Winter 2020/Fuller Online

EV500

Thacker

EV500: THE ART OF EVANGELISM (4 Units: 160 hours). Kimberley Thacker (adapted from course by Richard Peace).

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DESCRIPTION: The aim of this course is to communicate a vision for evangelism based on the paradigm of spiritual pilgrimage. In this light, the variety of ways in which people start moving toward Jesus will be considered (Quest); as will the nature and character of conversion (Encounter); and the subsequent process of spiritual growth (Formation). All this will be placed in a biblical and historical context. This theoretical foundation will then provide the background for a multifaceted discussion of how one goes about planning and executing a viable, ongoing, church-based program of evangelism.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have (1)developed an understanding of evangelism from biblical, historical, and theological perspectives; (2) understood how knowledge about the ministry of evangelism translates into outreach; (3) become more motivated to engage in evangelism; (4) demonstrated the ability to plan outreach programs; (5) learned how to critique outreach programs, organizations, and activities in terms of their faithfulness to theological traditions and effectiveness in reaching a particular audience; and (6) begun to understand the ministry of evangelism through the lens of a missional understanding of the church and the methodology of practical theology.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course will teach students concepts and skills for Evangelism, which is consistent with the SOT/SIS PLOs that state that, “Students will have demonstrated capacities to cultivate a theologically reflective practice of Christian discipleship.” (MDiv, MAT, MATM, MAICS), “Students will have demonstrated capacities to engage diverse cultural contexts for transformational discipleship, mission, and ministry,” and “Students will have demonstrated capacities for being theologically reflective practitioners for Christian ministry.”

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: Approximately 1,500 pages of required reading.

Everts, Don and Doug Schaupp. I Once Was Lost. InterVarsity, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830836086, Pub. Price $16.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [134 pp.].

Green, Michael. Evangelism in the Early Church, Revised Ed. Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN: 978-0802827685, Pub. Price $30.00 [380 pp. assigned].

Heath, Elaine. The Mystic Way of Evangelism. Baker, 2008. ISBN: 978-0801033254, Pub. Price $22.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [180 pp. assigned].

Jones, Tony. The Evangelistic Love of God and Neighbor. Abingdon, 2003. ISBN: 978-0687046140, Pub. Price $23.99 [224 pp.].

Peace, Richard. Conversion in the New Testament. Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN: 978-0802842350, Pub. Price $37.50 [345 pp. assigned].

_____. Holy Conversation. InterVarsity Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0830811199, Pub. Price $19.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [113 pp. assigned].

Further articles assigned in class will fulfill diversity requirement.

RECOMMEND READING: A complete lest of recommend reading will be available online.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Instruction hours through video lectures, outlines, PowerPoint presentations [20 hours; other instructional hours are weekly connecting discussions and personal weekly interaction with professor in journals].
2. Read required texts and articles and complete a reading log (approx. 1,500 pages of reading) (10% of final grade, plus reflected in assessment of connecting discussions and journal assignments). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-6] [70 hours].
3. Weekly posts (200-300 words) and responses to classmates’ posts (totaling 200-400 words) in weekly connecting discussions reflecting, critiquing, and applying reading and other course material (25% of final grade). [These assignments involve interaction with the professor and small group discussion with other students and 15 hours are part of instructional hours] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-6] [30 hours].
4. Posts (100-200 words) and responses to classmates’ posts (totaling 100-150 words) in forums sharing websites, cultural examples, and other material (10% of final grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 2, 4, 5, 6] [10 hours].
5. Weekly journal assignments (initial entries and responses to professor’s comments on alternating weeks) reflecting, critiquing, and applying reading and other course material (200-300 words) (10%). [These assignments involve interaction with the professor and small group discussion with other students and 5 hours are part of instructional hours] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-6] [10 hours].
6. Complete an untimed essay format midterm exam reflecting on and applying reading and course material (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1, 2, 5, 6] [5 hours].
7. Complete a project applying required course reading and content to your ministry context. (1800-2000 words) Project involves the design of a year-long outreach project for a church or organization; or the development of a case study of an outreach venture; mostly using course material, minimal additional research (10-12 pages) due at the end the course (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1, 2, 4, 5, 6] [15 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the EV requirement in the MDiv (Fall 2017). Option to meet the C3 requirement in the 120 MDiv and 80 MATM Programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.