by post ?
Can You Receive a Diploma ?
For
Pastors, Leaders and Supervisors
How does the School of Mission work best
?
How Do You Open Your Own School ?
Other Practical/ PC Questions, Who Are We, etc
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How do I begin ?
How much does
this Course cost ?
Nothing at all. It is free, no
catches, no small print, no credit cards. Free.
This Internet
version of the School of Mission and our time to help you get started is free. A
similar course, not ours, in the UK
costs at least £2,500 / $4,000 plus a similar amount for
accommodation and meals so you know how valuable this free
gift is.
At no time
will anyone from DCI World Christians ask you for money,
credit card numbers, cheques or fees to pay for these studies. If
they do, they are not from DCI World Christians and you should not pay anyone, anything
for these study materials. Not ever.
Can you send me
the lessons by post ?
We are sorry but we cannot do this because the cost of printing and posting thousands of packages would
be very costly and we could never offer you the teaching free of charge.
You can collect
all the lessons in about 10 minutes and print them out one at a time
as you need them.
Can I do this
Course by correspondence ?
We are sorry, but we could never handle thousands of lessons coming in from
all over the world. The answer is to find a local supervisor, see below.
Do I have to
enrol for the School ?
No, not at all. There is no
application form, we will
accept you as our student and we will help you. These are the studies from our original School of Mission in
England. The materials are free for everybody, of all ages,
male and female, poor or rich, younger or older and of all
colours, races and backgrounds.
This Course is our gift to you. The studies are also being taught in
hundreds of churches and classes all over the world.
What do I do
first in each study lesson ?
As long as all the work gets done, it is
not important which order you choose. The main study material on each page is
to get you searching and thinking about the subject. We then
emphasise the lesson with scripture readings and conversation.
We give you a short essay to write and we ask to you to
actually do something practical that will help you to turn
the learning into experience.
Approach each
lesson in the way that suits you
best, but if I can make a
suggestion why not try this:
1. The Bible readings to set the
context.
2. The actual study.
3. Memorise the verse.
4. Meditate on the given verse.
5. The written work.
6. The practical project.
7. The conversation.
8. Don't forget the two prayer times, beginning and end.
Please bear in mind that if you are
doing the Course as an individual, which is just great, some
of these items, like the 'Talk about this . . .' are really
designed for small group use. Maybe your
family and friends will be pleased to hear what you have
discovered. You do not have to do everything at once,
people often complete a study over a week.
Can I take just
one section of the study programme ?
Yes, of course, please help yourself to as many or as few of
the studies as you wish.
In you are doing the whole course we don't mind in which order you handle the
lessons. You can take things in order from number one in the
list of studies, or you can begin in the section that
interests you the most.
Must
I do the practical and written assignments ?
No, not at all but you will gain the maximum benefit if you do so.
Some people only do the main section
as a personal devotional. In some cases
people simply cannot write well in English or even in their
own language, and in some repressive countries if students
try and do the practical projects they could end up in prison.
We do not want that to happen.
As an alternative to our practical
projects you could speak to your Pastor, and ask if he or she
will employ you in similar church activities for two hours for each
study. If you are studying for a Certificate then you should
maintain a list of jobs done and hours taken. This was always acceptable in our own school.
Do I need to
buy books and how much will they cost ?
The only book you will need is a Bible in your language.
How long does
it take to complete the Course?
We suggest that all the studies, assignments and practical
work should be completed within a maximum period of two
years, which is more than ample. Many people do one lesson a week, and do every part thoroughly. Others but do a
study every three or four days. One study a day would be ridiculous cramming and
of no lasting benefit. You need to give yourself space
and time for the Bible content to go past your mind and take
root in your heart and spirit, and you need time to do the
assignments. There is no benefit at all in rushing through the
studies, and haste will make a disciple.
Can I
get a diploma ?
Will
you issue a diploma for me from England ?
