Spring 2013/Fuller Online

ML524

Hankins

ML524: FOCUSED LIVES. Frank D. Hankins.

DESCRIPTION: This course explores the formative dynamics of a leader’s journey toward more focused life and ministry. These dynamics flow out of being and are embedded in each leader’s story or narrative. The course builds upon J. Robert Clinton’s discoveries and insights into these dynamics. Focused life concepts will be illustrated through a comparative and narrative approach to several historical, contemporary, and biblical men and women leaders. Students will, in turn, reflect on their own personal narratives in search of ways that God has been guiding them toward a more focused life, vocation/calling, and role. Four lenses will be used to guide the reflective process: (1) development of a life purpose; (2) movement toward a more ideal role in keeping with this life purpose; (3) strategic values and effective methodologies for life purpose and role; (4) and a legacy set that results from purpose, role, and methodologies. The students’ relational network will also be considered. Students will then produce a Focused Life Portfolio of their own life both for their own continued growth and for assisting others in their development.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will have: (1) acquired strategic insights into their unique calling or vocation; (2) done several reflective exercises based on the core concepts of narrative timeline, life purpose, ideal role, strategic values, effective methodologies, and legacy; (3) become familiar with focused lives concepts and how to integrate them into their continued personal growth and development of those whom they influence; (4) generated a Focused Life Portfolio that describes their life and calling/vocation in terms of focused life concepts. The Portfolio aims to serve as major decision making tool for students’ future development and ministry. It will include paragraphs describing life purpose, foremost role, effective methodologies, and unique legacy along a Personal Timeline. Also included in the Portfolio are strategic values and a Personal Life Mandate.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will be conducted online using a 10-week lesson program aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar. Each week students and the instructors will interact with the material through videos, threaded group discussions (forums), reflective assignments, and one live conference call per student group with instructors. The instructors will act as mentors or guides throughout the course.

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.

Clinton, J. Robert. Focused Lives – Comparative Studies of Effective Leaders Who Finished Well. Barnabas Publishers, 1995. ISBN: 978-1932814163, Pub.price $30.00 [443 pp. assigned]. Order a pdf copy at $10.00 at http://bobbyclinton.com/books-manuals/focused-lives/

________. Strategic Concepts That Clarify a Focused Life. Barnabas Publishers, 1995. ISBN: 978-0971045439, Pub.price 15.00 [190 pp. assigned]. Order a pdf copy at $8.00 at http://bobbyclinton.com/books-manuals/strategic-concepts/

George, Bill with Peter Sims. True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership. Jossey-Bass, 2007. ISBN: 978-0787987510, Pub.price $29.95 [220 pp. assigned].

Palmer, Parker. Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation. Jossey-Bass, 1999. ISBN: 978-0787947354, Pub.price $18.95 [116 pp. assigned].

Smith, Gordon T. Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential. Intervarsity Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830835546, Pub.price $17.00 [203 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Allender, Dan B. To Be Told: God Invites You to Coauthor Your Future. Waterbrook Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-1578569519, Pub.price $14.99 [240 pp.].

Guinness, Os. The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your LifeWord Publishing, 1998. ISBN: 978-0849944376, Pub.price $17.99 [304 pp.].

McNeal, Reggie. Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006. ISBN: 978-0787977535, Pub.price $24.95 [192 pp.].

Moore, Steve. The Dream Cycle: Leveraging the Power of Personal Growth. Wesleyan Publishing House, 2004. ISBN: 978-0898272772 [180 pp. assigned].

Peterson, Eugene. Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness. IVP, 1994. ISBN: 978-0802808486, Pub.price not available [pp. not available].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. REQUIRED Readings (15%).

  2. Integrative reflections on readings (15%).

  3. Participation in weekly group forums on course concepts (15%).

  4. Group conference call with professor and guest lecturer (5%).

  5. Written drafts on several core components of focused life. Based on professor’s feedback, students will upgrade and collate these drafts into the Focused Life Portfolio (15%).

  6. A Focused Life Portfolio of approximately 20-25 pages on the student's own life using focused lives concepts to be completed by finals week. Students will do sections of this Portfolio during the ten weeks of class, receive feedback on each section from the instructors, in order to hone and improve their work. The final Portfolio is to be turned in at the end of Finals Week or week 11 (35%).

PREREQUISITES: There is no prerequisite course but certain parts of this course build upon ML530 Lifelong Leadership Development.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. NO AUDITIORS.

FINAL EXAMINATION: No.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.