School of Evangelism

Student Handbook

October 2024

Version 1.0
COMS Student Handbook

Table of Contents:
1. Welcome............................................................................................4
2. What is COMS?...................................................................................4
3. Overview............................................................................................4
4. Prerequisite Reading..........................................................................5
5. Daily Schedule...................................................................................6
6. Worships............................................................................................7
6.1 Morning Manna...............................................................................7
6.2 Evening Worships...........................................................................7
6.3 Personal Devotions.........................................................................7
7. Locations............................................................................................7
7.1 COMS Campus – Verity Centre........................................................7
7.2 Student Accommodation – “The Fig Tree”......................................8
8. Campus Life.......................................................................................8
8.1 Housing...........................................................................................8
8.2 Food................................................................................................8
8.3 Responsibilities...............................................................................8
9. COMS Culture.....................................................................................9
9.1 Overall Atmosphere........................................................................9
9.2 Respect...........................................................................................9
9.3 Punctuality....................................................................................10
9.4 Relationships................................................................................10
9.5 Dress.............................................................................................10
9.6 Academics & Grades.....................................................................11
9.7 Required Items.............................................................................12
9.8 Prohibited Items and Media..........................................................12
10. Dismissal of Students.......................................................................12
11. Application Process..........................................................................13
11.1 Overview of the Application Process.............................................13
11.2 Steps for Application Form Completion........................................13
11.3 References....................................................................................14
11.4 Health & Medical Information.......................................................14
12. International Students.....................................................................14
13. Finances...........................................................................................15

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13.1 Tuition...........................................................................................15
13.2 Transportation fees.......................................................................15
13.3 Payment Schedule........................................................................15
13.4 Refunds.........................................................................................15
14. Contact Information.........................................................................16

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1. Welcome
First, we just want to thank you for taking an interest in the Clash of Minds
School of Evangelism (COMS) program, and we are excited that God could
be leading you to join us here in Kampersrus.
We believe COMS has the potential to radically change your life, to draw
you even closer to Christ and to empower you to spread the gospel more
effectively. Know that we are praying for you as you seek to know God’s
will, and where He is leading you in the coming months.

2. What is COMS?
COMS is a 5-week discipleship and evangelism training program of the
Clash of Minds Ministry designed for all adults (18+), to empower them to
own their faith, find their calling, and to live it out by taking the gospel
and spreading it wherever they go.
Whether you decide to become a fulltime missionary or a leader in your
church, COMS is a great way to revitalize your faith, to root you in the
Three Angels message and equip you to share it with a dying world.

3. Overview
COMS mainly consists of two components:
 in-class instruction, and
 hands-on ministry experience.
In the classroom portion you will receive instruction on the COMS beliefs
of Adventism, different principles of ministry, practical Christianity, health
& lifestyle, and many more areas.
The hands-on ministry portion may include giving personal & small group
Bible studies, literature evangelism, health evangelism, public evangelistic
meetings, and cross-cultural missions.
As you can see, you will get a lot of experience in ministry. Please note,
this is a rigorous 5-week program.
The COMS program begins Oct 21, 2024, and ends November 21, 2024,
however please note the compulsory COMS orientation day is Sunday Oct
20, 2024. Students should therefore plan to arrive early on Sunday Oct 20,
2024.
At this stage we are unfortunately not able to accommodate, cater, or look
after any additional family members, children etc that are not enrolled in
the program. This may change in coming sessions. Only students and
teaching staff will be allowed to attend classes.

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4. Prerequisite Reading
The Student is hereby informed that the following books are considered
prerequisite reading and will be discussed in detail with the understanding
that the student has already read and assimilated the contents thereof:
● The Genesis Conflict – Prof Walter Veith
PDF Download:
https://downloads.clashofminds.com/download/116/walter-veith/2161/
genesis-conflict.pdf
● Truth Matters – Prof Walter Veith
PDF Download:
https://downloads.clashofminds.com/download/116/walter-veith/2162/
truth-matters.pdf

● Diet and Health – Prof Walter Veith

PDF Download:
https://downloads.clashofminds.com/download/116/walter-veith/2160/
diet-health.pdf

● The Ministry of Healing – E.G. White

PDF Download: https://whiteestate.org/books/ebooks/mh/mh.htm

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5. Daily Schedule
The following is a general schedule of the average day, but it is subject to
minor changes:

