Connections and Accountability
Dear Pastors, it is our desire as a university to enhance the whole Body of Christ. We are a non-denominational university that looks to develop individuals in their quest to become all that God intended. In fact the majority of our students are leaders, pastors, apostles etc. – many of them are successful with networks of their own, relating to and faithfully serving the connections that they are accountable to.
We have implemented to the best of our ability an accountability process for each individual student that safeguards division within the local and international body, which incorporates the following: First of all, each student has to receive permission and fill out not only an application form but also submit to the university a recommendation letter from their pastor. Secondly, each student has to present themselves to their pastor with two forms that need to be signed every month, covering the following two areas:
1. A record of meeting monthly with their personal mentor for counselling purposes
2. A record of their continued involvement in serving within the local church for the equivalent of 80 hours or more, over the course of 9 study courses (180 hours for graduate students)
More information can be found in the chapters entitled: Student Welfare & Spiritual Development, and Ministry Trips & Practicum. The forms are enclosed within Section II Appendix of the Student’s Handbook.
The Ministry Practicum form also includes a separate page where students can list the names of those they have brought into LICU. Remembering that all students requesting a special scholarship discount are expected to bring at least 1 new student into LICU during the first couple of months of their studies (new students can study from any location through our online/correspondence program). For more details please see “Scholarships and Other Benefits” on page 81-82 in the Student’s Handbook.
At the same time we encourage all of our students to see themselves as Ambassador of LICU, proudly spreading the news of the university program to their family, friends and colleagues. Together we can do more!
Students, who introduce 5 new students or more, may also qualify for the Student of the Year Award, which is based on: academic achievement, financial responsibility and the introduction of new students (see page 43 of the Student’s Handbook).
In respect to the things that I have already said above, I would also like to make the following declaration. We all need to appreciate that each person/fellowship/church/organisation has a responsibility to follow their own revelations, convictions and practices, but not to impose them upon the corporate Body of Christ. Bishop Doctor Bill Hamon in his book titled, “Apostles, Prophets and the Coming Move of God,” on page 49 (1997) says, “Such presumptuous declarations, teachings and actions cause divisions in the Body of Christ. Every erroneous Christian group has established certain doctrines and practices that are unique to them. This then makes them an exclusive, ‘elected’ group that sees itself as superior to all others.”
Bishop Hamon goes on to say, “Exclusivism leads to cults.” He says that, “the manifestations of this attitude are seen in the extreme groups that arose during the time of the Holiness and Pentecostal Movements: Mormonism, Christian Scientists and Jehovah Witnesses. But sad to say, there are also some of the extreme right that are still counted as ‘mainline’ Christian denominations who believe that they are the only true people of God. They base this conviction on a certain baptism formula, way of worship, Church order or some other unique doctrine or practice.”
“No one man or group has it all.” The New Testament scriptures emphatically and repeatedly declare that Christ has only ONE Church here on planet earth. No denominational, fellowship, network, association or restoration camp makes up the entirety of the Church. Every born again, blood washed, sanctified child of God is a member of Christ’s Body (the Church). They may be Charismatic Catholics, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Prophetic people or Present-Truth Apostolic people. We are only parts of the whole and members in particular of the corporate Body of Christ. All truth and life are found in the whole, not just in one particular part or member. WE NEED EACH OTHER AND WILL NEVER COME TO MATURITY AND FULLNESS OF TRUTH WITHOUT EACH OTHER. The New Wine is in the cluster – not just in one individual grape” (Isaiah 65:8).