We are sorry, originally we tried to offer this but it soon became clear
that we could never handle the verification of thousands of applications
from all over the world. We will show you how to gain or issue a credible diploma in your
location.
Special
diploma page
How
can I receive a diploma ?
It is not
difficult. For example, most churches, missions and Bible Schools
that are using these studies issue their own
Diplomas to successful students. These are very acceptable to churches,
authorities, employers and officials in their local area because they can be
verified on the spot.
STEP ONE:
If you are willing to work through every part of each lesson and take the exam
at the end and wish to receive a diploma then
before
you start you should speak to your pastor or church/mission/cell/school
leader,
explain the Course and ask if he or she would be willing to issue you with a diploma if
you complete this Course properly under supervision. Most leaders and ministers
are more than willing than help and feel thrilled to meet a member who is hungry
to know God's word. Churches and Bible Schools will often adopt this Course and
run it once they see what it is.
STEP TWO:
You will
need to find a
legitimate supervisor
who will read and mark your
written work, listen to your reports of the practical work,
talk things through with you and keep your records and
registers. It is he or she that will present your results to the
pastor or leader.
STEP THREE:
At the end of your studies either your
local church or mission leader or a similar professional must
examine your work and your supervisor's records. Then
if your work is up to standard the church or organisation should issue you with
a credible diploma usually as part of a Sunday service or cell group
meeting. Often churches and Bible Schools have a special Graduation Ceremony for
their students.
Who could be
my supervisor ?
We
suggest that supervisors can be, for example - pastors,
elders, assistant pastors, missionaries, retired church or
missions leaders, parents, cell or home group leaders and
retired folk as long as they are mature believers,
responsible, people of integrity who know their
Bible and who will spend time talking and praying with the
student. We think that one man or woman can handle up to 6
students, more or less. See the section below for supervisors.
If you could get a few friends
to study
together, and a church leader to approve your meeting, and a competent
person to supervise you, then you have
a new School of Mission under way and you can issue your own diplomas. See
the section below for advice about this.
For
Pastors, Leaders and Supervisors
Specially for
School of Mission Course Leaders
How does the School of Mission work best
?
You must read this !
How to open your own school without
spending a lot of money
Course Introduction
How can I open a School of Mission?
Can I open a
new Training School with your materials ?
Can my existing Training School use your materials ?
Yes, to both questions. All the studies and any advice you need are our
gift to you free of charge. We will do all we can to help you.
How do I open a
new school
in my church, mission or home ?
We have seen that there are many ways of offering training ranging from
the formal to the simple, and most seem to work in their own context.
We have a special page with a lot of advice about How
to Open Your Own Training School with minimum expenses and do read this page as
well
How does the School of Mission work
best ?
How do I issue a
credible diploma ?
Please see this special full page of
information on how to issue credible and valid certificates.
Does a Diploma
provide any academic credits ?
It is impossible to guarantee that any academic institution
will accept outside certificates but many colleges and
universities will certainly take your certified
work into consideration. For example, a valid diploma issued that proceeds
from these studies will be taken into account by New Covenant
International University in the USA in applying for credits
towards their Higher Studies. NCIU have a website and e-mail contact in English
at www.newcovenant.edu
Do the students
need to be formally supervised and examined ?
Yes - if your church or
Bible School wishes to offer a credible diploma at the
end of the Course. You will need to keep meticulous records to be able to
verify any enquiries about a student at a later date, for example from an
employer or University admissions office.
No - if people are taking the studies for their
own enjoyment and personal growth as in a weekly Bible Study
meeting at church.
What do we do
if we don't have enough supervisors in our church?
Well, why not think about asking for help from another
church, maybe even from a very different kind of church
altogether. Working together with other churches is
very healthy and iron sharpens iron as the proverb says.
Retired people, retired pastors and missionaries are often
also very willing to help.
How can our own
school or church issue credible certificates ?
If
you are a School or Church Leader see this
page of full information on how to issue credible certificates.
