Spring 2020/Fuller Online

MO507

Travis

MO507: POWER ENCOUNTER (4 Units: 160 Hours). John J. Travis.

DESCRIPTION: The term “power encounter” refers to signs and wonders, healing and deliverance, dreams and visions, and other such acts of God’s power, often experienced in the context of sharing Christ and extending His Kingdom. The theme of power encounter is developed in both the Old and New Testaments and is a key aspect of intercultural ministry. The course will focus on worldview and spiritual power, the biblical validity and contemporary relevance of power encounter, power encounter and evangelism and various ministry models including healing and deliverance, spiritual warfare and the three encounters model of power, truth and allegiance. Numerous case studies will be discussed in class.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Acquire an awareness of the nature of spiritual power(s) as a global phenomenon and its impact on intercultural ministry; (2) develop a framework for understanding the activities of evil spirits and how to stand against them; (3) understand how power encounters, alongside truth and allegiance encounters, are central in demonstrating and articulating the Gospel and inviting people by faith to follow Jesus Christ in particular local contexts; and (4) become familiar with a number of ministry models that involve power encounter.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: Addresses MAICS PLO4 “Students will have demonstrated capacities to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally.” Addresses MAT PLO4 “Students will have demonstrated academic capacities appropriate to an area of focus in a theological discipline or to interdisciplinary theological study.”

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. 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: 1,200 pages of required reading. If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Beilby, James and Paul Rhodes Eddy. Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Four Views. Baker Academic, 2012. ISBN: 978-0801039362, Pub. Price $22.00. Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [240 pp.]. Also available for Kindle E-Reader $7.95.

Kraft, Charles H. Defeating Dark Angels: Breaking Demonic Possession in the Believers Life. Chosen Books, 2016. ISBN: 978-0800798116, Pub. Price $16.99 [304 pp.]. Available as an e-book from Fuller Library. Available for Kindle E-Reader $11.99.

Wagner, C. Peter and Douglas Pennoyer, eds. Wrestling with Dark Angels: Toward a Deeper Understanding of the Supernatural Forces in Spiritual Warfare. Wipf & Stock, 2001. ISBN: 978-1579107154, Pub. Price $37.00 [370 pp.] Available as Google E-Book $29.60.

Other articles and books to be selected from Recommended Readings list found in the syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

Instructional online videos. [10 hours].
1,200 pages of required reading. See books listed above and the suggested reading list. [This assignment relates to all learning outcomes]. [82 hours]. This assignment is assessed through the weekly forum posts and the bibliography of final research paper – see below #3 and #6.
One weekly forum post of 250 words (30% of final grade) and two weekly post responses of 125-words each (20% of final). [This assignment is related to all four learning outcomes] [20 hours]. Weekly forum posts will be due on Thursday of each week by 11:59 pm PST. Responses to forum posts are due on Saturday night of each week by 11:59 pm PST.
Directed Learning Activity (DLA) fieldwork - Through this activity, you will become familiar with ministry models discussed in class. This activity (DLA) will consist of ten hours of field work. For this assignment, you will observe a minimum of 5 hours of power encounter ministry (e.g., physical healing, inner healing, deliverance, etc.) and engage in a minimum 5 hours of power encounter ministry yourself. The five hours of observation will require you to find a local ministry, ministry team, mission, missional community, church, etc., where power encounter type of ministry takes place. You will need to make sure you can be there as an observer and that you have permission to write up what you learned from the experience for this course (note: it is unethical to share personal details of another person’s inner healing session but it is ethical to describe what you learned through the event). For the second part involving personal ministry engagement, you will either pray for someone or someone will pray for you (or both). You may work with other students in the class if they are available. Be creative and enjoy this learning activity! (10% of overall grade – evaluated through the DLA write up – see #5 below). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 3 & 4]. [10 hours].
Write up of DLA fieldwork (non-research writing) - This paper, 1,250 words in length, is a write up of your experience in observing and participating in power encounter ministry (the class DLA). The paper will include what ministries you observed or engaged in, what took place, and what you learned. This paper should include insights and reflections from Scripture, class video lectures and class readings. (10% of overall class grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 3 & 4]. [8 hours].
Research writing - A 3,000-word paper focusing on one’s personal ministry context (current or upcoming) or an aspect of power encounter discussed in class (e.g. theology, theory, history, case study, practice, etc.). (30% of grade). [This assignment, depending on the topic chosen, could relate to any or all of the class learning outcomes]. [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.