“I have gained new knowledge and confidence in speaking and writing English,” a PathwayConnect graduate shared. “I gained faith in Jesus Christ and learned to be a leader. I understand God’s perspective. Heavenly Father and Jesus help us and understand when we make mistakes. They are always on our side.”
Students enrolled in the September 2018 commencing class of the BYU PathwayConnect program recently completed their final semester. PathwayConnect is an effective educational program developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a one-year, low cost, online higher education program. As stated on the website, it is: “More than just a path to a degree, it's a start to a better life.”
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One student shared her feelings: “Before pathway life wasn’t going well. I didn’t believe I could accomplish anything, but I decided to give Pathway a try. It was hard at first, but I saw myself changing. I am a completely different person than I was a year ago. I have energy and hope. I know there is a God who loves me and wants me to be happy.”
The PathwayConnect program was born with a threefold mission: 1) instill the gospel into the students’ hearts, 2) help students become capable learners, and 3) prepare students to lead and support families.
PathwayConnect is an online educational program from BYU-Idaho which consists of Institute, a weekly gathering, English speaking partners, as well as the online courses. An emphasis is placed on improving English speaking and writing skills.
The program offers a three semester, one-year period of college courses, highlighting Leadership and Life skills, Professional skills, and University skills. English and math are woven into these semester focuses.
PathwayConnect fills nine credits and up to six Institute credits. After finishing the course, students receive a certificate of completion. Students that graduate with a B average may apply to attend on campus at BYU-Idaho or BYU-Hawaii, or automatically enroll as a BYU-Idaho online student, with an ecclesiastical endorsement.
A graduating PathwayConnect student reported “I’m planning to go on a mission, then enter BYU-Idaho, get an education in engineering, and later transfer to BYU Provo.”
A weekly Institute class provides spiritual growth for the students. “I have been helped by angels. The concepts I learned will help me build up a righteous home,” one student relayed. “Pathway requires discipline. I feel that I am more spiritually self-reliant, and I have more hope for the future. To me, this gathering is like the gathering of Israel.”
To be accepted into the PathwayConnect program, a student must either be at least 17 years old with a high school diploma, or 19 or older without a high school diploma, with no upper age limit. The average age of PathwayConnect students in Japan is 38 ½ years of age. Each non-native English-speaking student is given an English-speaking assessment.
All young returning missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will automatically receive preapproval for admission to BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s PathwayConnect program.
“This initiative is a way to provide the means and access to a university degree to those who otherwise may not have pursued that opportunity,” said Clark G. Gilbert, president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide.
While applicants are primarily members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 20% of students can be non-members.
“Pathway is life in miniature,” a non-traditional PathwayConnect graduate voiced. “Things don’t always go smoothly. We shouldn’t give up before arriving at our destination. I am closer, now, to becoming my ideal self.”
President John Dorff, who served as the Saitama Stake President in 2017, the year PathwayConnect was initiated in Japan, commented on the program: “Pathway is a degree in hope. If your hope is tarnished, it becomes polished; if it is gone, you find it; if it is weak, it is strengthened. You begin to believe in yourself, you begin to believe in God, and the world around you begins to look better and brighter.” John and his wife, Hiroko, have been serving for nearly two years as Church-Service missionaries and among other assignments from the Area Presidency, have had a specific mission to serve as the Japan advisors for PathwayConnect.
The first PathwayConnect group began in Sakado, with 18 students enrolled. Over 200 Japanese students have been helped through the PathwayConnect program thus far.
Darwin Halvorson, Area Welfare and Self-Reliance Manager, was among those who initiated the BYU PathwayConnect program in Japan. “PathwayConnect is a program that puts people back into the cycle of achieving,” he stated.
Still passionate and involved in keeping the program alive and well in Japan, Brother Halvorson reminds that Church-Service missionaries and Institute teachers are needed at each location. Interested persons may contact their bishop or Darwin Halvorson.
Since its launch in Japan in April 2017, gathering groups have been held in Kobe, Nagoya, Naha, Okinawa City, Sakado, Saitama, Sapporo, Shibuya, Urawa, and via virtual class. In the Asia North Area there are also participating groups in Guam, Saipan, Pohnpei, Palau, and Mongolia. Five new groups are recruiting now with a plan to begin in September 2019: Matsuda, Yokohama, Machida, Oyama, and Abeno.
The upcoming deadline for enrolling in the PathwayConnect program is August 27th, 2019. Each location requires a minimum of 12 registered students in order to carry out the program.
Sister Catherine Edelman, a missionary over the PathwayConnect program in Shibuya, reflected on the year. “I watched the students grow in confidence and ability, both in speaking and reading English, and in their ability to lead a group and teach a lesson. The students have such dedication. They are becoming better employees.” To the students, Sister Edelman lovingly expressed, “I’ve watched you from the beginning to the end and I’ve seen your progress. You are the future leaders of the Church in Japan.”
To apply for the BYU PathwayConnect program, click on the APPLY tab in the upper right-hand corner at https://byupathway.lds.org/
For more information on the BYU PathwayConnect program, please view the following links:
https://byupathway.lds.org/Finder/Asia/Japan/157?lang=eng
https://www.ldschurch.jp/srs/pathway?lang=jpn-jp
https://byupathway.lds.org/pathwayconnect
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/missionaries-preapproved-for-byu-pathway-worldwide