PERSPECTIVES Locations throughout the USA and Canada
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Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Winter / Spring 2004January 5 – April 19
Course Description Perspectives is a biblical,
historical and cultural analysis of the impact of the world Christian movement,
with specific attention given to strategy and the imperative of bringing the
gospel to groups that have yet to initially receive it. The class is an independent study program
consisting of 15 contact sessions combined with a series of programmed reading
assignments. This innovative approach
to education draws on insights from a number of academic fields including those
in sociology, geography, history, philosophy, linguistics, anthropology, and
political science. Perspectives has been taken
by over 50,000 students in North America alone, with over 12,000 alumni in New
Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, and other countries. Many have used it to augment their degree
program by transferring these credits to their own college or university. For approximately 25 years, independent
study courses have been conducted in order to prepare students to understand
the concept of World Citizenship, so that, whether or not they pursue an
international career, they will discover the contribution they can make to
developing nations and the World Christian Movement. Many students have testified
that this course made a major impact on their life, affected decisions which
they made in the planning of their life work, and impacted their commitment to
God in a profound way. Course
Objectives
Perspectives is an introductory mission study course that:
- Explains the biblical rationale and
imperative for world evangelization.
- Traces the expansion of the Christian
movement across the world form the time of Christ to the present, and the task
yet to be accomplished.
- Identifies the unique problems and skills
involved in communicating the gospel cross-culturally.
- Explores new avenues and opportunities for
obedience to God’s imperative for involvement in world missions at home or
abroad.
- Provides the minimum necessary understanding
for effective participation in the complex tasks of world evangelization and
international development.
- Identifies the basic components necessary
for strategic and intelligent planning in the missionary task of the church.
- Provides a foundation for further study and
a framework for significant life-decisions.
Course History The
first “Perspectives” study program was launched in the summer of 1974 under the
direction of Dr. Ralph Winter, with the name of The Summer Institute of
International Studies. The classes were
held in Wheaton, IL. Visiting
professors from all over the United States were called upon to teach the nine
week session in international studies.
The Summer Institute of International Studies then offered a six week
intensive course every summer until 1977, first in Wheaton and later in
Boulder, Colorado. Since
1978, the Institute, now known as the “Perspectives Study Program (PSP)”, has
been based in Pasadena, California, on the campus of the US Center for World
Missions. In 1980 the PSP began to
offer its program to more students on an independent study basis coupled with
on-site supervising coordinators. Textbooks Ralph
D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, editors, Perspectives
on the World Christian Movement: A Reader, Pasadena, CA: William Carey
Library. Third edition, 1999. Steven
C. Hawthorne, Perspectives on the World
Christian Movement: A Study Guide, Pasadena, CA: William Carey
Library. Third edition, 1999. Course Requirements There
are 15 lessons with readings, quizzes, exams and an integrative project. Classes meet Monday evenings from 6:30pm until
9:30pm beginning January 5, 2004 through April 19, 2004. LEVELS Enrichment
Level – Complete key readings for each lesson and personal responses. Certificate
Level – Complete certificate readings, quizzes, exams, and the integrative
project. Students must achieve a
minimum of 75% to receive a certificate.
Students will typically spend 3-5 hours per week outside of class. Credit
Level – Complete all readings, quizzes, exams and the integrative project. Graduate students are required to demonstrate
a greater comprehension of course material on exams and projects. Undergraduates will spend 4-6 hours per week
and graduates will spend 6-8 hours per week outside of class.
The
quizzes,book, are provided in the study guide to follow weekly reading
assignments. Quizzes are also available
electronically (see http://www.perspectives.org/students/resources.html). The exams follow lessons 8 and 15 and are
take home but not “book”. They are
to be completed without aid of either textbooks or notes. A Bible may be used. The integrative project is due at lesson
15. See section below for additional
information. Criteria
for the project and exams vary for graduate, undergraduate and certificate
students. Grading Policy
Certificate
students are required to complete the course at a minimum grade of 75%. Integrative Project The
project objective is to design a strategic scenario for reaching an unreached
people. The project is arranged in six
parts, beginning week 9. Students are expected
to work in groups of two or three. Each
team will submit one paper. Complete
instructions will be made available under separate cover and will be
distributed no later than Lesson 9.
Additional information is available at http://www.perspectives.org/students/ip. Personal Responses
A
personal response page follows lessons 5, 8, 9, 11 and 14. These will not be graded, but are designed
to help the student integrate, apply and discuss what he/she is learning and
any questions the student may have. All
students should complete the personal responses, which are due the same week
the lessons are due. Academic Calendar Class
is scheduled every Monday evening beginning January 5, 2004 and ending April
19, 2004. Class begins promptly at 6:30
pm and will end promptly at 9:30 pm.
After
registration has been completed, a student needs approval to add or drop the
course. It must be requested in writing. Students may enroll for credit up to the
second week of class (January 19, 2004).
Certificate students can change their status to credit level up to the
fourth week of class (February 2, 2004).
Credit
students are permitted to withdraw from Perspectives
through the third week without a withdraw/failing (W/WF) designation. After the ninth week, withdrawing will leave
an “F” on the credit student’s record.
Between the third and ninth weeks, a withdrawing credit student will
receive either a “W” (withdrawal) or a “WF” (withdrawal failing). Tuition refunds will be based on refund
schedule below. Extensions Extensions will not be granted under normal
conditions. If an emergency occurs
which hinders a student from turning in all assignments and exams by the final
due date, the coordinator may grant an extension. Due to the timeframe the coordinator has to submit grades,
student must comply with the extension date; otherwise, he/she will receive a
failing grade. Extensions usually will
not be granted for more than two weeks.
The coordinator will determine if an extension may be granted based on
legitimacy of the request. Refund Schedule
The cost of books (Reader and Study Guide) and registration will not be
refunded. Weekly Agenda Various
speakers will lecture each week for up to two hours. There will be a break during which time refreshments will be served
and students can meet the speaker and ask questions. There will be a time of worship and prayer at the beginning of
the class time. There may be films and
special presentations on selected nights, in addition to the speaker. Task
force members and class intercessors will pray for each student individually on
a weekly basis for the duration of the course.
Students may make specific prayer requests to this group, anonymously if
desired. Speaker Biographies Short
bios will be listed here in the syllabus once the speaker list is established
and also on the Perspectives website “http://www.perspectives-stpaul.org/”. Audio Tapes A
limited number of tapes available for students who miss an evening session will
be available. Tapes can be signed out
for this purpose only and must be returned the following week. A deposit will be required to check out
tapes, which will be refunded upon their return. Weather Cancellations We
will cancel class only under the most severe of weather conditions. You can obtain cancellation information by
calling Grace Church Roseville at or by listening to KTIS 98.5 FM. Contacts Grace Church Roseville Dr. Herb Klem Professor of Record hklem Christine Pearson Perspectives Coordinator Phone CLPearson1 Bob Oehrig Pastor of Outreach and Missions Grace Church Roseville |
Revised: August 14,
2003 Page
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