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Bay Village, OH S17    Spring 2017
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Northeast Ohio Followers of Christ, join us for a life-changing journey in one of three locations/nights:

·         Monday evenings – Cornerstone Community Church, Mayfield Heights
·         Tuesday evenings – The Chapel in Sandusky
·         Wednesday evenings – Bay Presbyterian Church, Bay Village

There are few things in life that truly leave a lasting impact. The Perspectives Course has stood the test of time and has produced thousands of changed Christians; many of whom have gained a new perspective of what God's plan is for the world and how they fit into that plan. This is not just another Bible class; it is a spiritual adventure that leaves you dissatisfied with business as usual and hungry for more of God.

 Ever since the beginning of creation, God has been on a mission to draw people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to Himself. "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" is a 15-week discipleship course designed to help reveal God's redemptive plan for all of mankind and where you fit into His story. From Genesis to the prophets, Jesus Christ to the early church, and Constantine to today, you will see how God has been moving, how the global Church has responded, and what the greatest needs in world evangelization remain today. This isn’t a class about missions, but a course on how every believer can be intimately woven into the story of God using His people to be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth.

 THE COURSE

The 15-week class is divided into 4 units (Biblical, Historical, Cultural, and Strategic) which investigates how God has, is, and will continue to work to make His great name known among the nations. Each unit provides a new lens in which students will continually see the common theme of God's heart for His people. The most unique aspect of the course is the diversity and quality of the instructors. A new instructor every week keeps the course fresh and exciting as you can expect at any given week to hear from Biblical scholars, missionaries, pastors, professors, and mobilizers - all who bring a wealth of experience and passion to each lesson!

 WHEN & WHERE:

Every week from 6:30 to 9:00 PM starting week of January 16- May 15 (two week breaks)

Monday Nights
Eastside
Cornerstone Community Church
1400 Lander Road
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124

 Tuesday Nights

West of Cleveland
The Chapel in Sandusky
4444 Galloway Road
Sandusky, OH 44870

Wednesday Nights

Westside
Bay Presbyterian Church
25415 Lake Road
Bay Village, OH 44140


ENROLLMENT & TUITION:
Key Reading Level - $200* (less $40 class discount = $160)
  • Reading: 1-3 hrs/week
  • Homework: None
  • Personal Reflections: 4 short written responses
  • Project: None
  • Exams: None

Certificate Level - $200* (less $40 class discount = $160)

  • Reading: 2-4 hrs/week
  • Homework: 1-2 hrs/week
  • Personal Reflections: 5 short written responses
  • Project: 1 integrative project due at the end of the course
  • Exams: None
Credit Level - $500* (less $40 class discount = $460)
3 semester credit hours given through Trinity
(for homeschoolers, high school and college students - check with your university or institution for qualification)
  • Reading: 2-5 hrs/week
  • Homework: 1-2 hrs/week
  • Personal Reflections: 5 short written responses
  • Project: 1 integrative project due at the end of the course
  • Exams: 1 Midterm Exam and 1 Final Exam

 *Register by 12/31/2016 and receive a $25 early-bird discount! See registration for other available discounts.

If you are a follower of Christ, then this course if for you! Come join in and be transformed through this Perspectives course; grow deeper in your understanding of God's love and purpose for His people. If you are still on the fence, please register and come visit us during our first two lessons for free!

Please contact us for more information or questions:

Debbie Lancione: Eastside       330-606-7487
Pat Rockwell:  Sandusky          419-627-0208
 

Greg Davis:  Westside             440-409-3771

Class Info

Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

Location: Bay Village, OH Bay Presbyterian Church 25415 Lake Road Bay Village OH 44140

Contact: Greg Davis

440-409-3771

 
    • Instructor


    • Lesson 1

      The Living God is a Missionary God

      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

      John Murtha

      wec, international, Bay Village OH

      John and his wife, Marie, have served as missionaries with Worldwide Evangelization for Christ(WEC)since 1984. They lived and ministered in Thailand where John had been a medic during the Vietnam War. They were involved in evangelism, leadership training, Church planting, and prison ministry. They recently served as the USA Directors of WEC (wec-usa.org) at the American sending base in Philadelphia. Currently, they are involved in numerous discipleship programs in the States and overseas. John hosts a weekly radio show 89.1FM (www.wnzn.org) featuring in depth Bible study, apologetics, and interviews with guests from a wide variety of ministries and outreaches. John and Marie have been blessed with four adult children and eight grandchildren.

      b

    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • Lesson 2

      The Story of His Glory

      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

      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.

      b

    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • 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

      Jeremy Peters

      Fairview Park OH



      b

    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • 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

