CRC Webinar Series to Start

The Christian Reformed Church in North America is sponsoring a series of webinars on a range of ministry-related topics, ranging from leadership to Islam, starting later inSeptember and running through December.

Other topics for the fall series include a discussion on the need for word and deed ministry, becoming involved in local or worldwide missions, a description of and look at how well the church and others are meeting the Millennium Development Goals, and how do churches decide with whom to partner for programs or outreach efforts.

Offered by different agencies of the church, this the first time so many agencies and offices have joined to coordinate a webinar series. The webinars are free. They are hosted online, requiring participants to have an email address, access to the Internet, and a telephone.

Webinars are also interactive, meaning the listener/viewer can present questions to the one presenting the information.

"Sometimes this is done by typing [questions] in or, if it’s a small group, the presenter will open the phone lines for a phone discussion. It’s fun and interactive . . . almost like 'being there' in person," according to a press release about the series.

After registering for a webinar, participants will receive an email with a website link, a phone number, and an access code. When the time comes for the webinar to begin, the participant simply double-clicks on the website link and dials the phone number given in the original email. A voice will ask for the access code and then, after giving it, the participant is in.

"Everything the presenter wants you to see will appear on your screen, and everything you need to hear will come through the phone lines," says the press release. All of the webinars take place on Wednesdays.

Topics included are:

• Sept. 22 at noon (EST): "Challenging the Stereotypical Mindset of Missions"
• Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. (EST): "Ministry in Word and Deed"
  
• Oct. 20 at noon (EST): "What are Millennium Development Goals?"
  
• Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. (EST): "New Life Leadership Axioms"
  
• Nov. 17 at noon (EST): "Partnering Essentials"
  
• Dec. 1 at noon (EST): "God or Allah? Similarities and Differences Between Christianity and Islam"
  

For descriptions, registration information, and complete details visit www.crcna.org/MissionWebinars

Webinars for January 2011 and following will be posted soon! To get notified about this and other updates to the Global Mission network, subscribe to the weekly email summary.