Residing in His Presence
When Online Learners Become a Community
Our Bachelor of Theology (BTh) program is a blended program that requires students to attend a two-week residency at least twice during their five years of study. This year, many BTh students from different countries attended the residency, united in rejoicing in the Lord and growing affectively, cognitively, and behaviorally. The aim of the residency is to foster connection and nurture both spiritual and intellectual growth as students spend time learning together in community.
On the first morning of residency, the chapel was filled with voices from the Arab world, different accents, different stories, one mission: to be shaped in the image of Jesus to serve the Church. The president and faculty led brief daily devotions designed to encourage the students, covering topics such as the true meaning of being God’s adopted children, unshakeable hope amid pain, and God’s grace and mercy that pursue us. Students also shared heartfelt testimonies in turn, describing how God has called them and worked in their lives, creating powerful moments of witness. Maher, a fourth-year student from Syria, reflected: “I learned that seminaries don’t build leaders, they support them.” Rabha, a first-year student from Sudan, shared: “Without God’s love, we wouldn’t all be gathered here, coming from different places. At ABTS, I felt truly part of the family of Christ. Everyone was welcoming and loving, accepting me just as I am.” What began as an online concert quickly felt like family as students prayed, learned, cried, and laughed side by side.
During the residency, core and visiting faculty members lead courses covering a wide range of topics for our students. The following is a brief overview of some of the covered topics.
Perry Shaw, delivered an enriching session to the students about the Hidden Curriculum and institutional vision, mission, and values. He emphasized that “real theology is what we do, not what we say”, highlighting the importance of tacit theology; how our actions often declare our faith more powerfully than words. Reflecting on the residency, he said: “I was inspired by the students’ eagerness to engage in conversation and connect with one another. At one point, I even had to stop them! This program truly fulfills the vision of accessible online learning that is grounded in meaningful physical connection during residency.”
Parush Parushev taught the Gospel of John course and focused on the Gospel’s witness-centered message; how living testimonies serve as witnesses for people to believe. Carlos, a fifth-year student serving in Lebanon, shared:
Dr. Parush’s style is unique. He explains the Gospel while sharing about his life. His personal examples helped us understand theology more deeply. This course changed how I view the stories of the Bible. I now see that they are part of one greater story: the story of redemption. To understand the beginning, you must go to the middle. To understand the middle, you must go back to the beginning.
David Baer taught the Book of Isaiah course. Frequently quoted in the New Testament, Isaiah is essential for understanding God’s purpose for all nations. This course aimed not only to equip students to share the message of Isaiah but also to help them develop a deep, substantive theology rather than superficial understanding. Given that one week is not sufficient to cover the entire book, the course focused on teaching the students strategies to study and analyze the text independently, mainly through workshops. David shared: “I’m very pleased with how students interacted. They’re a very mature group who love to learn and laugh. We were learning a lot together and laughing a lot together. I really appreciated this combination.”
George Sleiman, Head Librarian, taught the Research Methodology course for first year students, emphasizing metacognition and self-learning. The goal was to equip students to synthesize knowledge and create insights that will benefit the Church. George also helped organize a spiritual day during the residency, which focused on healing, facing pain, and listening to God’s voice amid life’s noise. He shared: “This day was special because it was deeply personal for both students and facilitators. Vulnerabilities were shared, pains discussed, and healing was prayed for.”
Our BTh program is hybrid by design, but residency is where relationships take root, where networks are formed, and where theology moves from screen to life. The residency remains a vital part of the students’ academic and spiritual journey, providing an invaluable space for them to connect, listen, and experience the communal dimension of theological formation. Until we have the joy of meeting students again, either during next year’s residency, or in their home countries, we will deeply miss having them on campus. Our prayer is that, as one student shared, “may we serve others in humility, just as we were served on campus.”
Perry Shaw in class
Parush Parushev in class
David Baer in class