      John Zumwalt

      Outrageous Love, Choctaw OK

      John Zumwalt is the Cross Cultural Coach for the innovative organization, Outrageous Love. After serving as a missionary among the unreached Minnan he returned to America and for over 22 years served as the founder and Director of the Missionary Training Institute, Beautiful Feet Boot Camp. He has trained over 300 Career Missionaries. He has a Doctorate of Divinity from International University for Graduate Studies. John has authored the book, Passion for the Heart of God and travels widely, preaching and holding seminars, raising up activist to go to the ends of the earth. John and his wife, Jamie, also pastor a church in a “red light district” of Oklahoma City. They have five children, Jessica, Josiah, Jael, Jewel and James.

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    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • Lesson 4

      Mandate for the Nations

      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

      James Cha

      Crescent Project, Leesburg VA

      Rev. James Cha was born in Korea, but grew up here in the US. He studied electrical engineering at Cornell University, and worked ten years as an engineer. In 2000 he and his wife, Faith, took their 3 kids to Central Asia, where they served ten years as church planting missionaries with Pioneers. They are now back in the US reaching out to the Muslims in the Washington, DC area. James & Faith are Washington DC Area Coordinators for Crescent Project. They also direct ESL ministry in Leesburg, VA. They have three adult children and one grandchild. James recently published a book about their missions journey - Fear Not: Living a Life of No Regrets. Available on amazon.

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    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • 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

      Jay Halley

      The Chapel, Sandusky OH

      Pastor Jay Halley joined the Sandusky/Norwalk Chapel in 2012 after 23 years with The Chapel in Akron, Ohio. His primary responsibilities are to teach God's Word in various settings and to elevate missional awareness (the what), understanding (the why) and participation (the how) at personal, local and cross-cultural levels. Jay's local and global mission experiences have added to his passion to sharpen the local church's external focus. He is married to Annette and they have three children: Daniel, Matthew, Anna. When not hanging with them he enjoys reading with a cup of coffee or cycling on country roads.

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    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • 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

      Jamie Zumwalt

      Outrageous Love, Oklahoma City OK

      Jamie Zumwalt is the Founder and President of Outrageous Love, an organization that starts Communities of Hope among marginalized peoples. Jamie and her husband, John, served as missionaries in Taiwan among the Hakka and Taiwanese. For 22 years, John and Jamie have been training and sending missionaries out to plant the church among the unreached. She now pastors and a leads a coffee house, church community called Joe's Addiction in a "red light" district of Oklahoma City, doing life together with the poor. She has authored two books: Simple Obsession: Enjoying the Tender Heart of God and Beloved Chaos: moving from religion to Love in a red light district. Jamie travels widely, teaching and inviting more people to plant Communities of Hope. She and John have five children and one grand daughter.

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    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • Lesson 6

      The Expansion of the Christian Movement

      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

      Chris Hardy

      Missions and Outreach, Bay Village OH

      Worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry for over 20 years in sales, marketing, management and corporate training. Provided motivational speaking and training for corporations and public organizations. Currently serving as Director of Outreach at Bay Presbyterian Church in Bay Village Ohio.

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    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • 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

      Carol Davis

      LeafLine Initiatives, Moreno Valley CA

      As co-founder of Global Spectrum and Executive Director of LeafLine Initiatives, Carol pioneers pathways to the future, which keep her on "the grow" and usually in hot water. She is a sought after speaker for her futuristic perspectives and strategic insights. Carol can often be found presenting in Perspectives classes around the world. Having served on church staffs for nearly 30 years, and now as a consultant, she continues to catalyze new initiatives; consults and mentors pastors, marketplace professionals, global strategists, field teams and their organizations, and the next generation. When she's not working, she's lovin' on her grandkids

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    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • 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

      Dave Carroll

      Revolutionary Love Ministries, Englewood OH

      Dave is the founder of Revolutionary Love Ministries, with a passion to see many in Uganda find life, healing and freedom through a life-transforming understanding of the love of the Father through Jesus Christ. Apart from a three-year house church planting stint in Cleveland, Dave has served in Uganda since 1997, where he has worked in pastoral ministry and discipleship at a large orphanage, established a training centre to mobilize and equip Ugandans for cross-cultural ministry, equipped church leaders, and mentored university students and young adults. Dave and his wife, Jen, along with their four children, love to open their home to share their lives with people who are hungry for love. He has authored two books: The Father’s Heart: His Delight, Your Destiny, and a children’s book, Designed by Father God.

