Online Learning Reaches into Holy Land

You don’t have to live in the U.S. to study at Oral Roberts University. Just ask David Nekrutman, an online student in ORU’s Graduate Theology program.
Originally from New York, 40-year-old Nekrutman moved to Israel eight-and-a-half years ago. He has a bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania.
“As an Orthodox Jew with a calling in Jewish- Christian relations, I felt it was necessary to learn theology from a Christian point of view,” Nekrutman said.
He heard about ORU from Dr. Brad Young, professor of biblical literature, and former ORU president Dr. Mark Rutland. Young was part of Nekrutman’s theological think tank for the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation.
In March 2012, Nekrutman addressed Rutland’s Global Servants Israel Mission. Afterward, he expressed his desire to pursue a degree from an evangelical university in order to open the doors in his calling in Jewish-Christian relations. Rutland immediately invited him to apply to ORU.
Young has periodically invited Nekrutman to ORU to speak to his master’s classes.
“This gave me an inside look into the incredible spirit of the student body as well as the staff at the theology department, and the workings of the Holy Spirit,” Nekrutman said.
He feels the most beneficial aspect of studying online through ORU has been the discussion among peers.
Nekrutman plans to graduate from the online program in 2015. He hopes to write a book on the Hebraic roots of the Holy Spirit and continue his work in building bridges between the Jewish and Christian communities.
(Article appeared in the ORU “Excellence” 2014 Spring Edition Written by: MCKENSIE GARBER, Class of 2015)