MEETINGS
Weekly club meetings are held September through May on Monday evenings in Medina, Ohio. Meetings open with a devotion and prayer and then include varsity academic speech & debate lecture, practice exercises, practice competition, and fellowship time. There are also separate speech classes for younger students. Homework will be assigned.
MEMBERSHIP
Theophilus is affiliated with the Christian Communicators of America (CCA). Members must agree to and comply with all sections of the THEOPHILUS HANDBOOK. The Handbook includes Theophilus club guidelines and CCA foundational documents (Statement of Faith, Mission and Vision, Code of Conduct and Speech and Debate Program) found at www.ccadebate.org. Theophilus serves families with homeschooled students ages 5-18. Membership preference is given to families with a competing student who will be at least age 13 by January 1 of the upcoming school year. (When membership availability exists, exceptions are considered for families with younger students.)
COMMITMENT
In addition to weekly club meetings, all Varsity students competing in Debate must participate in the Round Robin (practice tournament) and compete at a minimum in the two local tournaments. All Junior Varsity students and Varsity students competing in Speech must participate at both local tournaments. All Juniors may choose whether or not to compete at tournament(s). Students may compete at the two other spring tournaments throughout the Midwest, if desired — the club strongly encourages participation for varsity debate students in all tournaments as significant growth often occurs at additional tournaments undertaken within the same season. At least one parent from each family is required to be involved in the weekly meetings, and both parents must assist with the local Theophilus hosted tournaments and be present at every tournament.
REGISTRATION
Families interested in participating in our club or obtaining more information about Theophilus and CCA should send inquiries via the Contact Us page. Also, visiting the Parkside Tournament in February or Malone Tournament in May is a great way to understand Theophilus and CCA. Contact us for details.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired,
inerrant and infallible Word of God, and the final authority for faith and life.
(2 Timothy 3:16)
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent, in one essence,
yet three co-equal persons, the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
(Ephesians 4:4-6, Matthew 28:19, John 14:9-11, John 15:26).
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ
(Matthew 16:16, Mark 8:27-29, Luke 9:18-20),
His virgin birth (Luke 1:29-35),
His sinless life (1 John 3:5),
His miracles (Acts 2:22, John 3:2),
His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood
(Romans 3:25, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, l Peter l:l8-l9),
His bodily resurrection (l Corinthians 15:3-5),
His ascension (Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:9-11), and
His personal return in power and glory (Acts l:ll, John 14:2-3).
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men; the saved to eternal life,
and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment
(John 5:28-29, John 5:24).
We believe that all men are sinful by nature, and that salvation is the gift of God given to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
(Romans 3:22-24).
We believe that we should live in such a manner
as to not bring reproach upon our Savior and Lord
(Matthew 5:16, Philippians 1:27).
We believe it is our obligation as believers to witness by life and word
to the truths of the Gospel and proclaim these truths to all mankind
(Matthew 28:19-20).