Sunday Personal Time 18:30 – 21:00

Personal Worship 06:30 – Lights Out 21:00
07:30
Monday - Thursday
Breakfast Prep 07:30 – 08:30
Personal Worship 05:00 –
Breakfast 08:30 – 09:45 06:00
Nature Excursion 09:45 – 15:00 Morning Manna 06:30 – 07:30
Lunch 15:00 – Practical Lesson 07:30 – 08:30
16:00
Breakfast 08:30 – 09:45
Break 16:00 –
Classes 09:45 – 15:00
17:30
Lunch 15:00 –
Shower Time 17:30 –
16:00
18:30
Break 16:00 –
Evening Worship 18:30 – 19:30
17:00
Personal Time 19:30 – 21:00
Exercise 17:00 – 17:30
Lights Out 21:00
Shower 17:30 – 18:30
Evening Worship 18:30 – 19:30
Personal Time 19:30 – 21:00
Lights Out 21:00
Friday
Personal Worship 05:00 –
06:00 Sabbath
Personal Worship 06:00 –
Morning Worship 06:30 – 07:30
07:00
Practical Lesson 07:30 – 08:30
Prepare for Church 07:00 –
Breakfast 08:30 – 09:45 08:00
Classes 09:45 – 15:00 Breakfast 08:00 – 09:15
Lunch 15:00 – Chapel 09:15 – 12:30
16:00
Outreach 13:00 – 15:00
Shower 16:00 – 17:00
Lunch 15:00 –
Sabbath Opening 17:00 – 16:00
18:30
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Break 16:00 – Boma Bliss 18:30 – 21:00

17:00
Lights Out 21:00
Sabbath Closing 17:00 – 18:30

6. Worships
6.1 Morning Manna
Each class day there will be a 60-minute morning worship service. Each
student and certain lecturers will be sharing worship messages at
scheduled times during the program, and students with a musical
background may take turns leading out in song service.

6.2 Evening Worships

Every evening the students will come together for 60-minute worship
service. Students and lecturers will once again be sharing worship
messages and testimonies according to a set schedule, and students with
a musical background may take turns to lead out song services.
On Wednesday evenings, the COMS students will be joining the Verity
staff and residents of the Kampersrus area in a prayer meeting, local
venues may change for this event.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, the COMS students will be joining the
Verity staff and residents of the Kampersrus area for a Sabbath opening
and closing, respectively, most likely conducted on the Verity premises.

6.3 Personal Devotions

Jesus prayed in John 17:3 that, “…this is eternal life, that they know you,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” We believe the
best way for someone to truly get to know God is to develop an
experience with Him in His Word. For this reason, we strongly encourage
students to develop a consistent and meaningful devotional and prayer
life. It is vital to making your ministry and personal experience authentic
and effective.

7. Locations
7.1 COMS Campus – Verity Centre
The COMS campus is located on a converted horse farm in the heart of
Kampersrus, a small village surrounded by wildlife sanctuaries, game
farms and mountains. This horse farm has been repurposed into a health
centre with treatment rooms, staff and guest/patient accommodations, a
main house, chapel, gym, swimming pool and food gardens. This is where
you will attend most of your lectures and where you will enjoy most of
your meals.

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Address: 41 Boekenhout Avenue, Kampersrus AH, Limpopo, 1371,

South Africa

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7.2 Student Accommodation – “The Fig Tree”

COMS Student accommodation is located 1km from the Verity campus on
the edge of Kampersrus. Some private rooms with their own bathrooms,
some rooms with shared bathrooms and some dorm style rooms that
sleep 4 students with shared bathrooms. Transport to and from class will
be provided at set times in the morning and returning in the late
afternoon or evening. Bedding and towels will be provided. Other
amenities such as washing facilities, detergent and Wi-Fi are available on
the property free of charge.

8. Campus Life
8.1 Housing
All students will be housed at, “The Fig Tree” as described above, and will
be rooming together with fellow COMS students.
It is expected that students will keep their own rooms neat and organized,
as well as the bathroom that they share. The Dean will have freedom to
inspect rooms once a week to ensure that they are kept in a neat
condition, and that we are being good stewards of the space.
As mentioned, washing facilities are available and a roster will be drawn
up, so everyone has set washing days. Bedding will be washed for you on
a weekly basis.

8.2 Food
COMS Students will be provided two meals a day in the Verity Dining
room, Monday through Friday.
Students will prepare their own Sabbath breakfast on Friday and eat it at
“The Fig Tree” on Sabbath morning. Sabbath lunch will again be served in
the Verity Dining room.
Students will prepare their Sunday meals at “The Fig Tree”, subject to the
nature of the excursion that is planned for the day.
Meals will adhere to all the health message principles as outlined in the
Spirit of Prophecy.

