Oklahoma Wesleyan University

OKWU

Where are your ideas taking you?

Win a one year full scholarship!

We asked students to talk about what they want to do – about what they dream of doing.

Oklahoma Wesleyan University is right now teaching students that you can know Jesus, that He reveals himself through His Word, that you can know the Truth, and that making an impact matters.

So they showed us how OKWU can help them make an impact that matters. We are going to give the entry that gets the most votes one year full scholarship!

The challenge is closed for submissions! So check out the top ten below and vote for your favorites!

Find out more about how they entered here!

Voting is OVER! We're currently compiling all the votes and will be making an announcement soon. So watch this space.

Read. Watch. Check out. Vote. Remember, you can vote just once via twitter and once via Facebook.

Submission
  1. View Ideas Inspire Impact on Ideas Inspire Impact

    by: Mark Weaver

    A short look at how a degree from OKWU can help you make an impact on the world.

  2. View Empty Walls—OKWU on Empty Walls—OKWU

    by: Cyndi Rothfuss

    Thanks to OKWU, I'm ready to make an impact that matters by transforming people's lives by transforming their homes!

  3. View Is It Paper? on Is It Paper?

    by: Jeffrey Rangel

    YouTube Video- I share how OKWU is already helping me do great things- Work, Church development, and MUZAK- from an online discYple

  4. View Dare to Dream on Dare to Dream

    by: Andrew Blain

    When the world tells us to calm down and fall in line, what we really need is someone to push us to stand up. To dare to dream again.

  5. View My Dream Business: Church Lady Seminars and Counseling Services on My Dream Business: Church Lady Seminars and Counseling Services

    by: Tami Bailiff

    Seminars and Counseling Services Dreams, everyone has them, but, when asked about them or write about them, not everyone is willing to do that. In fact, when I’m asked I usually answer very vaguely, but not today. I have a dream that I’m excited about and want everyone to know about. It’s one that will involve God as my partner and it’s the reason I made the decision to come back to school as an adult learner. My dream is to start my own business as a counseling consultant working mainly with women’s groups and shelters, to give them guidance, to raise their self-esteem and help them find their spirituality and how to grow in it. I envision working with a group of women at several sessions that teach them about themselves, give them encouragement, knowledge, self-esteem, that will allow them to grow, dream and obtain their dreams. I see too many young women not living their lives for themselves and seeing their self esteem as very low. I would like to help them change. I have had this dream for many years, but never really thought I would do much with it. Mainly, because my walk with God was not a strong, steady walk, but over the years my walk has become more solid and I decided over 3 years ago to do something about my dream. I have created a name for my business and have even started to think about and write out seminar plans. The name of my future business will be “Church Lady Seminars and Counseling Services”. Yes, there is a story behind the name. As my walk with God became stronger, I started attending church on a regular basis and got involved in many activities, especially with the women’s ministry. As some of my unbeliever friends watch me through this change, one of them began to call me the “Church Lady” more as a negative name. When people would hear this name being used, they would look at me strangely and tell me that I don’t look like a church lady to them, that I don’t look old, or have gray hair or carry a large purse with a bible. Instead, I look like I’m 30 something, wear blue jeans, t-shirts and tennis shoes, have a great sense of humor and enjoy life. This got me thinking that instead of the name having a negative light, I could give it a positive light and decided to use it as part of my dream business. Church Lady Seminars and Counseling Services would offer a 3 day course to encourage and lift one’s self esteem. I would begin with discovering who we are, where we came from, what our families are like and what our dreams are. This first session would be based on Genesis Chapter 1 to illustrate the beginning and why knowing our past is important. It would cover our childhood through early adult life. It will discuss each woman’s path and how and why they chose that path. It would end with teaching how to change that path and letting the women know that even “Church Ladies” have struggles and pasts, but in believing in God, all things are possible. The second session would consist of the women starting to think about themselves in a positive way. Letting them know that they are beautiful in their own way, that they are smart, they can learn, and most importantly that they can have dreams and can reach their dreams. This session would include brainstorming to come up with dreams, no matter how outlandish or simple they may be. To let them know that their thoughts and opinions do matter. It would also include a session on beauty and a total makeover with cosmetics. I currently sell Mary Kay Cosmetics and I would use my knowledge of the products to teach them to take care of their skin and how to apply make-up and experiment with different looks. This session would be used to lift their self-esteem. The last session would be to review from the other two sessions and have the women begin to decide what direction they want their lives to take. We would talk about how to set goals both large and small and the steps and processes to achieving their goals. Discussion about their spiritual path and how to improve it would be held and if they belonged to a church, I would encourage them to continue or go back and get involved. I would also have resources available to help them in their future journey and offer individual sessions to assist them further in whatever interest or issues the person wants assistance with. My dream is becoming more reachable with every class I complete. I am an Adult Student taking all my classes on-line because I live in Iowa. Oklahoma Wesleyan University is giving me the knowledge to obtain a degree in General Ministry with its on-line program, and helping me to grow spiritually by learning more about God, the Scriptures and how to use that knowledge in my daily live. I enjoy and learn so much more about God and myself with the weekly devotionals in each class. With these devotionals, I find myself looking and thinking about issues, people and myself in a different light. My professors and classmates have been very understanding and supportive which has given me more encouragement and determination to continue my education and reach my dream. I have made friends with many of my classmates and look forward to continuing classes with them. I have also discovered that research and writing is one of my strengths and something that I enjoy doing and these skills are going to be needed in my future endeavors. I look forward to continuing my journey at Oklahoma Wesleyan University and reaching my dream.

  6. View I Will Change the World - OKWU on I Will Change the World - OKWU

    by: Rachel Ross

    This is a stop motion video designed to showcase different Oklahoma Wesleyan University students and how their education from OKWU has helped them and how it will help them change the world.

