The Student Experience

Student Life

We Are Here to Answer Any Questions.

OneLife is a nine-month Christian gap year program for students who want to grow in their faith, experience genuine community, serve others, and travel while earning credits for college.

A gap year is defined as taking a “break” from formal education, “typically between high school and college, in order to deepen practical, professional, and personal awareness.”

For Christian students, taking a gap year before going to college creates a remarkable opportunity to think more deeply and intentionally about the person God is calling him or her to be. Many students who struggle in college do so because they are not able to articulate reasons or explain the goals for going to college. College has become the assumed next step after high school, with very little thought about why.

OneLife exists because we believe that taking a gap year forces students out of the routine of “schooling” and into a deeper relationship with God. Students who participate in gap year programs have proven to be far more prepared for the transition to college and adulthood.

They do! The NY Times highlighted research from Middlebury College and the University of North Carolina showing that students who took a gap year got better grades than those who did not. Here is a recent article by Time Magazine expressing the great need for Gap Year programs, as well as this article by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

OneLife is a nine month, residential program with 3 desired outcomes:

  • Form Christian Character
  • Develop a Biblical Perspective of Calling
  • Increase Relational Wisdom

OneLife offers 4 locations:

  1. Black Rock Retreat | Lancaster, PA
  2. Three Springs Ministries | Morris, PA
  3. Pleasant View | Manheim,PA
  4. Southern Wesleyan University | Central, SC

When our students are not traveling, they live on the campuses of Three Springs Camp, Black Rock Retreat, or Southern Wesleyan University, each with its unique housing accommodations. They enjoy the student life at each location, while getting the opportunity to travel the world throughout the program.

OneLife loves to travel. Our trips allow students to (1) see what God is doing in other parts of His world; (2) connect to the larger body of Christ; (3) develop travel and navigational skills; and (4) engage cultural differences and other worldviews.

Students experience lots of day trips and weekend service opportunities. They also take 5-7 longer trips during the year.

Check out the Adventure Page to see where OneLife Students have gone!

No. If you can’t believe that OneLife could possibly be as amazing as it sounds, please contact us or visit us ASAP. We would love the opportunity to show and tell you all about it!

OneLife’s starting price is $22,900. This covers EVERYTHING: tuition, books, room and board, and all travel expenses. There are no additional fees. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Please contact us regarding financial aid and all financial concerns.

YES! OneLife students are enrolled as full-time college students and are eligible for government and private scholarships that are awarded based on eligibility requirements.

OneLife is fully accredited, both regionally & nationally, due to its partnership with Southern Wesleyan University and Cairn University. OneLife students complete 10, three-credit courses, for 30 credits.

Three Springs Ministries | Morris PA and Black Rock Retreat | Lancaster, PA

Cairn University Credits

  • BIB 203 The Pentateuch (3 credits)
  • BIB 303 The Gospels (3 credits)
  • BUS 470 Personal Finance 3 (credits)
  • CHM 121 Ministry Leadership and Management (3 credits)
  • CHM 221 Spiritual Formation and Disciple-Making Ministries (3 credits)
  • COM 111 Introduction to Communications (3 credits)
  • HUM 141 Christianity and Culture (3 credits)
  • INT 010 Life Management Seminar (0 credits)
  • SOC 202 Sociocultural Studies (3 credits)
  • THE 100 Introduction to Christian Theology (3 credits)
  • THE 111 Life and Calling (3 credits)

Southern Wesleyan University | Central, SC

Southern Wesleyan University Credits

  • SEMR 2323: Foundations for Success
  • RELG 2403: Basic Christian Beliefs
  • SEMR 1503: Life Calling
  • ENG 2103: Speech Communication
  • RELG 1993: Intro to Spiritual Formation and Discipleship
  • BIBL 1023: New Testament Survey
  • RELG 2013: Intro to Intercultural Ministry
  • INCS 3563: Global (outside USA) Internship
  • SOSC 2103: Sex, Courtship, and Marriage
  • Course Code Pending Peer Leadership and Team Building

Short answer: YES!

Longer answer: All OneLife students will have an official transcript from Southern Wesleyan University or Cairn University with 30 credits. All credits are transferable. All of the credits, however, may not apply to certain programs at other colleges.

This is the Admissions Process:

  1. Pre-Qualify
  2. Spiritual Reference
  3. Interview
  4. Deposit
  5. Complete The College Application to Earn Credit

Start Here

Here is the OneLife student profile:

  • Post high-school to 21 years of age
  • Loves travel and adventure
  • Appreciates learning both inside and outside the classroom
  • Desires to learn and grow in Christian faith & biblical knowledge
  • Demonstrates leadership qualities
  • Expresses a desire to be teachable
  • Exhibits moral character and conduct
  • Maintains a positive attitude toward authority