Course Descriptions (School of Intercultural Studies)

COURSES OF STUDY 

In any given quarter, courses will be offered from among the following, depending on the availability of faculty and the composition of the student body. Course offerings and course descriptions are subject to change through normal academic processes.

The courses are numbered according to the following guidelines:

  • MB: Behavioral Sciences
  • MC: Church Growth
  • MD: Holistic Ministries
  • ME: Communication
  • MH: Mission History
  • MI: Mission Integration
  • MK: Korean Mission
  • ML: Leadership Training
  • MM: Ministry
  • MN: Urban Mission
  • MO: Spiritual Dynamics
  • MP: Contemporary Culture
  • MR: Religions
  • MT: Mission Theology

The 500-level courses are for students in the MA programs, and are open to students in any program. Students in the ThM in Missiology program register for courses at the 600 level. The 700-level courses are for students in the Doctor of Missiology program. The 800-level courses are for Ph.D. students only. Most courses listed at the 500 level are also available at the 600 level for ThM students.

Abbreviations at the end of the course description indicate whether the course meets one or more of the following:

  • School of Intercultural Studies core competency course in the MA in Crosscultural Studies (CSCC)
  • School of Intercultural Studies core competency course in the MA in Intercultural Studies (ISCC)
  • School of Intercultural Studies optional course to meet the research requirement in the MA ICS or ThM Miss programs (ISRR)
  • School of Theology MDiv core requirements, such as MIN3 or MIN8
  • School of Theology MA Globalization requirement (GLBL)

School of Intercultural Studies Faculty 

  • J. Robert Clinton, Professor of Leadership 
  • Sherwood G. Lingenfelter, Professor of Anthropology 
  • Bryant L. Myers, Professor of International Development 
  • R. Daniel Shaw, Professor of Anthropology and Translation 
  • Charles E. Van Engen, Arthur F. Glasser Professor of Biblical Theology of Mission 
  • Edmund Gibbs, Senior Professor of Church Growth 
  • Dean S. Gilliland, Senior Professor of Contextualized Theology and African Studies 
  • Charles H. Kraft, Senior Professor of Anthropology and Intercultural Communication 
  • Paul E. Pierson, Senior Professor of History of Mission and Latin American Studies 
  • Wilbert R. Shenk, Senior Professor of Mission History and Contemporary Culture 
  • Viggo B. Sogaard, Senior Professor of Communication 
  • J. Dudley Woodberry, Senior Professor of Islamic Studies 
  • Martin Accad, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies 
  • Ryan K. Bolger, Associate Professor of Church in Contemporary Culture 
  • Betty Sue Brewster, Associate Professor of Language and Culture Learning 
  • David D. Bundy, Associate Professor of History 
  • Donna R. Downes, Associate Professor of Leadership 
  • Jehu J Hanciles, Associate Professor of the History of Christianity and Globalization 
  • Roberta R. King, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology and Communication 
  • C. Douglas McConnell, Associate Professor of Leadership 
  • Timothy Kiho Park, Associate Professor of Asian Mission 
  • Judith Tiersma Watson, Associate Professor of Urban Mission 
  • Hoover Wong, Associate Professor Emeritus of Chinese Studies 
  • Robert E. Freeman, Assistant Professor of Distance Learning 
  • Elizabeth L. Glanville, Assistant Professor of Leadership 
  • Mark Hopkins, Assistant Professor of Leadership 
  • Evelyne Reisacher, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies 
  • Desiree Segura-April, Assistant Professor of Children at Risk 
  • Shelley Trebesch, Assistant Professor of Leadership 
  • Wilmer G. Villacorta, Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies 

   

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (MB) 

MB 500 Culture and Transformation. This course examines issues of culture awareness, cultural blindness, and the role of the gospel in bringing about transformation in cultural settings. CSCC. 

MB 501 Insights for Cultural Understanding.  This course addresses cultural self-awareness and cross-cultural competence for building healthy relationships within diverse communities. Drawing upon anthropological, sociological, biblical, and theological perspectives, students gain basic principles and skills for researching and interacting among diverse cultural and social groups. MAIS, MACL, MAT, MATM. 

MB 506 Developing Leaders for Cross-Cultural Ministries. Leaders who are concerned with the effective communication of the gospel of the kingdom should be able to learn the native language and culture of the people they will serve. This course will address the issues of Korean leadership development for cross-cultural ministries. Taught in Korean. 

MB 507 Resolving Cultural and Religious Conflict. This course explores the role of culture and religion in conflict resolution, with attention to both theories and practices and their applications to Christian ministries.  

MB 520 Anthropology. Introduction to cultural anthropology with special attention to the application of an anthropological perspective to Christian mission. ISCC, optional core competency for ThM, MIN8. 

MB 522 Social Anthropology. Study of principles of social anthropology, including social structures/networks, worldview, and economic concerns. Principles are applicable in urban and rural cultures. Prerequisite: MB520.  

MB 523 Cognitive Analysis of Culture. This course attempts to bridge cognition and culture at the level of schema and cultural models that combine meaning systems of a people with computer-based methodologies that enhance the analysis and interpretation of worldview themes that largely operate outside of explicit awareness, yet are motivational for interaction and communication, both within and across cultures.

MB 525 World View and World View Change. Study of the nature and functions of world view and the dynamics of world view change. Special attention to Christian transformational change in world view. Prerequisite: MB520. 

