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Doug Douma to speak Wednesday on “Practical Apologetics”

This Wednesday, July 18th, Douglas Douma will speak on “Practical Apologetics.”  Come out and explore how to communicate the truth of Christianity to a fallen world! The event will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Kingsport (900 Watauga St, Kingsport, TN) at 7:00 pm.

Douglas Douma (trailname, Banzai) is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Wake Forest University, and Sangre de Cristo Seminary. He is a ordained minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church – Hanover Presbytery serving as Assistant Pastor at Dillingham Presbyterian Church, and is the author of “The Presbyterian Philosopher – The Authorized Biography of Gordon H. Clark.” Douma is also the founder of Sola (discoversola.com) — a Christian ministry to Appalachian Trail hikers. He completed a northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2013.

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Institute Fall Courses Open for Audit Registration

Our fall courses are now open for audit registration. Have a desire to engage the Great Books of western culture? Want to understand more about worldviews? Adults are encouraged and welcome! Contact us at info@genevainstitute.org or (919) 245-7016.

Fall Semester 2018
LA 201 GREAT BOOKS OF THE RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION
The course will examine some of the influential works of the renaissance and reformation. Students will be encouraged to critically examine these works from a biblical perspective, discussing, debating, and evaluating the validity of the authors’ ideas and ethics.
Wednesday 8:30am-11:20am

CT 113 CRITICAL SURVEY OF WORLDVIEWS
This course compares and contrasts basic worldviews and their implications for life, and will also present the main components of a Christian worldview, as well as respond to challenges to that belief system.
Tuesday 8:30am-11:20am

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Education and the Alpenhaus Library

Students of God’s Truth (both mentors and mentees) will brighten the Aplenhaus Library in a few short days and we will continue our experiment in education. Though it is an experiment in the sense that its method is largely out of practice, it is grounded in historical success, solid educational philosophy, and even biblical practice.  Lectures can only go so far. Real education comes with a dynamic encounter with the truth–dialogue grounded in a Christian worldview.

Education at the Institute is built on a mentorship model. The Summer Studies, in particular, are modeled after the work done at the Center for Western Studies–a method they refer to as tutorial education. They described as follows:

Our tutorial approach is a pedagogy that:

  • affords a student one-on-one time with a college professor every week
  • affords a student experience with college level work without pressure for grades
  • affords tailoring of academic direction toward the student’s interests
  • builds a love for learning, since connections are constantly being made between the student’s love for God and the subject at hand
  • encourages life-long learning
  • follows the Socratic method that argues truth is discovered in the interaction between two people rather than only through the textbook or didactic teaching (lecture).

The beauty of this way of study is a combination of small group meetings and one-on-one time with your professors.

Whatever you call it: mentorship or tutorial education. It is a better model for education and our delight is in its re-discovery!

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John Hodges to speak on “Beauty in God’s Economy”

On Wednesday, June 20th, John Hodges will speak on “Beauty in God’s Economy.” Hodges in an engaging speaker who is able to relate creation, culture and art to the Christian life in relevant, practical ways. Come out and learn to appreciate new aspects of the awesome beauty in God’s economy! The event will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Kingsport (900 Watauga St, Kingsport, TN) at 7:00 pm.

Hodges is the Director for The Center for Western Studies. Mr. Hodges is a conductor and composer, holding degrees in Music from the University of Maryland (B.A) and Indiana University (M.M.).  He served as Music Director for various symphony orchestras and church music programs in Memphis from 1983-2009.  He also held the position of Associate Professor of the Arts and Cultural Apologetics at Crichton College where he taught art and music history, philosophy of the Christian Faith, directed theater, and founded and directed the Institute for the Arts and Cultural Apologetics.

This event is hosted by the Geneva Institute of Christian Thought as part of their Summer Studies in Christian Thought. The event is free to the public.

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Is it too late to reconsider your summer?

After meeting with Dr. Charlene Thomas to finish planning our Summer Studies at the Institute, I am super excited for the students that are going to be able to participate.  Where else can one find total immersion in Christian thought in  a small group discussion environment? Where else can one engage professors of the quality that are assembled at the Institute for a few weeks this summer? Think of the impact it could have on your Christian life!

It is not too late! Find out more here: http://genevainstitute.org/wp/summer-studies-in-christian-thought-2/.

