THE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES – 2014 UPDATE

Jul 12, 2014 | Main Article

“Excel in everything – in faith, in speech, [and] in knowledge…” 2 Corinthians 8:7

In August at the 2014 Global Leadership Conference will be the Second Commencement Ceremony of the International College of Christian Ministries (ICCM)! This “dream become reality” was made possible when the Lord answered our prayers on August 16, 2012 as the California Bureau of Postsecondary Education approved our application for the founding of the ICCM. We received the “Verification of Exempt Status” which allows the ICCM to grant Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate Degrees in Ministry according to “our” Biblical doctrines and standards.

THE FIRST COMMENCEMENT OF THE ICCM AT THE 2013 GLC!

THE FIRST COMMENCEMENT OF THE ICCM AT THE 2013 GLC!

This “school of prophets” (2 Kings 2:3-5) is not a substitute for Jesus’ plan to train ministers by walking with them side-by-side for a period of years. (Mark 3:13) The SoldOut Movement Leadership believes that “our appointed ministers” – Evangelists, Women’s Ministry Leaders, Shepherds, Shepherdesses, MERCY Directors and Administrators – are among the best trained and most effective in all Christendom. Whereas most Christian Denominations have “seminaries” that offer degrees, what we have lacked hitherto is the vehicle to accredit the robust and dynamic course of training that our leaders already undertake, while augmenting our present efforts with more classroom oriented Biblical studies.

Interestingly, the European Degree System – Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate Degrees – has been one of the most successful European cultural exports in history. “The Doctorate” (Latin: docio) originated in Medieval Europe as a license to teach (Latin: licentia docendi) at Medieval Universities. Its roots can be traced to the early church when the term “Doctor” referred to the Apostles, Church Fathers and other Christian authorities who taught and interpreted the Bible. This academic program is now present in almost every part of the world – even in China and Saudi Arabia, which are countries not viewed as being “pro-western.” This Degree System has been fully embraced globally, as the most legitimate indication of competency and qualification in a professional field. With the founding of the ICCM, we are able to accord these very high honors to our students as we recognize years of training and work for the advancement of the gospel all over the world in this generation.

Noteworthy for some countries, these degrees will help facilitate our missionaries receiving visas. Last year, at our First Commencement Ceremony, we awarded 90 BA Degrees, three Master’s Degrees, and one Doctorate Degree in Ministry. Lord willing, this year at our Second Commencement Ceremony, we will bestow 57 BA Degrees, four Master’s Degrees and one Doctorate Degree! According to The Chronicle of Higher Education (http://chronicle.com/article/Where-Life-Earns-Credit-/64618), “The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) estimates that about half of all colleges and universities offer some form of experiential-learning assessment… In a national study of 48 colleges, the council found that students who completed some form of a prior-learning assessment had higher graduation rates than other students, and also completed their degrees faster.” In other words, more and more colleges offer credit to their students for “on the job” learning and experience. As well, these individuals earn their degrees “more quickly” than students in traditional degree programs! So in the ICCM, we too recognize past years of training, service and the “expert building” of churches. (1 Corinthians 3:10) Therefore, an ICCM BA Degree may be attained in one of two ways: 1) By years of service as an appointed Evangelist, Women’s Ministry Leader, Shepherding Couple, MERCY Director or Administrator or 2) By being selected to be an intern (paid or unpaid) training under a Ministry Leader while going through the formal training sessions of the ICCM. Excitingly, since the ICCM is “a work in progress,” starting at the Second Commencement Ceremony we will now award Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate Degrees in one of four “tracks:” Ministry, Shepherding, Charity Services, and Administration.

THE ICCM BACHELOR’S DEGREE

There are three prerequisites to being accepted into the ICCM to earn the prestigious BA Degree: 1) The applicant must be at least one year old in the Lord; 2) The applicant must be trained and serving as a Bible Talk Leader; and 3) The applicant must be recommended by a Full-time Ministry Individual. After being accepted, the following course work is required:

 

SEMESTER ONE (Seven months followed by a one month break.)

