Children at Risk Concentration

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Overview
The Children at Risk concentration will enable students to dialogue with a variety of disciplines for understanding and relating to children and the contexts in which they live. Students will develop effective strategies to implement holistic work with children in times of need by connecting relevant theory and theology with contemporary best practices.  Courses in this area of specialization are often team taught with adjunct faculty coming from such diverse organizations as World Vision, International justice Mission, Oas!s International, and the US House of Representatives.

Courses Available

*MD 543  Mission to 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.   McConnell, Scott

*ML 500  Teamwork & 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. McConnell, Glanville

**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. Tiersma Watson, Eriksson

**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 U.S.A. and internationally. McConnell, Taylor

**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.  Smith

**MD 551  Girl Child: The Problem and Potential.  The girl-child around the world is often marginalized and put at risk due to her status as both female and child. This course is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the problems the girl-child may face as well as the potential she holds for being an active member of her community and the church. Course topics will include an overview of the major risk factors that affect girl-children, developing a biblical theology of gender, theological foundations necessary to work with girls long-term, and presentation of best practices drawn from historical and contemporary mission projects with the girl-child.  Segura-April

**PI 504 Community and Healing Children at Risk. Explores ways in which the resources of a community can be rallied to meet the emotional, social, spiritual and physical needs of children in crisis.  Meese.

**MD5XX  Sexually Exploited and Trafficked Children.  This course provides a critical overview of the global crisis of sexual exploitation and trafficking of children and women.  It also explores what the church and other organizations are doing to end this problem, and what missiological insights can be used to guide future efforts.  Crawford, Crawford.

**MD553 Children and the Kingdom.  This course explores the wealth of the Church’s theology regarding children and offers the opportunity to critically reflect on these developments.  It then provides an introduction to the Understanding God’s Heart for Children framework and how it can be used to practically impact the shape of ministry with children.  McConnell

**FS 505 Child and Family Development. An overview of child and family development from a life span and asset based perspective.  Balswick, Pam King

**MD 548 Children and Armed Violence.  Since the beginning of the twentieth century the greatest casualties in any war have been children.  This class will address how concerned Christians can engage in order to minister to these children; from refugees to child soldiers.  Witty, Scott

**MD 545  Ministry to Street Children. Students will gain a grasp of the key principles and basic tools needed to minister to street children, understand the process of establishing an effective street children’s ministry, and grapple with the issue of how Christians can make an impact on such a massive problem. McConnell, Sexton.

**PI 510 A Science and Theology of Spiritual Development. This course provides an introduction and overview to an interdisciplinary approach to spiritual development, offering students the opportunity to integrate and formulate their own understanding of spiritual development as it relates to the study and practice of their own discipline.  Students will address issues related to epistemology; teleology; human nature; dualism; biology; a history of the study of spirituality development; personal and corporate practices of spirituality and implication for ministry. Pam King

* Normally offered once per year
** Normally offered every other year

Other Recommended Courses for this Concentration
MD 538   Medical Missions: Comm. Health Evang.
MD 540   Theology of Holistic Ministry
MD 542   Globalization and Mission
MD 546   Humanitarian Aid
MN 520   Introduction to Urban Mission
MN 526   Urban Ministry/Mission Models
MN 591   Urban Youth Workers Institute Conference

Careers
Although this concentration is quite new, some students studying in this area have found employment in organizations such as Viva Network, InnerChange, Word Made Flesh, and World Vision.  The range of tasks in these careers spans everything from organizational administration to face-to-face work with children both here in the US and in the developing world.  However, the need most often expressed by these organizations is for graduates who can reflect theologically and/or missiologically on the practices of the NGOs in which they work.  Graduates of this program should expect to be equipped with the kind of insights that are sought after in a variety of child-focused NGO's worldwide.

Links to Other Concentrations

Anthropology

Children at Risk

Church as Mission/ Emerging Church

Communication

Contemporary culture (Postmodernism)

Global Christian Worship

International Development

Islamic Studies

Leadership

Mission History

Spiritual Dynamics

Theology of Mission

Urban Mission