What is the Open Heart Bible Institute? We are a distance training center for Christians who desire a Biblical education but do not have the time or resources to attend a college program. What is the Goal of the Open Heart Bible Institute? We are dedicated to the purpose of training and educating persons for Christian service. Jesus Christ is the center of all our objectives. Our Mission Statement says it all: We exist to educate, equip, and validate those pursuing a deeper knowledge of God and their relationship to Him. We accomplish these goals by providing relevant biblical studies to those engaged in a journey toward Christian maturity. What kind of studies does the Open Heart Bible Institute offer? We offer correspondence studies at the certificate level. Most of our courses involve you, the provided study guide, and a Bible with some other basic resources -- such as a Bible Dictionary and Bible Handbook. How difficult are the courses and how much time is involved? The basic procedure involves opening your Bible and finding the answers to the written study questions. The questions are designed to force you to understand the intent of the Biblical author. Some study guides have True/False or Multiple Choice quizzes at the end of the lesson, but most simply ask you to search the text to find the answer. The Bible is our textbook. The studies are time-intensive and cannot be completed quickly. The idea is not to just "get it over with" but to allow the text to speak to you and equip you for ministry. How does the process work? We will e-mail an acknowledgement of your enrollment usually within 24 hours from the time you order and you will receive your course in the mail within 5 business days (if in the U.S.A.). Once you receive your materials you can start working on the class of your choice. We advise you to only work on one course at a time and to send it in as soon as it is completed. Once you have earned 30 credits we will send you a quality certificate suitable for framing acknowledging the completion of your work. We will keep track of all your progress in our office and have a transcript of all your work. What is the doctrinal position of Open Heart Bible Institute? We are a conservative, evangelical institute. Our student body is interdenominational. Can I transfer in credits for advanced standing? No. We do not offer any advanced standing. Do you offer traditional residence classes? Our courses are only offered as distance education. How long does it take to complete a course? That is entirely up to the student. Most students complete a course every month or less. It can be done even faster if you are motivated and have the time. We do expect the entire program to be completed in a maximum of two years (most complete it in less time). What if I have other questions not addressed here? E-mail us at wswinson@temple.edu or wswinson@verizon.net We'll get back to you as soon as possible! When are the Certificates issued? We will send you your certificate within a week of the completion of your studies. What is the postal address? All postal correspondence should be sent to: Dr. Walter Swinson 5810 Pemberton Street Philadelphia, PA. 19143