Perspectives Class
Lesson 15: World Christian Discipleship
May 7, 2022
Lesson 15 World Christian Discipleship What it means to integrate life for Christ's global purpose as a "'World Christian". Into the great story for His glory: a Person-driven life as a way of. pursuing a purpose-driven life. The basic practices of world Christians: going, sending, welcoming and mobilizing. The essential disciplines of World Christian discipleship: community, giving, praying and learning. Simplifying your lifestyle as if in "war-time". Exploring the practical ways of pursuing God's purpose. Business and mission. Short-term mission. Welcoming international visitors. Wisdom in working with local churches and in partnership with Christians in different parts of the world. Instructor Amy Law Cody, WY Amy has a passion to mobilize young people and churches to pray, give and go to foster disciple making movements among unreached people groups. She has served with Youth with a Mission (YWAM), Caleb Project, Teen Mania, La Canada Presbyterian church and supervised over 40 Perspectives courses. Leading youth teams to Yemen, India, Turkey, Malaysia, China and Thailand has helped her training remain practical and reproducible, as she continues to train young people in YWAM and churches in Perspectives. Amy and her husband raise cattle in Wyoming and home educate one son, while their other son attends high school.
Lesson 14: Pioneer Church Planting
April 30, 2022
The hope of planting churches among unreached peoples. How the breakthrough of the gospel in an unreached people requires that the gospel be "de-Westernized". The difference of contextualizing the message, the messenger and the movement. Distinguish and appreciate people movements, church planting movements and insider movements. Instructor Jeff Johnson Frontiers, Gilbert AZ Jeff Johnson and his wife Roxanne have been working with Muslims since 1988. They have served on and led church-planting teams in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. They have witnessed firsthand the martyrdom of Muslim back-ground believers and fellow missionaries, birthed underground Christian fellowships in war torn countries, and seen the miraculous hand of God throughout the Muslim world. Jeff currently works in Frontiers' International Leadership group as Co-Director of Sending; overseeing 32 sending bases and engaging with indigenous sending partners and churches in the Global South and Majority World. After being arrested and deported from Uzbekistan, Jeff and his wife Roxanne split their time working with Frontiers International Office in London and in Phoenix, where they engage Frontiers' Latino Sending Bases. Jeff & Roxanne also coach and oversee church planting teams in South Asia. Jeff is a popular speaker and preacher at large, specializing in training followers of Jesus to engage Muslims both domestically and globally.
Lesson 13: The Spontaneous Multiplication of Churches
April 23, 2022
Lesson 13 The Spontaneous Multiplication of Churches Look beyond institutional features of churches to understand churches as dynamic movements of Christ Himself being followed. Such a view of churches as organic, living things opens up the practicality of seeing them multiply rapidly as movements and also flourish in society bearing the fruit of social transformation. Churches as counter-communities, acting as salt and light, bringing change to their cultures. How movements multiply by connecting with entire families and larger social structures. Instructor Brian Hogan Disciple Making Mentors, Fayetteville AR Brian and Louise Hogan have served in mission since 1987. From the Navajo Tribe to Outer Mongolia, their passion has been to see Jesus glorified and lifted up among those who have never known Him. From 1993-1996 their team pioneered a church planting movement in Erdenet (AIR-DUH-NET), Mongolia that continues to grow under fully indigenous leadership to this day. Their Mongolian disciples are now training and sending out their own missionaries to other unreached people groups. The story of the work in Erdenet can be read in Brian’s book: There’s a Sheep in my Bathtub (Asteroidea Books), and in the case study article – “Distant Thunder: Mongols Follow the Khan of Khans” – on page 695 of your Perspectives Reader.
Lesson 12: Christian Community Development
April 9, 2022
Lesson 12 Christian Community Development A survey of world need. Dynamic balance of evangelism and social action. Hope for significant transformation as a sign of Christ's Lordship by Christian community development. Exploring the charge that missionaries destroy instead of serve cultures. Healing the wounds of the world between the peoples. Instructor Mike Bell Healing Nations, Draper UT Pastor Mike Bell is the Executive Director of Healing Nations http://(www.healingnations.net), a ministry that has been described as “E-Harmony for church missions”. He is an energetic communicator who recently contributed a chapter to the book, “There’s Got To Be More: Rediscovering The Kingdom” which addresses the wholistic nature of Jesus’ Gospel. Mike and his family live in Draper, Utah where they moved in 1998 as part of a church planting team. He serves on staff at his church in a part time capacity.
