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Harbor Genesis Christian College
  • Avoid going out and isolate yourself if you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath and or any other symptoms of an illness
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of and no less than twenty seconds 
  •  Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol in the active ingredients
  • Cover coughs and sneezes using a tissue or the inside of your elbow
  • Have proper cleaning technique in place for all the surfaces that are frequently touched
  • Greet each other with gestures other than hand gestures and if it does occur to practice the correct procedures such as hand washing or using a hand sanitizer again with an emphasis on the hand sanitizer containing
  • Surfaces that are dirty must be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water before disinfection with bleach. Once soap and water is used, diluted bleach solutions can be used
  • Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol and other most EPA-registered household disinfectants are effective
  • You can prepare a bleach solution by mixing five tablespoons of bleach with one gallon of water or four teaspoons of bleach per quart of water and never mix bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser

First, let us talk a little about the virus and its origin and some background information, which will help explain the transmission ways and help us tackle the question of how we can help prevent the spread of the virus and suggest prevention tips for churches. The Coronavirus is also abbreviated as COVID-19 but is a combination of two viruses consisting of SARS and CoV-2. The coronavirus was first discovered in Wuhan, China, and now in more than 100 locations all over the world, including the United States. Health and Human Services Secretary announced the outbreak of a public health emergency, and now we need to consider to decrease the chances of transmission of the virus from one person to another. The COVID-19 virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets, so an essential factor is to avoid people who are infected with the virus to prevent the viral droplets in the air, especially when there are many people in the church. Education and safety precautions should be stressed to people who plan on attending the services, especially if they have any symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

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Harbor Genesis Christian College
Back to school tips for success
Follow these tips to have a successful back to school experience

Summer fun is in full swing, but it’s soon going to be time to hit the books! With that in mind, Harbor Genesis Christian College wants to offer students some back to school tips as a way to help them get back into the swing of things. 

For students who are brand new to college, the experience can be very different than for those who have simply taken the summer off. And for folks who are going back to school for the first time in a while, the experience of being a student all over again can be daunting. However, by getting into the right mindset, students young and old can set themselves up for success as they enter the fall semester of college. 

Top tips for students going back to school this fall

  1. Use technology discounts available to students
    There are many stores offering back to school shopping discounts with obvious items, such as notebooks, pens, pencils, and the like. However, many students don’t realize that they have the chance to purchase more expensive items, like laptops and tablets, at a discounted rate. For instance, Apple offers student discounts on its laptops and desktop computers. Depending on when the laptop is purchased, students may even get additional items, such as headphones, for free. It’s virtually impossible to take classes at college without a functioning computer, so investing in a good laptop is crucial. Research various options to see which discount works best.

  2. Create a routine
    For students who are taking online courses for college, it’s important to make sure that a set schedule with a routine with plenty of study time is created. Going back to school does cause a change in living habits, so it’s important to make sure that dedicated time for classwork is created. This is especially the case for online students. While there are many benefits to taking online courses, leaving assignments to the last minute can be problematic. What tends to happen is that students end up turning in subpar work, which leads to lower grades that do not necessarily reflect the student’s ability. By scheduling out dedicated work time throughout the week, students find they are more likely to get assignments done without cramming.

  3. Plan out your life, not just your classes
    Many students fret about school starting because they feel that they miss out on life when they are taking classes. However, it is possible to have a full school schedule and still have an active personal life. People do not need to cut back on birthdays, family outings and work if they plan out their large life events. Use a planner, but not just for academic deadlines. Students who are taking online courses can adjust their class load to fit the busy seasons of their lives. For instance, if a student is a pastor, or involved in ministry, there are times of the year that are very busy, such as Christmas-time. By acknowledging that season is busy, the student can take less classes to accommodate the heavier workload. This allows the student to continue moving forward academically without overly stressing themselves with work. Once the busy season slows back down, the student can pick up more classes again.

  4. Find the ideal study spots.
    Not every student does well studying in a crowded coffee shop. While the caffeine buzz may keep the student awake, conversation and distraction may make it nearly impossible to focus. For others, stuffy libraries might be deafening with their silence. Some may find that their kitchen table after their family is asleep is the best spot for writing essays. Find the ideal study spot for your study style, and stick to what works.