  7. View Ethiopia Project on Ethiopia Project

    by: Andrew Sheets

    How an education at OKWU can help equip you for service in a needy world.

  8. View Campus 4 Change on Campus 4 Change

    by: Stephen Luttenberg

    I have created a website for this contest. I feel that a website is the best form of social media for several reasons. For one, websites are cheap to run and maintain. Another reason is that everybody who has access to the internet can view this website. Unlike a video or article, this website can serve multiple purposes. Now how is this website different from OKWU.edu? Well OKWU is a great website, but i wanted a site that shows the university from a students perspective. I have interviewed several students to see how OWU has made an impact on their lives. I feel that this provides a personal depiction of the university, that is unique and personal. It allows the viewer to hear real life testimonies of students that attend school here. The viewer also can connect and relate to the experiences that our students have shared. Now for the design and layout of the site. The target audience is ages 16-24 although it does appeal to any age. It is very modern and simple to navigate. The introduction section tells the viewer a little about who we are and what we offer. The life stories section i feel is the hear of the site- this is what sets apart this site from all the other college sites- a personal testimony of how students view the school ( due to the lack of time i was only able to interview 4 students - i can interview more if you are interested) The view life section is a unique picture gallery that allows the viewer to see a glimpse into the campus in a fun and creative way. And finally the contact page- Although this is not currently up and running - (easy to do) it allows the viewer to ask questions and get connected with a representative from the school Altogether i feel that this website is a fresh new spin on advertising - and provides a unique perspective that is real and relevant to people today! Thanks for your time, Stephen Luttenberg

  9. View Rose of Sharon on Rose of Sharon

    by: Amanda Barlow

    This is a brief summary of my testimony and dream.

  10. View Passionate Fire in Iran. on Passionate Fire in Iran.

    by: William Jahnigen III

    A land known for it's history, rich culture, and Islamic roots. A land with people who are dying- physically, spiritually, and eternally. A land where darkness is known, and the light has to be covered up. Fear, tears, cries, and screams fill this land. God has placed inside of me a passion, a passion that hurts me and breaks me, it is tearing me apart inside. How I long to go to Iran right now and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I long to go and LOVE these people who are on their way to hell! Everyday so many people are dying in this land without ever having a drink of the living water. The water that overwhelms them, gives them life and a reason to live. That gives them joy. These people do not know the transforming and supernatural love of my Savior Jesus Christ. Before I was saved, I loved learning about different cultures, and traveling. When I was 14 years old, at a summer camp in Florida, I saw God. I saw the forgiveness of my disgusting sin. I saw the majesty of my loving Creator. It broke me. Life was never the same from that moment on. Instantly, I knew that I was going to take this precious gift overseas. The word missionary was foreign to me, yet my heart was already on that path. Since this moment, God has blessed me in so many ways. Through miracles of my King, I have been able to share the love of Jesus in numerous places throughout the United States, and also in other countries. South Africa, Thailand, Mexico, and Peru thus far. While I was in Thailand on a mission trip with Teen Mania Ministries, my Project Directors had a session about missions, specifically in the 10/40 window. We prayed, passionately, after hearing this. God stirred up His holy fire inside of me to reach Muslims. After a series of divine appointments, I knew that Iran would be the place I move to with my wife someday, live for the people, and die. We would reach out and encourage the weary believers. We would share this gift of eternal life with the lost souls! Miracles would happen! Not by us, but by the sovereign, gracious power of our God! In the fall of 2009, I attended the Word of Life Bible Institute in Pottersville, New York. It was such an incredible experience, full of growth and challenges. I had planned to stay for the whole year, but I came back to school after winter break and found out that the financial aid I had that covered the year was not accepted, and I could only finish off the first semester and then was to return home. I was mad at first, not understanding what was happening. Was I supposed to stay and have my faith stretched, trusting that God could miraculously provide the funds? Or was I supposed to go back home, not knowing whatsoever what I would be doing? God was working, and once I surrendered these circumstances up to Him, He was ready to answer. Our God is a marvelous mystery, but finding His will is not a mystery. Months prior to this happening, as I was praying about the Middle East and Central Asia.. God said to me “You are going sooner than you think.” He laid that in my heart. I prayed, “Lord, send me!” How I long to go and be used by our great God!! Well the doors for Word of Life had shut, but the doors to serve overseas were opening! In May of this year until August, I will be going around Central Asia with People International. I will be trekking through Tajikistan, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, and Iraq, Lord willing, sharing His Word and love. I know God has a purpose and a reason. He is going to work in my life, as well as the lives of those I will come in contact with. This will be a time of stretching, and a time of falling more in love with my Jesus, and with the Muslims that I will be serving. May He continue to break me for these souls. I started searching for schools that I could possibly attend this fall, and found Oklahoma Wesleyan University. It shocked me when I was looking at the information online. A major in Persecuted Church Ministry?! I could not believe it. I began praying, and God gave me His peace about going to OKWU. I know that by getting the training and education at this school, I would be prepared to move overseas once the doors open for Americans to go into Iran. Going here would be another stepping stone where God transforms my life, more. The passion I would gain from other students and staff would be a beautiful picture of His work. Going here would challenge me in my leadership as well, and push me outside of my comfort zone! These are things that I desire. And they will happen, if God wants it to. Attending OKWU seems absolutely essential! I don't want to be glorified. I want Jesus to have all of the glory, I want to obey my Father and do what He calls me to do! Reaching Muslims and the Iranian people is just that. OKWU would prepare me, in ways that I expect, and in ways that surprise me. But our God is a God of surprises. I cannot go without the finances, but God supplies what we need. He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides. May His will be done. May His love and sacrifice be made known throughout the world. -William Jahnigen III “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” -Acts 20:24 (ESV) (994 words)