Winter 2018/Fuller Online

ML524

Hankins

 

ML524:  FOCUSED LIVES (4 Units: 160 hours).  Frank D. Hankins with guest lecturer, Richard Clinton.

                                                                             

 

DESCRIPTION:  This course explores the formative dynamics of a leader’s journey toward a 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 that inform life purpose and role; (4) and a legacy set that results from this purpose, role, and values.  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. Additionally, special consideration will be given to how focused life constructs, constructs developed in a Western/Global North (individualistic) context, are applicable for leadership development processes within collectivistic Global South contexts (Africa, Asia, Latin America).

 

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, 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:  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: 1070 pages required.

Clinton, J. Robert. 2005. Strategic Concepts That Clarify a Focused Life. Barnabas Publishers. ISBN: 978-0971045439, Pub. Price 15.00 [170 pp. assigned]. Order a PDF copy at $8.00 at http://bobbyclinton.com/books-manuals/strategic-concepts/ [170 pp. assigned].

Focused Lives Narrative Readings all available as pdf files: [450 pp. assigned altogether].

Clinton, J. Robert. 1995. Focused Lives – Inspirational Life Changing Lessons from Eight Effective Christian Leaders Who Finished Well. Barnabas Publisher.

Durben, Becky. 2008. “Mother Shirley: No Cost Too Great in Following Jesus. (Part of the Focused Life Series). Barnabas Publishers.

Herppich, Birgit. 2006. “Desmond Mpilo Tutu (1931-): A Life for God’s Dream.” (Part of the Focused Life Series). Barnabas Publishers.

Plumb, Sue C. 1996. Irene Webster-Smith: An Irish Woman Who Impacted Japan. (Part of the Focused Life Series). Barnabas Publishers.

George, Bill with Peter Sims. Discover Your True North: Becoming an Authentic Leader. Jossey-Bass, 2015, ISBN: 978-1119082941, Pub. Price $32.00 [198 pp. assigned].

Palmer, Parker. Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation. Jossey-Bass, 1999. ISBN: 978-0787947354, Pub. Price $18.95 [86 pp. assigned].

Smith, Gordon T. Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential. Intervarsity Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830835546, Pub. Price $18.00 [166 pp. assigned].

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

Allender, Dan B. To Be Told: God Invites You to Coauthor Your Future. Waterbrook Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-1578569519, Pub. Price $15.99 [240 pp.].

Clinton, Richard and Paul Leavenworth. Living and Leading Well: Navigating Mid-Life Ministry. (Well Trilogy). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013. ISBN: 978-1481230636, Pub. Price $15.00 (Kindle Edition available).

___________________________________. Finishing Well: Establishing a Lasting Legacy. (Well Trilogy). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012. ISBN: 978-1479372119, Pub. Price $15.00 (Kindle Edition available). 

Guinness, Os. The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life. Thomas Nelson, 2003. ISBN: 978-0849944376, Pub. Price $17.99 [304 pp.].

Mahan, Brian J. Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose: Vocation and the Ethics of Ambition. Jossey-Bass, 2010. ISBN: 978-0470621684, Pub. Price $21.00.

McKeown, Greg. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. Crown Business, 2014. ISBN: 978-0804137386, Pub. Price $25.00 [272 pp.].

McNeal, Reggie. Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders. 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, Pub. Price $14.99 [180 pp. assigned].

Peterson, Eugene. Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1994. ISBN: 978-0802808486, Pub. Price $20.00 [206 pp.].

Placher, William C. Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom on Vocation. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005. ISBN: 978-0802829276, Pub. Price $32.00.

 

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: 

1. Weekly lessons and video lectures [15 hours].
2. 1,070 pages of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 3]. [60 hours].
3. Weekly 500-word forums (25%). [20 hours total]: 250-word weekly posts [10 hours] and 250-word weekly replies [10 hours]. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 3].
4. Varied book responses (25%). [15 hours total]: two 500-word written book reflections (10%). [7 hours]; (2) two 500-word book interactive forums (two 250-word posts and two 250-word replies) (10%). [7 hours]; and 250-word personal journal (5%). [1 hour]. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1 and 3].
5. Focused Life Portfolio (reflective paper) of approximately 10,000 words on the student's own life using focused lives concepts to be completed by finals week (50%). Students will do drafts of different components of the Portfolio during the ten weeks of class, receive feedback from the professor on each draft, to hone and improve their work. The final Portfolio is to be turned in at the end of Finals Week or week 11. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and 4]. [50 hours].

 

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

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:  Elective.

 

FINAL EXAMINATION:  None.