BlairBedford, PA S19
Spring 2019
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Welcome to Perspectives Blair/Bedford Co., PA - Spring
2019
You are invited to join us for a unique
class of Christian study and discipleship that will leave you going, "Wow! I get it! And I get to be a part of it!"
Perspectives on the World Christian
Movement will give you fresh eyes to see God, His story, His world, and
His heart. Come learn how He wants to include YOU in His plans and
purposes to bring all nations to Himself!
This 15-week class is designed to equip the people of God for strategic participation
in His plan to reach all peoples, tribes, and nations. It
presents the biblical, historical,
cultural, and strategic aspects of fulfilling the Great Commission:
- Biblical Lessons (1-5): The
Word of God is revealed with striking clarity as Perspectives illuminates
God's unchanging promises as they unfold from Genesis to Revelation. See how it all fits together!
- Historical Lessons (6-9): Discover
your spiritual lineage as you learn Christian history is full of examples of the
immeasurable power of God as He makes His name known among the nations. See how He is weaving His epic story!
- Cultural Lessons (10-11): The
peoples of the world come alive as we eventually see, through Christ
Jesus, the expressions of the New Testament church thriving among every
nation, tribe, people, and language. See how He uses all of us to reveal His glory!
- Strategic Lessons (12-15): Find
your place in God's story. See the endless opportunities to help
complete the Great Commission!
Classes
are offered each Monday night from January through April and will include lectures from 15 different
live instructors (e.g. pastors, professors, ministry experts), interactive
learning experiences, and a great closing celebration. If you need to miss a class, you are welcome to attend a duplicate session in State College on Tuesday evenings. The weekly readings include selections from 170 articles
written by 150 authors such as John Piper, John Stott, William Carey, and more.
Homework assignments are specifically designed to engage every aspect of a
Christian’s life and encourage you in utilizing YOUR unique abilities to obey
the Great Commission both locally and globally.
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Enrollment options
Alumni state again and again how the course was worth the investment in time and resources! If you don't agree, we'll give you a refund!
Key Reading Level: Prepare for great speakers and their
material with light reading. This level requires about 1-2 hours of reading
each week with minimal written homework. Five "Personal
Reflections" assigned during the term will require about an hour each to
complete. COST $275.
Certificate Level: This is the recommended level for a much
richer experience. It involves weekly homework assignments, five
"Personal Reflections" and one research project due at the end of the
term. This level requires about 4 hours of work per week. COST $275.
Credit Level: Undergraduate
and graduate credit is available
through Trinity International and Excelsior University, which can be transferred to the school of your choice. Excelsior
University offers undergraduate college credit to high school students
who take Perspectives. COST $650 for high schoolers through Excelsior University, $675 for others through Trinity International University. Discounts are available for early registration by Dec. 1, multiple family members, church leaders, and more. Scholarships
are available for attendees through some area
churches. Contact Amy Keith or Terry Ruhl for additional information. Select CLASS PRICING tab on right for more details. PAY BEFORE DEC. 1 TO LOCK IN THE BEST RATE! Full refunds are available until Jan. 20 if you need to change your plans.
FIRST TWO NIGHTS FREE! Join us for the first two nights for free (January 7th and 14th). No commitment
is necessary; invite your friends! However, do please register using the "First Night Free" option under CLASS PRICING, far right side. This will help us plan seating, snacks, and materials. THANKS!
Contact Amy Keith with any questions on Facebook at "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement-Central PA" or text 814-327-7524.
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Instructor
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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 is revealed in His promise to Abraham. Explore God's purpose for the nations: blessing to the nations described.
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Instructor
Bob Sjogren
UnveilinGLORY, Mechanicsville VA
Bob Sjogren (pronounced show - gren) is the president of UNVEILINGLORY, a ministry awakening the Church to new awareness of God's glory in all areas of life, and to
seeing His glory go to all the world's peoples.
