Jeff Bonzelaar teaches Lower, Middle and Upper Growth courses.
Courses Offered:
Guilt & Grace
This class operates from two premises; (1) No force is more destructive to the human personality than guilt and, (2) No power is more life-transforming than grace. In this course we explore how guilt negatively shapes and controls moods, thought-processes, and behaviors. We also examine how God’s grace in Christ frees a person from counter-productive patterns of living and empowers a person to be all that he or she was designed to become.
Genesis
A detailed study of God’s design for humans, relationship, and redemption conducted. The several stories of Genesis are examined for their in-structural & inspirational content.
Basic Life Principles
This class assumes that God has so ordered the universe that, just as there are irrevocable physical laws, so there are non-changing moral laws. The purpose of this class is to acquaint the student with certain foundational moral principles stemming from God’s character, which are necessary for successful living. Some of the principles include the importance of a clear conscience, submission to authority, forgiveness, and identity.
Ken Keene teaches Lower, Middle and Upper Growth courses.
Courses Offered:
Gospel of Mark
The objective of this class is to present a vision of the glory of God in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. A vision of Christ will produce a deep savoring of Christ and a strong, sin-overcoming passion for him. By means of exploring his earthly ministry; pondering the wonder of his miracles and through it all evaluating his status as Messiah, it is the endeavor of this course to arouse saving faith.
Paul’s Letters
This class endeavors to bring into clarity the teachings of Paul to the churches at Corinth, Ephesus, Colosse, Rome, Philippi Galatia and Thessalonica, along with his personal instruction to men like Philemon, Timothy and Titus. A picture of the Christian life is given as well as the ability to understand and experience this life as being the direct product of grace that is provided in Christ and by his redeeming work on the cross to all that believe in him.
Dr. Sheila Burrell teaches Middle and Upper Growth courses.
Courses Offered:
Family Systems Communication
This course explores three important aspects of family system communication. The first understanding our own family system and what roles everyone had in the communication process to show the influences and effects all members have on one another; the second is family violence and all types of abuse that prevents our core longings from God being met; the third is effective biblical communication for families of all cultures.

David Pace teaches the Middle Growth course.
Courses Offered:
General Epistles
This study walks the student through the book of Hebrews, James, Philemon, Jude, as well as the Petrine and Johannine Epistles. The purpose is to expose the student to relevant doctrinal issues as well as practical daily wisdom. Topics such as, the deity and humanity of Christ, suffering, and relationships with others are explored in greater detail.
Norm Freschette teaches the Middle Growth course.
Courses Offered:
Spiritual Disciplines
In 1 Cor. 9: 25-27 the apostle Paul draws a parallel between physical disciplines and spiritual disciplines. The course emphasizes that, just as one must practice physical disciplines to maintain physical health (good diet, exercise, etc.), so it is with our spiritual health. Maintaining spiritual health (becoming more Christ-like) requires following Christ’s example. Dallas Willard in the preface to his book, The Spirit of the Disciplines, writes “We can, through faith and grace, become like Christ by practicing the types of activities he engaged in, by arranging our whole lives around the activities He Himself practiced in order to remain constantly at home in the fellowship of His Father.”
John Richardson teaches the Lower Growth course.
Courses Offered:
Proverbs
The primary emphasis of this class is to help each student see what God values. This study underscores the complexities and challenges of life which are simply too big for anyone to handle by him / herself. Students are taught how to successfully navigate the swirling currents of their daily lives, with all its temptations, deceptions, and choices by recognizing the need for true wisdom of God.
Cody Pelham teaches Middle and Upper Growth courses.
Courses Offered:
Ephesians
In his letter to the Christians at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul conveys his final words to his beloved spiritual children, reminding them of their ascent from darkness into light, reassuring them of their status and inheritance in Christ and revealing to them the mystery of the church, the Body of Christ. The goal of this verse-by-verse study is to show that Paul’s insights and instructions are as significant for us today as they were for his first-century readers.
Doctrines and Practice
Doctrines and Practice is an Upper Growth course conducted over a period of six months in which students are exposed to foundational Christian belief and conduct. Subjects covered are: 1) The existence and nature of God; 2) The life and ministry of Jesus; 3) The person and work of the Holy Spirit; 4) Holy Scripture; 5) The ordinances of the church; and, 6) Eschatology (end things).
Steve Swaggerty teaches the Lower Growth course.
Courses Offered:
Christianity
This class prioritizes an introduction to the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ. We explore the gospel, the good news that reveals the forgiveness of humankind’s sin and the new life promised through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Upon completion of this three-month course, the student is able to explain what it means to be born again, define theological terms like repentance, justification, and recite the 66 books of the Bible and the Ten Commandments.
Adam Simnowitz teaches the Lower Growth course.
Courses Offered:
Gospel of John
A verse-by-verse study designed to help students individually experience the book’s stated purposes of knowing the evidence (signs) that Jesus is both human and divine enabling Him to be the Christ (Savior) so each person who believes can have life, spiritually and naturally.
Rob Burkhart teaches the Upper Growth course.
Courses Offered:
Strength for the Journey
Where Is Life Taking You?
From Pastor Jeff Bonzelaar
Living In The Unplanned Place
In 1685, King Louis XIV reinstated Roman Catholicism as the only authorized religion in France. Protestant worship and education were[...]
My Son's Christmas List
My youngest, Johnny, made his annual trip with Grandma to Toys R Us in an effort to complete his 2011[...]
Living Out Of Your Bag
Life seldom turns out like we think it will or should. John did not expect to be a widower at the[...]
Life Gallery
Watching The Lights Go On
Cody Pelham is a teacher. He’s always been a teacher. First in the public schools in the suburbs of Chicago (after graduating from Evangel College[...]
Merry Christmas!
Staff Photo BACK ROW (L-R): Will Bates, Men’s Senior Resident Advisor • Dan Martin, Education Administrator • Dan Mouro, Men’s Resident Advisor • Robert Figgins, Maintenance[...]
Far Greater Than Rubies
Our purpose at Life Challenge is to free men and women from the grip of addiction by bringing them to a saving knowledge of Jesus[...]