Lesson 11: Building Bridges of Love
April 2, 2022
Lesson 11 Building Bridges of Love The incarnation as a model of missionary humility. How missionaries can enter appropriate roles in order to form relationships of trust and respect to develop a sense of belonging, and thus to communicate with credibility for understanding. Explore the intricacy of identification in another culture. Explore the even greater complexity of presenting identity with integrity in a globalized, terrorized, pluralized world. Recognizing the dynamics of social structure in order to initiate growing movements of ongoing communication throughout the society. Instructor Andre Houssney Horizons International, Boulder CO André was born in Beirut, Lebanon during that country's civil war between Muslims and Christians. The son of a Lebanese father and an American mother, André was raised with an understanding of the complexities of cross-cultural communication. His ministry teaching and training with Horizons International has taken him to over 40 countries including four years spent ministering in his native Lebanon. Andre and has three boys; Elias, Silas and Ezra. Andre is also working on agricultural and business projects to establish the viability of the national churches and their missions programs. These Fair Trade businesses like Zambeezi and The Zambian Soap Company create funds to support native missionaries to Muslim regions.
Lesson 10: How Shall They Hear?
March 26, 2022
Lesson 10 How Shall They Hear? Culture and intercultural communication of the gospel. Communicating the gospel with relevance at the worldview level helps avoid syncretism (blending of cultural error with God?s truth) and also enables powerful movements of the gospel. Sensitive missionaries will look for ways that God has preserved or prepared people to hear the gospel, often finding redemptive analogies for God's truth. Instructor Crystal Rough MissionNext, FMI-Highlands Missions, Lancaster CA Crystal and her husband, Ron, are Directors of Missions at the Highlands Christian Fellowship in Palmdale, CA. She is part of MissionNext doing Generational Mobilization Ministry. Other involvement in missions include YWAM (Micronesia), evangelism, kids ministry, missionary care, and Pioneer Business Planting. Countries of ministry include Myanmar, Thailand,Vietnam, Japan, Kenya, Micronesia and Mexico.
Lesson 9: The Task Remaining
March 19, 2022
Lesson 9 The Task Remaining God's pressed His purpose forward until the present hour of amazing opportunity. Understanding the concept of "unreached peoples" to assess the remaining task. Recognizing the imbalance of mission resources shapes strategic priorities. The basic minimal missiological achievement in every people group opens the way for working with God against every kind of evil so that the gospel of the kingdom is declared and displayed with clarity and power. The need and opportunity of urban mission. Instructor Nathan J'Diim TOAG Internship and Frontiers, Chandler AZ Nathan J'Diim (pen name) is the Founder of TOAG http://(www.toag.net) and Consultant, Instructor and Coach for Frontiers http://(www.frontiersusa.org). Launch http://(www.launchglobal.org) has since replaced TOAG but carries the same DNA: a year long after-hours internship preparing beautiful feet to serve in the Unreached World. Offered in cities across the US, TOAG/Launch has apprenticed hundreds of interns, many who serve or will soon serve the least reached world wide.
Lesson 7: Eras of Mission History
March 12, 2022
Lesson 7 Eras of Mission History The greatest explosion of growth ever has taken place in last 200 years in three "bursts" of activity. Why we could be in the final era of missions. The global harvest force comprised increasingly of non-Western missionaries. Instructor Mark Gomez Calvary Chapel Wasatch Front, South Ogden UT
Lesson 8: Pioneers of the World Christian Movement
March 5, 2022
Lesson 8 Pioneers of the World Christian Movement Today we anchor the race by continuing what others have begun. It's a day of finishing. All the more reason to learn the wisdom and the heart of ordinary people who did extraordinary things in earlier generations. Reading the writings of William Carey and other leaders to discern what these people have left to us. Exploring the contribution of women in missions throughout the centuries. Instructor Jon Hardin Frontiers, Highlands Ranch CO Dr. Jon Hardin is the National Communications Specialist for Frontiers. He has served in full-time missions work for over 25 years. Jon regularly speaks and teaches in churches, conferences, and various training events around the world--he has taught over 30,000 Perspectives students. Jon has a passion for seeing local churches and ordinary Christians step into strategic roles in the global missions enterprise. Jon is an ordained minister, holds a PhD from the VU University in Amsterdam, and did post-graduate studies at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague. He is also a graduate of Denver Seminary. Jon is a CPA and prior to going into full-time ministry he worked for IBM Corporation for nine years.
