1. What is the time commitment for the training?

Answer: An hour and a half a day, Monday through Thursday, for three weeks.  It also requires a equal amount of time offline as online, doing some reading and also building and practicing your ministry visit.

2. Can I ever skip a day if it doesn’t work into my schedule?

Answer:  Unfortunately we don’t have the capacity to make up sessions.  Sometimes it works out that you can miss a session during the final week.  Other than that, please schedule at a time when you can join every session.  Each one builds on the last.

3. Is it ever okay to skip a day and get notes from another participant?

Answer:  The training is primarily about developing skill and confidence in your ministry visit.  It is a little like taking swimming lessons.  If you miss a lesson, somebody’s notes won’t help you catch up.

4. Do I need special software?

Answer: No, all you need is a good hard-wired high-speed internet connection, a webcam cam and headphones.  We subscribe to a web-based videoconferencing service.

5. Why can’t I use my speakers instead of headphones?

Answer: Because there is normally about a one-second delay in transmission, and your speaker will feed an echo back into the system.  Very annoying!

6. Why can’t I use a wireless connection (WiFi)?

Answer:  WiFi isn’t reliable for multipoint videoconferencing.  Even if you have blazing fast bandwidth, the signal isn’t consistent and causes audio and video delays and drop-outs.  Your techie may say it should work fine, but please don’t try it.  Get an Ethernet cable and connect direction to your hub or your modem.

7. What is adequate bandwidth?

Answer: The minimum bandwidth speed is 386 kbps upload, 1536 kbps download.   To test the speed of your broadband connection go to: http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

8. Can two people who aren’t a married couple sign up as a couple and take advantage of the couple’s rate?

Answer:  We assume married couples will conduct their ministry visits together.   Since individuals are each preparing their own ministry visit, we don’t offer the couples rate.

9.  How soon before a course begins can I register? 

Answer:  Registration is limited to within four weeks before each course begins.