LICENSED

Acts & Church History

Applying exegetical skills to the book of Acts with an introduction to Church history and the theological roots of the Assemblies of God.

COURSE INSTRUCTORS

VIDEO Instructor

Dr. Joshua Ziefle

Joshua R. Ziefle is Dean of the College of Ministry at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. Originally from New Jersey, he completed a BA in History from Houghton College before matriculating in the MDiv program at Princeton Theological Seminary. His academic interests in religious history culminated in a PhD in American Church History from Princeton Seminary. During his doctoral studies he served for six years as the youth pastor of Nassau Christian Center (AG).

Dr. Ziefle’s doctoral dissertation focused on the interplay between David du Plessis, the charismatic movement, and the Assemblies of God, a major American Pentecostal denomination. He published his work as David du Plessis and the Assemblies of God: The Struggle for the Soul of a Movement (2012). Dr. Ziefle is a member of the Society for Pentecostal Studies and American Society of Church History. Continued academic interests include the history of the Charismatic Movement and contemporary world Pentecostalism.

Here at Northwest, Dr. Ziefle has taught numerous courses in the College of Ministry and the department of history. During his time at the school, he has been blessed to help educate numerous young ministers and church leaders. Dr. Ziefle is also the director of the Center for Calling and Theological Formation, overseeing both a yearly Youth Forum and a theology program for high school students called the Summer Journey. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and serves as an appointed presbyter for the Northwest Ministry Network. Together with Don Ross, Dr. Ziefle is the author of the recently published A Tale of Two Churches: Why Being Both Missional & Pentecostal Matters (2018).

Dr. Ziefle enjoys reading, teaching, and reflecting on topics related to history, theology, and ministry in print and online. He is a science fiction enthusiast with a love for travel. He lives in Bothell, Washington with his wife Rachel.

LIVE Instructor

Rev. Dr. Althea P. Gordon-Scott

Rev. Dr. Althea P. Gordon-Scott is an educator and ministry leader with over sixteen years of experience in instructional leadership and organizational stewardship.

Professionally, she has served as an educator in the New York City Public Schools since 2009. She is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. She has served for nearly 20 years at Next City Church, much of which occurred before she obtained her ministry credentials. She served in several capacities, including being an interim kids’ ministry leader. Now she serves on the Board of Trustees, collaborating with the senior pastor and the leadership team on organizational culture, mission alignment, and pastoral care.

Academically, Althea earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Southeastern University. Her dissertation research explored the intersection of pastoral leadership, organizational culture, and sustainable outreach. She also holds a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary and a M.S. in Education. Althea has co-authored a book chapter on “Follower-Leader Role Fluidity,” which was recently published.

With a background rooted in the call to equip others to live out their full potential, qualitative research, and inclusive pedagogy, she is committed to building high-impact environments that foster growth in churches and across diverse academic communities.

COURSE CONTENTS

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Frequently asked questions

When can I start the course?

Whenever you want! LEADSOM is designed to let the student learn at their own pace. The only element of the course that has a specific date is the Live Session, which is offered 3 times per year, with the student only required to attend 1.

What happens if I have a question or need help?

You can ask your Live Instructor! Although LEADSOM classes are entirely online, that doesn't mean you're on your own. Every class has a subject matter expert who is available to answer questions and provide any help necessary. Additionally, they will grade your final projects as well as lead the Live Session discussion, so you will get to know them well.

I've already taken some Berean courses, do I get credit for them in LEADSOM?

Yes! All LEADSOM courses have a Berean equivalent so if you've already started your credentialing journey and want to continue with LEADSOM you can do that. In fact, on every course page you will be able to see the Berean equivalent. If you have any questions, just contact our registrar and submit your courses for a review.