At present, students must either have Internet access or be led by a cohort leader who has Internet access.  However, BTS is working to develop a delivery system that will not require Internet access but will still contain all of the lessons and readings. This novel internet-less delivery method will be able to reach a greater number of students, especially as it is expanded to use with many languages.

Birmingham Theological Seminary (BTS), in partnership with Third Millennium Ministries, launched a free online certificate program in 2012 (see report here).  Now working with the ministry OneHundredFold, that program has been upgraded in 2013 to make it accessible by smartphone and to create a study group or “cohort” option.  BTS has announced that the program has expanded and is now available in Spanish.

The BTS Certificate in Christian Ministry website contains video lessons produced by Third Millennium Ministries, free required readings, study guides and exams.  All of this content is available globally, but only students living outside the United States can earn the certificate. At present, students must either have Internet access or be led by a cohort leader who has Internet access.  However, BTS is working to develop a delivery system that will not require Internet access but will contain all of the lessons and readings. This novel internet-less delivery method will be able to reach a greater number of students, especially as it is expanded to use with many languages.

In the two years since the initial launch, BTS has enrolled more than 1,200 students in 100 countries, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and many countries throughout Africa.  The only option for many people around the world to get quality theological education is through a free program that is delivered to them where they live. This certificate program is available to anyone with Internet access and, in some cases, even to those without Internet access.

Under the cohort approach, a pastor or missionary can lead a group of individuals through the courses at a pace suitable for the group.  BTS is particularly excited about this option because it combines quality theological content with life-on-life discipleship.  And it removes the hurdle created by the students’ inability to access the Internet.

One of these cohorts is in the country of Seychelles.  A number of  students expressed the benefits of the courses they took through the program, including this one,“We always think of the Old Testament as a bunch of stories, genealogies and laws that are so distant from us.  But now I can see the connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament and I enjoy reading the Old Testament now.”

BTS launched its online certificate program in Spanish last month.  While the Spanish-language certificate program is similar to the English version, some of the required readings are different. Both programs are still free to the student.  BTS expects the enrollment in the Spanish language program to grow and be as successful  as the English program.