One of the secrets of growing success in the ministry lies in taking the next step. Our ministers have very generally lined up for the Reading Course, and this is well. The next step for the forward-looking minister is a home study course pursued under the personal guidance of an instructor who is something of a specialist in that subject, and leading to the earning of a regular college credit.
There is, for example, the course in New Testament Greek, prepared by Prof. W. E. Howell after years of experience in teaching the language, and a residence in Athens. The method followed is that used by the late Professor Harper, first president of Chicago University, who himself conducted correspondence courses in Greek and in Hebrew. The pupil begins with simple passages in the gospel of John. He is not required to burden his memory with a lot of unnecessary grammatical rules, but is brought into living touch with the language, and by devoting a half hour or more daily to the well-prepared lessons, he is usually able, after a few months, to read simple passages in the original Greek and enjoy them. The work is fascinating from the beginning, and it is especially adapted to the morning study hour.
Then there is the course in Rome and the Middle Ages which gives the minister a wide knowledge of what was happening in Europe when Paul was taking his missionary journeys through Asia Minor and Greece. It also sketches in a most interesting way the rise and development of the Papacy. This study, carried on under the personal guidance of Prof. A. W. Werline, well known as one of our leading history professors, not only broadens the student's outlook over a wide field of knowledge, but trains him to think more clearly in terms of world history, and thus fits him to deal in a stronger way with the prophecies of the Bible.
In order to make it possible for a much larger number of our ministers to take these and other very interesting courses offered by the Home Study Institute, the managing board has decided to offer a special discount to ministers and workers amounting to one third of the regular price. Moreover, beginning with January, 1933, there will be a basic discount of 10 per cent allowed to all students. But besides this 10-per-cent discount, the workers will receive, for a period of six months, from January to June, inclusive, this further discount of 33 per cent. This will make the course in New Testament Greek, which has hitherto cost $20, available to our ministers at a tuition cost of only $12. This same discount will be given on practically all courses offered by the institute.
The terms are cash in thirty days, but ministers not finding it convenient to pay cash will be permitted to meet the expense in payments by the co-operation of the conference or institution and the Home Study Institute. Details of this arrangement will be given on request. This special concession rate offered our workers is really less than cost, but it is given with the hope that many who could not otherwise take courses will be able to do so on these very special terms. All ministers are invited to write and tell us in what line of study they are especially interested. We will gladly answer all questions and send to all interested persons a copy of our new calendar.
"Washington, D. C.
