WHAT THE PERSPECTIVES COURSE CAN DO FOR YOUR CHURCH

By Brent Whitefield

For a number of years our church has required prospective missionaries to take the Perspectives course as part of their pre-field training. In fact, anyone who wants to play an important role in our missions program is expected to take the course at some point. I have been a believer in the course since I first encountered it a decade ago and have subsequently taught in the course for several years. One of the things that I like about Perspectives is that students get to learn from the wisdom and experience of many different missionaries and missiologists. It challenges their pre-conceived notions about what a missionary is and does. In the process, some people who do not feel that they fit the traditional missionary mold find that there is a place for them in cross-cultural service. Some people who never imagined that their set of experiences or skills could be valuable discover the multi-faceted nature of the modern mission enterprise.

Such was the case this last year with a couple who felt a call to serve overseas but had limited gifting in the area of preaching or evangelism. Through participation in Perspectives, they came to realize that their proven entrepreneurial skills could open many doors for them in their proposed destination. Having investigated more thoroughly, they are now preparing to be sent as career missionaries to East Africa with a coherent plan for fruitful, multiplying ministry. Over the past few years, I have witnessed similar stories of eyes opened and visions imparted by the Perspectives course. Nearly everyone I know who has taken the course has reported that they have had their mind stretched and perspective broadened. For those preparing for specific cross-cultural mission assignments, it has been invaluable in providing a biblical and historical foundation for thinking missiologically and helped them in ‘counting the cost’ to answer the call to mission.

Sign up for a special, intensive Perspectives course, April 9-17, 2012, here.