WESTERN SEMINARY

                                                                 Portland, Oregon

 

UMS 510 (2 credit hours)

The Great Commandment Principle

Fall 2004

 

Instructor:         Boone Sumantri, Ph.D., Phone 503-517-1897 and 503-281-5918,

                        Fax 503-517-1889, Rbsumantri@aol.com

Schedule:          August 23 – 27, 2004

Time:                To be determined

Location           To be determined

 

                       

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course covers the preparation for applying the Great Commandment principle in addressing human needs holistically in an urban community. It guides the student in developing their attitude and skills of Christian servanthood in meeting community and human needs. Serving in a specific community under the guidance of a community leader, the student will learn to assess the various needs and resources of the community. The student will develop the understanding and skills of meeting human needs holistically.  

 

 

COURSE GOALS:

Recognizing the importance of relevance and servanthood in caring for the needy, this course guides you to achieve the following goals:

1.      Gain an understanding of Christlike servanthood and start to cultivate it.

2.      Cultivate the habit of seeking the Lord’s will and abiding in Him.

3.      Explore the ten relational needs common to everyone.

4.      Identify your most significant personal needs and those closest to you: members of your family and your friends.

5.      Understand how meeting those needs translate into effective relationships and holistic ministry to others in your community.

 

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

To achieve these goals, in this course you will be asked to:

1.      Study the required texts and additional reading assignments.

2.      Attend the scheduled lecture and discussion sessions.

3.      Set personal goals in developing your attitude and actions in loving the Lord and others.

4.      Establish working contact with a Christian ministry serving the needy in your city.

5.      Cultivate the practice of teamwork and partnering in holistic urban ministry.

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

 

READING:

 

Required Text:

                       

David Ferguson, The Great Commandment Principle, Rediscovering the Priority of Relationships, that will Transform your Church, your Family, and your Life, Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1998.

 

Recommended Readings:

 

Ray Bakke, A Theology as Big as the City, Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1993

 

George Barna, Evangelism that Works, How to Reach Changing Generations with the

Unchanging Gospel, Ventura: Regal Books, 1995.

 

Roger S. Greenway and Timothy M. Monsma, Cities, Missions’ New Frontier, Grand Rapids:

Baker Books, 2000.

 

Viv Grigg, Cry of the Urban Poor, Monrovia: MARC, 1993.

 

Robert C. Linthicum, City of God, City of Satan, A Biblical Theology of the Urban Church,

Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991

 

Charles H. Mindel, Robert W. Habenstein and Roosevelt Wright, Jr., Ethnic Families in America, Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1988.

 

Rebecca Manley Pippert, Out of the Salt Shaker & Into the World, Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999.

 

Cheryl Sanders, Ministry at the Margins, the Prophetic Mission of Women, Youth and the Poor,

Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1997

 

Charles Van Engen and Jude Tiersma, Editors, God So Loves the City, Monrovia: MARC

Publications, 1994

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE GRADING:         

 

            Class attendance and involvement                                 50%

            Field work and reports                                     50%

 

 

LEARNING ACTIVITY SCHEDULE:

 

Two (2) credit hours requires 2 x 45 hours = 90 hours learning activity time.

 

Lecture/discussions: 5 x 6 hours =                                             30 hours

Reading primary texts: 289 pp @ 20 pp/hour =             14

Additional reading: 480 pp @ 20 pp/hour =                              24

Field work:                                                                               12

Correlated scripture studies:                                                        4       

Preparation of reports:                                                    6

                                                                                              ____

Total                                                                                        90 hours

 

 

COURSE OUTLINE:

 

LECTURES AND DISCUSSIONS:

 

Students attend all lecture-discussion sessions. See schedule.

 

 

FIELD WORK:                                                                    

 

Observe a ministry serving a specific community need. Prepare a report covering an assessment of the community need, the method adopted by the agency in meeting this need, and the observed results.                                                  

 

                       

REPORTS: Due 4 weeks after completion of lectures.

 

One 1200 word field work report.

Reading reports: 400 word report for each book assigned for additional reading.

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE SCHEDULE:

 

            Session                       Ferguson                                            

 

                                                Chapters

 

            Mon                             1, 2 & 3

 

            Tue                              4, 5 & 6

 

            Wed                             7, 8 & 9

 

            Thu                              10, 11 & 12

 

            Fri                                13 & 14

 

 

           

July 27, 2004