Can I call my
new school a DCI School?
Thank you for your confidence but for legal reasons,
it will be better for you if you use your own name in your own language.
Using the name of this network without authorisation
and permission may bring you problems and unwanted interest from
officials. You may of course say that you are using materials
and studies supplied by The DCI Trust in England.
Specially
For Teachers and Supervisors
What does a
supervisor have to do?
A
supervisor reads and marks students lessons, and most of all
takes a friendly interest in the student.
Supervisors have to report to the pastor or
leader at the end of the course and so they must keep
the following simple but careful records:
(1) A
register of the studies that a student has
completed, with the date, and a signature to say he or she is
satisfied that the student has learned the subject.
(2) A
register of the written work that is part of
each study with the date and with comments about the quantity
and quality of work. The student must keep his work safe
ready for later examination if necessary.
Here is a guide to
marking:
Because this Course is
used worldwide among people who have English as their second
or third language we keep the marking plan very simple. The
same marking guide can be used for the examination.
A = 80%
-100% Truly outstanding work, only awarded sparingly.
Supervisors should only award an A or an A+
in the case of an extraordinarily good piece
of work, otherwise there is no means of rewarding a special
achievement.
B = 70% - 79% Very good work, clear
understanding of the subject.
C = 50% - 69% Average work, could maybe do
better.
D = 50% and less. The lesson or examination
needs to be repeated for the student to grasp the meaning.
Each grade could have +
or - as well, for example a B -
or a C+
(3) A
record of the goal and the results of the practical
work with the title and the date. We never look for
instant success on every occasion, rather that every outreach
would be a learning experience.
How do you
mark the essays as A, B, C etc.?
You have to judge the
length of the work, 350/400 words would be a page for me.
Then I see if the student has actually answered the question
asked and not written an answer to a hasty glance at the
question. Then I look at content, I ask myself whether the
student is answering within the boundaries of the subject,
then of course I look for truth, accuracy and presentation,
neatness and legibility. I would consult with a local high
school teacher for the locally understood way of judging work.
Some cultures value some things far more than others and it
is important to know what they might be.
Where is the
examination ?
You will find it in all the download packages and it comes with a guide
to how to offer the examination either in parts or as a whole at the
end. The marking scale is seen above. At the end of the course a
supervisor may ask for the file of
exam answers. When you e-mail us please include your full name,
address, age, ID card or passport number, telephone number, your minister's
name, and the church name and address, and the very same details for your
student. Thank you.
What happens at
the end of the course?
At the end of the studies, the supervisor should take the registers, records and
samples of work to the minister or leader who originally agreed to approve the
studies with a diploma. The minister or leader should review and approve
the following:.
1. The three kinds of record sheets
detailed above together with the supervisor's opinions and
private recommendations.
2. The examination results.
3. The student's behaviour and
willingness during the course.
He or she may
also want to interview the student. Normally the diplomas are issued at
a Graduation Ceremony which all the church, families and
friends are invited to attend. We would ask each student to
publicly state their vision for future service.
More
questions and more answers
What does DCI mean, Who are you, Our Statement of faith,
Other languages, making
copies, computer problems, etc . .
What does DCI
mean ?
DCI covers the activities of a group of people in different nations encompassing The DCI
Foundation, the Schools of Mission, the World Christians News
Pages and this web site. The name comes from
Romans 1.1 in the Bible where in the original language Paul
describes himself as a 'Doulos Christou Iesou'
- a servant of Jesus Christ. This
title from way back in 1986 reminds us of our place and
calling to serve the Lord and a world of people.
Who are you and
where are you from ?
If you go to this page
you can read about us and see
where this page is coming from.
The Course Director is Dr. Les Norman, Th.D, Ph.M with over 28 years of
experience in Christian work. We are in England, and to keep expenses low we all
work from home and live simply. Our colleagues and students come from all
over the world.
