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Cincinnati, OH S18
Spring 2018
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15 Challenging Topics | 15 World-Class Speakers | 17 Life-Changing Weeks
Welcome to the Spring 2018 Mason, OH Perspectives Class!
What is Perspectives? Perspectives on the World Christian Movement is an adventure of a lifetime that will give you a new and deeper understanding of God's story and His desire for your participation. Perspectives is a unique 15-week discipleship course which will change the way you view the world and the Bible. Whether you are single, married, a student, a homemaker, a professional or retired, Perspectives will bless and challenge your life and direction. Join others from churches across the Cincinnati area to look at the world through biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic perspectives as God unfolds his redemptive work on the world. Any follower of Christ is invited, and encouraged, to take this course! If you want to gain a deeper understanding of God’s purpose in the world, this course is for you. If you are seeking a deeper relationship with God and practical information that will challenge you to follow Jesus even closer, you will want to prayerfully consider joining this class. |
Each week class members will read from a collection of interesting and thought provoking articles written by a wide variety of Biblical scholars, historians, missiologists, and missions practitioners. Weekly class meetings will feature a new instructor every week with fresh insight, personal experiences, and relevant information for the current lesson. These instructors vary from professionals, pastors,professors, to leaders of respected Christian organizations. |
These 15 outstanding speakers will share from their experiences and teach on the Biblical, Historical, Cultural & Strategic perspectives of God's plan for the nations. Hear how God has been and continues to work throughout the world. Learn more about God's kingdom and His glory. Find out what your part is in this exciting movement to make Jesus' disciples from all nations.
Hear about significant global, stateside and local ministries having a significant impact in leveraging the reached to reach the unreached. Be refreshed as you hear story after story of how God is intersecting His power with man's gifting and the abilities He has entrusted to us. When? Wednesdays, 6:30 - 9:00 PM -- January 10, 2018 through May 9, 2018 NOTE: There will NOT be a class on Wednesday, March 28th, due to Easter Break. Where: Hope Church, 4934 Western Row Rd, Mason, OH 45040 What is the course cost? Prices for the course vary depending on the level at which you choose to take the course. The levels and prices are as follows: $250 Key Reading (audit) Level $250 Certificate Level $500 Undergraduate Credit $550 Graduate Credit Discounts? $25 Early Bird Discount! – Enroll before October 31st and receive a discount! Additional family members taking class together receive $20 off each! Alumni Pricing: No charge, but former Key Reading alumni can upgrade to Certificate Level for only $30. First Night Free: If you are curious about Perspectives, you can enroll to attend the orientation and first two lessons as "First night free". Still have questions? Browse the Perspectives website or feel free to contact Sharon Kinderman at skinderman for specific class information. "Perspectives helped me understand the heart of God for the nations as a part of the story of the ENTIRE Bible - not just the Great Commission. I think the class is a truly beneficial experience for every believer - a great opportunity to learn and to interact with new thoughts and ideas." ~ Eve Stipes 
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Registration & Orientation
Registration & Orientation
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Instructor
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Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
Wayne De Wet
One Plus God Ministries, Marion OH
Wayne de Wet and his family had the privilege to grow up in the lovely, and very diverse South Africa. Wayne had learned since childhood how to put his trust in God no matter what, and how precious time is to make a difference to God’s glory! Over the years Wayne gained a global perspective, through his studies and missions involvement in several African countries, Haiti, Jamaica, Papua Indonesia, Thailand and the Karen State of Myanmar. He does not only have a burning passion for God’s Word, but also a broken heart for the lost, that inspired him to start One Plus God Ministries in 2013 to continuously pursue mission mobilization. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
Luke Kuepfer
The Truth Made Simple, Prospect Heights IL
Luke Kuepfer is a keynote speaker, workshop leader, and co-author of Becoming a Leader Worth Following. Having founded and directed a non-profit in Southeast Asia, he now serves as president of the Reverb Network, a non-profit organization committed to growing missional leaders and starting serving leadership movements around the globe. Primarily focused on the business world in North America, Luke facilitates workshops on Serving Leadership, The Art of Listening, Employee Engagement, Teamwork, and Winning at Customer Service. He has a Master's degree in Leadership and has taught a class on Foundations of Management and Leadership at Colorado Christian University. As a leadership developer and life coach, Luke helps business and non-profit leaders understand how to maximize their God-given potential to lead and serve others. His newest venture in the experience economy integrates leadership development with high-mountain trekking adventures. You will find Luke online at LukeKuepfer.com, thetruthmadesimple.org, and ReverbNetwork.org. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
Rick Hudson
Fellowship International Mission, Westfield IN
Rick and Carol Hudson have a passion for serving the Lord in missions. They have spent their entire professional lives as missionaries. For 23 years, they served as church planters in Mexico; then in 2007, they transitioned to missions leadership roles. Currently, they serve with Fellowship International Mission.
In Rick's present role he serves as a spokesperson for the cause of missions; as a consultant for churches, mission committees, and individuals; as a developer/coach of future missionary personnel; and as a trainer for those embarking on mission service. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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).
