OCC .EDU/READY TOGO
THE NEED J E S U S S AW Why did Jesus spend most of his three-year ministry training leaders? He knew “everything rises and falls on leadership.” With strong leaders, a movement flourishes. When leaders are lacking, a movement falters. With great crowds of lost people to reach, Jesus saw, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matt 9:37). Jesus started his little Bible college of twelve because more kingdom leaders were needed.
That’s still true today. Here’s a quick quiz: •
Indiana has one Christian church for every 10,000 people. To reach that ratio in New York City, how many churches need to be planted? || 1,800
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There are about 7,300 languages in the world. How many languages have no Scripture translated? || ALMOST 4,000
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Of the 16,000 people groups in the world, how many are unreached with the gospel? || OVER 7,000
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How many people die without Christ around the world every minute? || 72
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Who will plant those churches, translate those Scriptures, reach those people groups, and save those souls?
THE HARVE ST I S STILL PLE NTIFUL , A N D T H E W O R K E R S A R E S T I L L F E W.
A COLLEGE WITH A CLEAR MISSION In 1942, a little band of believers in the Ozarks saw this need for more workers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19). They started Ozark Christian College with one mission: training men and women for Christian service. Today, almost 80 years later, we still get students “ready to go.”
PREACH Whether Jaron Scott (OCC ’17) is preaching at a CIY conference or his Missouri church, he says, “John 12:32 reminds me to give Jesus to people every time. God draws all people to himself when Jesus is lifted up.”
MAKE DISCIPLES As a student minister, Amanda Chitwood (OCC ’16) teaches God’s Word to New Hampshire teens, including one who said Amanda helped “mature my faith in high school, showing me how to make my relationship with God my own.”
BAPTIZE When OCC alums Seth and Megan Philip planted a church in Japan, they met Yuma—grandson of a Buddhist monk—young, successful, and lonely. They invited him to join God’s family, baptized him, and today Yuma is a preacher himself.
SERVE In West Africa, OCC grads James and Katie give aid to Muslims like their friend Magaji, unable to walk after an injury. With James and Katie’s help, Magaji found healing for his legs and for his soul.
In all 50 states and over 100 countries, OCC alumni have shared the good news of Christ, and that small college in the Ozarks now has a global impact. Ozark is teaching thousands who are reaching millions.
OUR UNIQUE DISTINCTIVES What distinctives guide us as we ready kingdom leaders? At least four: BIBLICAL CONTENT. Our Bible college accrediting agency mandates 30 hours of Bible classes. We require 50 hours, so our graduates will be “thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)
ACCREDITED QUALITY. OCC is nationally accredited by the Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and regionally accredited with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
MINISTRY FOCUS. Ozark is one of the seven largest Christian church colleges. At the other six, fewer than 50% graduate with a Bible or ministry major. At OCC, 100% of graduates have a Bible or ministry degree, and the majority go into some kind of ministry.
AFFORDABLE COST. Ozark is in our eleventh year debt free, which $20,530 OCC allows us to remain affordable. $22,180 PUBLIC OCC is less than half the average cost of other $50,770 PRIVATE four-year private colleges.
T H E R E A DY T O G O C A M PA I G N The harvest is still plentiful, and the workers are still few. This campaign will help Ozark get students “ready to go” for years to come with the following three initiatives:
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STUDENT GRANTS
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The pandemic resulted in a smaller freshman class in fall 2020 and 2021, which will affect our budget the next few years. This initiative gives our general fund a little extra help so we can remain debt free.
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Specifically, these dollars underwrite our international student grants and need-based student grants for the next three years. These two general fund grants help students—who might otherwise not be able to come—prepare for God’s call.
$1.7 MILLION
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GRADUATE PROGRAM
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These dollars will launch a new graduate program in fall 2022, covering start-up costs for accreditation, marketing, and technology. This Master of Arts in Biblical Ministry will include concentrations in Strategic Leadership, Spiritual Formation, or Biblical Studies.
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Many who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in another field hear God’s call later in life. They want and need biblical training, and this graduate program will equip those students to “go and make disciples.”
$400,000
TOTAL CAMPAIGN GOAL
DORMITORY RENOVATION
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At over 50 years old, OCC’s dorms are showing their age. These dollars will renovate three of our six dorms—two at $1.4 million each and another already-partially-renovated dorm at $1 million.
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Renovation includes remodeled bathrooms, plumbing and electrical upgrades, HVAC units, windows, carpet, paint, a dorm kitchenette, and room furniture (beds, desks, dressers).
$3.8 MILLION
$5.9 MILLION
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
N OW M O R E T H A N E V E R
Matt Proctor
Now more than ever, the world needs the gospel…which means the church needs leaders. But the number of schools preparing Great Commission leaders is dwindling. Some have closed their doors, while others with broader missions aren’t producing as many as we need. This makes the ministry of OCC all the more strategic. Would you partner with us in training kingdom workers?
President
Dr. Chad Ragsdale Executive Vice President of Academics
Jim Dalrymple Executive Vice President of Advancement
Damien Spikereit Executive Vice President of Administration
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
YO U R PA R T N E R S H I P
Dr. Bob Arnce
When the apostle Paul led a fundraising campaign, he wrote: “Each one is to put something aside, in proportion to his prosperity.” (1 Cor 16:2) Rather than uniform gifts (a thousand donors giving $1,000 each), Paul asked for proportionate gifts—in keeping with the extent God has blessed each. Listed below are four ways you can help us renovate our dorms and reach our goal:
Physician, Joplin, MO
Rob Brust Minister, Bentonville, AR
Mark Christian Minister and Educator, Joplin, MO
Vance Eubanks
$5,000
FU RN I S H A ROOM
Minister, Prairie Grove, AR
Brian Jennings Minister, Tulsa, OK
$10,000
RE NOVATE 1 ROOM
Jim Johnson Minister, Stillwater, OK
Karolyn Schrage Non-profit Leader, Joplin, MO
$50,000
RE NOVATE 5 ROOM S
Joe Simmons Businessman, Tulsa, OK
Lito Solorio Minister, Wichita, KS
$100,000
RE NOVATE 10 ROOM S
Don Steen Farmer, Eldon, MO
Roger Storms Would you prayerfully consider a generous commitment—above your regular giving—over the next three years to the READY TO GO campaign? Thank you for considering this opportunity. You can be God’s answer to the prayers of those believers back in 1942, as your partnership prepares more workers for the harvest field.
Minister, Chandler, AZ
Jim Vasey Businessman, Wichita, KS
Clifford Wert Banker, Joplin, MO
Tim Whelan Businessman, Joplin, MO
OCC .EDU/READY TOGO