About Insight
Insight (which stands for Intensive Study of Integrated Global History and Theology) is a one-year, college, worldview program that fulfills standard general education requirements while teaching an integrated, chronological, Biblical worldview. Insight prepares students to be future missionaries and world Christian leaders through intensive study of God’s purposes throughout world history. The curriculum progresses chronologically following the course of world history while integrating other subjects including anthropology, world religions, social sciences, theology and literature. Students also study the Bible and explore the Biblical, historical, cultural and strategic aspects of mission. Insight can be taken either for 36 credits from Trinity International University (TIU) or for a Certificate of Bible and Mission from The Institute of International Studies (IIS).
At Insight, there is no passive learning, Students spend 4-5 hours a day reading and preparing for class. The classroom is discussion based, so everyone comes ready to actively dialogue with his or her peers. Students are challenged to compare views and come to their own conclusions. Lectures are only once a week, given by a professional or expert in the topics being studied. There are also several fieldtrips to religious centers or cultural festivals as they correlate with the curriculum.
Insight gives students a solid intellectual foundation for their faith and an understanding of how they fit into God’s purposes in the world. With this, they are prepared to continue their education at any university or go on to train for cross-cultural work.
“It used to be that when my worldview was challenged, I wouldn’t know how to respond. Insight helped me establish confidence; it provided that backbone of history and theology that allows me to share the Gospel without fear of ignorance at a secular university.”
Nathan Sigworth
Insight class of 2002
Economics Major
Dartmouth College
Who can attend Insight?
Students at Insight typically range in age from 17-22. Some students have already completed a year or two of college, while most are just beginning their college experience. We also welcome dual enrollment students—who take Insight simultaneously as their senior year of High School and their first year of college.
Founding
The need to provide college-bound students an intellectually solid foundation, with an emphasis on the working out of God’s kingdom purposes on earth, was first realized in the spring of 2001. It was observed that too many ill-equipped students were trying to defend their faith from attack or losing their faith at secular campuses. Still more were wandering aimlessly through college and life with out a sense of God’s mission. Insight was then developed to equip students to be knowledgeable and effective ambassadors for Christ from the halls of the top universities to the unengaged unreached people groups of the earth. Insight challenges young adults to love God with all their mind, and equips them to thoughtfully and strategically bless all people with the gospel.
The Insight curriculum was developed by Dr. Ralph Winter, founder of the U.S. Center for World Mission and the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course, and Rebecca Lewis, developer of the Sonlight home school curriculum.