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    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • 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

      Eileen Wilson

      , Brook Park OH



      b

    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, April 5, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • 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

      Charles White

      Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor MI

      Chuck White has taught the life of Jesus to Islamic studies majors in Nigeria, Perspectives to students in the Philippines, Bible stories to teachers in India, evangelism to physicians in Mexico, and hermeneutics to pastors in Iraq. He is professor of Christian Thought and History at Spring Arbor University where he teaches Perspectives as a regular college class.

      b

    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • 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

      Bobby

      HBI Ministries International, Broken Arrow OK

      Dr. Paul Gupta is a missionary statesman who has served the nation of India in building transformational leaders to disciple the nation. He serves as the Chairman and President of Hindustan Bible Institute & College, India and the President of HBI Global Partners in the USA. He has served as a national missionary in mobilizing and envisioning the church in India and around the world. Dr. Gupta completed his Master of Divinity in 1980 from Talbot Seminary, and his Master of Theology and Ph.D in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Seminary, in 1992 In 1985 he pioneered a church planting movement called the Indian National Evangelical Church (INEC) that currently has 844 indigenous pastors who have planted 10,118 churches in 23 states of India and in Nepal. In 1987 Paul enabled a movement called "the Council on National Service" (CONS) that is committed to discipling the whole nation by envision, mobilizing and equipping the Church to disciple India. In 1985 India had less than 114,000 and after envisioning and mobilizing the local churches with a strategy of saturation church planting, it is estimated that India has over 750,000 churches presently. Paul Gupta has been honoured as the Alumnus of the year for 2005 by Fuller Seminary, California, USA In March 2006, Dr. Paul Gupta co-authored a book entitled, “Breaking Tradition to accomplish vision” with Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter. He has co-authored a series of books titled "Unfinished Task" for the states of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. In addition to Dr.Gupta’s teaching at HBI & College, he regularly teaches for the U.S. center for World Missions (Venture Missions) in their perspective courses; and the Haggai Institute of leadership development. Bobby and Linnet Gupta are married for 41 years and are blessed with three children.

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    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • Lesson 14

      Pioneer Church Planting

      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

      Greg Mason

      Frontiers/World Outreach, Lakewood OH



      b

    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • 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

      Richard Mendola

      International Friendships, Upper Arlington OH

      Rich was born in Buffalo, NY, the grandson of immigrants from Italy who settled in Western, NY. His mother and father were both raised in the Italian section of the city. Although he was raised in a religious family who attended church, he did not personally know Christ until he was 17 years old. Prior to that, the death of his father at age 13 triggered a search for meaning and truth. This eventually led to studying the Bible, where he discovered that the true purpose of life was to worship and serve God. Through reading the New Testament he learned that Jesus Christ made it possible to come to God because of His sacrificial death for sins. Immediately upon coming to know Jesus, Rich had the strong desire to let others know the good news. Rich attended Colgate University in New York State where he majored in Biology and minored in Education and Philosophy and Religion. After his graduation, he had the first opportunity to pastor and was called to serve a rural congregation . At the same time he served on the Dean’s staff at Colgate University as the Director of Housing. In addition, he studied for a Master’s degree in counseling. In 1979 Rich and Janet attended.the Urbana Mission Conference. There Rich sensed a call to full time cross-cultural ministry. In 1980 he began to work full-time with international students in Buffalo, NY. At the same time, Janet attended medical school at SUNY Buffalo. In 1987 they moved to Athens, Ohio to open a new ministry to international students while Janet fulfilled her obligation to the National Health Service Corp – a program placing physicians in shortage areas. In 1991, Rich and Janet moved to Columbus, Ohio to work with International Friendships. Since 1998 he has served as the Executive Director. He also leads Bible studies and does 1-1 discipleship with students. He has written several Bible studies for internationals. He has served as the Chairperson for the Association of Christians Ministering to Internationals. Rich has also helped to plant two churches. He currently serves as lead pastor for All Nations Christian Fellowship. During Rich’s 29 years of service among internationals hundreds have come to know Jesus and many have returned as effective witnesses of Jesus among their own people. The kingdom of God is advancing among Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and atheists because of the ministry to internationals. Jesus can share many wonderful and dramatic stories of God’s work among internationals. Rich is a regular speaker at missions conferences, evangelistic outreaches, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement and is a lecturer at Vineyard Leadership Institute. Rich and Janet have 6 children: Grace, Danielle, Hope, Philip, Melody, and Paul. Rich’s interests are: Evangelism, Discipleship, trips, chess, and hats. Rich’s spiritual gifts are leadership, exhortation, and evangelism.

      b

    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

    • Celebration

      Celebration Dinner

      Celebration

    • Instructor

    • Class Info

      Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2017

      Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

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