Which
denomination do you belong to ?
The DCI movement intentionally does not belong to
any one denomination and the people who work
together in this missions network come from many different modern
and classical expressions of the Christian faith across the nations. Academically, we are affiliated to NCI
University in the USA where Dr. Les Norman is accredited as an associate professor. Here in the UK base the Director and his family belong to
a growing modern
evangelical church
and other colleagues belong to similar churches, larger or smaller of different
denominations.
Do you have a
statement of faith ?
We are in agreement with the
381 AD Nicene Creed or the Apostles Creed of
the early church which is to most classical and modern Christian groups
worldwide..
"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in
one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the
Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten,
not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the
Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For
our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was
buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he
ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will
come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will
have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who
proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is
worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in
one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life
of the world to come. "
(The word
"catholic" refers of course to the universal church of the Lord
Jesus Christ.)
How can I help
you in return ?
Thank you for thinking about that. We really appreciate all help as we charge no fees for the
studies either for the Internet version or historically in
our actual schools. We also regularly support many people and projects in
mission and in work amongst the poor. We have not gained any denominational or
corporate sponsorship and do not carry advertisements on this web site. If the School of Mission is a blessing
to you, then an offering will help us provide it freely to
many others in the developing world who have no means at all
of funding their studies, and we can also help our graduates
and leaders make a start with new mission or care projects.
Click
here for alternative Online Giving
What other
languages are available ?
See our front page at www.dci.org.uk and you
will find English,
Spanish, Portuguese, Cebuano, German, Arabic, Hindi, Indonesian, Mooré, Romanian, Russian,
Kiswahili, Telegu and Chinese. We welcome all offers to
join our team and translate the
studies into other languages.
What is
best for a leaders seminar in the developing world?
If you only have time for seven
sessions, and the people already know the basics then we
recommend the following foundational topics from the main
list:
-
11.God’s Plan for The World;
12.The Great Commission;
38.Bring Back the King; 63.Growing the Church;
64.The
Harvest Church; 65.A Servant Church;
66.A Discipling Church
Can I make
copies of your studies for others ?
Yes, you can help yourself and give away everything you find
on the website. You are welcome. We will not charge you
for the copyright, so long as you give freely as we
have given to you, and you only charge the cost price for
making the actual copies.
Internet,
Computer and Printer Issues
Can I somehow
collect all the lessons at once ?
Yes, easily in two to ten minutes.
Take them from this page Download
where
there is simple advice on how to receive the pages. The best
time to download is when North Americans are asleep and not
using the internet.
How do I see
the studies on my screen ?
All the titles on the list of
studies page have underlined
hyperlinks
which mean that by clicking on the blue link you can see the
study, and then if you wish you can download it into your PC or on to a
floppy disk or CD so you can see the pages without having to be connected to
the telephone line.
How can I find
the topics that interest me most ?
You can Search
our
entire website for the words you want and the page will
provide you with a list to look at.
Why can't I get
into a page ?
If your double-click does not open
the page or if you get a 404 Page Not Found fault
report then it usually means that the Internet between you
and us is overloaded at that time. Please try again later, it is congestion.
If the fault
continues please report it for
immediate repair to our webmaster
How can I print
the lessons ?
Internet pages are generally
not very printer friendly. The easy way is just to press the print button on
your screen or under File/Print but you may need many pages of paper.
The best way to print is
to Select All the page, normally Ctrl
+ A, then Copy the page which is
normally Ctrl + C. Then open your
word processor and from your Edit Menu choose Paste Special then Unformatted Text.
Your text will then appear in a compact layout in your Word Processor. Then you can change the colour,
size and layout to suit yourself and your size of paper.
Can I download
in a MS Word format that prints easily?
Yes, you will find a fast
downloading file in Word format in the Download page. There is also another very large and much
slower to download Word file which contains all the studies
in their original text book format with columns and many
illustrations, in English or Spanish.
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