Category: ZSDS NEWS

The Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies’ 2022 Doctoral Colloquium, hosted by Olivet University San Francisco Campus, was concluded on October 21. The colloquium was held on the San Francisco Campus from October 10 to October 21 with doctoral students from all over the globe.

In the welcoming session on the first day, ZSDS Dean Dr. Donald Tinder welcomed doctoral students: “I believe your successful completion of this doctoral journey has critical significance for God’s kingdom expansion as well as your ministry development.”

Over 50 doctoral students attended the colloquium in person. They had an opportunity to gain academic knowledge and ministerial expertise from the outstanding faculty of ZSDS and other fellow students. During the colloquium, the Doctor of Ministry Program offered a series of core courses as well as track-based lectures.

The Doctor of Philosophy program began with Dr. Craig Marlow’s interactive session with the doctoral students focusing on specific tasks and challenges on the way toward accomplishing successful research work and the dissertation. Furthermore, other sessions, including the presentations of student’s research work, were offered by ZSDS faculty.

Many colloquium attendees enjoyed the colloquium, calling it a time of self-enhancement, restoration, and healing.

“The feedback that I got encouraged me a lot and challenged me to modify the academic works and hence support the mission field better. I can testify to the love and care of our professors toward each student,” a PhD student said.

“It’s really exciting to attend this year’s colloquium; most of my classmates shared that these two weeks are an invaluable opportunity for their professional development. I was challenged by fellow DMin students, who exhibited their passion for the Gospel and God’s kingdom during the colloquium,” a DMin student said.

For more Olivet University News visit www.olivetnews.com

Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies concluded another fruitful academic year, producing two dozen new doctorate holders. The doctoral program has seen an increase in the number of graduates and improved quality of D.Min. student projects.

It is noticeable that 2022 graduates’ papers underscore the practicality in their respective ministerial settings. In response to the contemporary issues, diverse DMin tracks, for instance, introduced the following topics such as “A Biblical Foundation of Hospitality Ministry and Its Workshop Program” (Education Track), “Christian Media Utilization Plan for Mission Today” (Gospel and IT Track), “21 Days Early Morning Prayer Training Based on John 17” (Spiritual Formation Track).

Doctor of Ministry Program Director Dr. Tom Cowley stated, “It is always my great joy and pleasure to see our doctoral graduates. I am profoundly grateful that those alumni will play a pivotal role in the world mission onward.” 

“The chief forte of our doctoral program is its missional contribution from a global context by the active engagement of our graduates in mission ministries,” said Dr. William Wagner, Director of Olivet Institute for Global Strategic Studies.

ZSDS continues its mission to produce doctoral graduates who will become catalysts for the furtherance of the Gospel and the expansion of the kingdom of God.

Olivet Institute for Global Strategic Studies Director Dr. William Wagner hosted over 30 global Christian leaders last week in Houston, Texas for the first-ever Global Strategy Forum symposium. Participating from Olivet University were members of the Zinderdrof School of Doctoral Studies committee: Dr. Tom Cowley, Dr. Ray Tallman, and Dr. Mark Wagner. Professor Mark  and Calla Li from Olivet’s San Francisco campus attended as volunteers to help decorate the event, arrange technical equipment, drive, and photograph.

The forum brought leaders together to discuss how Christian influence could better penetrate Dr. Wagner’s 12 mountains of culture. These include Art, Business, Media, Family, Sports, Military, Migration, Technology, Government, and several others.

Christian leaders and thinkers, such as Chuck Bentley of the Christian Economic Forum, Timo Plutschinski Director of the WEA Business Coalition, and James Kramer, CEO of Commissioned LLC, gave keynote speeches that drilled into different areas of ministry where believers are now currently making progress. One theme was that although Christianity is going from a majority to a minority culture, believers must keep pushing forward with a Kingdom mindset, finding new ways to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

The conference ended very hopefully with participants looking forward to seeing each other again in the future, and evaluating what sort of progress is being made in penetrating these mountains of culture.

Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies (ZSDS) convened a meeting with the ministry track leaders from the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program on February 25.

The meeting aims to inform the leader of each track of the schedule for the upcoming oral defense, which will be held in April 2022. ZSDS introduced resources, including format guide and theological research writing, that track leaders can utilize in assisting their D.Min. mentors and candidates.

ZSDS called upon the track leaders to encourage each candidate in the final stage of their D.Min. programs to complete their final paper on time. Candidates will become eligible to join the oral defense to present their thesis project to the doctoral committee.

Candidates who pass the oral defense will join Olivet University’s commencement ceremony in June. ZSDS will continue to work closely with track leaders and mentors to guide each candidate to accomplish their work for graduation.

Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies (ZSDS) held a virtual meeting with the first-year students in the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program.

This is the follow-up meeting with the students after the annual doctoral colloquium was held successfully in October last year. The agenda covers an introduction of the D.Min. program, academic policy, and proposed timeline for students to follow throughout the first year. It was an opportunity for the first-year DMin students to be reminded of their program sequence in three years.

ZSDS faculty and staff encouraged the students to complete their coursework in the first year to ensure graduation progress is on track. The D.Min. students should complete 15 credits of coursework that cover various aspects of theology and missiology.

The meeting was followed by a Q & A session where students had their questions addressed regarding various aspects of the program. ZSDS faculty will hold further meetings with the D.Min. students for each particular course work.

