Course Offers 'Perspective' on Missions
Christian Reformed World Missions will award up to six $200 scholarships to encourage qualified applicants to attend a Perspectives course, a 15-week mission's education program developed by the Frontier Ventures (formerly U.S. Center for World Mission).
Three scholarships from CRWM's Missions Education & Engagement Team (MEET) are available to qualified applicants. In addition, CRWM's Anti-Racism Team is offering three scholarships to qualified ethnic minority applicants.
The scholarships will pay most of the cost of the course, although the program costs more if a student wants to take it for college or seminary credit.
"The Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course offers an introduction to missions, including a biblical perspective on world evangelization, highlights of the expansion of the Christian movement, cultural factors in gospel communication and church growth, and missions’ strategies," says Gary Bekker, director of CRWM.
Frontier Ventures, a non-denominational, para-church ministry, developed the course over several years and offers the program to, and works with, churches, mission agencies, and campus ministries around the world.
Normally held for three hours one night per week, the program is run locally around the country by teams of volunteers, including Perspectives alumni who have been inspired to action by the course and want to encourage others to also "mobilize their community to God's global purposes," according to information about the course.
Different instructors from around the country come to teach the class, depending on their areas of expertise and experience.
Teaching formats vary each week depending on the instructor's personality. It is not uncommon to have, along with the teaching, small group discussions, short videos, testimonies, and question and answer sessions.
Classes for the course begin this month or inSeptember of this year. In California, there are seven locations for the course; Colorado has three locations, and there are five locations in Ontario. There is a course in New Jersey, Michigan, and Florida. There are other locations in Canada and the U.S. where the course will be offered.
The course is available in other formats, including online.
"Christian Reformed World Missions recommends Perspectives as a good introduction to missions and as a tried and true way to generate interest in the work of the Gospel around the world," says Bekker.
Scholarship applicants must be members or regular attenders of a CRCNA congregation and must demonstrate proof of enrollment in a Perspectives course. A pastoral recommendation and, following the course, a report on the scholarship recipient’s Perspectives experience are required.
To apply for a scholarship, go to CRWM's website on Perspectives and download a Scholarship Application for a Perspectives course, Pastoral Recommendation, and form to use for students when they report their overview and experience of taking the course. Contact information for CRWM personnel involved in the program is also available on that site.
More than100, 000 people in North America and over 30,000 people in other countries have taken the course. Every year, an average of 7,000 people attend the course.
The Perspectives course is available in many languages and countries throughout the world, with new ones developing each year.
"Perspectives is not so much a course, as it is a 'movement' involving tens of thousands of God's people throughout the world finding their niche in God's overall purpose to bless the nations," says the Perspectives website.