MB 529 Intercultural Attachment: Building Relationships Across Cultures. This course explores the dynamics involved when people from different cultures interact with one another, the changes they undergo and what facilitates and hinders attachment. It is designed for students with no previous psychological or neurobiological training to improve their understanding and skills in relating with people from other cultures.  

MB 530 Language/Culture Learning and Mission. Skills are developed in language/culture learning techniques and in phonetics. Lectures and discussion focus on principles and perspectives for successful learning. Field work gives opportunity to test and refine skills. ISCC, core competency for Th.M., MIN8, GLBL.  

MB 556 Qualitative Research. Shows how qualitative research can help church and mission leaders effectively communicate the Gospel in varying contexts. In-depth look at doing case-study research and focus groups. Allows students to work through issues and problems that arise in fieldwork. Students will see how qualitative research can be included in their overall research design, examine the appropriateness of methodologies in doing research cross-culturally, and investigate compelling ways to report findings. ISRR.  

MB 560 Methods of Observing/Interpreting Culture. Designed to equip those working cross-culturally to discern and describe the structures of society and church. Techniques of interviewing, observing and documenting. Prerequisite: MB520. ISRR. 

MB 561 Introduction to Research Design. An introduction to research design with particular emphasis on producing a thesis/dissertation proposal. Attention will be given to each of the major components of a thesis (problem, review of the literature, methodology, findings, and conclusions). Required for all DMiss and PhD programs. No auditors permitted.  

MB572 Cross-Cultural Ministry Practicum. The purpose of this practicum is to help the participants integrate their missiological learning in the context of intercultural relationships and practical learning. Participants will develop a personal approach to missiological integration through an action reflection approach. Meets Practicum Requirement in MACCS program.  

MB 583 Methods of Discovering Worldview. This course teaches various semantic-based analyses designed to help students develop an understanding of worldview. This understanding is then applied to developing a contextualized Christianity. Prerequisite: MB520 or equivalent basic anthropology course. ISRR.  

   

CHURCH GROWTH (MC) 

MC 500 Church in Mission. Provides a biblical and theological framework for understanding the Church and the practical implications of its role in world mission. CSCC.  

MC 502 Becoming a Missional Church. Introduces students to the wide range of issues and skills related to the complex interdisciplinary processes involved in creating and implementing an extensive philosophy of ministry and missional strategy for a local church from the pastorís perspective.  

MC 506 Leading a Missional Church. This course explores the distinguishing contours of the missional church revolution as well as the leadership required by it. Major course attention will center on two primary shifts underway: the shift from internal to external focus and the shift from program-driven to people development as the core activity of the missional community. 

MC 520 Church Growth in Contemporary Culture. Basic principles and procedures of church growth as developed in Donald McGavran's Understanding Church Growth and applied to present-day missiology. ISCC, optional core competency for ThM.  

MC 524 Cell-Based Churches. A practical course designed to provide the student with a grasp of what is involved in planting a cell-based church or transitioning an existing church to a cell-based structure.  

MC 530 Theology of Church Growth. A treatment of the biblical and theological presuppositions of the Church Growth Movement, including the issues raised by critics. Theological implications affecting world evangelization are discussed.  

MC 532 Evangelizing Nominal Christians. Examines the complex problem of nominality in the individual, the institutional church and society, and its impact on urbanization, secularization and pluralism. MIN3.  

MC 535 The Emerging Church in the Twenty-First Century. Identifies key characteristics of modern and postmodern contexts, addressing the challenges each presents to the local church.  

MC 536 Leading an Emerging Church. Investigates how churches can be restructured or planted to meaningfully engage and evangelize the postmodern world, with a particular emphasis on the arts. Will explore how students read and apply the Bible to this emerging context and examine the dimensions of discipleship, providing a practical program in the form of lifeshapes. Designed for those who want to engage in the church as a disciple-making mission movement that is structured to be reproducible in a variety of cultural contexts.  

MC 583 Cross-Cultural Church Planting. A study of the planting and development of missionary churches into self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating indigenous churches. 

   

HOLISTIC MINISTRIES (MD) 

MD 524 Advocacy for Social Justice. This course explores what it means for every Christian to observe God's call 'to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.' Participants will explore various biblical, theological, and historical traditions of social justice. We will investigate detailed examples of injustice and models of advocacy, both in the United States and internationally.  

MD 525 Transformational Development. This course explores the challenges of empowering the poor in a world marked by marginalization, disempowerment, abuse, and injustice. Topics to be covered include worldview issues that influence our understanding of social development; a biblical framework for transformational development; understanding poverty biblically; overview of contemporary development theory; Catholic social thinking of development; rights-based development and livelihood/food security; the development practitioner; and Christian witness through transformational development.  

MD 538 Healthcare in Missions. This course explores the practice, history, and missiology of medical missions with a focus on community health evangelism. The teaching team will provide both theoretical and practical models for those who are interested in short and long-term medical missions. The course is designed to provide a basic holistic integration of healthcare and mission.  

MD 540 The Gospel and Holistic Ministry This course equips students to examine and articulate Christian doctrines that undergird ministry to the spiritual, social, economic, relational, physical, and political needs of the people. It lays a foundation for those working with children at risk, international development, racial reconciliation, or urban missions.  

MD 542 Globalization and Mission. Examines globalization and its wide-ranging implications for world Christianity. Assesses the need for new models of mission and new strategies of Christian engagement in response to both the shifting contours/frontiers of global Christianity and the challenges/opportunities of the newly emerging global context. GLBL.  