Bob has been mobilizing the Body of Christ to reveal God's greatest glory through reaching all ethnic groups with the gospel. He and his wife Debby have written homeschool Bible curricula. And in 2021, Bob launched a YouTube Channel called, "Maturing The Bride."
Bob and Debby live in Richmond, VA.
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Class Info
Date: Monday, January 7, 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
Shirley Innis
International Students, Inc., Stillwater OK
Shirley grew up in a Christian home and at the age of 12 dedicated her life for missionary service. After graduating from Cairn University (Philadelphia College of Bible). She and her husband served as directors with Word of Life Ministries in Ecuador for 17 years and have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. She has recently been certified to teach Dog and Cat Theology material for lessons 1 and 2 and share lesson 2 with her husband. She is on full-time staff with International Students, Inc. as a City Director. She teaches in English or Spanish.
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Class Info
Date: Monday, January 14, 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
Mimsie Robinson
Bethel Gospel Assembly Missions, New York NY
As the missions pastor of Bethel Gospel Assembly in New York City, Pastor Robinson has been involved in disciple-making efforts in India, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Venezuela, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and several islands in the West Indies. Through involvement with Evangelism Explosion International as a teacher/trainer, he has been able to help many believers become effective witnesses at home and abroad. His involvement with Perspectives includes serving as a class coordinator. In December 2019, he completed his Doctor of Missiology with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.
In 2009, Pastor Robinson helped plant Living Water Christian Center, a bilingual French and English congregation, affiliated with Bethel Gospel Assembly which serves the spiritual needs of the growing number of French-speaking West African immigrants in New York City.
Pastor Robinson and his wife, Beverly Lynn, reside in the Harlem community. They have two married adult children, Michelle and David, who are both followers of Christ and two grandsons, Samuel and Matthew.
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Class Info
Date: Monday, January 21, 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 with 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
Howard Sloan
Westminster Biblical Missions, Bedford PA
Howard is a "Missionary at Large" with Westminster Biblical Missions, training men for the ministry on various foreign fields. He has taught in Mombasa, Kenya and Cusco, Peru. He claims taking the Perspectives course "wrecked him" and does not see ministry the same. He has a wife Michele, and they have one son, Jacob. Lessons 1 and 4 are Howard's favorites. b
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Class Info
Date: Monday, January 28, 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
Matt Geiger
DiscipleMakers, State College PA
Matt attended Penn State and studied architectural engineering with a desire to apply his education in overseas missions. After he had worked for a few years in Washington, D.C. as an engineer, God opened the door to campus ministry with DiscipleMakers. Matt has served there for 12 years, equipping students to a life of ministry and casting vision for taking the good news of Jesus where it has never been preached—indeed to the uttermost parts of the world. He lives in State College with his wife and three children. b
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Class Info
Date: Monday, February 4, 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
Douglas Batson
Global Frontier Missions, Cross Junction VA
Douglas Batson is a retired Defense Department geographer. With award-winning research and publications, he was an expert on land tenure and international migration.
Also a National Certified Career Counselor, Doug is on the Board of Directors of Global Frontier Missions, which operates a missionary training school in Atlanta, GA. He has been a Perspectives coordinator, instructor, and Professor of Record in the DC area for 25 years. b
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Class Info
Date: Monday, February 11, 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 is comprised increasingly of non-Western missionaries.
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Instructor
Fanny Basta
7,000 Knees, Norristown PA
Fanny Basta has a Ph.D in Managerial Economics and served for more than 25 years planting churches in Italy. She also led the Latino Branch of WEC International for several years.
Fanny leads 7,000 Knees, a ministry that seeks to promote evangelism and transformation in the marketplace. She is a tentmaker who develops mission strategies and projects and train long and short term missionaries to the unreached. Fanny is the author of the book "The One Who Breaks Through".
Fanny has been married to Gianni Basta for more 30 years and, together with their children, Francesco, Melissa and Jonathan, live in Norristown, PA (USA).
