n the fall of 2005, Harding University started a program for nonHarding students to take online Bible classes.This program was designed for students who were attending another university and wished to have the option for a Christian education or for those adults who wished to continue their studies of the gospel. The Distance Delivery Bible Program offered undergraduate online classes for continuing education courses, but, unlike most continuing education courses, these were offered for credit. If students taking advantage of the Distance Delivery Bible Program wished to receive a degree from Harding, they would have to come to Harding’s campus and finish their courses there. Harding was working with campuses such as Arkansas Tech and Harding’s campus in Bentonville, Ark., as well as other schools to get elective courses established through each campus’s ministry. Courses offered were World Christian, Life of Christ, Acts of the Apostles, Paul, Prison Letters, Gospel of John, Survey of Bible History, Israelite History, Israelite Poetry and Christian Home.The courses were selected with the help of a committee composed of Harding’s Institute of Church and Family faculty and professors of the College of Bible. “Acts of the Apostles has been an amazing class,” Distance Delivery Bible student Adam Eppes of Clinton, Ark., said. “My instructor was a great teacher and did a good job bringing about thoughtful discussion. I learned how to look at the Word of God in a way that I have never seen before.” Heading up the Distance Delivery Bible Program was Associate Director of ICF Tim Westbrook who had been director of the program since its establishment in 2005. He was responsible for coordinating the entire program which included selecting which courses should be offered, determining the course curriculum and setting the schedules for the courses each semester. Westbrook’s vision for the program was to support Harding’s growth and as a means of re-defining Christian education. By having the classes available to people online, it opened up an opportunity for the classes to be taken by people all over the world.Harding was no longer being limited to Searcy but could reach locations around the world. It also made Christian teachers available to people anywhere by taking Harding’s classes. “As expected, through the course I gained more knowledge of the scriptures and of Jesus’ life and ministry,” Linda Condolora of East Syracuse, NY said. “What I didn’t expect was to have my faith reignited, joy rekindled and to be filled once again with awe at God’s love for me and the rest of mankind.This course goes far beyond the facts, reaching the heart and changing the student if they’re willing.” Since the beginning of the program, the Distance Delivery Bible program had filled 190 student positions including the fall 2007 semester. Many students were repeating students taking multiple classes, but the program was growing each semester. Although the program was geared to adults around the age of 35-years old, the program was soon going to be established in universities across the country so that more people would have the opportunity to receive a Christian education. [Marissa Shepard] Spreading knowledge outside campus Rewarding I [academic services] 193
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