Dear Denver:
I find it interesting that someone without even a bachelor degree is trying to advise us on how to operate our seminary. You continue to make excuses for your own false assumptions. You continue to administer verbal abuse through an accusatory attitude while passing judgment. Your behavior appears to be little more than ego defense mechanisms being verbalized.
I have spent considerable time with you answering your e-mails in depth. You continued to attempt to manipulate me to allow you to acquire our course material. No college or university will release their course material to a non student for security reasons. This was explained numerous times. Your response was to accuse me of being upset, while all I was trying to do was explain our position. You were making a false assumption again.
Now, I am questioning your motive as to why you want our course materials and also why you wanted to volunteer to work with our database as a technical consultant.
There was absolutely no reason for you to get angry with me and to begin threatening and falsely accusing me over any of these issues as I was just doing my job and trying my best to communicate. I am very busy and sometimes a e-mail is sent without spell check and therefore may include typo's. I do apologize for that, I am not perfect, but this is no reason to broad stroke me as being unprofessional. It was very mean spirited on your part sir. Again, I forgive you.
There was also no need to threaten that you were not going to enroll at NTS, as I had already advised you twice that perhaps you should look at other schools and seek the Lord's direction. Threatening to communicate with my superiors is another manipulative tactic which was not necessary. I know our policies and procedures well and our President is not going to change the NTS position on this matter just because you persist in ignoring the advice already given.
As stated earlier, and in previos e-mails, I have forgiven you. It is time for you to stop these abusive communications.
However, if you will change your tone and consider communicating with some respect, I am open to further dialog as to how a remedy could be accomplished. For instance more course information can be provided which may meet you requirements.
However, if you insist on being angry and abusive in your communications, I do not see any way that we can resolve this matter. Communications to my superiors over this subject matter will most likely be forwarded back to me for handling.
I prayed over this last night and again this morning and I will continue to seek the Lord on how we may resolve this in a civilized manner if you are willing to accept my forgiveness and move forward in a more cooperative and less accusatory attitude.
Remember that e-mail communications can come across much more harsh than originally intended as they lack facial gesture and body language. I do realize this and that is why I am forgiving and seek cooperation.
If it is just a matter of your not liking to communicate with me because of an false image that you have formed of me, I can arrange for you to communicate with the President directly. But, I will first need to see that you are no longer acting in anger as I do not want him to be insulted and disrespected as well.
Seminary Link: www.NorthwesternSeminary.com
Library Link: www.NTSlibrary.com
Sincerely in Christ,
Yolanda Rivera
NTS Registrar
From: DP <dprophit@cfl.rr.com>
To: NTS Registrar <registrar@northwesternmail.com>
Sent: Tue, June 14, 2011 12:26:37 PM
Subject: RE: Seminary Process
How do I know that you MIGHT be upset? Your grammar continues to deteriorate. And you reiterate my open words. IF is a conditional statement. If you were not upset, you should have ignored it and noted that I was being sensitive to you as the reader without being face to face or hearing my tone of voice. Emotions are lost when trying to convey them through email. You obviously missed that inserting an IF does in fact mean that I’m being courteous and sensitive to the possibility that I may or may not have caused such an emotion.
You are now becoming less and less professional. The correspondence should have ended many emails ago and delegated to the right person without my need to do so. And now you accuse me of committing sins and losing touch with reality. I very much wish to talk over the phone with your supervisor. Please learn to discern professional criticism from personal attacks. The next email should come from your supervisor. Please do not email me any further.
From: NTS Registrar [mailto:registrar@northwesternmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 11:56 AM
To: DP
Subject: Re: Seminary Process
Dear Denver:
You are again making false assumptions and innacurate statements...
Please read your e-mail.. You never said that you FELT you had upset me?
This is also a mis- statement of the facts. You actually said, "I’m sorry if requesting a sample is upsetting you." You seem to be twisting things in an effort at manipulation to reach your desires. I repeated numerous times that we do not allow inquirers to access our course materials. Your communication did not show much humilkity and compassion. you actually expressed false assumptions and a judgemental attitude.
You are now saying that my responses are militant?? You even state that I have been militant since the initial contact. (please re-read the cmmunications as I never intended such) Your observations are really out of touch with reality regarding the actual communications that have taken place. Your agressive statements do little to foster compassionate communciation.
I forgive you and I will pray for the Lord to guide you to the school that is best for your attitude.
May the Lord bless you and give you patience and all of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
I sincerely tried to advise you, yet you cointinue with a condescending attitude. Remember this; it is very difficult to see eye to eye with anyone, when you are looking down at them in a spirit of judgement and condemnation.