  5. Take the right kind of classes.
    More and more students have found that traditional college classes don’t work for them anymore, as they have to calculate drive times, wait lists, and specific class times into their routine. For many working individuals, this simply doesn’t work anymore. Students like these need more flexibility, which is why online courses may be a better choice. The classes are not just something they have to go to; it becomes an option that they can incorporate to their life. If this is something that you’re considering, you can check out the options available from the HGCC course catalog. Staff would love to share options available to you today. 
Harbor Genesis Christian College
homeschooling parents

Homeschooling is slowing gaining more traction, as more and more parents want to advocate for their children, their children’s rights, and their personal beliefs. According to a recent Forbes magazine, homeschooling isn’t just growing in the United States. The article stated that the Office of Schools Adjudicator saw a 40-70 percent increase in parents electing to homeschool. 

This increase in studies is not just happening abroad. In Southern Utah, home school programs are expanding to meet the needs of parents. The article states that within a decade, the population of those involved in home education in Utah increased by about 1,000 students. In the last four years, however, the population almost doubled in size. 

Just under 9,000 students in Utah were being homeschooled during the 2012-2013 school year, but the latest numbers from 2016 show homeschooling has grown to over 16,000 students.

Why are parents turning to Home School Programs as a viable option?

There are many reasons why a parent wants to take an active role in their child’s education. Homeschool programs do not necessarily have to be religious. As a matter of fact, wanting to have a say in what their children learn is of the largest reasons why parents opt to use a homeschooling curriculum. 

People feel empowered to choose how and when a child learns about a topic, as opposed to following a state mandated timeline. Some children are able to grasp topics rapidly, and need the additional time to expand their learning, while others need more time to build upon foundations. In a traditional classroom, these children are either sitting bored, waiting for others to catch up to them, or are left behind as they struggle to keep up. 

Other parents are exhausted by standardized curriculum and testing, and the push to perform instead of learn. They want their children to enjoy their school years, and look for homeschooling programs that promote a more holistic learning experience. 

Medical concerns and bullying can also be reasons parents want to keep their children out of a public school district, as there is not necessarily support for children who cannot defend themselves, either emotionally or physically.  

How to find the perfect homeschooling curriculum

There is no ‘perfect’ curriculum for all students. It can actually take parents a long time to find the perfect material that’s best suited for their children. Some parents who are homeschooling high school students may use newer, online homeschooling programs. Others choose to dual enroll their students with a college to offer them more challenging courses and electives. 

While there is a struggle at the beginning of the home school process, parents like that there is the flexibility to change their minds. In a St. George News article, Nina Wolf, Utah Home Education Association chairman, shared how she was able to find the perfect curriculum for her daughter. 

“Kids are not cookie-cutter models,” said Wolf. “Every child is different, their learning styles are different and their strengths and weaknesses are different.”

Wolf chose to create her own colorful, fun curriculum to learn grammar. However, her 7-year-old daughter let her know that it was too distracting. Wolf went out the next day to find a more straightforward curriculum and found her daughter understood the content better. 

This would not have happened if Wolf’s daughter were enrolled in public school, she shared in the article.

“Because I was homeschooling, I had the freedom to take what was happening and change it and find a way to make it work for her,” she said. “If she had been in school and that was just the curriculum, there’s not much I could do about it.”

With that freedom, though, comes a cost — financially and emotionally — on a family who chooses to home educate. 

“There are significant sacrifices involved,” said Wolf. 

Still, parents feeling led to have home schooled children can find support. Home Education associations like the Christian Home Educators Association (CHEA) of California, support groups, and co-ops can give valuable aid to parents learning the home school process. Online college classes for dual enrolled students can ease the busy schedule parents may find themselves in. There is even a home school legal defense association, to help parents understand what their rights are.

Regardless, there are plenty of choices parents can make, freely, as homeschooling parents. It’s up to them to learn what their rights are, and determine if this is the right education choice for them. Since the sacrifice is for their children, parents find that the payoff of home schooling is well worth the investment.

Harbor Genesis Christian College
youth pastor
Youth Pastors are in great need across America. But where are they?

When a family looks for a church to become its home base, one of the main qualifications is a dynamic youth program. Parents want to know that their junior high, high school, and college aged children are going to feel engaged. This can be done through Sunday services, age-specific events, and youth group. The anchor to such a program, of course, is the youth pastor.

The youth pastor job description can vary, depending on the size of the church. The youth pastor, traditionally, coordinates fun, Christ-centered activities for youth, but also bonds with young people while helping them build a solid relationship with Christ. 

Because of this, churches seeking youth pastor candidates need to make sure they do not select anyone for the position — this individual can be a key asset to keeping college aged folks from leaving church. 

As important as this role is, many churches are having a hard time filling that position. It would appear that youth pastors looking for jobs should flock to posted positions, but that’s not the case. In a recent article, Thom S. Rainer, founder of Church Answers, posed the question: Where have all the student pastors gone?