8.3 Responsibilities
Students will all share in the cleaning and organising responsibilities
around the dormitories, the dining room, and the COMS classroom.
Students will be divided into rotating groups for the different duties.
Learning responsibilities, and working as a group, are invaluable for the
growth and development of the student and in terms of group cohesion
and interaction with the staff.

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9. COMS Culture
We expect all COMS students to live by Biblical principles and the
standards and practices of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
https://www.adventist.org/en/beliefs/
Below are the standards that we have chosen to adopt for the COMS
program. Students are expected to comply with all the rules and
requirements in the student handbook, throughout the course of the
COMS program.
Students are expected to agree to all the rules and requirements in this
student handbook before coming for the training and are thus encouraged
to investigate the reasoning and rationale behind them.
We aim to keep the “requirements” to a practical minimum. The activities
permitted in this setting may differ from those in your home or workplace
due to the program's foundation in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.

9.1 Overall Atmosphere

Maintaining a positive and supportive attitude is crucial when uniting
individuals from various backgrounds in an intensive setting. Our
emphasis is on embracing optimism and recognizing the purpose behind
our gathering - to serve both God and our community.

9.2 Respect
As a Christian educational establishment, it's essential to uphold the
highest standards of respect and civility towards fellow learners,
employees, and the broader community we interact with. Since Verity
serves as our premise, we anticipate that faculty members and visitors
will be accorded due regard, reflecting our role as guests within this
academic environment. We strive to exemplify responsible conduct by
being gracious witnesses to everyone present.
Given our status as an educational institution with leaders entrusted with
various roles, we expect all staff members to command respect and be
heard without prejudice based on age differences. The duties and
guidance provided by these individuals are integral parts of their
positions, and therefore, disregarding or disrespecting them during active
engagements such as outreach programs, classes, or extracurricular
events is counterproductive and detrimental to our shared goals.
Moreover, the degree of respect demonstrated by students toward
leadership and peers plays a significant role in determining the references
received upon graduation when requested. This underscores the
importance of maintaining positive relationships throughout one's time at
Verity.

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9.3 Punctuality
Each student is required to be punctual and prepared for all events,
lessons, and activities. To ensure readiness, they must carry essential
items such as clothing, school materials, and appropriate outerwear with
them when attending these engagements. Additionally, timeliness
contributes to evaluating the quality of references a student receives after
completing their coursework.

9.4 Relationships
As listed above, we expect all COMS students to live by Biblical principles,
and the standards and practices of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
Thus, any appearance of impure relations with the opposite sex are
prohibited, and are grounds for immediate dismissal, without a refund.
Examples of inappropriate relations between sexes would be
back-rubs/massages, hand holding, going off together alone outside of the
group, prolonged or unnecessary physical contact, etc.
For the sake of maintaining the proper appearance with the opposite sex
we discourage any off-site trips that do not have at least 3 people if two
genders are involved.
We believe godly relationships and marriage are a beautiful blessing, but
because of the rigorous nature of the COMS program, we do not allow for
dating relationships amongst fellow students during the length of the
program (Assuming they weren’t in a relationship upon arrival).

9.5 Dress
Students are encouraged to dress in a clean and modest fashion that
would be reflective of followers of Christ. With this in mind, we ask that
students not wear anything that would be offensive, revealing, or
distracting. All brands and messaging worn on clothing should be uplifting
and respectful in nature.
The following serves as a guideline for clothes that are generally
deemed to be appropriate or inappropriate:
Females:
● No shirts or dresses that show cleavage.
● No shirts or dresses that reveal the midriff.
● Skirts and dresses may not be shorter than knee-length.
● No high-slit dresses or skirts.
● Shorts may not be shorter than a 4-finger width above the knee.
● No tank tops, strap tops, or sleeveless shirts.
● Yoga pants or tights are only permitted to be worn if a shirt or dress
that covers the entire bottom, is worn with it. Except during exercise
times.
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● No see-through clothing.
● No two-piece swimsuits are permitted, and swimsuits are to be
accompanied by shorts that cover the entire bottom. Swimwear should
completely cover the midriff, chest, and bottom.
Males:
● Shorts may not be shorter than a 4-finger width above the knee.
● No tank tops or sleeveless shirts.
● No see-through clothing.
● No speedos for swimwear.
● You may not be shirtless in the presence of the opposite sex unless you
are swimming.

