MIGDAL OZ
School of Biblical Studies
MIGDAL OZ School of Biblical Studies creates a Christ-centered, Spirit-led academic and experiential environment through which the Word of God can be presented to young adults (age 18 – 25) in the historical, geographical and cultural context in which His Word was originally given. While the fall semester will be taught in the San Antonio area, the entire spring semester will be conducted in Jerusalem, Israel.
THE NAME OF THE LORD IS A STRONG TOWER ... A MIGDAL OZ
(Prov 18:10; Ps 18:1-3; Ps 61:3)
This Strong Tower is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer and our shelter. It is from this Strong Tower that we will draw our strength and courage to go out into the world with boldness and with confidence. From this foundation, students will begin their theological journey.
OUR FOUR UNIQUE PILLARS
As there are three visible legs depicted in the school’s logo, there are three distinctly unique aspects of the School’s approach to teaching the Word of God.
I
Focusing on placing the Word of God into its historic, geographic and cultural context in which the events of the Bible occurred.
II
Experiential learning that can only be accomplished by immersing the student into the history, geography and culture of the Land of the Bible through extended study in Israel.
III
Integrating the study of Hebrew into every subject by using the Bible Society’s Hebrew-English Parallel Bible as the standard, everyday Bible of the School.
IV
The Holy Spirit is the fourth, unseen leg of MIGDAL OZ. The Spirit of the Lord is always welcome and is invited to speak into the lives of each student.
(Isa 44:3; Eze 39:28-29; Jn 14:15-30; Jn 16:12-15; Acts 2:1-12)
OUR MISSION
FOUNDATION
Strengthening the student’s fundamental Christian beliefs
thus rendering their Faith and Trust in the Complete Word of God as unshakeable.
(Rom 10:9-13)
COMPLETE TEXT
Understanding that the entire Bible (both Older and Newer Testaments) constitutes the Complete Word of God.
(Lk 24:13-35)
CURRENT RELATIONSHIP
The School will instill in the students an understanding of Christians’ proper relationship with God’s Chosen People, with the Holy Land of Israel and with the Holy City of Jerusalem
(Rom 9-11 (9:6-9); Gal 4:1-7)
FUTURE KINGDOM
All Israel will be saved (Rom 11:26-29)
Part of Christians’ role in the Kingdom will be to assist in bringing God’s Chosen People to Jesus Christ with humility, respect and honor.
(Mt 23:39; Rom 11:25)
DISCOVERY
Assisting the student in discerning what unique spiritual gifts the Lord has knit into to each individual
(Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:4-11, 27-31)
SERVICE
Developing the principle of Servant Leadership within each
student in harmony with their unique and personal God-given talents.
ONE BIBLE – TWO LOCATIONS
THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME.
FALL SEMESTER: FIRST STEPS
The purpose of the School is to guide each student through a study of the Bible from the perspective that the roots of our Christian Faith are firmly grounded in the Older Testament. Because the Newer Testament had not been written at the time – Jesus was living out the Newer Testament – Jesus taught from the perspective of the Older Testament. The primary focus of the Fall Semester will be a study of the Older Testament in the context of the history, geography and culture of the time in order to lay the foundations from which we can better understand the context of Jesus teachings.
The Fall Semester (Aug – Dec) will be conducted in a facility located in the San Antonio area.
SPRING SEMESTER: ISRAEL - WHERE THE BIBLE COMES ALIVE
What truly makes MIGDAL OZ such a uniquely distinct School is the fact that most of the Spring Semester (Feb – May) will be conducted in Israel (based in Jerusalem) and the fact that the course of study for the Spring Semester will be seamlessly integrated into what the students learned in the Fall. The students will finally be able to visit the sites they studied during the Fall Semester as well as being able to visit the sites and events that Jesus frequented as recorded in the Newer Testament. The locations of Biblical events will either be within walking distance or a short drive away.
In relocating the School to Israel for the Spring Semester, the student will be immersed in the history, geography and culture of the Bible. The Bible will come alive in color, texture and flavor. The student will be able to see, feel, touch, taste and hear the sounds of Biblical events.
For the student, MIGDAL OZ will truly be a transformative experience!
From a Kingdom perspective, the MIGDAL OZ experience will impact not only the students themselves but also those whom the Lord places in their lives for generations to come.