  1. The reading of the 66 Books of the Bible and the memorization of each of their authors, dates of writing, themes, targeted audiences, outlines and key Scriptures.
  2. Also tested on each of the monthly exams will be one of the six foundational sermons of the SoldOut Movement: The Dream; Glorifying God; Structure, Order And Protocol; A Greater Glory; Jesus And Paul: The Innovators Of The True Women’s Liberation Movement; and The River Of God.
  3. Reflection Papers on each of the following books: The Master Plan Of Evangelism (Coleman); The Disciplined Life (Taylor); A Voice In The Wind (Rivers); Five Love Languages (Chapman); Tale Of Three Kings (Edwards); and This Present Darkness (Peretti).
  4. The reading of all the Good News Emails and CAICC Bulletins during the semester.
  5. The reading of Revolution Through Restoration I, II and III.
  6. Obtaining a passport and participating in the European Missions Conference in London, the Central & South American Missions Conference in Santiago, or visiting an international Crown of Thorns Church.

 

SEMESTER TWO (Three months followed by a one month break.)

  1. The monthly exams will cover the practical ministry sermons: The Ten Commandments Of Preaching; Jesus’ Bible Talk; and Writing Changes The World.
  2. The memorization of the geographic map of the United States of America – states and their capitals – as well as the names of the leaders of all the SoldOut Movement Churches in America.
  3. The memorization of the geographic map of all European, Central & South American, and Caribbean Nations, as well as the names of the leaders of all the SoldOut Movement Churches in these nations.
  4. A Reflection Paper on the book – Biblical Preaching (Robinson, Second Edition).
  5. A Reflection Paper on A History Of The Spread Of Christianity In Modern Times (Harding) at KipMcKean.com.
  6. The reading of all the Good News Emails and CAICC Bulletins during the semester.
  7. A Report on the European Missions Conference or “Where And How To Plant A Church.”
  8. Purchase the Pulpit Commentary App or Hardbound Copies.

 

SEMESTER THREE (Seven months followed by a one month break.)

  1. The purchase and reading of the 2,148 page Two Volume Set of the Baker Exegetical Commentary On The Book Of Luke (Bock).
  2. The memorization of the five page outline by Bock of the Book of Luke (pp. 44-48).
  3. The monthly exams also cover the Sermons on the different chapters of the Book of Luke preached at the previous ICCM Session.
  4. The memorization of the geographic map of all African, Asian and Southern Hemisphere Nations, as well as the names of the leaders of the SoldOut Movement Churches in these nations.
  5. At each monthly ICCM Session, a sermon outline on an assigned chapter of Luke will be due that the student uses to preach at a Midweek Service.
  6. The reading of all the Good News Emails and CAICC Bulletins during the semester.
  7. Participating in the European Missions Conference in London, the Central & South American Missions Conference in Santiago, or visiting an international Crown of Thorns Church.

 

SEMESTER FOUR (Three months followed by graduation.)

  1. The monthly exams will cover sermons on the World Religions: Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witness, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Atheism.
  2. Scripture memory work associated with refuting the false doctrines in “Christendom” and the World Religions will be included on the exam.
  3. Three Research Papers will be written on three Protestant Denominations of each student’s choice.
  4. The reading of all the Good News Emails and CAICC Bulletins during the semester.

 

Throughout this two year period, the following “practicums” must be completed:

  1. 200 Certified hours of Staff Lessons and Leadership Conferences.
  2. 200 Certified hours of Bible Talk Leaders Meetings.
  3. 200 Certified hours of Small Group Bible Discussions.
  4. 200 Certified hours of Personal Mentoring Time.

THE ICCM MASTER’S DEGREE

There are three prerequisites: 1) The applicant must earn an ICCM Bachelor’s Degree; 2) The applicant must pass the Old Testament Entrance Exam; and 3) The applicant must pass the New Testament Entrance Exam. The ICCM Master’s Curriculum roadmap has three modules:

 

SCRIPTURE & THEOLOGY

  1. The following books are to be read and exams will be administered on:Introducing The New Testament Survey (Powell) and Old Testament Survey (LaSor, Hubbard and Bush).
  2. A Reflection Paper of 6-8 pages is required for each of the following books: How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth (Fee and Stuart) and How We Got The Bible (Lightfoot).

HISTORY

  1. For the Four Volume Set of The Search For The Ancient Order (West), two exams will be administrated: Exam 1 – Volumes 1 & 2; Exam 2 – Volumes 3 & 4.
  2. A Reflection Paper of 10-12 pages is required for: Church History In Plain Language (Shelly).

