Articles for tag: Ozark Christian College

Conferences & Gatherings Organizations & Events

SCJ Conference Plans for 2020 Announced

The 19th annual Stone-Campbell Journal Conference will take place at Johnson University Tennessee in Knoxville next March 20, 21. The theme “Politics and the Stone-Campbell Movement” will be developed by featured speakers Shaun Casey, director of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and Public Affairs and professor in Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service; Jess Hale, attorney with the Tennessee General Assembly; and Richard Cherok, professor of history with Ozark Christian College. Casey will present “The Impact of Stone-Campbell Ideals: My Life in Political and Public Service” and “The Office of Religion and Global Affairs under Barack Obama: My

October 14, 2019

Lesson for Oct. 20, 2019: Persevere in Truth (2 Peter 1:12–2:3)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 11 (weeks 41-44; October 13—November 3, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Firmly establish yourself in the truth, because there will be false teachers. ________ By Mark Scott “Close” works if the game is horseshoes. But for rocket science and neurosurgery close is not good enough. There is another area where close is not good enough. It is the truth of

September 2, 2019

Lesson for Sept. 8, 2019: Get Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:13; 4:13; 7:5, 11, 12, 19; 8:1)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 9 (weeks 32-35; August 18—September 8, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Get wisdom and enjoy its benefits. ________ By Mark Scott School has started. While some schools begin in August, most all are in session following Labor Day. For decades the overriding purpose in going to school was to acquire knowledge. While acquiring skills for future education and the workplace

August 28, 2019

Ohio Church Celebrates 175 Years (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman First Christian Church of New Philadelphia, Ohio, is celebrating its 175th anniversary in August and September by welcoming back four young ministers whose faith was formed at the church and who now serve churches elsewhere in Ohio. The Times Reporter said ministers Josh Davis, Brandon Schwartz, Luke Borton, and Maddie Miller will be speaking or performing music at the church on three successive Sundays. The same newspaper also published an interesting article about the history of First Christian. “We are extremely thankful for the six generations of Christ followers that established this vibrant

August 26, 2019

Lesson for Sept. 1, 2019: Work with Your Hands (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; 3:12-14)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 9 (weeks 32-35; August 18—September 8, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: The work of our hands is designed to bring joy and meaning to our lives. ________ By Mark Scott It is providential to have this lesson this weekend. Labor Day is a holiday, officially recognized in 1894, to honor the American worker. Toward the end of the 1800s, at

August 22, 2019

Laura McKillip Wood

Mission & Evangelism

Jesse Yangmi: A Lifetime of Service in Southeast Asia

By Laura McKillip Wood “We knew your father,” the old man said, “and we have heard about you for many years. We’ve been waiting for you.” Jesse’s lifelong dream had been to return to his father’s remote village, where he too had lived as a child. He had thought about his father’s people, the Jerwang, many times through the years, wondering when he would get a chance to return. But the Jerwang live in a very remote area where China, Myanmar, and Tibet share an ill-defined border area, and visiting them is difficult. To reach the villages, Jesse traveled from

August 22, 2019

Church & Ministry Church Growth

THE BIG CHALLENGE FACING SMALL CHURCHES (4): 10 Ways to Develop Ministers

By Jerran Jackson Carlos Fields just wanted to play baseball. So he joined some friends who were playing on a church team. The church’s minister was on the team, and during the season they had several conversations. Carlos was a Christ follower by the time the season ended. The minister continued to work with Carlos, and two years later, the young man was in Bible college. Carlos was familiar with only small and rural churches, so he was not put off by serving those kinds of congregations. Carlos ultimately planted 12 small congregations and led hundreds of people to faith

August 21, 2019

Church & Ministry Church Growth

Southeast Christian Launching Campus for Senior Adults (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., will open its eighth campus this fall. The new Chapel in the Woods Campus will be near the main Blankenbaker Campus of the megachurch, one of the largest in the Restoration Movement. Chapel in the Woods will be geared for reaching senior adults. “We’ve built a beautiful facility across the street from our Blankenbaker Campus, and everything from the architecture to the parking lot makes this an incredible facility for our senior adults to connect and worship through hymns and classic worship,” said senior pastor Kyle Idleman.

August 14, 2019

Church & Ministry Teaching

Ozark Profs Share the Bible ‘On Demand’ Via NextLevel

By Jim Nieman In 2016, Ozark Christian College began producing free online teaching videos featuring professors such as Chad Ragsdale, Michael DeFazio, Shane Wood, and Mark Scott. Since that time, the project—known as NextLevel Online—has grown to include 25 different biblical teaching series and 198 free online videos that have been viewed more than 100,000 times by church classes, small groups, student ministries, and individuals in all 50 states and 35 countries. Ozark’s mission is to “train men and women for Christian service,” said Jim Dalrymple, Ozark’s vice president of advancement. “We do this in the classroom every day, and

August 12, 2019

Lesson for August 18, 2019: Fear the Lord (Ecclesiastes 3:14; 8:10-13; 12:13, 14)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 9 (weeks 32-35; August 18—September 8, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ________ Lesson Aim: Know that the fear of the Lord brings significance to life. ________ By Mark Scott In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve did not have to wonder about their significance. They had been created by God in his image (Genesis 1:26, 27). Their identity was not an issue.