MD 543 Children at Risk. From the AIDS orphan to the child soldier, every day kids all over the world struggle in unfair situations that place them 'at risk'. This course is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the problems these children face and equip students with the tools they need to show them the holistic love of Christ. Course topics will include an overview of the major risk factors that affect children, theological foundations necessary to long-term work with them, and presentation of best practices drawn from two millenia of the Church's effective work with children.  

MD 545 Ministry to Street Children. Students will gain a grasp of the key principles and basic tools needed to minister to street children. Students will understand the process of establishing an effective street children's ministry.  

MD 546 Refugees, Conflicts and Humanitarian Responses. This course explores the plight of refugees and internally displaced people fleeing the results of conflict and natural disasters. The changing and highly complex nature of the humanitarian world is explored, seeking to identify the role and contribution of Christian agencies and churches.  

MD 547 Globalization and the Poor. This course explores globalization as a deeply rooted historical change process that has significant impact for good and ill on the poor. The course will focus on macro development issues and strategies for poverty eradication and topics like the Millennium Development Goals, making markets work for the poor, food security and genetically modified foods, and health and pharmaceuticals for the diseases of the poor. GLBL.  

MD 548 Children and Armed Violence. This course outlines some Christian responses to the needs of children living in a culture of violence in the inner city, trapped in the global sex industry, and abducted children forced to be child soldiers, labors, sex slaves. Effective community based psychosocial programs and treatment interventions will be presented.  

MD 549 Community Health: Missional Perspectives. The goal is to equip Christian health practitioners to be able to facilitate people and communities to change health-related behavior and to bring about measurable positive changes in health conditions - birth, death, and morbidity rates, sanitation, clean water, land management practices and food production in an intercultural setting.

MD550 Introduction to HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has become one of the most pressing social issues of the coming century. As infection rates continue to rise among vulnerable populations in the U.S., Asia, Europe, and Africa, the Christian church is becoming increasingly mobilized to respond in effective ways. This course will equip practitioners to address five primary dimensions of HIV/AIDS: theological/spiritual, medical, psychological, sociological, and economic. The course will take special interest in the plight of children in each of these five areas.  

  

COMMUNICATION (ME) 

ME 500 Communicating and Serving Crossculturally. Communication is at the heart of crosscultural ministry. This course will examine the impact of lifestyle, interpersonal relationships, and social roles on the issues of cross-cultural communication. CSCC. 

ME 506 Communicating the Gospel Crossculturally. Principles and processes of communicating from one culture to another. Focus on the relevance of incarnation as the model for intercultural communication of the gospel. ISCC, Optional Core for ThM.  

ME 510 Christian Communication through Music. Past, present and prospective uses of music in communicating the gospel, in Christian worship, and as a means of instruction in Christian life and belief. Focus on receptor-oriented use of music cross-culturally.  

ME 512 Survey Research for Effective Communication. Study of communication research tools. Emphasis on the methodology of survey research design, construction of questionnaires, data interpretation and the application of research data in strategy decisions.  

ME 513 Perspectives on Global Worship. Leads students through an in-depth theological study of Christian worship, with reference to cross-cultural worship forms. The course focuses on the role, influence, and importance of worship in Christian witness, spiritual formation, and church growth.  

ME 514 Global Worship Leadership. Focuses on four major aspects crucial to dynamic worship. 1) the building of positive relationships within church leadership, 2) the nurturing and mentoring of worship leaders, 3) working together as a team in designing, planning, and leading worship, and 4) discerning worship formats that facilitate authentic worship for varying cultural and cultural contexts.  

ME 515 Communicating Christ through Narrative and Song. Investigates oral communication technologies, including storytelling, songs, and proverbs, with four goals in mind: to seek to understand our audience and how they perceive their world; to discover effective ways to communicate to oral cultures; to create/develop oral resources for communicating the Gospel; to design strategies for doing oral communication in Christian witness.  

ME 518 Exegeting a Music-Culture. Develops the introductory essential steps to researching and understanding a musical culture. Includes a survey of world music, the basics of organology, the role of song, the study of song texts, and researching the function and use of music within a particular culture. This course empowers the student to do music ethnography with specific application to Christian witness.  

   

MISSION HISTORY (MH) 

MH 500 Global Evangelical Movement. An exploration of the historical roots of the modern evangelical mission movement with a particular focus on the significance of the 19th and 20th centuries from a global perspective. CSCC. 

MH 501 Methods in Mission History. Scholarly study in many fields requires historical research. To do this effectively requires that the researcher know the theories, methods, and resources that are available. This course introduces students to historiography as it relates to mission studies. It provides opportunity for the student to a practicum in historical research related to an area of the student's interest. ISRR.  

MH 505 Issues in Mission History. Introduces students to historical methods and research (including mission historiography) and provides an overview of the last five hundred years of mission history – roughly 1500 to the present. The main focus will be on assessing the formation, structures, and impact of the modern missionary movement (both Roman Catholic and Protestant). Close attention will be paid to regional patterns of growth, key players and thinkers, principal mission theories and strategies, as well as the transformational role of Christian missions in the making of the present world order. ISCC, optional core competency for ThM.  

MH 510 The Making of Global Christianity. A historical survey of Christianity's expansion from obscure beginnings to a truly global faith, with balanced coverage in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and North America.  

