Spring 2018/Fuller Online
EV514
Watkins
EV514: URBAN EVANGELISM (4 Units: 160 Hours). Ralph C. Watkins.
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 contemporary strategies in urban evangelism.
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; (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; and (6) that this understanding will in turn motivate them to want to do evangelism.
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: 1068 pp. required.
Leong, David P. Rack and Place: How Urban Geography Shapes the Journey to Reconciliation. IVP, 2017. ISBN: 978-0830841349. Pub. Price $16.00. [208 pp. assigned]
Gould, Meridith. The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways. Liturgical Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0814647073. Pub. Price $19.95. [200 pp. assigned].
Gornik, Mark and Maria Liu Wong. Stay in the City: How Christian Faith is Flourishing in an Urban World. Eerdmans, 2017. ISBN: 978-0802874047. Pub. Price $12.00. [95 pp assigned]
Paggit, Doug. Evangelism in the Inventive Age. Abingdon Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-1630880811. Pub. Price $16.99. [120 pp. assigned].
Paggit, Doug. Church in the Inventive Age. Abingdon Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-1630880774. Pub. Price $16.99. [124 pp. assigned].
Peters, Ronald. Urban Ministry: An Introduction. Abingdon Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687642250. Pub. Price $22.99. [197 pp. assigned]
Thurman, Howard. Jesus and the Disinherited. Beacon Press, 1996 (reprint). ISBN: 978-0807010297. Pub. Price $16.00. [124 pp. assigned]
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1. Weekly lessons [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-6] [20 hours].
2. 1068 pp. of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-6] [63 hours].
3. 250-word weekly posts (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4,5,6] [10 hours].
4. 250-word weekly replies / forum /discussion (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4,5,6] [10 hours].
5. (2) 2,500 reflection papers (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 & 2] [22 hours].
6. Final Project 3,500 words (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1,5 & 6] [35 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the EV requirement in the MDiv or MATM (Fall 2017). Meets 144 MDiv core requirement in Evangelism (MIN 3).
FINAL EXAM: None.