Kilns College

 

Kilns College, formerly High Desert Christian College (HDCC), began over a decade ago as the Central Oregon Bible Institute (COBI).  The purpose was simply to make quality Christian education available at an adult education level since Central Oregon doesn’t have any Christian teaching institutions.  The overall bible knowledge in Central Oregon is very low, not only because there are no Christian Colleges or Seminaries, but also because Oregon is one of the most non-religious states in the nation.

 

For years, HDCC has been able to offer high level seminar and lecture classes on a variety of Christian subjects because of the amount of people living in the area with advanced degrees willing to teach on a class by class basis.

 

In 2006, the Board of Directors decided to move in the direction of being a state Authorized Bible College with an approved Bible curriculum.  HDCC received the state approval in 2007.  The authorized degree program allowed HDCC to pursue transfer agreements with Christian Colleges and Universities, which makes the school more marketable to college students seeking eventual diplomas from accredited schools.

 

After receiving the state approval, the HDCC Board determined that a change in leadership would be a strategic move to help accomplish their vision of reaching college age students on a national level.  Accordingly, in December of 2007, the HDCC Board transferred control to a new Board and Executive Leadership Team uniquely qualified to continue the growth and development of the school.

 

Recently renamed Kilns College, the school with a new vision and strategy is ramping up by pursuing grants, raising development capital and moving toward a relaunch this fall, 2008.

 

 

Mission

 

To change the world one student at a time.

 

Vision

 

To birth an innovative school model that marries a classical education approach with a missions and social justice focus, attracting Christian college students from around the nation who are passionate and committed to changing the world.

 

Kilns College Structure

 

School of Theology & Mission

    Guest Lectureships

    Community Education

    Pastoral Intern Program (Jericho Project) 

 

 

School of Theology & Mission

 

The central focus of Kilns College is the School of Theology & Mission.  The target group is college students or post-graduates looking for further education.  (See below for an in-depth description of the School of Theology & Mission).

 

Guest Lectureships

 

Another focal point of the Kilns is to bring in top notch speakers from around the country as well as missionaries from around the world.  Each time a speaker comes to town it will go out on the school’s e-newsletter as a “guest lectureship.”  We look forward to hearing quality and meaningful teaching from some of today’s leaders in theology & mission.

 

Community Education

 

The third focal point of the school is Community Education classes.  These classes will be on a myriad of topics and will usually range from 3 – 9 weeks in duration.  The target audience of our community education classes is anyone in Central Oregon who is hungry to learn more.  The goal is to have intriguing topics, taught by high caliber energetic teachers that further encourage students to pursue education and learning.

 

Jericho Project

 

The Jericho Project is the last focus of the college.  It is a year long pastoral internship program for church planters and future pastors that requires outside support so that they can dedicate time to study and ministry experience.

 

Strategy: School of Theology & Mission

 

Academic:

 

Our academic strategy is to focus on teaching theology and missions and encourage students to enroll in one of the many colleges and universities represented on the local college campus (Oregon State University Cascades Campus, Central Oregon Community College etc.) 

 

Our intention is not to reinvent the wheel (we don’t need to teach math or science if the local school does) and not to derail the diploma progress of students.

 

Lastly, our missional focus makes involvement with other students at a college campus a desirable component of the students experience, missions training and education.

 

Philosophy of Education:

 

The Ancient Greeks saw education as the sharpening of a person for a purpose.  A person’s “Telos” (meaning goal or end) was the calling that drove the development of the person.  At the heart of the process was the flourishing of the “Psyche” or soul and growth in the knowledge of “the good, the true and the beautiful.”

 

In other words, education was directional and purposeful based on the unique design of the individual person.

 

Jesus shows this same philosophy of education when he called Peter to follow him.  He didn’t just say that he would make him a fisher… he said that he would make him a “fisher of men.”  Jesus tied the offer of education and development to Peter’s own unique calling and mission.

 

In contrast, education in the west has become what C.S. Lewis would call “Mercenary Education.”  Mercenary is something that is directional toward money alone and has no intrinsic concern for cause, purpose or telos.  Western education, even in Christian Colleges, has become overwhelmingly focused on employment, salaries and career advancement.

 

Without redirecting students away from degree attainment and career pursuits, our philosophy seeks to supplement their college experience with solid character development, life coaching and deep challenging academic instruction on both traditional and progressive topics in theology and mission.

 

Students will have Faculty Mentors, strong teachers and a wealth of practical opportunities to practice what they are learning.

 

Missions:

 

Without a sense of mission or calling, education can’t be purposeful or strategic (see Philosophy of Education above).  As such, in order to educate effectively we also need to help students discern their calling and give ample opportunity for them to explore a variety of ministry and missions contexts.

 

Our mission partners are the means by which we ground our vision as a “Missions School” as well as provide trips, networks, opportunities and relationships for them as they explore their future role in changing the world.

 

Students will have a Missions Director available to help them strategize specific trip opportunities for Christmas, spring and summer breaks as well as connect them with missions opportunities and contacts.

 

Community / Housing:

 

Our strategy for attracting students to this community of learning (much like L’Abri in Switzerland under Francis Schaeffer) is to focus on living in community.

 

The plan is to purchase a small run down motel (approximately 20 rooms) in Bend, Oregon to refurbish and use as a “dormitory” for the school.

 

The dorm will help communicate the vision to students that visit as well as become a gathering place for young adults in Central Oregon.