MH 520 Expansion of People of God. The purpose of this course is the missiological reinterpretation of the history of the church worldwide and the application of the insights which emerge to present strategies of mission. We will not examine primarily the theological and institutional development of the church, but rather the dynamics of its expansion. Available through Distance Learning only.  

MH 529 The Holy Spirit and the Mission of Church. Focuses on the historical evidences of the continuity of Jesusí ministry in the mission of the church through the powerful manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The hermeneutical axis of this history is the action of the Holy Spirit as it is testified in the light of his powerful and supernatural manifestations.  

MH 541 Korean Mission History. Traces the missionary movement of the Korean church from its inception to the present as a major force in contemporary world mission. Korean-language course.  

MH 542 Korean Church History. Introduces students to the history of the Korean church, including how evangelistic work began and developed and how the Korean church has grown. Explores the development of the church, evangelistic strategy, persecution, growth, and mission. Korean-language course.  

MH 571 Survey of African Christianity. Explores the establishment and growth of the Church in Africa. Negotiates major themes, currents, and developments constituent to the rise of African Christianity. Regional experiences form the building blocks of the study. The majority of Africans have heard the Gospel from Africans; thus, while the impact of Western missionary enterprise forms an overarching theme, central emphasis will be on African initiatives, agency and enterprise.  

   

MISSION INTEGRATION (MI) 

MI 510 Thinking Missiologically. As with every field of study, missiology has its particular focus, literature, and methods. To engage in missiological integration requires appropriate skills to use the tools and resources available. This course introduces the student to these skills and the basic perspectives and tools. A special feature of the course is the use made of the case study model to engage missiological investigation, reflection, and action. The School of Intercultural Studies' framework for missiological study-Word, Church, and World-will be employed. Because effective missiology is developed interactively, opportunity will be given for collaboration in learning. ISCC; CSCC (after completion of 24 units of missiology); core competence for ThM. 

MI 525 Thesis/Writing Project Seminar. This noncredit, no-fee seminar prepares students to complete a thesis or writing project by (1) outlining the proposal and writing process, (2) helping students to refine a topic, (3) providing and introduction to key research tools provided by the FTS library, and (4) explaining the human subject review process. The course will meet for a maximum of 8 hours during the quarter. Required for all ThM students.  

MI 530 Missiological Integration in Context. The students will experience the real context in which mission is conducted. Students will have an opportunity to learn first hand from those who are involved in mission through a group practicum. Fulfills practicum requirement 

   

KOREAN MISSION (MK) 

MK 702 Church Growth in the Korean Context. Korean-language D.Min. course.  

MK 706 Crosscultural Church Planting. This course is a study in the planting and development of missionary churches. The purpose of this course is to help students understand the importance, the principles and practices of cross-cultural church planting and development. It gives the students practical suggestions as to how to plant and develop churches into self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating indigenous churches. Korean-language D.Min. course. 

MK 712 Contemporary Preaching. This course addresses preaching as the Word of God, including the process and method of preaching, the proper attitude of the preacher in approaching the Word of God, and the characteristics and content of preaching that lead to church growth. Korean-language D.Min. course.  

MK 721 Rethinking History of Mission and An Appraisal of Non-Western Mission Movements. Studies the witness of Christianity from apostolic ages and the expansion of Christianity after Constantineís age, the middle ages, and the colonial age to the contemporary world in Africa, America, and Asia. The course observes the impact of emerging mission forces from the non-Western world and their present needs and potential. And this course is a critical evaluation of Third-World missions, their approaches and methodology. Korean-language D.Min. course. 

MK 722 Cultural Anthropology/Christian Witness. This course is designed to teach basic anthropological concepts and theories from a Christian perspective. Major purpose of this course is to help students evaluate their ministries from a Christian cross-cultural perspective and to apply the anthropological insights gained from the class to their own ministerial contexts. Korean-language D.Min. course. 

MK 723: A History of Christian Mission. This course provides an overview of the history of the Christian witness from New Testament times to the present; introduces the leading personalities, geography, ideas, events, and bibliography of the various periods of missions history.; observes the missionary methods employed in the various periods of missions history and list distinctive changes of the Asian Church prior to and after Word War II; traces the development of international missionary cooperation and ecumenicity; helps the Korean Church to formulate new mission strategies in the light of rapid changes taking place around the world, especially in the Third World. Korean-language D.Min. course.  

MK 726 Witness-Oriented Worship. The goal of this course is to provide theology and practical ways for molding worship to be witness-oriented based on a study on the relationship between worship and witness. Through this class, students would be trained to view the nature of worship from a different perspective and gain various ideas of building up witness-oriented worship that would be effective in nurturing church members to become powerful witnesses in the world. Korean-language D.Min. course. 

   

LEADERSHIP TRAINING (ML) 

ML 500 Teamwork and Leadership. In the world of churches and missions globally, ministry people are expected to serve and lead teams of co-workers. This course explores the issues and skills required for members and leaders of a team of co-workers. CSCC. 

ML 501 Formation of Emerging Leaders. A study of leadership selection processes, including development phases, process items, spheres of influence, spiritual authority, and leadership principles. Focuses on a biblical case study and missionary case study to illustrate theory. Audit requires permission of instructor.  

