Introduces students to missional church planting, emphasizing theological and practical foundations. Students explore the Gospel, the Mission of God, and the Church, analyzing their role in forming missional congregations. The course covers initial church planting steps, including contextual analysis, vision casting, and community engagement, using biblical, historical, and contemporary case studies to evaluate church planting models and their alignment with missional theology. Students assess personal readiness for church planting through reflective exercises, focusing on spiritual, emotional, and practical preparedness. Learning activities include weekly readings from scripture and theological texts, with quizzes testing recall of key concepts. Class discussions help students explain theological foundations and connect them to real-world scenarios. Students apply missional principles by analyzing a church planting model and proposing contextual adaptations for their own context. A group project involves comparing two models, examining their theological and practical elements for a report or presentation. A reflective essay evaluates personal readiness using a self-assessment tool. Students create a church planting proposal, outlining vision, mission, and steps for a missional church. Assessments include quizzes for recall, discussion participation for comprehension, case study analysis for application, group project for analysis, a reflective essay for evaluation, a church planting proposal for creation, and class participation for engagement and critical thinking.
This course addresses the needs of students aspiring to engage in church planting by providing a robust theological foundation and practical tools for missional ministry. It equips students with the knowledge to understand the interplay of the Gospel, the Mission of God, and the Church, fostering confidence in applying these principles to diverse cultural contexts. Through reflective exercises and self-assessments, students gain insight into their personal readiness, addressing emotional and spiritual needs for ministry preparation. Collaborative activities and case studies meet the need for practical experience, enabling students to develop skills in critical thinking, teamwork, and strategic planning. By engaging with real-world examples, students build cultural sensitivity and adaptability, preparing them to serve effectively in varied communities.
The course is vital in today’s rapidly changing cultural and religious landscape, where traditional church models may not resonate with diverse or unchurched populations. It equips students to plant missional churches that embody the transformative power of the Gospel and align with God’s mission to reach all people. By grounding church planting in theological principles, the course ensures that students prioritize spiritual depth alongside practical strategies, fostering sustainable and impactful ministry. As communities increasingly seek authentic, contextually relevant expressions of faith, this course empowers students to innovate and lead, addressing the urgent need for new congregations that engage contemporary challenges with theological integrity and cultural relevance.
The course embodies a biblically-based approach by grounding missional church planting in scriptural foundations, exploring the Gospel, Mission of God, and the Church through weekly scripture readings and theological texts. Students analyze biblical case studies, connect theology to practice in discussions, and align planting models with missional theology in proposals, ensuring practices reflect the Bible's cultural contexts and inform ministry implications for spiritual depth and sustainable congregations.
This course is missionally-driven, focusing on joining God's mission by emphasizing the missio Dei in forming congregations that transform communities. Through exploring the Gospel's role, vision casting, and community engagement, students discern God's work via case studies and proposals, applying principles to real-world scenarios. Reflective exercises foster personal alignment with divine mission, equipping believers for impactful ministry in diverse settings.
The course is contextually-informed by incorporating cultural research through contextual analysis and demographic insights in church planting steps. Students adapt models to local contexts via case studies, proposals outlining vision and engagement tailored to communities, and group projects comparing approaches. This ensures missional strategies are informed by sociocultural data, enhancing effective implementation in varied environments.
Interculturally-focused, the course celebrates cultural diversity by fostering culturally-appropriate faith expressions in missional planting. Students analyze models in diverse contexts, build cultural sensitivity through case studies and collaborative activities, and propose adaptations for their own cultural groups. This equips them to incarnate the Gospel authentically, addressing unchurched populations with relevance and promoting inclusive ministry across cultures.
Practically-minded, the course prioritizes skill development for missional ministry through practical tools like vision casting, community engagement, and strategic planning in proposals and projects. Students apply principles in case analyses, group comparisons of models, and self-assessments, enhancing personal giftedness and effectiveness. This bridges theory to real-world application, preparing for sustainable church planting.
The course promotes experiential transformation by integrating field-oriented learning through reflective exercises, self-assessments, and collaborative projects that interpret missional practices biblically and theologically. Students engage in discussions, case studies, and proposals reflecting on personal readiness and real-world applications, fostering ministry skills via community reflection and hands-on adaptation of concepts for transformative impact.
