Florida Nazarene Bible Institute
“First Class” Information
(For New MITs and MITs in Level 1, 2, or 3 who have not taken “First Class”)
(Note: This information applies primarily to English speaking students. Students in the Hispanic language-based ministry, the Haitian language-based ministry, and any other language-based ministry in development, would take this this class in that language. Please see below for contact information.)
“First Class” is the required orientation event for the ministry and ordination preparation process for MITs on the Florida District Church of the Nazarene. It is preferred that new MITs take this class before starting other classes. However, if students have already started other classes, they should still take “First Class” as soon as it is offered. “First Class” is designed to answer the basic questions and outline the expectations in the process toward ordination. It will be offered once per quarter, either as an online Zoom class, or as a local on-site four-hour event, in various locations for convenient student access.
MITs must complete at least six classes prior to being considered for a first district license. If an MIT is new to the ministerial process and has not yet completed the initial six classes in the Course of Study, First Class may be counted as one of the first six classes. This option only applies to MITs who have not yet been granted a first district license.
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“First Class” District Orientation (4 hours) [via Zoom]; Jeanne Morgan, instructor
Contact: Jeanne Morgan, jeanne@floridanaz.com, 863-838-2692
Registration opens 3/4/2024 and closes 4/20/2024….
Next session to be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm., via Zoom
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“FIRST CLASS” PRE-CLASS HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
(To be read and completed in advance of attending the class)
Review "Plan of Examination" Florida District (click here to download)
Review “Responding to God’s Call” (click here to read it)
Review “Sequence of the MIT’s Journey” (click here to download)
Review the 2017-2021 Nazarene Manual “Ministry and Christian Service” (paragraphs 500-539):
(click here to download Nazarene Manual in English)
Read the “Guide to Ministerial Preparation and Ordination” (click here to download a copy)
Pre-Class Reading Assignments (from the “Guide to Ministerial Preparation and Ordination"):
Welcome to the Journey: Partners on the Journey - p 5
The Call - pp 7-8
Writing assignment: briefly describe the experience of your call to ministry; the where? the what? the how? the when? what area of ministry do you believe God is calling you to pursue?
Educational Preparation - pp 10-12
Licensing & Ministry Experience - pp 14-20
Writing assignment: briefly describe your past and current experience in ministry practice; what do you do? How do you prepare? What growth in yourself have you experienced?
Ordination - pp 21-23
From the reading, what did you learn about ordination? Does this new knowledge change your intention?
Lifelong Learning and Effective Ministry for a Lifetime - pp 25-26
From the reading, list the reasons given for developing lifelong learning for ministry? (also add in some of your own thoughts/ reasons).
Appendix A: Read through "Ability Statements" - pp 27-30
Which of the "Ability Statements" do you identify in yourself the most? The least?
Complete and submit "Registration of Call to Ministry" form (click here for the online form)
RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL READING...
Review “Nazarene Essentials”: English; French; Spanish
Review “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism”: English; French; Spanish
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CONTACT INFORMATION - “FIRST CLASS” OFFERD IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Hispanic Ministries (CEM): Rev. Nancy Diaz, Educational Director - click here
Haitian Ministries: Rev. Gilbert Dertes, Director - lobergy@gmail.com, 407-470-3825