ML 520 Foundations of Leadership.This course introduces the basics of leadership theory from a Christian perspective. It begins with a brief overview of how spiritual leaders emerge and how they may be developed, then moves through a brief historical survey of modern Western leadership theory noting the six major paradigms of the past 150 years. The survey identifies prominent leadership influentials, works, theories, and models for each of the periods. The course then moves to consider the major variables that determine leadership effectiveness, examining topics of cross-cultural differences in leadership, power, leadership styles, organizational structures, women in ministry, and values. Suggestions will be given for improving one's leadership from both theological and crosscultural perspectives as well as current leadership literature. Only available through distance learning. 

ML 521 Developing Giftedness in Leaders. An in-depth study of the doctrine of spiritual gifts, with an emphasis on leadership gifts (both directive and supportive). Points out responsibility for identifying, developing and releasing gifted people. Uses Holland's profile to suggest creation of structures through which gifts can operate. Suggests convergence as a major goal for Level-4 and Level-5 leaders. Prerequisite: Significant ministry experience. No auditors permitted.  

ML 523 Mentoring. Conducts an indepth study of relational empowerment and the nine basic mentor types: mentor discipler, spiritual guide, coach, counselor, teacher, sponsor, contemporary model, historical model and divine contact. Audit requires permission of instructor.  

ML 524 Focused Lives. Examines ministry theory and philosophical concepts. Analysis of historical mentors and personal application of learned principles. Focus on developing a personal philosophy of ministry. Audit requires permission of instructor.  

ML 527 Strategies for Teaching Adults. Participants will discover new ways to design curriculum, meetings and programs that are both meaningful and relevant to their audience as well as engaging and immediately applicable.  

ML 528 Gender Issues in Leadership. Examines crucial issues in the development of women as leaders in ministry, using the framework of leadership emergence theory. The course considers issues in the areas of major paradigms, gender development, singleness and marriage, and leadership.  

ML 530 Lifelong Development. Gives a biblical basis for the study of leadership selection processes. Identifies patterns such as time lines, development phases, process items, idealized time line, convergence, gift mix, spheres of influence, spiritual authority, and leadership principles, all in the context of study of actual biblical, historical and present-day leaders. ISCC. Audit only with permission of instructor. Prerequisite: Three years of ministry experience.  

ML 534 Value-Based Leadership in the Old Testament. Assesses various leadership perspectives in the Old Testament using several study methods. Focuses on cross-culturally applicable leadership principles. Audit requires permission of instructor.  

ML 536 Value-Based Leadership in the New Testament. Examines New Testament perspectives on leadership elements and styles, philosophical models, mentoring, change dynamics, etc. Studies Peter, John, and Paul as leaders. Audit requires permission of instructor. 

ML 537 Leaders and Church in Culture. Focuses on the social context of leadership and the life of the church. Examines theoretical perspectives for the study of community, structure, and leadership applied to analysis of Old Testament texts on organization and leadership. ISRR.  

ML 538 Crosscultural Leadership. Applies social and political anthropology to understanding leadership in diverse cultural settings. Provides several models and approaches for assessing leadership and formulating ministry strategy. ISRR.  

ML 540 Leadership Training Models. An overview of leadership development focusing on how to design and evaluate training models proven effective for leader development in mission and ministry. This course uses several techniques several techniques to analyze an actual field case.  

ML 560 Change Dynamics. This course examines the dynamics of bridging organizational change. Students will explore change dynamics, the roles of change agents and participants and the forces of resistance to change.  

ML 565 Understanding Organizational Dynamics. Provides an introduction to the seminal theories in organizational dynamics including purpose/vision of ministries, ministry values, learning organizations, and organizational structures, culture and lifestyles.  

ML 568 Leading Self, People, and Organizations. This course is a primer in the integration of theology and leadership praxis within the context of church and organizational leadership. It is structured around 4 leadership foci encapsulated in the Eagles' 4-P Leadership Model.  

ML 572 Leadership Practicum. A followup to other leadership courses, for the purpose of integrating leadership mission theory with practical experience. Credit: 2 or 4 units. 

ML 580 Leadership Issues in the Korean Context. Addresses traditional and contemporary Korean understandings of leadership, contexts in which these understandings developed, the exercise of leadership, and problems involved in Korean leadership in light of the Bible. Korean-language course. 

   

MINISTRY (MM) 

MM 500 Spirituality and Mission. Concentrates on Christian spirituality and its dynamic relationship to effective evangelism. CSCC.Smith,  

MM 536 Mission Education in the Local Church. Addresses how "mission" is best understood at the beginning of the 21st century and the role of the local church in that mission. Includes theory and techniques to develop curriculum and age appropriate strategies to spur church member involvement. Min8, GLBL. Available through distance learning only.  

MM 560 Women in Crosscultural Ministry. A survey of issues pertinent to women in cross-cultural ministry -- Biblical basis, Biblical models, historical models, cross-cultural gender roles and relationships, and women's spiritual growth in ministry. Audit requires permission of instructor.  

MM 568 Self-Care in Mission. Addresses personal and organizational issues of self and mutual care, such as: stress and burnout; safety and trauma; singleness, marriage, and family; sexuality and sexual impurity; team relationships and conflict transformation; the reality of suffering; and vocation. Will provide students with resources to implement appropriate self-care and organizational member-care in a variety of mission communities.  

MM 572 Crucial Issues in Korean Mission. Reflecting critically, in the light of an evangelical missiology, on various aspects of Korean mission: theology of mission, cultural understanding, mission strategy, missionary selection and training, mission administration, and the role of sending/supporting/receiving bodies. Korean-language course. 