Males and females:

● No jewellery, except for watches and wedding or engagement rings.
Only allergy bands and organ donor bracelets will be permitted.
● PJ’s and sleeping attire should only be worn in the bedroom. No walking
around outside your bedroom in your PJ’s or sleeping attire.
● No torn or patched clothes.
● No figure-hugging outfits.
● No suggestive clothing.
● No hats, caps, hoods (only referring to the hood of the top), or
sunglasses are to be worn inside any building.

The following serves as a guideline for clothes that are deemed to be

appropriate for church and outreach activities:
● Neat and respectful attire e.g. No T-shirts or denims
● Attire that is fitting to appear before God.
● Ladies are expected to wear dresses or skirts to church

The following serves as a guideline for clothes that are deemed to be

appropriate or inappropriate for exercise:
● Shorts may not be shorter than a 4-finger width above the knee.
● Yoga pants or tights may be worn, but only for the duration of the
exercise.
● No tank tops, strap tops, or sleeveless shirts.

9.6 Academics & Grades

Students will receive grades on their Bible memorisation quizzes, book
readings, attendance & punctuality, participation in class, room checks,
outreach effort, and overall attitude towards others and staff.

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The level of effort put in, determines the level of reference you will receive
on completion of the course.
Each student will receive a Clash of Minds - Certificate of Completion at
the end of the 5-week course.

9.7 Required Items

All students would do well to bring either a laptop/tablet for note taking
and research, or a notebook and pencil/pen/paper. All digital course
material will be shared with the students.
There will be classes where having a computer would be very helpful, but
it is not “required”.

9.8 Prohibited Items and Media

No caffeinated snacks or drinks are to be brought onto campus or student
housing (e.g. coffee, tea, energy drinks, cola, chocolate products etc.)
Illicit drugs, tobacco, lighters/matches, alcoholic beverages, pornography,
occult paraphernalia, weapons, guns of any kind, and gang symbols, are
not tolerated on campus. Discovery of the presence of any of these items
are grounds for immediate dismissal, without a refund.
COMS also prohibits the bringing of any gaming systems and televisions
on campus, as students cannot afford to have distractions that pull them
away from an already intense program that requires their focus.
No gaming on any mobile electronic devices will be tolerated during the 5-
week course, also no worldly/ungodly media to be consumed in class or
free time. We do not want you to work at cross purposes with God as this
course is aimed at bringing you closer to God and worldly media is aimed
at the opposite. We also want to respect those that have turned their
backs on the world, by not exposing them to anything that they have
fought hard at to leave behind. You are welcome to play your conservative
Christian music to yourself, no one that does not want to hear, need hear
it.

10. Dismissal of Students

COMS reserves the right to dismiss any student, without a refund, who
fails to abide by the policies and guidelines described within this
handbook.

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11. Application Process

COMS is a program for all adults (18+) who are committed to God, and to
the teachings of His Word, and so the application process is our means of
determining who will best appreciate and contribute to the vision and
mission of the program. We can only accept applications that are fully
completed.

11.1 Overview of the Application Process

The overall application process is conducted as follows:
1. COMS receives the complete application package via email.
2. Subsequently, a virtual interview is arranged with shortlisted
candidates conducted by our staff.
3. Following an internal review of the application and references by
COMS, along with post-interview deliberations, you will be notified of
acceptance or denial via email. If accepted, the acceptance email
will include an invoice for tuition payment (along with a unique
reference number for your application). Additionally, the notification
email may request further information from you and provide
additional details from our end.
4. A deposit of R10,000 / $550 USD must be paid within 20 days of
receiving the acceptance letter. This deposit can be refunded if
students withdraw by September 1st, 2024. Please see “Payment”
tab under www.clashofminds/school.
5. The remaining tuition fee must be settled before the move-in date
on October 20th, 2024.

11.2 Steps for Application Form Completion

1. Complete the COMS Application Form including the Medical
Assessment portion from www.clashofminds/school.
2. Ensure you have three Christian Character References. See section
11.3 for further information.
3. A full length digital photo of yourself, preferably standing by
yourself, and taken within the last 3 months.
4. Pay the R200 ZAR / $10 USD application fee. Include your proof of
payment. Please note the application fee covers our administration
costs and is non-refundable. Please see “Payment” tab under
www.clashofminds/school. USE “AF” FOLLOWED BY YOUR
EMAIL as your reference for the application fee. I.e. AF-
[email protected]
All completed applications are processed in the order in which they are
received. Students will receive a response to their application in a timely
fashion upon completion of the application process.

