The VIU Lay Institute is a vehicle to equip non-degree seeking Christian learners to share the Gospel and defend the historic Christian Faith. Those who complete either of these programs will have the opportunity to apply credit towards VIU degree program course assignments. In addition, upon completion of your program each student will receive a Veritas International University certificate of completion signed by VIU faculty.
To accomplish this goal there are two excellent programs taught by VIU faculty. Click on the program links below to learn more:
Defending Inerrancy Initiative
The Defending Inerrancy (DI) initiative was founded by VIU co-founder, Dr. Norman L. Geisler, and other concerned scholars to combat the erosion of biblical inerrancy. Surprisingly, some Christian scholars and conservative academic institutions have allowed the negative aspects of biblical criticism to negatively influence their view of Scripture. This change is nothing short of a paradigm shift away from the Bible’s own testimony about the inerrant nature of God’s Word and the historic perspective of the church since its founding (see John Hannah, Inerrancy and the Church). This recent shift of perspective to a ‘limited inerrancy’ has been embraced by a growing number of Christian apologists, Bible scholars, academic societies, Christian bloggers, and para-church ministries. Equip yourself to meet the challenge of this new version of evangelicalism (Neo-evangelical) with well-written articles by the DI editorial team of scholars. Seize the opportunity to sign the inerrancy petition, solve Bible difficulties and familiarize yourself with DI team publications. What is more, learn more about the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy (ICBI) and the historic literature it produced including the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (CSBI) and Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics (CSBH).
Marilyn Tyner (B.A.; B.A.; M.A. in Apologetics) offers an array of gospel tracts, a line of apologetics briefs, and two new books. Our mission at “TWT” is to advance God’s Kingdom by spreading the Gospel of grace, God’s Word, and reasons and evidence for the truth of Christianity. We pray that through these materials many people will find answers to their God-questions, then personally meet Jesus Christ and receive His gift of eternal life (John 3:16). We pray also that many believers will become equipped to share their faith in the living God and confidently answer questions that skeptics and searchers present to them (1 Pet. 3:15). View and order tracts here.
Human life begins at conception and it ends with the last natural breath. Regardless of gender, race, age, ability, status, or any other factor, every person – from the preborn child to the elderly man or woman – is fully human and loved by God.
The dignity and lives of millions of people around the world are violated every day, leading to immense suffering and death. Abortion alone, in which the life of a preborn child is ended, claims the lives of more than 150,000 people every day – 56 million every year around the world.
Every week of every year, a million preborn lives are ended, a million mothers lose hope, a million fathers lose an heir, millions of siblings lose a relationship, and millions of grandparents lose their legacy. Abortion has created a vast mission field, and we have been called to enter it.
This program is taught by VIU professor and Educate for Life radio host, Kevin Conover, and is designed for middle school, high school, and adult learners.
The program contains 4 professionally produced online video courses: Course 100 Nature: Created or Evolved?, Course 200 Religion: Who’s Right?, Course 300 Bible: Myth or Fact?, and Course 400 Culture: The Bible Applied. Each course consists of 10 classes with 15 hours of custom video lecture content. Each class consists of an hour and a half video broken down into short segments that include follow-along notes, two supplemental articles with answer keys, and a thirty question automatically graded quiz. You can register for part or the entire program.
Norman L. Geisler Apologetics Certificate Program
This program is taught primarily by VIU Chancellor and Distinguished Professor, Dr. Norman Geisler and VIU Faculty. The program is designed for lay learners that seek undergraduate/graduate level learning. This course of study consists of 5 online video courses (prerecorded from live VIU resident classes) dealing with apologetics, cults, God, world religions, and Bible; 4 textbooks; and 5 exams (with optional research paper for those who wish to obtain VIU degree program assignment credit).
VIU Course on Contemporary Cults
Join Dr. Ron Rhodes as he teaches on Contemporary Cults to prepare yourself to engage others with truth. The final session includes an apologetic lecture by Dr. Norman Geisler. The course is free of charge. If you would like to purchase other courses for personal enrichment visit our resource page.