Top reasons youth pastor jobs aren’t filled

  1. Budgeting for youth pastors has dropped significantly
    When a church has to tighten its budget, one of the first positions go to is the youth pastor. Some churches combine this position with family pastor, giving the individual the task of nurturing children, youth and young adults, instead of focusing on just one age group. While this saves money, but can also be detrimental to the much-needed relationship building time a pastor needs to put in with youth. The family pastor cannot focus on the unique needs of teens when they’re also trying to juggle the needs of children and young adults, too.

  2. The call to pastorship doesn’t include youth pastors
    Many churchgoers have the belief that a call to be a pastor means a call to lead pastor or part of the teaching staff at a church. They do not see the youth pastor as an actual pastor because all they do is ‘hang out with kids.’ However, a high quality youth pastor who loves his or her students is just as important as a senior pastor. If the youth pastor takes their job seriously, they work hard to establish strong relationships with their students. That leads to open discussion and, hopefully, drawing nearer to God for students during one of the most stressful times in their lives. They literally pastor a young person towards a relationship with God.

  3. Youth pastors aren’t taken seriously, even in their role
    When someone is given the title youth pastor, they are immediately pigeon-holed into a ministry stereotype. The stereotype paints a picture of an immature person who doesn’t take God and faith seriously, and who goofs off before giving a lackluster 10 minute message that’s Christian-adjacent. For those who take youth ministry and their teens seriously, this can be an offensive stereotype that discourages them from picking up the role. They would much rather be known for their time in prayerful study and focused planning meant to draw young people closer to God.

  4. Youth are looking for a more genuine experience
    Studies have found that less high school and junior high students are attending church. With that in mind, those in church want to feel they have a true connection with a real, relatable person. So if a person who’s not fully invested is filling in the role as youth pastor, hoping for a chance to move on to another pastor position from there, they aren’t going to connect. They want someone who truly wants to be there as youth pastor, not someone there for a season. 

  5. Less schools offer youth ministry programs
    Churches tend to pull from their own ministers and leaders to fill in as youth pastor. These individuals might have a theology degree, but not necessarily youth pastor or leadership experience. Because of this, more Christian college programs have stopped offering youth ministry courses, or have very few to pick from. This leaves young people who might be interested in developing that ministry with few educational options. 

This doesn’t mean that churches should give up hope on their youth pastor search. Church leaders may have to invest in their own leaders, finding the person who truly has a heart for serving those who need God most: youth. Once they find someone with the passion, nurturing that drive to serve can be done by sending them for youth ministry study at a Christian College, and giving them the opportunity to grow the group the way God leads them. 

Harbor Genesis Christian College
Church Diversity is no longer simply having individuals of mixed backgrounds attending your church
Church Diversity is more than having more than one race represented on the church pews.

Churches throughout the country are changing dramatically, forcing pastors to take a good, hard look at what they offer their congregation. As a way to better serve their church, these pastors have begun to educate themselves in terms of racial, economic and social diversity. This would allow them to better meet the needs of everyone attending church, not just a select few.  

When ‘diversity’ is mentioned, what tends to come to mind is race. When this happens, many pastors feel that they don’t have to expand themselves because their church is small, and tends to be from the same racial background. But that’s not necessarily true.

“We should account for class, age, country of origin, economic situations, and so on. Really, we should look for any way that humanity distinguishes or divides itself and desire to see unity rather than division in each of them. Not every community is racially diverse, but I’d wager that every community is in some ways diverse, even if less visibly,” said Tim Challies, pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto, Ontario, in a recent blog post.

Pastors find themselves facing an age divide in their church, with seniors and young families struggling to find themselves. Single parents blend with college students, both needing unique care at their very different stages in life. Even within the same family, migrant parents may battle with significantly different issues than their first generation children.  Church diversity is everywhere.

“[Church diversity] allows us the opportunity to see the gospel doing what only the gospel can do, which is bring true unity through, despite, and across diversity,” said Challies. “You may say your community has no diversity, and it’s possible, but it’s more likely it is there but you are overlooking or failing to observe it. A community can be made up of one race but many cultures, backgrounds, cultures, ages, and classes.”

Many pastors try to equip themselves by having a representative of each group on the leadership team. But for many, this isn’t possible or practical. However, that doesn’t mean these individuals are ignoring their members. They just don’t have the tools to serve. However, there are steps pastors can take in order to serve their community better. The following are some key ideas to help pastors see if they are meeting the needs of their church.

  1. Identify the needs of your community
    Your church should be a reflection of your community. With that in mind, a pastor can figure out what concerns need to be addressed by their church. “Many churches are now also serving and working with people with mental health issues and physical disabilities that were previously ignored,” said Melissa Quintanilla, Assistant Dean of Hispanic Programs at Harbor Genesis Christian College.

