DESCRIPTION: In this course we will examine evangelism from a historical and a contemporary perspective. We will rely heavily on perspectives from Scripture to inform our inquiry. We will also look at various strategies in urban evangelism while visiting local ministries that are doing what we are studying.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are five objectives to this course: (1) that students understand and can articulate a coherent biblical, historical, and theological basis of evangelism; (2) that students understand the importance of urban sociology in the development and facilitation of a potentially successful evangelism plan (how this translates into outreach); (3) that students be aware of the institutional barriers to evangelism in churches and para-church organizations; (4) that students be able to design an effective evangelism plan; and finally (5) that students can better critique outreach programs, organization, and activities in terms of their faithfulness to theological traditions and effectiveness in reaching a particular audience that will in turn motivate them to want to do evangelism.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The course is taught with a practical applied focus. Students can expect to gain

1. an understanding of the city as both environment and structure for evangelism;

2. an understanding of evangelism from biblical, historical, and theological perspectives;

3. an ability to plan outreach programs as well as critique outreach programs, organization, and activities in terms of their faithfulness to theological traditions and effectiveness in reaching particular audiences.

Abraham, William J. The Logic of Evangelism. Eerdmans, 1989.

Hooks, Bell. Where We Stand: Class Matters. Routledge, 2000.

Pickard, Stephen K. Liberating Evangelism: Gospel, Theology and the Dynamics of Communication. Trinity Press International, 1999.

Richardson, Rick. Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News. InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Wilson, William J., ed. The Ghetto Underclass: Social Science Perspectives. Sage Publications, 1993.

1. There will be weekly three-to-five-page reading/reflection papers due every week (60%).

2. An end-of-term project paper is expected reflecting the student's design for an evangelism strategy adequate to the challenge of the city, which will take seriously the urban situation, a theology of urban ministry, the contribution of the social sciences, and the realistic possibilities within the student's denominational or para-denominational frame of reference. The end-of-term project will be ten to fifteen pages (40%).