Welcome to the RTS/Virtual Mentoring Program Dear RTS/Virtual Student,
We are thankful for the great response to our new MA (Religion) program at RTS/Virtual. Many students have enrolled already in this fully accredited pilot effort for graduate theological education via distance education. Truly, you are on the ground floor of what we hope will be a great help to the church in ministry preparation and continuing education with a consistently Christian worldview. Lifelong learning with RTS is now an option for even those students who are not able to attend residential courses due to distance or schedule.
An important feature of serious distance education is mentoring. Without the human element, online and mediated learning can be obviously incomplete. Especially for our MA (Religion) students, we want to facilitate this important discipleship experience in your church community. Enlisting mentors was one feature that encouraged our accreditation organizations to approve your distance education masters degree program.
And following the models of personal mentoring throughout Scripture, RTS/Virtual emphasizes the value of an element of discipleship for all the men and women who take our courses. As well, we are able to highlight the service aspect that should be part of all learning. "From head to heart to hands" -- biblical instruction must include ministry application as opposed mere presentation of dry academic exercises.
You will receive some tools in forthcoming emails and on rtsvirtual.org to help you get started on this part of your degree program:
Mentoring for Distance Education: An Introduction
Mentor Agreement Form
Sample Course Assignments
Mentor Course Report Form
Call or write us with any questions about mentoring. Feel free to contact Rev. T. M. Moore, who has directed mentoring programs for many years and outlined this new program at RTS, at 304-457-2598 or Alice Hathaway at RTS/Virtual at 800-227-2013.
May God bless you as you work on your studies to His glory and for His kingdom.
Best Regards in Christ, for a New Reformation,
Andrew J. Peterson, Ph.D.
President
RTS Virtual
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