Grand Rapids, MI S19
Spring 2019
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You know you were made for more.God has a world-sized role for every Christian in His global purpose... and that includes YOU! And whether you go to a distant country or stay at home is really just a secondary issue - the key thing is to discover God's vision for your life... and to do it! This course can help you discover how you fit into God's plan for the world... and that makes this course very valuable, and perhaps even crucial, for you. Because we're talking about your life, and making it count. Perspectives is not just a missions course for a select few - it's a discipleship course for us all, because we all have a part in God's plan to reach the nations. The Perspectives Course includes:- 15 dynamic instructors with hands-on experience
- Interactive learning experiences
- Weekly readings from outstanding mission scholars
- Assignments specifically designed to engage your life
- Emphasis on not just "going" but all aspects of global missions
Classes will be held on Wednesday nights on the southeast side of Grand Rapids at Madison Church, Square Campus. There are excellent weekly readings for each class by authors like John Piper, John Stott, William Carey and many more. Home assignments are designed to help you discover how you can utilize your unique abilities to obey the Great Commission both locally and globally. The first class is free... if you're unsure if you want to commit to the entire course, come check it out! BUT... we strongly encourage you to register for the course even if you're unsure, it will help us plan for you and make your first night even better!
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Registration & Orientation
Registration & Orientation
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Instructor
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Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
Dan Kroeze
Kuyper College, Wyoming MI
Since 1999, Dr. Dan Kroeze has been the professor of biblical studies at Kuyper College. He received is BA from Calvin College, his MDiv from Fuller Seminary, and his PhD from the University of Wisconsin. Dan is a former pastor, has led numerous student mission trips and has a true heart for the nations and for Perspectives. He has four children and plays and coaches basketball. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
Joseph Sindorf
Global Video Academy, Rockford MI
Joe has worked in more than 85 countries of the world as a filmmaker, photographer, writer trainer, and networker... finding and telling the stories of how God is using people and organizations to bring help and hope to a hurting world. His involvement with Perspectives started way back in 1991 when he was recruited to be the Director of Communications for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization in preparation for the second Lausanne Congress. Their office was in Pasadena, California, near the US Center for World Missions where he first took the Perspectives course. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
Michael Wittmer
Ada MI
Dr. Mike Wittmer is the professor of historical and systematic theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary since 1996. Prior to that, he taught for two years at Peoples University in Beijing, China, and continues to teach abroad in Thailand and Liberia. Mike received his BA from Cedarville University, two masters degrees from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and his PhD from Calvin. He has written six books, focusing on treasuring and applying the Gospel to life. He and his wife Julie have three children. Mike is an Ohio native and a demoralized fan of the Cleveland sports teams. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
George Beals
Holland MI
In 2014, George became the Director of Strategic Development for World Hope International. Before serving with World Hope, for over two decades George served his local church as the Pastor of Global Ministries. While serving as the missions pastor, his church was involved in sending their people short-term and long-term cross-culturally. George lead the church to strategize their part in fulfilling the Great Commission. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
Kurt Dillinger
Rockford MI
Kurt has been involved in ministry for over 30 years. He is the founder of LIFE International, which partners with Gospel Leaders to multiply life-giving ministries wherever abortion exists. He has traveled abroad extensively, speaking at conferences and networking with others who share his zeal for global evangelism facilitated through life-giving ministries. He and his wife Gail have been married for 37 years, and have three adult children and two granddaughters. He enjoys frisbee, farkel, riding his motorcycle, watercolor art, playing guitar and some occasional chainsaw therapy! b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
Gary Bekker
Kentwood MI
Retired after directing Raise Up Global Ministries, a unit of the Christian Reformed Church in North America forcused on nonformal education programing for pastors, school teachers, and small group leaders around the world. For 16 years he directed the Christian Reformed Church's international missions agency. He served previously on the faculties of Calvin Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and as a church planter and theological educator in the Philippines. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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, March 13, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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 20, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
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
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
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
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
Mary D. Brown
SowHope.org, Rockford MI
Mary Dailey Brown is the Founder and President of SowHope.Org, which is dedicated to inspiring women in the Developing World.
Over the past 30 years, Mary has visited and traveled to over 60 countries and been involved personally and vocationally with the poor. She has led over 125 short-term mission teams to over 30 countries. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
Bruce Huseby
Crossover Global, Grand Rapids MI
Have served in Pastoral Ministry for 46 years. 24 in Student Ministries in churches in Iowa, Michigan, Florida and Colorado. The past 22 years as Missions Pastor in Colorado and Michigan. Currently serving as Global Advisor for Crossover Global. Married for 43 years, 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. The passion of my life is to see people develop a Great Commission passion flowing from a Great Commandment heart. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
Charles Van Engen
Fuller Theological Seminary, Holland MI
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
Stephen Holman
Kenya Hope, Hudsonville MI
A second generation missionary, Steve has served in the nation of the Philippines as an urban team church planter for 18 years. After serving as a pastor in West Michigan for more than nine years, he returned to missions and served as a non-resident missionary to the persecuted church in closed countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, from 2008 to 2018.
For the past 3+ years, Steve has served as US Administrator for Kenya Hope, a ministry to rural communities in the Maasai region of Kenya. This has involved developing administrative systems for a rapidly growing organization.
In addition, his job includes developing and implementing a long term pastoral training strategy and church planting strategy for these communities. To further the goal, Steve works to mobilize churches in the United States to send teams to help build up these communities. b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 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
Kathleen Sindorf
Cornerstone University, Rockford MI
Kathleen Sindorf has spent decades covering missions internationally as a reporter and television producer, with award-winning documentaries and feature stories showing what God is doing in people's lives and in ends-of-the-earth locations. Now teaching full-time as a tenured professor of communication and media at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sindorf enjoys teaching and motivating people to find their calling and pursue the training for God to use them in mighty ways in His work around the world! b
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Class Info
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
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Instructor
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Class Info
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