Texan Mosaic

by:TAYLOR ZARBANO/Staff Writer 

With the fall semester half way over, many students already know what classes they will be taking during the spring semester, while others have not given it one thought.

South Plains College has many classes to offer that are overlooked, but beneficial to one’s education.

One of these overlooked classes is the Life of Christ class taught by Arlano Funderburk, which will count as a Humanities course.

The class is described as “a survey of the major events; birth, baptism, temptations, transfiguration, death, resurrection, and major teachings as they are presented in the Gospels of the New Testament.”

The purpose of the class is to “familiarize students with the historical context out of which the story of Jesus is recorded in the New Testament Gospels, and introduce them to major teachings of Jesus like the Sermon on the Mount and the Lord’s Prayer” according to Funderburk.

The class will look at when and why Jesus came, and how He goes about accomplishing His purpose, according to Funderburk.

Funderburk says he wants students to be encouraged through this class.

He said he desires for students to really think about the purpose and the “content of Jesus’ life and His teachings and consider carefully the implications for their faith and relevance for their lives.”

The perspective of the class will be taught from the Judicial Christian Perspective.

“We have Catholic folks, Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Nazarenes; many denominations, and some from not any denomination,” Funderburk says

“I think denominations are on the way out,” he added. “I think Christianity is moving where denominations will go away.”

Funderburk started teaching in the spring of 1973 as soon as he completed his seminary degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary School in Fort Worth, Texas. He also has his master’s degree in theology.

Funderburk served as the director of the Baptist Student Ministries for 40 years, at South Plains College, which he started doing right after graduate school.

Funderburk explains, “The students can expect to be surprised at how much God loves them and wants to be a part of their lives. God loves us so much that He would rather die than be without us.”

The Life of Christ class is only offered one semester a year, with only one class a week. It will be offered during the spring semester on Tuesday nights from 6p.m. to 9p.m. in room 122 in the Administration Building.

The class will come with include assigned readings, three short reflection papers, of which two will be presented, and a final exam.

Funderburk says that he is ready and excited for the opportunity to teach the class and meet new students.

For further information on the Life of Christ course, email Funderburk at afunderburk2@gmail.com.