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Seats Available for Summer Studies

We have a few remaining seats available for our summer studies programs. It is an impressive lineup of instructors (see below) on topics that are critically relevant to a generation beginning to engage their culture for Christ. For more information see: http://genevainstitute.org/wp/summer-studies-in-christian-thought-2/ ; or contact dean.walker@genevainstitute.org / (919) 245-7016.

Meet our instructors:

John Hodges is the Director for The Center for Western Studies. Mr. Hodges is a conductor and composer, holding degrees in Music from the University of Maryland (B.A) and Indiana University (M.M.).  He served as Music Director for various symphony orchestras and church music programs in Memphis from 1983-2009.  He also held the position of Associate Professor of the Arts and Cultural Apologetics at Crichton College where he taught art and music history, philosophy of the Christian Faith, directed theater, and founded and directed the Institute for the Arts and Cultural Apologetics.

Dr. Charlene Thomas has taught humanities and art history and art history at Milligan College since 1981. She holds degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Ph.D.), East Tennessee State University (M.A. English, M.A. Art History), Milligan College (B.A.). In addition to her classroom instruction, Dr. Thomas enjoys leading art history tours and providing Christian counseling.

Douglas Douma (trailname, Banzai) is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Wake Forest University, and Sangre de Cristo Seminary. He is a ordained minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church – Hanover Presbytery serving as Assistant Pastor at Dillingham Presbyterian Church, and is the author of “The Presbyterian Philosopher – The Authorized Biography of Gordon H. Clark.” He completed a northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2013.

Patrick Hines is pastor of Bridwell Heights Presbyterian Chruch in Kingsport TN. He is passionate about presuppositional apologetics, particularly that of Greg Bahnsen, speaking regularly on the relationship of apologetics to evangelism. In addition to preaching and teaching, Mr. Hines is an accomplished musician often delighting his congregation and friends with impromptu piano performances.

Dean Walker is the Executive Director of the Geneva Institute of Christian Thought. He holds degrees in philosophy of religion (Th.M.) and Christian apologetics (MDiv specialization).  When he is not challenging his students with impersonations of various existential philosophers, Mr. Walker enjoys hiking and tending the responsibilities of homestead and family.

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Geneva Institute Establishes Dual-Enrollment Worldview Curriculum

The Geneva Institute has established a worldview curriculum for dual enrollment studies. A primary goal of this curriculum is to prepare our young adults to live out their lives in faithful obedience, and to engage their culture to proclaim the gospel of Christ. As the image of the serpent underfoot indicates, Christ’s victory is not in doubt–we desire to see the rising generation live out that truth! Of course, there are other benefits of the curriculum that include 27 hours of accredited college credits earned simultaneously with up to 11 high school (year) credits!

The curriculum includes three planks: (1) engaging revelation, (2) engaging the history of ideas, and (3) engaging culture. The Institute is excited to offer this curriculum and believes that it will make a measurable difference in both the lives of our students and in the culture in which those students live. For more information on the details of this curriculum see: Geneva Institute Worldview Curriculum

For more information about this curriculum or the dual enrollment courses at the institute, please contact us at info@genevainstitute.org. Or, call Ginny Walker at (423) 528-0299 to schedule an appointment with the director. We can help you determine how to integrate this curriculum into your student’s program of studies!

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Scholarship Opportunities for GICT Summer Programs

Are you looking at the summer programs and thinking “I wish I had the funds to do that?” If so, there is some GREAT NEWS regarding scholarship dollars for the programs:

First, there are three remaining $500 scholarship for anyone who registers for both summer sessions. These are given on a first-come first-serve basis.

Second, we are now able to offer a dollar-for-dollar matching grant (up to $500) for anyone who works toward earning the tuition for a summer program. These grants are available for the first six requests upon registration for a summer program.  In addition, we will help line up work projects to earn the money for the matching program.

Consider that through the matching grants all of the tuition for Segment 2: Truth and the Christian Life may be earned. Also consider that $1000 of the $1290 tuition for Segment 1: The Christian and Culture (includes trip to Washington D.C) may be earned. And finally consider that by combining the scholarship and the grant all but $90 of the tuition for both segments may be earned!

For more information about the Summer Studies in Christian Thought program see:  http://genevainstitute.org/wp/summer-studies-in-christian-thought-2/