PRACTICALS IN MINISTRY

  1. The following book is to be read and an exam will be administered: Answering Islam (Geisler and Saleeb).
  2. A Reflection Paper of 6-8 pages is required for the following books: The Master Plan Of Evangelism (Coleman); Lost Women Of The Bible (James); Rejoice Always (Shapiro and Shapiro).
  3. 400 Certified hours of Staff Meetings, Leadership Meetings and/or Church Leadership Conferences – either in leadership or by participation.

To complete the ICCM Master’s Program there must be a proficiency in a second language (for mission work) or a one year university level course in Hebrew or Greek (for in-depth Bible study). To conclude the ICCM Master’s Degree, a 30 page Thesis will be written on a topic of interest to the student and approved by an overseeing faculty member.

THE ICCM DOCTORATE DEGREE

For the ICCM Doctorate Degree there are four major requirements:

  1. Earn the ICCM Master’s Degree.
  2. The effective overseeing of multiple churches for a minimum of three years through one of the four tracks – Ministry, Shepherding, Charity Services or Administration.
  3. 1,000 Certified hours of Staff Meetings, Leadership Meetings and/or Church Leadership Conferences – either in leadership or by participation.
  4. At least a 100 page Dissertation on a topic of interest to the student and approved by an overseeing faculty member – written in book form – that will be added to our new SoldOut Movement Online Library.

The tuition for the Bachelor’s Degree is a total of $6,000. The tuition for the Master’s Degree is the same. The tuition for the Doctorate Degree is $7,000. For the young people who serve as paid or unpaid interns, a full scholarship for the Bachelor’s Degree is granted.

Our ICCM Faculty includes:Chris Adams (BA – Yale University; MS – Long Island University; M.Min. – ICCM), who diligently serves as our Vice President and the Dean of Academics; Elena McKean (BS – University of Florida; M.Min. – ICCM), who nobly serves as the Dean of Women as well as a Professor; Andrew Smellie (BS – Cornell University; BA – ICCM; MHA – Cornell University; M.Min. – ICCM) who is our new Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Professor; and Kyle Bartholomew (BA – UH-Hilo; BA – ICCM; M.Min. – ICCM), who has been impressive serving as an Associate Professor; and I have the privilege of serving as President and as a Professor. This year to help all of our BA Degree students navigate through the arduous course work, we have added two of our most exemplary students as Teaching Assistants (TA): Cesar Limon (BA – UCR; BA – ICCM) and Rebecca Rico (BA – UCR).

Our Chairman of the Board of Regents that oversees the ICCM is the Administrator for the SoldOut Movement, Michael Kirchner (BA – University of Iowa; BA – ICCM; MBA – University of Minnesota; M.Min. – ICCM). Also serving on the Board of Regents are Dr. Tim Kernan (BA – ICCM; M.Min. – ICCM; D.Min. – ICCM); Lou Jack Martinez (BA – Pitzer College; BA – ICCM; MPP – Harvard); and Helen Sullivan (BA – Stanford University; BA – ICCM; MA – Stanford University).

All of us on the ICCM Leadership Team – the Faculty and the Board of Regents – have the vision to expand our school to include as many cities as possible where we have SoldOut Movement Churches. In order “to open” an ICCM Extension Campus, one must hold at least a Master’s Degree from the ICCM. That said, only an individual with a Doctorate Degree of Ministry (D.Min.) from the ICCM can award a Doctorate Degree. Excitingly, since Dr. Tim Kernan planted the Toronto International Christian Church in July and since he will be awarded the Doctorate Degree at this year’s Commencement, we are formally announcing the founding of our first Extension Campus: the ICCM – Toronto! Tim will serve as President. As well, Tim and his wife Lianne (BA – Concordia University; BA – ICCM; M.Min. – ICCM) will both serve as Professors!

“Modern Christendom” lacks the impact of its first century roots because it has strayed so far from the Scriptures. As the prophet Hosea lamented, “[God’s] people are destroyed from a lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6) Prayerfully, in the future because of the instilling of the Word of God and its principles through the ICCM, the SoldOut Movement will “boast in the Lord” that her people and her unified leaders who taught them “excel in everything – in faith, in speech, [and] in knowledge…” (2 Corinthians 8:7) Therefore, the ICCM is dedicated to the glory of Jesus Christ hence our motto comes from John 1:14, Venia et Veritas – “Grace and Truth.” So, in the words of John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States of America: “The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it – and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.” And to God be the glory!

Dr. Kip McKean