Get Ready to Get Rocked
Watch this video about Uncertainty…
[googlevideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7339642080224082879[/googlevideo]
“Go and make disciples of all the nations.” So begins the Great Commission. But are we obeying Christ’s call?
The Perspectives class is a great way to enter the Great Commission. It begins at the Hudson Community Chapel on January 12th and meets Mondays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Or take the class on Tuesday evenings, beginning January 13th at Grace Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Middleburg Heights.
All our new ministries are so exciting: the Discovery Groups, the International Student Ministry, Crossroads, and the Western Ohio Enterprise demonstrate how many in our fellowship are pursuing the Great Commission.
But are we taking the gospels to “all the nations” by participating in God’s work around the globe?
[callout]Meet missionaries serving in the Middle East or in cannibal tribes or the slums of India[/callout]
What Will You Discover?
If you want God to rock your world, take Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. The fifteen-week course offers a challenging look at the theology, history, and methods of missions. It’s appropriately titled, as any alumni will agree: the class transforms your view of God, the gospel, the world, and your part in God’s plan.
Meet missionaries serving in the Middle East or in cannibal tribes or the slums of India. What stories they tell, and the pictures and insights! This is a typical night at Perspectives class. It means developing deep convictions and new understandings you never held before.
“It was really eye-opening to see how much of the world doesn’t have access to the gospel and what missionaries are doing that we have no idea about,” Diana Michalek said. She also loved learning about the many indigenous movements such as the underground church in China. Her favorite memories of the class include a video about how a tribe in Papua New Guinea came to Christ and hearing Don Richardson (author of The Peace Child) speak.
It’s so easy to get bogged down in our own culture’s version of Christianity, but it isn’t an Americanized belief,” said Jackie Leon. “Learning about missions broadened my understanding of the way the Lord works around the world.” This was important to Jackie because a secular friend told her Christianity was a Western religion, but the Perspectives class helped her understand that, “God doesn’t want every church to be like the Western church.”
Practical Learning
“We’re learning about things we can do here,” Diana said.
Ryan Leon agreed: “It really helped to learn about the history of missions, what worked and didn’t work in different fields.”
Be forewarned: Perspectives will change you. Diana, Jackie, and Ryan have taken new steps to financially support missions work, write to missionaries, teach others about missions, reach out to international students, and learn more through reading. The Gibsons, missionaries to Taiwan, took the course as freshman in college and asked, “If we’re able to go, why not go?” It’s a scary question, but the Gibsons are so glad they asked it.
“I recommend every Christian take Perspectives,” Jackie said.
Check out perspectives.org for more information and to register soon!
Video Describing the Course
[googlevideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7015285992431636337[/googlevideo]
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Thanks for posting this, Kalie. It’s a great article. Anyone signing up yet?
Thank you, Kalie, for taking the time to post this.
I still have your Mission Frontiers magazine, “Rethinking Our Approach to Muslim Peoples” (Jul.-Aug. 2008) and today as I read through saw an advertisement for Perspectives. Last year, the only 2 Ohio locations were ridiculously close–not in the NW, not in Columbus, not south of there, but 2 classes right here in NE Ohio. Again, though the number of Ohio locations has broadened, this year we have the privilege of taking Perspectives in two very near towns. Why not take advantage of this opportunity? Ry, Di, Kalie, and I carpooled every week, and we sat with Eric Schoofs. Why not carpool? We used to grumble toward the end of the semester that we just wanted to skip, and of course the 3 hours drag sometimes, but the long-term beneficial knowledge learned far outweigh temporal bouts of impatience. Taking Perspectives not only helped me not be somewhat intimidated by Muslims but gave me a burden for reaching out to them. Though I haven’t had the chance to do so, the Lord has opened my eyes to the Muslims all around us, has provided literary equipment, and I sometimes pray for a Muslim to somehow check out our International Bible Study.
Learning what Perspectives has to offer from either current or former missionaries has given a deeper meaning to the Great Commission because we are face-to-face with people who have been living it; it makes the possibility of world missions (whether abroad or at home) realistic, practical, not simply theoretical.
I urge anyone who hasn’t taken this class to give it a try, even if you have the slightest amount of interest. It’ll completely shake up your worldview and challenge you as a follower of Christ. It’s painful at times, exciting at times, but how else you gonna grow?
For Ry and me, it meant rethinking our approach to materialism, for one. Our eyes have been opened, inviting room for compassion for the lost around the world and especially for our brothers & sisters in Christ who truly risk their lives for the sake of spreading the gospel.
Learning about world missions also enhances our experience of the missions prayer meeting, held every 3rd Saturday morning (8:30) at the Beeches’.