At the outset I wish to make clear that the congregation at Danville is not being promoted as some type of super-church or brotherhood seminary. The responsibilities of this congregation are the same as those of any other local church. The special training classes which are provided may also be offered by churches that have the interest and resources to do so. In fact, we eagerly encourage it. At the same time, we also acknowledge that many congregations do not currently have such a program and wish to inform interested students of the availability of this one.

A Teacher's Perspective

Having completed my first year as an instructor here, I have some impressions which I would like to share with our readers. First of all, I feel the church here should be commended for its dedication to such an effort. Even in the face of a crushing blow (the death of Kelly Ellis), the brethren have kept it alive. Many young men have been trained to preach here. Others (including ladies) have seized this opportunity to enhance their teaching skills. Hopefully, this will continue for years to come.

What can a student expect who comes to Danville? If he is willing to devote two years of his life to an in-depth study of the Word, he can anticipate emerging as a much more effective worker in God's kingdom. Those who planned these classes years ago had a keen perception of student needs. Areas of study are as follows:

Courses taught by Steve Wolfgang - Genesis and the Law, sermon preparation, Ezekiel, Revelation, Joshua, Judges, Kings, Chronicles, inspiration & authority of the Scriptures, period between the Testaments, Job & Wisdom Literature, hermeneutics, Bible history & geography, church history, Minor Prophets, Christian Evidences, doctrinal issues within the church, & Jeremiah.

Courses taught by Max Tice - The New Testament Church, Acts, Philippians, Titus, Philemon, James, 1,2,3 John, Jude, Hebrews, Ephesians & Colossians, Gospel of John, Corinthian epistles, denominational doctrines, Romans, 1,2 Timothy, Psalms, Daniel, the Synoptic Gospels, Isaiah, Galatians, 1,2 Peter.

All courses are taught at a college level. In fact, a comparison between the Danville program and those offered at many Bible colleges demonstrates how complete it is. Students who wish to acquire greater knowledge of the Bible without having to pay high tuition costs or having to take many non-religious courses will find these classes a welcome alternative.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year at Danville and look forward to next fall. I am deeply impressed with Steve Wolfgang's vast store of knowledge and believe students will have a difficult time finding a more capable teacher, especially in the field of church history.

A Student's Response

"Two years ago, I heard about the special classes being offered in Danville, Kentucky for the benefit of anyone who wanted to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. I made the decision to invest two years of my life in the study of the Word. I thank God I did. I have learned more about God's Word during this period than some people learn in a lifetime. These classes have provided me with valuable resources." - Tim Richardson

Another Student's Response

"After making changes in my job, I moved to Danville to take these special classes. The schedule allows me to work part-time and still have time to attend social functions. I feel the classes will help me to develop spiritually and will provide resources for growth through the years. Hopefully, I can return home and start ladies classes so that I can pass this information on to others." - Susan McFadden

Conclusion

It bears repeating that the Lexington Avenue congregation is not attempting to become the "brotherhood seminary." Any congregation that is able to do so is encouraged to train men and women in a similar manner. However, if there is no such effort in your area, you might consider this opportunity.

Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 15, p. 461
August 2, 1990