Sincerely in Christ,
Yolanda Rivera
NTS Registrar
From: DP <dprophit@cfl.rr.com>
To: NTS Registrar <registrar@northwesternmail.com>
Cc: admin@northwesternmail.com
Sent: Tue, June 14, 2011 10:08:46 AM
Subject: RE: Seminary Process
I made that statement because of the style you use to reply. It is confrontational to even tell me you’re taking actions because you do not wish to lose your job. Every reply I’ve made included the entire conversation thread so that you were never misquoted. I stated that I felt I had upset you not that I claim to of upset you. I was trying to show humility and compassion that I MIGHT be upsetting you. My initial enquiry now seems to be revolving around militant responses. I wish your college all the success and guidance of The Holy Spirit. But, I shall not become a student with such hostility from initial contact.
From: NTS Registrar [mailto:registrar@northwesternmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 9:27 AM
To: DP
Cc: Administration - Northwestern Theological Seminary
Subject: Re: Seminary Process
Dear Denver:
Why are you saying that your request was upsetting me?
That was a major false assumption on your part.
The truth be known, I have spent valuable time addressing each of your requests through several e-mail communications.
I suggest that your future communications be sent to NTS Administration as I seem to be having difficulty communicating our position on providing course material to an inquirer.
I tried to spend time to make sure that I communicated clearly to you, but to no avail.
I am also copying Dr. Galloza so that, in all fairness, he understands and reads my prior communications as well as yours. I do not want to lose my job over the possibility of an inquirer misrepresenting my communications.
Sincerely in Christ,
Yolanda Rivera
NTS Registrar
From: DP <dprophit@cfl.rr.com>
To: NTS Registrar <registrar@northwesternmail.com>
Cc: admin@northwesternmail.com
Sent: Tue, June 14, 2011 8:53:20 AM
Subject: RE: Seminary Process
I’m sorry if requesting a sample is upsetting you. I have not asked to review course content in moodle without a sitekey. I’ve asked that your staff create a mini-course that does not require a site key so that your claims of a unique approach to teaching best suites me. I shouldn’t be rebuffed at every request by you before it’s even considered by someone within that authority. It’s a reasonable request if I’m willing to commit the next eight to ten years obtaining a doctorate degree. I’ve CC’d Dr. Galloza
From: NTS Registrar [mailto:registrar@northwesternmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 8:38 AM
To: DP
Subject: Re: Seminary Process
Dear Denver:
Thank you for your concern.
However, the Lord has blessed us so abundantly that our enrollments have tripled since January 2011. We actually do not seek an increase in the number of enrollments beyond our current averages at this point in time as it would lead to the possible perception by our demographic population of a lack of professionalism because we would not be able to dedicate the time and attention required to properly minister to and educationally manage an overly expanded student body.
Our image is important to us as we desire to reflect His love and care to our students and not to become overly automated. In the past 5- years I have had only 3- requests to review a course prior to enrollment. Few schools will release course material to those who are not enrolled. So, our experience is that it is not a major need and has not hindered our growth.
Bishop; Sarkela focuses on worldwide ministries, while DR. Galloza focuses on online education. Dr. Sarkela is currently traveling back and forth to the Philippines where we have opened many new churches over the past 5 years. We are also well established in Pakistan, India, and many of the countries of Africa as well as other countries worldwide.
You can ask Dr. Galloza about allowing non students to access a course on the MOODLE without a site key. But,we have discussed this before, and I do not think he will be in favor.
Dr. Galloza can be reached through NTS administration at: admin@northwesternmail.com
Again, I sincerely thank you for your concern in Christ.
Seminary Link: www.NorthwesternSeminary.com
Library Link: www.NTSlibrary.com
Sincerely in Christ,
Yolanda Rivera
NTS Registrar
From: DP <dprophit@cfl.rr.com>
To: NTS Registrar <registrar@northwesternmail.com>
Cc: hmsarkela@aol.com
Sent: Tue, June 14, 2011 7:58:25 AM
Subject: RE: Seminary Selection Process
The suggestion to open up one of the existing courses is not what I suggested. The old adage always rings true in that “… the proof is in the pudding”. I’ve CC’d your founder who quite possibly does not live that far from me. Create a NEW sample course that can demonstrate the school’s unique teaching techniques to show the interested applicant that their money is well invested. The sample course doesn’t even need be that extensive. You don’t go to the Farmer’s Market and ask to buy produce that you cannot see, touch or smell.
Quoting tuition costs as a compelling reason to invest and enroll is not a strong selling point. Neither is citing a website that hasn’t been maintained since 2006. http://www.onlinecollegedegreecritic.com/blog/ that uses wordpress 2.2.2 when the current version is Version 3.1.3. So if you have a specific non-interested source authored in 2011 en lieu of a sample course?
From: NTS Registrar [mailto:registrar@northwesternmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 5:05 AM
To: DP
Subject: Re: Seminary Selection Process
Dear Denver:
May the Lord lead you as you investigate and determine which school is the school our Lord wants you to attend.
I am sorry, but we cannot accommodate your wishes to test drive one of our courses through the MOODLE.. In fact, I know of NO online school that will allow access to the MOODLE if not an enrolled student.
It is not possible to allow a non student access to the MOODLE for security reasons.
I suggest that you look at several schools and then just pray and ask the Lord to grant His perfect peace regarding where He would have you attend. However, several of the online schools are not really online schools as they require you to do your course work by correspondence and then use postal mail to send in your assignments.