  2. Don’t be afraid to change the way needs are met
    Many pastors are finding that church facilities should not just be used for worship services, especially if they want to reach their community. Some churches are offering Bible studies on college campuses, while others are opening their doors to homeless outreach programs during the week. Others have teamed up with non-profit organizations in their community to educate parents about parenting and health. One church in Fallbrook, California, offers its facilities to low income families for funeral services, free of charge. While there is an expense made on the church’s behalf, the pastoral team sees it as an investment into the community.

  3. Education is not an enemy when addressing diversity
    There is no shame when a pastor admits that he is not sure with how to handle church diversity. By reaching out to others, he may find additional support to address the issue. He may also need to take online college courses as a way to better understand how to address needs. However, this should not be something to fear.

“Jesus talked about going the extra mile, and educating ourselves to better love and serve is going that extra mile. We can’t be complacent anymore,” said Quintanilla. “God calls us to invest our time in kingdom works, and to love our neighbor. At HGCC we dive into how to love and serve in a profound way.”

Andrea Estrada

Harbor Genesis Christian College students will soon have other educational doors opened for them, allowing them to pursue careers outside of ministry and church leadership. They will have the ability to receive a bachelors or associates degree from a prestigious university for a discounted financial cost.

HGCC president Jeffry Caballero, Associate Dean of Faculty and Administrative Affairs Daveon Swan, and Director of Admissions Andrea Estrada recently met with officials of a regionally accredited university to finalize a transfer agreement. The agreement will allow current and future Harbor Genesis Students the option to transfer to the university for an associates or bachelors degree.

A quality education, for less

Harbor Genesis students already save a significant amount of money by attending the college. By taking a large portion of their courses at Harbor Genesis, students will not be as financially burdened as someone who decides to attend a four year degree outright.

“As always, students can continue their associates and bachelors studies with Harbor Genesis. This agreement allows students to consider careers outside of ministry, while obtaining a high quality Christian education,” said Estrada. “Students can transfer, graduate, and then move on to law school, become teachers, or create their own businesses. Each individual will know they have received the best education for their future.”

Harbor Genesis students studying at the online Christian College have the option to receive their masters degree from the university at a 25% discount, per the agreement. Harbor Genesis already has an agreement with Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary at a master’s level. This new agreement will provide even more choices for HGCC students.

“Once the agreement has been finalized, students can specify that they are interested in transferring, and will immediately be put on a transfer course,” said Estrada. “This special course is aligned with the university to allow for a smooth transition, and students will feel they are best prepared for the future.”

The transfer agreement is steps from being finalized. HGCC administration will reveal the name of the university as soon as possible. For more information, check back on this site regularly.

Andrea Estrada

While serving God as a pastor or in church leadership requires an individual to be completely committed, having a heart to serve others requires more than just a willing spirit. Pastors and ministers have found that more and more church leadership positions demand a degree in Christian Studies, Christian Counseling Certification, and Theological preparation.

As a matter of fact, missionaries and pastors have found that by offering Christian Counseling to communities, they are able to open doors to countries that were previously shut to them. A recent Mission Network News report announced that Slavic Gospel Association’s Eric Mock gave biblical counseling training for Russian pastors. These individuals minister in Far East Russia as part of the group’s Reach Russia Now initiative.

Biblical Counseling Russian Pastors
Photo Courtesy: Mission Network News

Accessing communities during crisis

Pastors were trained in how to respond to the area’s high drinking and suicide rates. They were also given tools to help the community deal with depression and addiction. That counseling opens the door to individuals who may have never heard of the hope Christ brings.

“It is helping Gospel missions. We’re helping groups from churches go out to unreached villages,” said Mock. He then explained that counseling was only a tool used to help in dire circumstances, but required tact to allow for the pastors to truly connect with community members.

This addresses a problem that many pastors, who have not received such training, can encounter when dealing with crises in local communities.

“Many times we may have the best of intentions when trying to help someone but are extremely limited because we have not invested in being better helpers, listeners, and tools that God can use,” said Melissa Quintanilla, Dean of Hispanic Studies at Harbor Genesis Christian College. “By taking a course in Christian counseling we invest our time to better understand ourselves, and learn how to understand the population we work with in our church and home.”

Biblical Counseling Certification Courses are crucial

Pastors and ministry leaders interested in developing their gifting in Christian Counseling can take online counseling courses through Harbor Genesis Christian College. Since the courses are offered online, students can take the courses at their leisure, instead of being bound to a traditional classroom schedule.

“God calls us to be the best administrators we can be with the time and resources He has given us,” said Quintanilla.