For more Olivet University News visit www.olivetnews.com

On behalf of the faculty and administrative staff of Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies, I wish all who view this site a joyous Christmas. This is the second consecutive Christmas that is being disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Christians can experience it as a reminder that this world is not as God originally created it. That is why He came to earth as a baby to experience life as we do, sin apart. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, knowing that it is not the babe in the manger, but the Christ on the cross and resurrected from the tomb that is the unsurpassable gift of God –the gift of eternal life for all who believe and which no pandemic or other calamity can take from us.

As we exchange gifts with our loved ones, let thanksgiving for God’s gift be uppermost. We should also be thankful that God has enabled gifted people to detect the invisible virus and develop vaccines to prevent or mitigate its threat. As these vaccines are distributed much more throughout the world and accepted by all of those who are eligible for them, we can have a realistic hope that Christmas next year will be more like those in earlier years. However, as we see so many rejecting vaccines even when available, preferring to risk the consequences of so deadly a disease, it reminds us that so many also reject the “Good News and Great Joy” that the angels announced at Jesus’ birth despite the resulting punishment for unbelief. Even as government leaders and medical professionals seek to persuade people to accept the gift of vaccination, we of the Zinzendorf community seek to enhance the varying skills of ministers to persuade people everywhere to accept the gift of salvation.

May we persevere in our calling despite discouragement, even as God perseveres in bringing all who believe in Jesus ultimately to glory.

For more Olivet University News visit www.olivetnews.com

The Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies’ 2021 Doctoral Colloquium, hosted by Olivet University San Francisco Campus, was concluded on October 22. The colloquium was held in a hybrid format from October 11 to October 22 with doctoral students from all over the globe.

In the welcoming session on the first day, ZSDS Dean Dr. Donald Tinder welcomed doctoral students: “I was hoping you would have a productive two-week-long journey of knowledge sharing and inspiring conversation during the colloquium.”

Approximately 50 doctoral students attended the colloquium in person. They had an opportunity to gain academic knowledge and ministerial expertise from the outstanding faculty of ZSDS and other fellow students.

During the colloquium, ZSDS offered a series of core courses as well as track-based lectures. Dr. David Gill, one of the special lecturers, delivered a lecture titled “Ten Words on Freedom, Justice, and Love” He expounded the Ten Commandments through the lens of freedom, justice, and love. The lecturer’s content is taken from his book “Doing Right: Practicing Ethical Principles”, which helps Christians from every walk of life fulfill their calling to be salt and light within their own spheres of influence.

Many colloquium attendees enjoyed the colloquium, calling it a time of self-enhancement, restoration, and healing.

“The DMin lecturers and track leaders gave well-researched presentations, and they helped me see how a thoroughly researched DMin project can lead to a conclusion for impact and change. I also received valuable feedback on my project. It was great to hear other students’ project proposals,” a second-year doctoral student said.

“The doctoral colloquium puts DMin students into a whole new perspective – discussing the issues of faith in an academic setting. It challenges me to ask daring questions, which we do not usually think about. If we ask the right questions, we could grow stronger in what we do and what we believe in,” a first-year doctoral student shared.

To gear up toward the academic year 2021-22, Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies (ZSDS) convenes a Mentor Training Seminar for their faculty. The seminar was themed “Theological Research Writing” for Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) mentors.

The seminar aims to assist existing mentors of the D.Min program in guiding and advising doctoral students effectively. It covered central themes such as the research process, academic writing, literary research, and intellectual honesty.

ZSDS aspires to offer doctorate holders an opportunity to equip themselves as effective mentors and researchers. The recent seminar would provide crucial and adequate assistance to them. ZSDS continues striving to pursue the noticeable enhancement of its programs, students, and graduates.

The Commencement Ceremony 2021 of Olivet University supplies the doctoral graduates of Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies (ZSDS) with the time of celebration. The faithful God granted exceeding fruits this time with around 50 doctoral graduates who attended the ceremony either onsite at the OU’s main campus or online worldwide. The commencement was the culmination of many years of work and the long-desired fulfillment of hope.

Doctor of Ministry graduate (Class of 2021) Jana Rebrova gave a speech on behalf of the student body of Olivet University. “We may feel that now that we finished our studies, let me take a break. Instead, let us stay determined to continue to study, challenge ourselves, let us not avoid tears and sacrifice, but in difficult times seek comfort from Jesus Christ and let us be those who always chose the difficult path, overcome and give glory to God,” Rebrova said.

The ceremony was more than a celebration of the achievement of doctoral graduates. It was an offering of thankfulness and praise to God. May God continue to bless our doctoral graduates to influence positively for the kingdom of God onward!

The Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies (ZSDS) successfully concluded the Ph.D. doctoral colloquium. The colloquium was held remotely in a hybrid format for five weeks with Ph.D. students and professors from all over the globe.

The purpose of the colloquium is to prepare students for their Ph.D. examinations and writing a dissertation in global theology. It provides a learning interaction between professors and students for students to develop their knowledge and expertise in the field of global theology through extensive readings, writing papers, and peer discussions. The colloquium also works with the student in preparing them to develop a prospectus for writing a Ph.D. dissertation.

At each meeting, each student presents their specific area of interest in front of fellow students. Through the opportunity, the student gains feedback from other participants so that he or she can develop the theme more in-depth.

“The colloquium was very important in receiving criticism for our papers so that we can clarify and polish the contents. I was also really touched by the number of important topics that students are tackling that will contribute to God’s Kingdom,” shared Lily Zeng, a second-year Ph.D. student.