Evangelism and Leadership Course Descriptions

Terms

EVAN: Evangelism
BITH: Bible and Theology
CFM: Christian Formation and Ministry  

EVAN 526 - Gospel: Theological Perspectives on Evangelism and Renewal. Examines the gospel as good news of God's inaugurated kingdom, with a focus on the centrality of Jesus' death and resurrection as interpretive center. Investigates the dynamic of the spread of this good news throughout Scripture and history. Explores more recent movements of renewal and revival in relation to issues of evangelism and social transformation. (4 credit hours)

EVAN 534 - Apologetics in Modern and Emerging Culture Contexts. Examines apologetics as the study and practice of establishing the plausibility of the Christian faith within particular cultures and contexts. Explores various philosophical and cultural frameworks for apologetics and then applies them to modernist, postmodern, multi-ethnic and global contexts and questions. (2 credit hours)

EVAN 542 - Church: Movements and Models. Explores different paradigms and models of church, paying special attention to the most recent emerging missional movements and their characteristics, impact and trajectory. Includes field trip visits and guest lecturers representing various existing models of churches and ministries. Assesses ministries using a number of different evaluative tools that are widely used. (4 credit hours)

EVAN 545 - Culture: Emerging and Global. Explores the shape of ministry and evangelism in postmodern, post-Christendom and globalizing cultures. Examines popular culture in the U.S. as a key context for ministry and a critical influence around the world. Reframes evangelism, apologetics, preaching, healing, and discipleship in relation to the significant cultural shifts that are occurring. (4 credit hours)

EVAN 548 - Evangelism and the Local Church. Explores the theology, strategies, practice, and leadership sty les associated with implementing evangelism through a variety of ecclesiological traditions and local church settings. (4 credit hours)

EVAN 558 - Personal Development and Leadership. Explores dimensions of personal leadership development and evangelistic leadership competencies. Overviews Biblical foundations and spiritual disciplines for effective and God centered leadership. Uses various personality, temperament and assessment tools and examines developmental perspectives on leadership over the lifespan. (4 credit hours)

EVAN 559 - Organizational and Change Leadership. Explores models and principles of change leadership, leading organizations, building teams, handling conflict, and fostering entrepreneurial environments. Examines the leadership literature on these issues. Utilizes case studies and group experiences. (4 credit hours)

EVAN 573 - Evangelism Research Methods. Equips students with the rationale and methodology of qualitative research in cultural contexts, with an emphasis on the application of qualitative methods to a specific context through research projects. (2 credit hours)

EVAN 691 - Ministry Practicum. Provides practical, guided ministry experience in which students serve under supervision with regular interaction and instruction in the area of ministry. Graded pass/fail. (2 credit hours)

EVAN 694 - C.S. Lewis: Apologist of the Head and Heart. Surveys the first rate Christian literary scholar's pilgrimage to faith exploring the matters of the heart that lead him toward Christ as well as the intellectual barriers to faith he needed to resolve before he fully committed. C.S. Lewis was arguably one of the greatest integrators of faith and learning of the last century. The course will sample a wide range of readings from the eleven literary genres in which Lewis wrote in order to glean insights for evangelism from each. At the end of the course the student should be very familiar with Lewis’s writing, central ideas, effective approach, and persuasive ability to appeal to issues of the head and heart in nurturing another toward Christ. (2 credit hours)

EVAN 695Independent Study. (1 to 4 credit hours)

EVAN 696 - Internship. Graded pass/fail. (2 or 4 credit hours)

EVAN 698 - Applied Thesis/Thesis. (2 or 4 credit hours)

BITH 565, 566, or 576: Students have three options for fulfilling their Biblical and Theological Studies Requirement:

  • BITH 565 - Christian Theology
  • BITH 566 - Biblical Interpretation
  • BITH 576 - History of Christianity to 1900
  • BITH 564 - Principles of Biblical Interpretation is also an option for those with a background in NT Greek. Each class is four credits, and normally two of the courses are offered every semester. There is also the option of taking the BITH course in an intensive format during the summer and January.