July 17, 2019

DeWelt to Lead College Press as Company Turns 60 (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman Chris DeWelt, who has served with College Press Publishing for many years, became president and publisher of the company on July 1. DeWelt is the son of Don DeWelt, who started College Press in 1959. The Joplin, Mo.-based company is marking its 60th anniversary providing Bible-based material to Christian leaders and students. Chris DeWelt served eight years on the mission field in Chile before returning to the United States and working with his father until Don DeWelt’s death in 1991. Since that time, Chris DeWelt has served with College Press in various capacities,

July 3, 2019

Ozark Student Killed, 4 Other CIY Workers Injured in Accident

(This story was updated July 3 with funeral arrangements for Jace Smothers.) An Ozark Christian College student working with Christ In Youth this summer was killed Friday when a CIY van he was riding in was rear-ended as part of a multiple vehicle accident on Interstate 24 east of Paducah, Ky. The van carried four other CIY MOVE summer event staff members; all were injured. Jace Smothers, 19, who had just completed his first year as a youth ministry major at Ozark, died at the scene. His funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. today (Wednesday) at Norton (Kan.) Christian

June 24, 2019

Lesson for June 30, 2019: Speak Up by Being His Children (Philippians 2:12-18)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 5 (weeks 25-28; June 23–July 14, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ Lesson Aim: Speak up by holding out the Word in your life. ______ By Mark Scott Words matter. God used them to create the world (Genesis 1:3). Jesus used them to give life to the world (John 6:63). The apostles used them to save the world (Acts 11:14). That being said,

June 5, 2019

WJU Student-Athlete, Mom Wins NAIA Marathon (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman Full-time student-athlete, wife, and mother Bailey Cossentine of William Jessup University won the marathon at the NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Championships at Gulf Shores, Ala., on May 25. Cossentine finished with a time of 3:07.50.64, just 13 months after having a baby. Her time was more than 30 minutes faster than the school record she set two years ago. In winning, she became WJU’s first-ever, first-place NAIA All-American. “Bailey executed a perfect race plan with her progression through the field of competitors,” coach Jeff Magley said. “She was in control all day and closed the last 10k with great

May 23, 2019

Ozark Christian College Weathers Storm that Kills 3 in Missouri

By Jim Nieman News outlets are reporting that storms and tornadoes injured several people in Carl Junction, Mo., and killed three people in Golden City on Wednesday. Carl Junction is just a few miles north of Joplin, Mo., where Ozark Christian College is located. The storms occurred on the eighth anniversary of tornadoes that killed 161 people in Joplin. Matt Proctor, president of OCC, said, “At the moment, we know of one student’s house in nearby Carl Junction that experienced storm damage (roof damage and blown-out window), but no one was hurt, for which we’re grateful.” Proctor said there is

May 22, 2019

An Opportunity to Build Biblical Literacy

By Mark E. Moore Biblical illiteracy is not a problem to be solved, it’s an opportunity to be embraced. According to a 2016 survey by Barna, 80 percent of people in the church want to know the Bible better. If the church could develop a quick and comprehensive solution for this, imagine the impact it would make. Furthermore, 60 percent of the people who say they want to know the Bible don’t attend church. So, providing access to biblical training might be one of the most attractional strategies for church growth. Research has repeatedly confirmed that Scripture has the power

May 15, 2019

Churches Donate 3 Tons of Pennies to Camp (Plus News Briefs)

Compiled by Chris Moon and Jim Nieman Lake Springfield Christian Assembly in Chatham, Ill., is learning the power of the penny. The Christian camp has collected a million pennies from 26 churches during the past two months to help generate funds to acquire an additional 2.7 acres of land. The $10,000 in pennies were put on display in a large bin at the camp; they weighed 6,000 pounds. “(The lesson here) is that every penny counts, especially when you’re a 501(c)(3),” camp manager Kerma Yotter told the State Journal-Register. “What’s more amazing, and we see it all the time, is God’s provision through his faithful

April 29, 2019

Lesson for May 5, 2019: Trust Jesus in Need (Mark 5:25-34)

Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 4 (weeks 17-20; April 28–May 19, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com. ______ Lesson Aim: Trust Jesus’ ability to take care of you. ______ Jesus’ care for women was tender and counter-cultural. His “heart was touched by their grief” (Matthew 8:14-17; 15:21-28; 26:6-13; Mark 5:21-24, 35-43; 12:41-44; Luke 7:36-50; 8:1-3; John 4:7-45; 7:53–8:11; 20:1, 2, 11-18). That is certainly evident in our text today

April 24, 2019