MM 576 Nationalism in Asian Mission. The purpose of the course is to understand the nature of Asian nationalism in our efforts to promote the evangelization of Asia. Reviews the present state of Christian mission in Asia; reviews the history of Western imperialism and how Christian churches in the West responded to the foreign policy of the countries they belonged to; reviews the response of Asian nationalism to the Western impact and how it is affecting Christian mission in Asia today. Discusses concrete mission strategies for the country of the students choice, taking into consideration the nature of Asian nationalism. Korean-language course.  

MM 577 Mission to North Korea. This course provides a basic introduction to the socio-cultural configuration and political economy of North Korea. The course examines the current changes in North Korea, the issues of widespread famine and food crisis, refugees and separate families, human rights and welfare system, juche ideology, and political leadership. The goal is aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation between two Koreas. Korean-language course.  

MM 578 Non-Western Mission Administration and Strategies. This is a course of mission administration and strategies for non-western missions and missionaries. It includes a Biblical basis of mission administration and policies, mission administration in general, partnership in mission, missionary development, team ministry, factors of missionary attrition and retention, missionary/leadership training, church planting to the unreached, and activation of churches in mission. Korean-language course.  

MM 587 Contemporary Preaching. This course teaches the process and method of preaching, the proper attitude of the preacher in approaching the Word of God, and the characteristics and content of preaching that lead to church growth. The following subjects will be covered: what is preaching, the Word of God and preaching, the text and content, the relationship between preaching and the preacher, the skills and method of successful preaching, and church growth and preaching. Korean-language course.  

   

URBAN MISSION (MN) 

MN 520 Introduction to Urban Mission. This course explores the history of the churchís relationship to the city, the role of reflection in urban mission, the importance of narrative in evangelism, relations with the poor, and community based approaches to ministry. Audit requires permission of instructor. MIN8, GLBL.  

MN 526 Urban Ministry/Mission Models. Designed as a field-based traveling seminar in central Los Angeles, examining a variety of ministry models. Highlights models, concepts, and metaphors translatable to other urban contexts. GLBL.  

MN 576 Incarnation and Mission Among World's Urban Poor. We will seek to gain a Scriptural and experiential perspective for ministry among the world's urban poor. We will discuss principles of self-denial and service in order to bring justice and principles of the Kingdom of God to the poor, and to gain intimacy with our Lord. GLBL, Min8.  

   

SPIRITUAL DYNAMICS (MO) 

MO 506 Deep-Level Healing. Teaches theory and practice of lay counseling in deep-level healing. Focuses on spiritual, emotional, and physical freedom to Westerners and non-Westerners ministering cross-culturally.  

MO 507 Power Encounter. Study of power encounter (as defined by Tippett) in the extension and growth of the people of God. Focuses on the biblical validity and contemporary relevance of spiritual power encounters in the extension of the Kingdom of God.  

MO 508 Confronting the Powers. This course introduces a set of spiritual factors which can play important roles in evangelism and church growth.  

MO 511 From Renewal to Revival. Encourages students to develop clear understandings of spiritual renewal and revival, to interpret present-day experiences of these events, to experience revival personally, and to guide churches from spiritual renewal to revival.  

MO 513 The Healing Mission of the Church. Trains and equips leaders to carry out the ministries of physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, psycho-social and social healing in fulfillment of the mission that the Lord has entrusted to the Church. Issues will be addressed from a biblical, theological, historical, missiological, pastoral and practical perspective.  

MO 514 The Ministry of Physical Healing. Trains and equips Christian leaders to carry out the ministry of physical healing in fulfillment of the mission that the Lord has entrusted to the Church. Emphasis will be placed on the Christian concept of health, the healing ministry of Jesus, physical healing through the centuries, and the healing ministry of the church.  

MO 515 Church as a Healing Community: Integration, Consolation, and Reconciliation. Enables students to better understand and interpret the nature and mission of the local church as a healing community. It will stimulate reflection and creativity in seeking means by which the Church, as a therapeutic community, may fulfill it's mission. Students will be asked to think creatively concerning the ministries of mental, psycho-social, and social healing, and to conceive the church as a model of a human community of love.  

   

CONTEMPORARY CULTURE (MP) 

MP 520 Transforming Contemporary Cultures: Macro. Students map the macro structures of contemporary culture on a global scale. Students examine the environment, population concerns, health issues, technology, media, popular culture, sexual identities, war/violence, economics, and race/ethnicity. As this is a macro level course, we explore these themes at the "production level" of culture. Through community organizing, students explore ways to redeem these large-scale powers. Investigation focuses on both Western and non-Western communities and their engagement of these global forces. Students examine those communities that look to transform these powers within the rubric of Jesus and the reign of God. Students participate in a community that addresses these powers and will reflect on their experience. Finally, the students create an online resource to serve churches worldwide. MIN8.  

MP 521 Transforming Contemporary Cultures: Micro. Students map the effects of contemporary culture on individuals, families, and small groups across the world. Students examine the environment, population concerns, health issues, technology, media, popular culture, sexual identities, war/violence, economics, and race/ethnicity in light of individuals and families. As this is a micro level course, we explore these themes at the consumer level of culture. Students look for ways to redeem individuals and families who have been deeply affected by these powerful forces. Exploration focuses on both Western and non-Western communities and their ministries to individuals and families. Students examine communities that work within the rubric of Jesus and the reign of God. Students participate in a community that seeks transformation for individuals and families deeply affected by these powers. Students reflect on their experience and create an online resource to serve the church worldwide.  

