Christian

ARTOS

Artos, meaning “bread” in Greek, is a weekly inductive Bible study held on Wednesdays over the lunch hour in the Christian Ministries Lounge. The intention of Artos is to offer a time of fellowship while eating “bread” for the body and soul. Students generally enjoy Artos because it is relaxed, hospitable, and application-driven.

CAMP KOINONIA

Camp Koinonia is an annual all-school retreat held September 22-24th this year. It's an opportunity for students to enjoy fellowship with one another in a beautiful outdoor setting. The weekend helps students to walk more intimately with God, provides a wonderful worship experience, great food, and much-needed rest.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRACK

The Leadership Development Track is a program focusing on student growth in leadership. It follows the natural development of students over their four years in college and provides opportunities for them to capitalize on that progression. Students get involved in committing to the pursuit of excellence in all of their activities at C of O. Over the course of four years students will explore different leadership possibilities, learn about how they can be better leaders and have an opportunity to lead and teach others to do the same thing. The emphasis is a hands-on approach while they are in college so that they will be empowered and productive leaders.

The leadership principles in LDT reflect the character qualities supported by the College in the formation of Christian living, service, and education. Although LDT is not an organization that students attend weekly, there are several events they can attend, such as retreats, forums, conferences, service projects, and community events.

For more information about the Leadership Development Track, please contact the Student Director office at ldt@cofo.edu.

SMALL GROUP LEADER TRAINING

Small Group Leader Training is an intentional, small-group discipleship program that prepares students to organically grow small groups. As a partnership between Christian Ministries and Residence Life, Small Group Leader Training helps prepare 25-30 students each semester. While in this program, students come to a fuller understanding of who Jesus is and the value of committing to the community throughout life. This program empowers students to lead Gospel-centered small groups on most of the dormitory floors on campus.

Biblical. Expositional. Evangelical.

Gathering for worship is an integral part of life at College of the Ozarks as students worship together on Sunday mornings at Williams Memorial Chapel. Consequently, the chapel program is designed to help students develop a Biblical worldview and integrate their faith with classroom learning.

Statement of Faith

As an interdenominational school, the college affirms two basic, historical statements to describe the faith it hopes to foster.

"I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen."

- Apostles' Creed

"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy universal and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."

- Nicene Creed

A Biblical Worldview

Christian Worldview I: An introduction to the concept of worldview, with a special focus on understanding and practicing a Christian worldview rooted in the overarching biblical narrative of Creation, Sin, and Restoration, and the development of Christ-like character.

Christian Worldview II: A continuing examination of the concept of worldview, with comparative analysis of a Christian worldview and other prevalent worldviews, and a focus on the ongoing development of Christ-like character in students as they seek to fulfill the two great commandments to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and their neighbors as themselves.

Christian Convocations

Each semester Christian Ministries plans Christian convocations for the students at C of O. These convocations bring in speakers or artists to intentionally present the gospel of Jesus Christ in a culturally relevant way.

CHRISTIAN COUNSELING

We help students stay healthy so they can reach their potential, personally and academically. In Christian Ministries, we help students develop a Biblical worldview by learning to love God and others, as themselves.

STUDENT COUNSELING SERVICES

Individual Counseling

Our counselors and graduate interns will meet with you for assessment and short-term counseling (6-12 sessions).

Brief Consultations

Our counselors and graduate interns will assist you with any questions or concerns, regarding friends, roommates, family members, and/or college life and the adjustments, which accompany it. Nothing is a waste of time to talk through: if you are questioning or wondering, it’s important, and we want to help.

Outside Services

We will help you connect with providers outside College of the Ozarks, if desired.

Workshops and Presentations

Our counselors are available to speak to your group about mental health issues, and building healthy boundaries, and relationships. Look for “How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk/Jerkette,” “Boundaries in the Making,” “Pre-Marital Retreat: Starting Out Equipped,” and Personality Profile Workshops, starring the typology inventories everyone talks about on campus.

Relationship Coaching

With the right tools, we can help you succeed relationally: from friendship to marital counseling, our trained marriage family therapists will help guide you toward your relational dreams.

QUESTIONS

We are here to help. Please contact us at (417) 690-2296 or scc@cofo.edu. The Student Counseling Center is located at the Christian Ministries building.

Please note: All information is kept strictly confidential.

HOURS

Counseling services are available by appointment Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours and Saturday hours are available by appointment for those who are unable to visit during the day.

Mission and Service

At College of the Ozarks, we believe that God has called us to integrate our Christian faith with our lives, learning, and service. Because of this, we diligently pursue spreading Christ's love to those within our own neighborhoods and the global community.

Annually, Christian Ministries encourages students through internships, mission trips, and service opportunities to participate in God's mission to the world. These experiences often transform students as much as those they serve. As students participate in God's mission, they mature in their biblical understanding of "loving God, themselves, and others."

Mission Training Institute

Mission Training Institutes (MTIs) provide a laboratory for students to learn practical skills and gain a theological understanding for mission work that can propel them into a life of mission. In the past, we have hosted experiences where students can learn about God's mission locally and worldwide, conversations on sharing the Gospel with Muslims, the biblical basis for mission work, and mission fairs with mission and service organization representatives.

Mission Trips

Over the years, we have been able to take trips all over the world. Most recently, we have sent students to Belize and Ecuador to do evangelism and discipleship, Cameroon for medical mission work, New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina relief and reconstruction, and inner city Memphis to help with home-building. At the center of all of these trips is a deep desire to communicate Christ's love and our hope through both our words and actions.

Service

Each semester Christian Ministries sponsors multiple student-led service opportunities in our local community. These opportunities have included feeding and clothing the poor, working at local boys and girls shelters, working low-income children, disaster relief, construction, and tutoring.