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Instructor
Samya Johnson
Call of Love Ministries , Cincinnati OH
Samya was born into a Christian family in Beirut, Lebanon. She accepted Christ at age six.
Samya lived in three Middle Eastern countries serving among Muslims before coming to the US with her family in 1999. She and her husband Mike founded Call of Love Ministries in 2001. She hosts English TV and radio programs. She continues to author publications and teach seminars that equip believers to reach Muslims. Samya’s 25+ years of Islamic research, writing, teaching, and working among Muslims bring a fresh and enthusiastic outlook about evangelism to Muslims. Samya resides with her family in Ohio. www.calloflove.org | samya@calloflove.org | 832-220-4040
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
Todd Ahrend
The Traveling Team, Fayetteville AR
Todd Ahrend graduated from Northeastern State University, has a Masters from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctorate from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
He is the founder and international Director of The Traveling Team, a national missions mobilization movement. He and his wife, Jessica, have spent almost two decades traveling both nation-wide and abroad, speaking to thousands of people about involvement in world evangelization. Todd has exposure in over sixty countries and has lived in the Middle East. He is the author of The Abrahamic Revolution and In This Generation. Todd and Jessica have six children: Camden, Brody, Axel, Noble, Quincy and Cruz!
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
Estera Pirosca Escobar
Culture Bound, Mt Juliet TN
As a former international student from Romania, with a career in international student ministry (ISM) spanning over 15 years, Estera brings contagious enthusiasm and passion to everything she does. Estera is a gifted writer and speaker, a sought-after Perspectives instructor and is also involved in various cross-cultural training projects. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Intercultural Education from Western Seminary. Estera is married to Francisco, a global nomad originally from Chile, and they have a beautiful daughter, Esmeralda. They live in Nashville, Tennessee. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
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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. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
Barbara Yandell
Hope for the Nations, Round Rock TX
President Hope for the Nations, director of Engage Course and teacher at Horizons International, ordained minister and board member of the Alliance of Reformed Churches, Interserve USA, founder of Legacy Muslim Ministry conference. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
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Nathan J'Diim
TOAG/Launch Internship and Frontiers, Chandler AZ
Nathan J'Diim (pen name) is the Founder of TOAG and (semi-retired) Consultant, Instructor and Coach for Frontiers (www.FrontiersUSA.org). Launch (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. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
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Instructor
Crescent Project, Columbus IN
My missions interest was birthed in college. During my
senior year I took Perspectives and it greatly affected my life.
I went into missions mobilization for a few years. I also
participated in two different ethnographic research trips in
the Muslim world for the purposes of church planting. My
family and I served 10 years in Kazakhstan, Central Asia on a
church planting team. Currently I am on staff with Crescent
Project, a ministry that reaches out to Muslims throughout
North America.
I am married to Maria and we have four children. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
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David Smith
Fairhaven Church, Dayton OH
David and his lovely wife Kathy were born and raised in Southeast Asia: David in Indonesia, where he learned Indonesian as his first language, and Kathy in Cambodia.
David travels extensively teaching pastors and missionaries overseas. As a gifted teacher and visionary leader, you will quickly come to appreciate David’s warm, relational style, his humor and his wisdom. He has been a Perspective speaker since 2011. He is the lead pastor at Fairhaven Church in Centerville, Ohio.
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
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Eric Black
Lagro IN
Using a team-teaching approach modeled in their work throughout the developing world, Eric and Johnson are Perspectives alumni and passionate promoters.
Eric combines a background in business and entrepreneurship with a contagious passion for missions. Johnson was a long-term church planter among working classes in an Asian urban setting shaping his approach to discipleship and business as mission. They have worked individually and together with teams in over 20 nations, most with restricted access. Currently they focus on training near-culture disciple-makers to multiply workers among least-reached peoples.
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
David Kaufmann
City Church Network, Nashville TN
David Kaufmann is the lead pastor of City Church Network. He is married to Rebekah, his high-school sweetheart, and has 4 amazing and wonderful children (William, Gracie, Belle, and Noah). His heart for church planting comes from over 10 years of prayer, experience, and study in the ministry. He first began as youth pastor in Huntsville, AL and then moved on to e3 Partners to become the International Director for Students. After traveling to 15 different countries spanning four years and training international leaders, David received a call to serve as a pastor with Lighthouse Christian Fellowship in Antioch, TN.
David planted City Church of Woodbine five years ago with a vision to birth a church planting movement in Nashville, TN that would successfully spread the gospel among all refugee and immigrant communities in the city. David’s hope is that someday Nashville will be known as a light unto the nations (Isaiah 49:6).
David is now leading a team of 9 Missionary families to plant churches among the most unreached people groups in Nashville, TN. In addition, he helps train church planters across the United States and India. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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Instructor
Ken Shirkey
Gateway Center for World Mission, Versailles KY
Twenty six years in mission with emphasis on mission mobilization, training church leaders in nations, missionary care and discipleship:
Formerly with U.S.Center for World Mission regional ministries
Currently Director Gateway CWM working in Brazil, Haiti and Uganda and with churches in US. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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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.
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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.
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
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