The wait is over, and Renew University’s Certificate in Theology program is now enrolling! The program is designed with you in mind, featuring great courses taught with excellence by teachers who have both advanced degrees and ministry experience.
If you are a Bible teacher, ministry leader, elder, minister or pastor, or simply a believer who wants to go deep, Renew University is for you!
The program covers many of the topics you’re interested in and lasts just over twenty months, and best of all, it is very affordable. Welcome to RenewU!
What is a certificate program?
A certificate program is a series of lessons designed to train you in an area of specialty. People get certificates in all sorts of areas: information technology, medical assistance, welding, you name it. In RenewU’s Certificate in Theology program, you earn a certificate in Bible, Christian thought, and ministry from a trusted name in church and academic circles, RENEW.org Network. The certificate tells others that you are prepared to serve in a Christian ministry—as a minister or pastor, Bible teacher, elder, ministry leader, and other. In addition, a certificate tells you that you have done the work necessary to be rich in Christian teaching.
Why Renew University?
There are numerous helpful certificate programs in Bible and ministry out there. What makes RenewU’s Certificate in Theology unique? RenewU’s certificate program is marked by several important features. (1) With RenewU’s certificate program you get rock-solid Bible teaching. RenewU is committed to the Bible, and we teach the Bible with seriousness and joy. (2) Our teachers not only have advanced degrees, but they also practice their faith. Most of our teachers are ministers and pastors in addition to scholars. This gives you a practical quality to the program. (3) RenewU’s certificate program is very relational. The cohorts give you the opportunity to learn in a community, rather than just on a screen. You will enjoy the cohort, but more importantly, the cohort will help you internalize the teaching. (4) Our certificate program belongs to a national and international network, with hundreds and hundreds of church leaders and churches all working toward the same goal—making disciples of all nations. (5) The RenewU certificate program has been beta tested and vetted. You can trust that we have the experience to help you grow in your faith and knowledge.
“With RenewU’s certificate program you get rock-solid Bible teaching. RenewU is committed to the Bible, and we teach the Bible with seriousness and joy.”
How long does it take to get the CIT?
The CIT takes twenty months from the time you start the first course to when you finish the program.
When does the program begin?
May 27, 2025 is the official launch of the CIT.
What are the courses?
There are twelve courses in the certificate program:
- Christian Evidences
- The Bible: Canon and Inspiration
- Overview of the Old Testament
- Jesus and the Gospels
- Acts and the Apostle Paul
- The Book of Romans
- Biblical Theology
- Church History and the Restoration Movement
- Introduction to Ministry and Leadership
- Spiritual Formation
- Introduction to Crisis Counseling
- Disciple Making, the Mission of the Church
Who is teaching the courses?
RenewU has a number of qualified individuals teaching in the program, and not all courses have been assigned to our teachers. But the faculty of designated courses include such individuals as Dr. Zach Breitenbach of Worldview Center of Connection Pointe, Dr. Orpheus Heyward of Renaissance Church in Atlanta, Dr. David Young of RenewU, Dr. Bobby Harrington of Discipleship.org, RENEW.org Network and Harpeth Christian Church, Dr. Jeff Duerler of LifeSpring Community Christian Church in Cincinnati, and others. One of the unique features of the RenewU CIT is that our teachers not only have advanced degrees, they have real life ministry experience.
“One of the unique features of the RenewU CIT is that our teachers not only have advanced degrees, they have real life ministry experience.”
What is RenewU’s theological perspective?
RenewU is a ministry of RENEW.org Network. RENEW.org Network was founded in 2018 to advocate for solid biblical theology for the purpose of making disciples. RENEW.org is serious about the scriptures, which we accept as the final authority for the church and the believer. We are also serious about disciple making, which we believe is the mission of the church. At RenewU you will be taught by people who love the scriptures and believe in disciple making. You can read RENEW.org’s faith statement on our website at www.renew.org.
How difficult are the courses?
We want you to graduate from the program, and we are going to help you do that. For this reason, there is only a moderate amount of work per course. There are twelve courses each lasting seven weeks. Each course requires about 3-4 hours of participation per week, which includes watching/listening to the class each week. Over the length of each course, you can expect the following: (1) 6 one-and-a-half hour long videos you watch or listen to over 6 weeks, (2) participation in 2 cohort discussions per course, (3) a reading of approximately 200-300 pages per course, (4) memorizing 10 scriptures per course, and (5) a basic pass/fail final exam for each course.
Does it matter when I enroll?
No. When you enroll you will begin your coursework at whatever course is streaming at the time. For example, if you apply when course number 4 is streaming, you’ll start at course four, then take 5, 6, 7 and so forth, picking up numbers 1 through 3 after you finish number 12. The sequence of courses doesn’t change, but students may join at any point during the sequence and go 20 months from there.
How do I watch/listen to the courses?
Renew University’s website is under development and will go live on May 1. All the information you need will be on the website, including streaming access to the courses which launch on May 27. From the website you’ll be able to watch or listen to your courses. After a course goes live on the website, we’ll post it so you can watch and rewatch the lessons as many times as you want. You’ll also be able to stream them in audio form if you want that option.
What is a cohort?
A cohort is a group of approximately five to ten students who journey together through the program, supporting one another. When you enroll in the CIT, you will be assigned to a cohort, and you will stay with the same cohort throughout the program. Your cohort will meet online twice for each course to discuss what you’re learning. You are also welcome to communicate with other cohort members at other times throughout the program. Being in a cohort allows you to internalize what you’re learning, build ministry friends, and put into practice some of the material. The cohort leader will attempt to schedule cohort meetings around the students’ schedules so that everyone can participate. Cohorts make the RenewU CIT relational, which is one of the things that makes the program successful.
“Cohorts make the RenewU CIT relational, which is one of the things that makes the program successful.”
How does tuition work?
You pay by the course, $59 per course, at the beginning of each course. That’s it. There are no fees or other charges, except that you must purchase your own textbooks. For merely $708 plus textbooks, you can earn the certificate, learning much of the same material you’d get in a residential Bible school program.
Is RenewU’s certificate program accredited?
No, but we are currently developing partnerships with several Bible colleges and at least one university so that you can receive some college credit for the program. Stay tuned for more information about this as it becomes available.
OK, I’m in! What do I do next?
To enroll, go to the QR code below and sign up! The first course starts in May, and you’ll be billed for each course one at a time. We are currently forming the next cohort, so you’ll want to sign up soon and secure your spot. We will let you know when we have fit you with a cohort so that you can begin your journey into a rich biblical, theological, and ministry training!
RenewU offers a theological education for everyone!
Go to the QR code below and enroll today!!
Rowlie Hutton serves as the program coordinator of Renew University. Rowlie spent over 35 years preaching in The Dakotas, Montana, and Nebraska. He is a graduate of Dakota Bible College and Montana State University-Northern. Rowlie and his wife, Suzette, have five children and eight grandchildren. While preaching in Havre, MT, Rowlie served one session in the Montana State Senate focusing on the Sanctity of Life bills. Rowlie enjoys laughing with his friends over a stout cup of coffee, reading good books, and pouring into the next generation of “young guns.”
David Young serves as the academic dean of Renew University. For nearly forty years, David served as the lead minister for several churches, with 26 of those years at the 3,000-member North Boulevard Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. David has traveled widely teaching and preaching, is the former host of the New Day Television Program, is a board member for the Renew Network, and has authored of a number of books. He holds a Ph.D. in New Testament from Vanderbilt University.
For more information on the Certificate in Theology, contact rowlie@renew.org.