Lesson 5: Unleashing the Gospel
February 26, 2022
Lesson 5 Unleashing the Gospel The first followers of Jesus: obedient in costly, foundational ways. The climactic act of the book of Acts is the freeing of the gospel to be followed by Gentiles without Jewish traditions as a requirement. A foundational act of God which speaks to the situations where the gospel is hindered today. Strategic suffering and apostolic passion. Instructor Pam Arlund All Nations, Kansas City MO Pam has a wealth of experience working as a linguist/translator and as a church planter. In Central Asia for ten years, she planted churches among 3 people groups, 2 of whom are Muslim. She now trains others to advance the Great Commission in the US and abroad. She earned an MA and PhD in Linguistics from UT-Arlington.
Lesson 6: The Expansion of the Christian Movement
February 19, 2022
The story of God's purpose continues relentlessly from Abraham's day until the present moment. An overview of the largest and the longest-running movement ever in history—the world Christian movement. How the gospel surged through the peoples and places of the world. Important insights for our own day. Instructor Bryan Hurlbutt Lifeline Community, South Jordan UT Dr. Bryan Hurlbutt is the Lead Pastor of Lifeline Community in West Jordan, Utah. He has a Bachelor of Religious Education degree from Davis College, a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Talbot School of Theology focused in how worldview, philosophy and culture relate to the local church. He is also the author of "Tasty Jesus: Liberating Christ From The Power Of Our Predilections" http://www.tastyjesusbook.com
Lesson 4: Mandate for the Nations
February 12, 2022
Jesus shows great strategic interest in Gentiles; wise strategic focus by initiating a global mission on a few disciples among the Hebrew people. The Great Commission and the ways of God's sending in relational power. Dealing with the ideas of pluralism (all religions the same) and universalism (all persons saved). Instructor Jim Rhodes Cru, Malvern PA Jim has served on the full time missionary staff of Cru for 38 years. Over the years, Jim has directed the Hampton Beach Summer Project for 15 years and has helped initiate ministries in Japan, the former Soviet Union, Egypt, and throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Jim's favorite lessons to teach in the Perspectives course are Lessons #4 & #5. Jim has been married to his wife, Barbara, since 1979. They currently live in Malvern, PA. They have two grown children, Becky and Mike, who are both now serving as missionaries, also.
Lesson 3: Your Kingdom Come
February 5, 2022
Lesson 3 Your Kingdom Come Exploring God's purpose regarding evil: How God has accomplished a defeat of evil powers in order to open a season of history in which the nations can freely follow Christ. The kingdom of God as the destiny of all history. Christ's mission seeks a hindering of evil to bring about a sign of the coming peace of the kingdom of God. Our prayers contend with evil in order to bring about the transformation of society with Christ's kingdom in view. Instructor Andy Pearce International Students, Inc., San Gabriel CA Andy currently serves with International Students, Inc. (ISI) on the campuses of California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA and California State University Los Angeles. He also supervises 18 teams in his role as Southern California Area Director for ISI. In addition, he has made 20 trips to Asia for the purpose of following up with former international students. He has a Masters in Theological Studies from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and a PhD in International Development from William Carey International University. Andy and his wife have four daughters and one son and live in San Gabriel, CA.
Lesson 2: The Story of His Glory
January 29, 2022
Exploring God's purpose for Himself: How God has been steadily unfolding a plan throughout all nations and generations to bring about His greater glory, ultimately drawing to Himself the worship of all the peoples. Passion and prayer for God's glory. Instructor Mike Brown The Family Table, Chatsworth CA Mike began his ministry by pastoring a local church in Los Angeles, then spent several years on the mission field in Mexico, where he started a training ministry called 'El Puente', which served as a bridge to equip short term missionaries and enable the local Body of Christ in Mexico to become self supporting apart from American funds. In 2008, Mike planted a church in Los Angeles, CA (Redeemer), and teaches Biblical Theology & Church Planting at Radius International, a 12 month training program in Tijuana, designed to equip missionaries to the unreached with the cultural, linguistic and Biblical skills necessary. In 2018, he transitioned out of local church ministry to start The Family Table, a non profit mobilizing churches to care for vulnerable children in the foster care system.
Lesson 1: The Living God is a Missionary God
January 22, 2022
God's purpose is three-fold: against evil—kingdom victory; for the nations—redemption and blessing; and for God—global glory in worship. God's purpose revealed in promise to Abraham. Exploring God's purpose for the nations: Blessing to the nations described. Instructor: Joseph Shane Bennett Healing Nations, Rye, CO Shane helps Christians love Muslims and Muslims love Jesus. He has served in missions mobilization since 1987, recruiting, training, and sending short term research teams. He's been on teams in Bangkok, Bombay, and Turkey and he's lived among Muslim migrants in Europe. Shane writes a weekly email called Muslim Connect that helps Christians think about Muslims the way God does and love them like Jesus does. He works with Healing Nations and he and his family live in southern Colorado.