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We have a limit on how many students we can take, so applying sooner

rather than later is advised.

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11.3 References
Applicants' reference providers must possess at least six months of
experience and engagement with the candidate. References originating
from relatives or personal acquaintances are not acceptable. Given the
spiritual focus of this program, it is preferable for references to attest to
an individual's spiritual and/or educational background. Examples include
pastors, elders, deacons, Pathfinder leaders, Sabbath School teachers, or
Bible instructors. Professional references from employers or workplace
supervisors are also welcome.
The Christian Character Reference Form may be downloaded from our
website (www.clashofminds/school), distributed to referees, collected back
by the applicant, and then included within one email submission alongside
other application materials.

11.4 Health & Medical Information

For the sake of the health and wellbeing of the applicant, it is very
important that students give accurate information regarding their health,
and mental health history that require, or have required professional
treatment. This includes past, recent, or current substance
abuse/addictions. We also need to be aware of any allergies that you have
so we can report them to the cafeteria.
Be sure to complete the “Medical Assessment” portion of the Application
Form.

12. International Students

COMS is not recognized as an accredited educational institution, which
means that international students cannot obtain a student/educational
visa through COMS. Instead, international students must secure a
standard tourist/visitor's visa from the nearest South African embassy.
Upon acceptance, COMS will provide a letter stating that students will be
engaged in missionary projects for a specific period with provided food
and lodging only during the program duration.
To comply with immigration regulations, students must purchase a
roundtrip ticket or separate tickets for arrival and departure to
demonstrate their temporary stay intention in South Africa. Visitor visas
typically allow a 3-month stay, during which students may engage in
sightseeing or travel activities. However, if students arrive early or depart
after the program ends, they still need appropriate travel tickets to enter
the program.
It is essential for students to arrange their own food, accommodation, and
travel outside of the program dates as COMS cannot accommodate or
provide for students beyond the course duration. Additionally, students
are responsible for researching the requirements for obtaining a visitor's
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visa to enter South Africa and ensuring all necessary paperwork is in order
with their respective embassy before traveling.

You can find more information by visiting:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

13. Finances
13.1 Tuition
The total cost of the COMS program is R20,000 / $1,100 USD.
This covers lodging, meals (2 meals a day Sunday-Saturday), excursions,
course material and instruction through the entire 5-week long program.

13.2 Transportation fees

Students who are bringing vehicles will be asked to park them securely at
student housing or campus for most of the 5-week course. Due to the
security of the property, only school vehicles will be allowed in and out the
access gate. All vehicles must be licensed and insured, and a copy of
insurance will need to be submitted to the COMS office before arrival.
Students arriving at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in
Johannesburg during their April intake or departing post-graduation in
June may arrange airport transport services. The cost of these one-way
journeys is approximately R1000, which equates to about $50 USD. Travel
time between the airport and destination typically takes around 6 hours
for the 440 km (273 mi) journey.
When a learner reaches any different air terminal in South Africa aside
from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), it becomes their individual
obligation to travel to O.R. Tambo for arranging further transportation.
A local airfield 40 km (25 mi) from the Verity campus, known as Eastgate
Airport in Hoedspruit (HDS), offers flights for approximately R2,800 ($140
USD) for a one-way ticket from O.R. Tambo International Airport. Should
you opt for this mode of travel, Verity personnel can pick you up at no
additional cost.

13.3 Payment Schedule

A deposit of R10,000 / $550 USD is due within 20 days of acceptance,
refundable until September 1, 2024, in case of withdrawal before the
program commences. No refunds will be granted after September 1, 2024.
The remaining balance must be settled before the move-in date on
October 20, 2024.
Upon acceptance, each student will receive a fundraising letter drafted by
us on their behalf, bearing our letterhead and detailing their activities
during their stay.
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13.4 Refunds
To qualify for a refund of the deposit and any tuition payments made up
to the 1st of September 2024, all cancellations must be submitted in a
signed letter via email before this date. Refunds will not be issued for any
cancellations received after the 1st of September 2024.

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14. Contact Information

Any further questions regarding the COMS program can be communicated
via:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +27 620804303 WhatsApp
(preferred), text messages, or phone
calls during standard South African
working hours.

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