MP 522 Transforming Contemporary Cultures: Mezzo. Students map the mezzo structures of contemporary cultures on a global scale. This includes racial and ethnic groups, religions, spiritualities, socially/economically stratified groups, identifications of class and gender, as well as other identity groups. Students examine the environment, population concerns, health issues, technology, media, popular culture, sexual identities, war/violence, economics, and race/ethnicity in light of how these societal groupings experience these forces. As this is a mezzo level course, we explore these themes at both the production and consumer level of culture. Students look for ways to redeem religions and societal groupings. Exploration focuses on both Western and non-Western communities and their engagement of various societal groups. Students examine those communities that look to serve and transform societal groupings within the rubric of Jesus and the reign of God. Students participate in a community that addresses societal group transformation and they reflect on their experience. Students create an online resouce to serve the church worldwide on these issues.  

MP 531 Postmodernity, Popular Culture, and the Future Church. Examines the relationship between postmodernity, popular culture, and Christianity, exploring new ways of being church which are true to the postmodern context. Popular culture as a primary vehicle for understanding postmodern values and ideas, particularly about religion, is outlined as a means by which the church can create new forms of communication and evangelism. Also explores strategies to address the challenge of revitalizing the local church and its outreach to the marginalized who are seeking God.  

MP 532 Postmodern Issues for Mission. This class will be an in-depth examination of the effects of cultural change in five key areas that directly affect Christian mission and theology: postindustrial technology, postliterate communication, postmodern philosophies, post-colonial politics, and post-orthodox spiritualities.  

MP 533 Understanding Popular Music. Christian faith has had a long relationship with music from Gregorian chants to Contemporary worship. How should we think about music and what role does it play in the contemporary postmodern society and church?  

MP 534 Spiritual Transformation for Postmoderns. This course deals with the need for deep spiritual transformation in the rapidly changing realities of postmodern space and time. Universal clock time that emerged in the modern age is becoming increasingly segmented and reversible in the information revolution of the postmodern age. These changes have been described as "the collapse of space and time" and have resulted in widespread hurry sickness. This course will look at spiritualities emerging since 1950 especially in the postmodern generations. One third of the total time/space required in this course will involve students in the actual practice of the disciplines of intimacy with Jesus.  

MP 536 All That You Can't Leave Behind: The Spiritual Journeys of U2. Arguably the world's most popular rock band, U2 is one of the most vocal about issues of faith and social justice. The class will explore the career and spiritual journey of U2, from their emergence from the Shalom Christian Fellowship in Dublin to their seeming rebirth on their most recent album. The questions and controversy surrounding the religious themes inherent in their music – their break with the church, and their current commitment to faith – will be discussed, along with cultural studies and pop music analysis and critique.  

MP 541 Living the Text in a Postmodern Context. This course will explore the communication of the Biblical text in a contemporary world, with particular missiological reference to the use of the Bible in the postmodern, emerging church.  

   

RELIGIONS (MR) 

MR 520 Popular Religious Beliefs and Practices. A study of the religious perspective in human experience, and its bearing on the advocacy of the acceptance or rejection of the Gospel. Christian evangelism in relation to religious belief and practice. 

MR 546 World Religion and the Christian Perspective. This course will provide an overview of the world's major religions including their emergence, core beliefs and practices, and their understanding of the human predicament and salvation. It will also introduce the student to various approaches for how Christianity relates to other religions and religious pluralisms. Min8.  

MR 547 World Religion in Art and Symbol. This course explores the major world's religions by looking at art and symbols. It provides an introduction to Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. In addition, it also covers more minor traditions and briefly takes a look at some new religious beliefs. The class will mainly look at the non-verbal and sensory elements of these religions and describe their meaning and role.  

MR 550 Introduction to Islam. An overview of Muslim faith and practice, with special attention to comparisons with Christianity, varieties of expression, and their implication for Christian witness. MIN8, GLBL.  

MR 551 Communication in Muslim Contexts. Development and evaluation of various forms of Christian witness among the broad spectrum of Muslim peoples.  

MR 552 Muslim-Christian Encounter. This course examines Muslim-Christian relations since the inception of Islam to the present days, with examples from around the world. Particular historical, ecclesiological and theological issues will be addressed and guidelines for practical encounters will be formulated.  

MR 554 Developing Communities in Muslim Contexts. Equips students to understand, analyze, and skillfully interact with others regarding issues about pioneer church planting in the Muslim World. Utilizing Scripture, case studies, and missiological theories, it is expected that the participants will develop ideas, critical faculties, and faith/aspiration vital for fruitful ministry among Muslims. 

MR 555 Folk Islam. This course first studies the roots of Islamic animism and its relation to other religions, following which biblical issues are raised with special attention to the role of the power encounter.  

MR 556 Current Trends in Islam. Examines the basic beliefs and practices that inspire and guide Islamic revival today. Issues to be addressed include the impact of colonialism, Western ideas, independence and petrodollars, the response to these stimuli, and their implications for Christian witness. MIN8, GLBL.  

MR 557 Women in Islam. An examination of the identity and role of women in historic and contemporary Islam as revealed by the Qur'an and Hadith and throughout society, covering various cultural contexts. 