We are one of the oldest and largest online schools in terms of the number of students enrolled. We do not pressure anyone to enroll as we desire for this to be entirely God's Will for the student regarding where He would have a student enroll.
If you do not trust us or feel comfortable with NTS, then by all means search for another school. However if at anytime in the future, you would like to enroll for a degree program at NTS, then just submit the online application.
The enrollment cost is not a significant amount when compared with secular universities. In fact, we are up to 98% less than the cost of tuition at secular universities and even our books are provided free through our online library.
Report from Business Week Magazine November, 2008
Private College costs are again on the rise. According to a College Board report released on Oct. 29, the average published cost of annual tuition and fees at private four-year colleges are: $25,143, up 5.9% from last year. That equates to $100,572 over four years. (98% higher than our degree programs)
In addition: Public College costs are averaging between $25,000 and $50,000 for a 4-year degree, compared to just $2,300 for our quality degree programs. (80% higher than our degree programs)
Our Love Offer in lieu of Tuition costs are up to 98% less than private colleges and universities and up to 80% less than public colleges. In other words our costs are approximately 2% of private colleges and 20% of public colleges. This leaves us no room to lower our cost structure.
Just consider our educational opportunity as the equivalent of an 80% - 98% Scholarship!
Furthermore; try as you may, you cannot duplicate the quality of our educational programs at this minimal student expense, anywhere. We have even eliminated the text book expense through our popular, state of the art, Online library program. Our goal is to educate as many students as we can in accord with the Great Commission of our Lord; Jesus Christ and through our low cost opportunity, we are enabling many to achieve a quality Bible centered education, who otherwise could not afford it.
Northwestern Theological Seminary was rated number one in an online college degree article:
http://www.onlinecollegedegreecritic.com/blog/online-bible-college-and-seminary-degrees/
Seminary Link: www.NorthwesternSeminary.com
Library Link: www.NTSlibrary.com
Sincerely in Christ,
Yolanda Rivera
NTS Registrar
From: DP <dprophit@cfl.rr.com>
To: NTS Registrar <registrar@northwesternmail.com>
Cc: hmsarkela@aol.com
Sent: Mon, June 13, 2011 10:59:54 PM
Subject: RE: Counseling and Prayer
I’ll pray about it. I’m not so sure about investing so much money without seeing your course work through moodle or actually have been counseled in this matter. Are you responsible for counseling or just admissions? I’ve used this software package before and want to see from the inside. Perhaps one more short course as a trial could be created that doesn’t require a key? Does your ecommerce payment application pass and possess a PCI certification certificate from a qualified security assessor?
I once visited Hyles -Anderson Seminary in Gary Indiana. I was able to sit in on one course, eat in the cafeteria and meet other students. I already recognized some of the staff from church baseball and other events. The ability to just participate almost made me enroll. My father contracted Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma so I came home. Luckily, he is in remission now for two years. There’s a miracle story there that I someday will witness.
With regard to my qualifications in the IT industry, http://www.linkedin.com/in/denverprophit The hosting division that I run has won 1st and 2nd place at the annual http://www.osc-awards.com for best ecommerce hosting services for two consecutive years. My skills and experience in this field exceed most entry level technicians. So even though I have disabilities, I’ve excelled in my intellectual knowledge with linux administration, ecommerce concepts and consulting in a previous school. New Horizons Technology School. I am now learning open source PBX ( Private Branch Exchange) and IP telephony.
From: NTS Registrar [mailto:registrar@northwesternmail.com]
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 11:11 AM
To: dprophit@cfl.rr.com
Subject: Re: Counseling and Prayer
Dear Denver:
Thank you for your inquiry.
Thanks for your offer of volunteer IT services. However we have a very able bodied IT dept. that overseas our websites and maintains optimization etc.
Regarding your education, it seems you feel called to the ministry.
If this is the case, I suggest that you start with a bachelor degree in either Biblical Studies, or Ministry. Just go to the seminary application page, and submit the online application. Costs, discounts and payment options are detailed there.
Seminary Link: www.NorthwesternSeminary.com
Library Link: www.NTSlibrary.com
Sincerely in Christ,
Yolanda Rivera
NTS Registrar
From: Administration - Northwestern Theological Seminary <admin@northwesternmail.com>
To: NTS Registrar <registrar@northwesternmail.com>
Sent: Mon, June 13, 2011 10:11:47 AM
Subject: Fw: Counseling and Prayer
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: DP <dprophit@cfl.rr.com>
To: Admin@Northwesternmail.com
Sent: Mon, June 13, 2011 3:04:22 AM
Subject: Counseling and Prayer
Can someone offer guidance and prayer in deciding which degree best suites what the Lord would have me do? Also, I’m a certified linux administrator. I’d like to volunteer to maintain the online site(s) and correct content when and where needed.
I have a FL GED with no college credits. I’m living on Social Security Disability. Am able to walk, run, no physical impairments to be a minister of Christ.
