The Institute
The Institute
Theological education to help men and women serve the local church.
Vision
Theological education is essential. But most people cannot uproot their families to attend seminary. In addition, modern seminaries are often expensive and inaccessible.
For these reasons, we have launched the Horizon City Institute. This is a formal partnership between our church and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS). This initiative allows us to offer accredited seminary courses within the context of our local church.
Our church Members seek to be a community of believers that treasure Jesus Christ together, finding our satisfaction and happiness in him, and pointing others towards the true satisfaction and happiness that can only be found in God through faith in Christ. Horizon City Institute will help train our Members and leaders towards those ends.
Vision
Most people cannot uproot their families to attend seminary. In addition, modern seminaries are often expensive and inaccessible.
For these reasons, we have launched the Horizon City Institute. This is a formal partnership between our church and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS).
This initiative allows us to offer accredited seminary courses within the context of our local church.
Academics
Our courses leverage the Contextualized Development Leadership (CLD) curriculum managed by Spurgeon College (the undergraduate school for MBTS).
Each course is 15 weeks long. They include 20 hours of classroom instruction (over the 15 weeks) and 5–6 hours of reading and writing each week for the length of the course.
These courses are theologically and academically rigorous. Yet, they have a strong emphasis on local church ministry and practical application in the Christian life.
This partnership approach provides flexible learning for busy students, keeps training very affordable, and maintains trusted academic standards.
Academics
Our courses leverage the Contextualized Development Leadership (CLD) curriculum managed by Spurgeon College (the undergraduate school for MBTS).
Each course is 15 weeks long. They include 20 hours of classroom instruction (over the 15 weeks) and 5–6 hours of reading and writing each week for the length of the course.
These courses are theologically and academically rigorous. Yet, they have a strong emphasis on local church ministry and practical application in the Christian life.
This partnership approach provides flexible learning for busy students, keeps training very affordable, and maintains trusted academic standards.
Tuition & Fees
Members of Horizon City Church:
- For Credit: $100/course
- Auditing: Free of charge
Local Pastors/Elders in Greater Orlando:
- For Credit: $100/course
- Auditing: Free of charge
Non-Members of Horizon City Church:
- For Credit: $200/course
- Auditing: $50/course
Tuition & Fees
Members of Horizon City Church:
- For Credit: $100/course
- Auditing: Free of charge
Local Pastors/Elders in Greater Orlando:
- For Credit: $100/course
- Auditing: Free of charge
Non-Members of Horizon City Church:
- For Credit: $200/course
- Auditing: $50/course
Course Offerings
Multiple courses will be offered each year, on a rotating basis. Here’s the initial list of courses that will be offered over the next few years:
- Christian Ethics
- Church History I
- Church History II
- Old Testament Survey I
- Old Testament Survey II
- New Testament Survey I
- New Testament Survey II
- Intro to Hermeneutics
- Systematic Theology I
- Systematic Theology II
- Biblical Theology
- Philosophy of Religion
- World Religions
- The Church
- Personal Evangelism and Discipleship
- Sermon Study & Preparation
- Sermon Delivery
- Pastoral Care and Ministry
- Global Missions
- Christian Leadership
- Church Administration
College & Seminary Credit
How much college or seminary credit can a student earn?
Tuition-Free Undergraduate Credit:
Our students can earn up to 36 credits toward an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree at Spurgeon College. Students must have earned at least a “B” in the course to transfer.
Graduate Level Opportunities:
Students can earn credits equal to 1/3 of the degree program at MBTS. For example, the Master of Theological Studies (MTS) is a 45-credit program, therefore Horizon City Institute students can earn up to 15 credits toward the MTS or our Institute students may want to pursue the Master of Divinity (MDiv), which is a 81-credit program, therefore students can earn up to 30 credits toward the MDiv. Credit toward seminary degree is earned via Advanced Standing (see MBTS website for pertinent specific requirements).
What schools will award credit for Horizon City Institute classes taken?
Spurgeon College and Midwestern Seminary are the only guaranteed entities that will offer credit for CLD courses. However, several other schools have awarded credit for CLD coursework in the past.
Awarding credit is always up to the policy and prerogative of the receiving institution and may vary on a case-by-case basis. Here is a list of schools that have previously awarded credit for CLD courses:
- Bethlehem College and Seminary
- California Baptist University
- Carson-Newman University
- Charter Oak State College
- Columbia International University
- Criswell College
- Dallas Baptist University
- Excelsior College
- Florida Baptist University
- Gateway Baptist Theological Seminary
- Grand Canyon University
- Hannibal-LaGrange University
- Johnson University
- Liberty University
- Moody Bible Institute
- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
- North Greenville University
- Oklahoma Baptist University
- Ouachita Baptist University
- Reformation Bible College
- Samford University
- Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Southwest Baptist University
- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Sterling College
- University of Mobile
- Wheaton College
- William Carey University
What’s the most streamlined way to finish my seminary degree?
The most streamlined fashion would be too finish your seminary degree online with MBTS and utilized their Contextualized Practicum courses throughout your degree program.
Contextualized Practicum courses utilize MBTS standard curriculum, but can be significantly modified and contextualized for the student’s individual situation. Often the student’s ministry tasks within the church count as course assignments. These courses are also offered at a 50% discount rate for students that come through a church partnership (such as the partnership established between Horizon City and MBTS).
Then students can complete the rest of their degree through standard online education. Students taking courses via the Horizon City Institute and the church partnership practicum courses can complete their seminary degree with this sort of track:
- 1/3 with Horizon City Institute: $100/course
- 1/3 with Contextualized Practicums: 50% discount
- 1/3 with online MBTS classes: Standard tuition rates
Our students can earn up to 36 credits toward an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree at Spurgeon College. Students must have earned at least a “B” in the course to transfer.
Students can earn credits equal to 1/3 of the degree program at MBTS. For example, the Master of Theological Studies (MTS) is a 45-credit program, therefore Horizon City Institute students can earn up to 15 credits toward the MTS or our Institute students may want to pursue the Master of Divinity (MDiv), which is a 81-credit program, therefore students can earn up to 30 credits toward the MDiv. Credit toward seminary degree is earned via Advanced Standing (see MBTS website for pertinent specific requirements).
Join us in person!
Horizon City Institute is a ministry of Horizon City Church.
Our church gathers for worship every Sunday at 10am.
146 W. Plant Street
2nd Floor
Winter Garden, FL 34787
Make plans to join us this coming Sunday. You never know what God might have in-store for you.
2nd Floor
Winter Garden, FL 34787
Contact Us
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