Ouachita Hills College is a missionary training college in southwest Arkansas. As a tutorial center of Griggs University, it offers a small number of students degrees in Biblical Studies, Theology, Business, Christian Media, and Education. Students enrolled in the college program spend part of each day in practical work programs. The program was founded to incorporate apprentice-style learning into accredited religious studies. Many of the students in the program pay their way through school by taking part in the sale of Christian literature, sometimes referred to as literature evangelism.
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According to their website,
"Ouachita Hills College exists to hasten Christ’s coming by providing a Christ-centered, character-oriented education which equips students to be successful in their chosen profession and to be active soul winners."[1]
The stated vision of Ouachita Hills College is to demonstrate the power of implementing God’s counsel in the field of educational endeavor by providing an environment that fosters the rounded development described in those counsels. In addition to achieving educational excellence, our students are enabled to cultivate habits of deep Bible study, practical work, and compassionate witnessing.[1]
In the mid-19th century the Seventh-day Adventist denomination began erecting a system of higher education. One of the early schools, Madison College of Tennessee, pioneered a philosophy of education that emphasized a holistic preparation for life. Students at Madison learned a trade. Their teachers joined them for several hours each day in practical work outside the class room.
Counsels from Ellen White gave significant guidance to the Madison school.
Ouachita Hills College is built on the philosophy modeled by the Madison school. It incorporates a strong emphasis on biblical studies, practical work, and self-support. It emphasizes the importance of every believer in Christ being a missionary, discipling others to also follow His teachings.
Students from all denominations are welcome to apply at the college. Those accepted into the rigorous mentoring program will study biblical beliefs and teachings, including those that are distinctive of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In its theology classes, several of which are part of the core curriculum required for all majors, students are taught general and distinctive teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
These include:
In 2000 the Board of Directors of Ouachita Ministries voted to form a college; in 2001 the state of Arkansas granted Ouachita Hills College a religious exempt status and plans for the college began in earnest.
In the fall of 2003 the College first opened classes with thirty-one students. Many came from the Center for Evangelistic Canvassing (CEC) in Harrah, Oklahoma. The founder and primary instructor of CEC, Eugene Prewitt, joined Harriet Clark and Chester Clark III as administrators of the newly formed Ouachita Hills College.
In its first four years of operation its students knocked on more than 400,000 doors promoting materials to enhance physical and spiritual health. As a result of their labor more than 3,000 persons have requested Bible studies during that time.
Graduates from the first classes are now leaders in the literature evangelism work of the church in North America and Europe. These colporteurs have been partially responsible for a revival of the church's literature work in several areas. Other graduates are successful teachers on either the elementary or secondary level.
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