MR 561 The Qur'an and Theology in Communication. When Christians talk with Muslims about Jesus, we are frequently asked about texts from the Qur'an which appear to reject the Trinity, the divine sonship of Christ, the crucifixion of Christ, and the integrity of the Bible. Do these texts really mean what they are usually assumed to mean? Are our answers informed by sound exegesis of the Qurían and by sound Christian theology and biblical exegesis? This course will equip students to answer those questions with integrity, and it may contain surprises for some!

MR 566 Qur'anic Arabic and Exegesis 1. Introduces the alphabet, basic grammatical structures, and vocabulary of the Arabic language with specific application to the Qur'an. Examples and readings found in the textbook are almost exclusively drawn from the Qur'an and the Hadith literature. Students will also be exposed to the chanting of the Qur'an as this is one of the vital spiritual experiences uniting the 1.2 billion Muslims around the world. Students are provided with a recording of all the important exercises. 

MR 567 Qur'anic Arabic and Exegesis 2. This course continues introducing the basic grammatical structures and vocabulary of the Arabic language with specific application to the Qur'an. The examples and readings found in the textbook are almost exclusively drawn from the Qurían and the Hadith literature. Also, as a help to the task of correct pronunciation, students will be provided with a recording of all the important exercises. Supplemental reading will be done each class from the Arabic Qur'an. Prerequisite: MR566.  

MR 569 The Gospels as Muslims Have Read Them. This course will examine the way that Muslims have read the Christian Gospels especially from the 9th to the 14th centuries, extracting the principal theological themes of the Muslim exegetical endeavor that was seeking to enter into dialogue with Christianity. Strategies and skills will be developed to approach these interpretations through objective "non-aggressive and non-apologetic" glasses.

 

 

MISSION THEOLOGY (MT) 

MT501  Introduction to Theology in a Global Context.  This course provides a basic introduction to theological reflection as this has developed in various places and is currently emerging in multiple contexts. The goal is to provide the background and terminology necessary for students to begin exploring theology as an expanding conversation about the meaning of Scripture and the Christian life that extends itself through history and around the world. SCR 

MT 510 Doing Theology in Context. A review of the theory of contextualization, evaluation of the literature, and application through projects based on the student's experience. Audit only with permission of instructor. Prerequisite: Ministry in non-U.S. context and one course each in anthropology and theology. 

MT 520 Biblical Foundations of Mission. Review of perspectives in both Old and New Testaments on the mission of the people of God touching the nations, under the rubric of the Kingdom of God. CSCC, ISCC.  

MT 521 Pauline Theology and the Mission Church. The principles of Paul in planting and nurturing crosscultural churches, evaluating contemporary mission practice in the light of Paul.  

MT 522 Local Congregation as Mission. Seeks to stimulate reflection and creativity concerning the church from both sociological and theological points of view. Looks at both the minimal center of what may be called "Church" and the maximal limits of what may genuinely be included as legitimate arenas of "Church life." MIN8, GLBL.  

MT 523 Holy Spirit in Luke and Acts. Basic New Testament exegesis with an inductive discovery by the student of the broad perspectives of Luke's pneumatological missiology as described in Luke-Acts. Pneumatological, ecclesiological, missiological, and ministry-in-context issues will be highlighted.  

MT 525 Non-Western Approaches to Biblical Interpretation. This course introduces the student to basic hermeneutic principles and the multiple approaches to interpreting Scripture evident in different cultural/world settings.  

MT 527 Lesslie Newbigin: Theologian of Mission and Ministry. Lesslie Newbigin (1909-98) was one of the outstanding Christian leaders and seminal thinkers of the twentieth century who left a rich legacy of writings on theology, ecclesiology, mission, ecumenism, and ministry.  

MT 528 Jesus the Missionary. This course focuses on the multiple facets of Jesus' witness to the reign of God in first-century Palestine and explores Jesus' engagement of his context and his relation to the powers and offers the student a faithful pattern of missional engagement that can serve as a model for mission today.  

MT 533 Theology of Religious Encounter. Examines the theological assumptions of four major paradigms on Christian conversation with adherents of other faiths: pluralist, inclusivist, exclusivist, and evangelist. Explores the primary theological issues facing Christians in relation to Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, animism, 2 and secularism.  

MT 537 Theologizing in Mission. Introduces students to the skills of thinking theologically in missiology. Students will learn to observe, analyze, integrate, and apply traditional theological questions in new and creative ways that reexamine, test, inform, and shape their missiology. ISRR.  

MT 540 Missiological Issues: The Church in the City. A presentation of the nature, shape, and missiological orientation of the church in the city. The course seeks to foster reflection, new insights, onsite observation, and creative vision for the way the church might be reshaped and reoriented in order to be missiologically viable in the cities of todayís world. MIN8.  

MT 542 Theology for Urban Mission. Utilizes a narrative methodology for examining the complexity of the urban scene, the context, and the examination of biblical themes for an urban missiology.  

MT 550 Christian Ethnotheology. Anthropological approach to Christian theologizing. Development of a cross-cultural perspective on theological topics such as revelation, communication, sin, the church, translation and transformation. Prerequisite: MB520.  

MT 570 Analyzing Text and Context. By appreciating the structure of a text, this course develops a methodology to account for (1) understanding an authors intended meaning, (2) how the message was understood in its original context, and (3) how that message can be transferred into a present-day context. Ideal for pastors and Bible teachers as well as those interested in translating and consulting. ISRR.