Intercultural Studies Program

                                      ISP 250: Introduction to Missions

                                      Instructor:  Edley J Moodley, PhD

                                                                           Fall 2005

TEXT:   

Required:

Moreau, Scott A., Gary B. McGee, and Gary Corwin.  Introducing World Missions.
             Baker Publishing Group, 2003.

Piper, John. Let the Nations Be Glad!: the Supremacy of God in Missions, 2^nd edition.               

            Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2003.

Winter, Ralph D. et al, Editors. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, 3^rd  
edition. Pasadena:  William  Carey Library Publishers, 1999.

Recommended:

Hawthorne, Steven C.  Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Study Guide.                 

                Pasadena:  William Carey Library Publishers, 1999.

UNIVERSITY MISSION STATEMENT:

Lee University seeks to provide education that integrates biblical truth as revealed in the Holy Scriptures with truth discovered through the study of the arts and sciences and in the practice of various professions.  A personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the controlling perspective from which the education enterprise is carried out.  The foundational purpose of all educational programs is to develop within the students knowledge, appreciation, understanding ability and skills which will prepare them for responsible living in the modern world.

“The School of Religion strongly supports and expects the use of gender inclusive language in written and oral communication.”

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the world mission of the church including its biblical and theological foundations, historical developments, cultural perspectives, and present practices.  

Prerequisites: None                                                                                  Credit Hours: 3

I.                PURPOSE
This course is intended to provide students with a basic understanding of the world mission of the church as it is presented on the Bible, understood theologically, developed historically and practiced by the church today.

II.          OBJECTIVES OF COURSE

A.     General Learning Objectives
This course seeks to:

1.      Introduce the students to a biblical perspective on the cross-cultural ministry of the church.

2.      Seeks to provide a theological understanding of the worldwide dimensions of the church's task.

3.      Survey the historical expansion of the Christian movement.

4.      Explore the cultural and anthropological dimensions of the spread of the     Christian movement.

5.      Relate world missions to the local church.

B.     Specific Behavioral Objectives
As a result of the activities and study in this course, the student should be able to:

1.      *Explain the essential missionary nature of the church.

2.      *Examine sources in the Bible which mandate the church's involvement in cross-cultural evangelism.

3.      *Demonstrate an understanding of the numerical dimensions of the church's unfinished missions task.

4.      *Identify significant individuals and occurrences in the historical development of missions.

5.      *Appraise the organization and function of Church of God World Missions.

III.    TOPICS TO BE COVERED

A.     Biblical Perspectives on World Missions

B.     Theological Foundations for Missions

C.     Historical Expansion of the Christian Faith

D.     Cross-Cultural Communication of the Gospel

E.      Strategies for World Evangelism

F.      The Status and Future of World Christianity

G.     Leadership Development for World Missions

H.     Organization/Operation of Church of God World Missions

I.        Local Churches and World Missions

J.       Resource Materials for Missiology

IV.   INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

A.     Formal Lectures

B.     Video and multi-media presentations

C.     Guest lecturers:  in-service and retired missionaries

D.     Student Presentations (Appendix B)

V.     RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS

A.     Regular attendance.  Too many unexplained absences will result in a lowering of your grade. Five or more absences will result in the loss of one letter grade. 

B.     Participation:  I expect that you will keep up with your readings and work

consistently throughout the semester.  A student who has come to class having

C.     Read and reflected on the assigned material will be able to offer significant contributions to the class discussions.  A student who sits through a whole semester and never participates in class discussion is not working at "A" level of work.

D.     I trust that you will take the time to pray for me as I endeavor to offer you my best with God's enablement as I covenant to pray for you.

VI.              EVALUATION

A.     Evaluation Activities

1.      Examinations (2 x 20%)                                     40%

2.      Book Reflections (3 x 10%)                                30%

3.      Dramatizations: Group Activity                       15%

4.   Missionary Interview                                             15%

B.     Grading Scale

A  = 94-100

A- = 90-93

B+= 87-89

B  = 83-86

B- = 80-82

C+ = 77-79

C   = 73-76

C-  = 70-72

D   = 60-69

Below 60 = F (fail)

NB.  Late submission of assignments will incur a penalty of 2% per school day.  Work submitted after ONE week of the due date will not be graded. 

VII.            STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Lee University is committed to the provision of reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities as defined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Students who think they may qualify for these accommodations should notify their instructor immediately.  Special services are provided through the Academic Support Program.

VIII.         ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

As a Christian community of scholarship, we at Lee University are committed to the principles of truth and honesty in the academic endeavor.  As faculty and students in this Christian community, we are called to present our academic work as an honest reflection of our abilities; we do not need to defraud members of the community by presenting others’ work as our own.  Therefore, academic dishonesty is handled with serious consequences for two fundamental reasons: it is stealing – taking something that is not ours; it is also lying – pretending to be something it is not.  In a Christian community, such pretense is not only unnecessary, it is also harmful to the individual and community as a whole.  Cheating should have no place at a campus where Christ is King because God desires us to be truthful with each other concerning our academic abilities.  Only with a truthful presentation of our knowledge can there be an honest evaluation of our abilities.  To such integrity, we as a Christian academic community are called.