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Class Info
Date: Monday, February 18, 2019
Time: 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM
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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
Daryl Cyrus
Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church, Martinsburg PA
Pastor Daryl Cyrus Jr. has been Youth & Young Adult Pastor at MGBC since 2015. Previously he served as pastoral intern at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C. and as youth intern at Forest Baptist Church in Forest, Va. He earned his bachelors in Biblical studies from Liberty and is working on his masters in divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His hometown is Suffolk, Va. b
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Class Info
Date: Monday, February 25, 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
John Pitterle
Advocates for the Unreached; Volunteer with Cafe 1040, State College PA
John is a Penn State grad and currently works at Penn State. John's family spent several months in South Africa and Namibia with YWAM. With the Assemblies of God, his family lived in Madagascar for four years as the Lord used them to help bring the story of Jesus (Book of Hope) to children and then to help start the first Malagasy study Bible. John has been on short-term trips to Ukraine (with YWAM), India (with Global Awakening), and Zambia twice (with Dynamis World Ministries). He is an author (http://AdvocatesForTheUnreached.com/ebook.pdf) and shares regarding the urgency to prioritize the unreached (http://AdvocatesForTheUnreached.com).
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Class Info
Date: Monday, March 4, 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
Ramy
State College PA
Ramy comes from a Christian family in the Middle East, but has lived in the U.S. for many years. He is in ministry in the Northeast, seeking to reach international students from the Middle East for Christ. b
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Class Info
Date: Monday, March 11, 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
Susan Patt
Frontier Ventures, Exton PA
Sue Patt has worked as a mobilizer for more than 40 years (since 1982) with Frontier Ventures, formerly the US Center for World Mission. She has served as a Perspectives Regional Director (13 years) and as the Perspectives National Program Director (7 years). Her current assignment is Chief Strategy Officer with FV. She has been developing deliberate friendships with Muslims since 1980, and Hindus since 2005. She is married to Fran Patt since 1986. They have 3 adult children and live in Exton, PA in the Philadelphia suburbs. b
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Class Info
Date: Monday, March 18, 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
Jim Hocking
Water for Good, Warsaw IN
Jim Hocking grew up in the Central African Republic as a "missionary kid", claiming he spoke French first, then the local language Sango and eventually English. Faye grew up in Ohio, and they met during their college years at Grace College in Winona Lake, IN. They married Dec. 31, 1976. They returned to CAR with 2 small children (Jay & Jenny) and had 2 more while there (Joel & John), all now grown & married, with 2 of their sons joining Jim part-time in the business. Jim & Faye served with Grace Brethren International Ministries for 20 years.
In 2004 Jim had the opportunity to purchase well-drilling equipment already in use in the CAR, so he founded Water for Good, a non-profit organization working to alleviate poverty from the village up in central Africa by empowering and equipping local people with sustainable transformational community development solutions. Water for Good works and trains central Africans to drill wells, rehab old wells along with other projects to improve communities. Over 100 central Africans and 15 Americans work for Water for Good.
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Class Info
Date: Monday, March 25, 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
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. b
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Class Info
Date: Monday, April 1, 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
Steve Sanford
Ethnos360, Sanford FL
My wife Sharon and I served as Church Planters with Ethnos360 from 1993 to 2005 among the Joti people of Venezuela. We returned to the U.S. in 2006 after Ethnos360 was forced to leave all church planting works by the Venezuelan government. We have been serving in mobilization for Ethnos360 in Pennsylvania since our return. In November 2023 we will be moving to our home office in Sanford, FL to assume the role of Ethnos360 CEO. b
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Class Info
Date: Monday, April 15, 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
Terry Ruhl
T Peoples Resource Network, Duncansville PA
Dr. Ruhl has filled many roles as a missions mobilizer while practicing as a full time family physician. He has served as a short term worker in Asia and Africa. He has devised missions curricula and taught in a number of locations. He was one of the founding board members of an innovative missions support network, focused on the T people. b
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Class Info
Date: Monday, April 22, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
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Instructor
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Class Info
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