Perspectives on the World Christian Movement
Perspectives on the
World Christian Movement
THE COURSE
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement is a life-changing two-part course designed to give Christians a unique opportunity to investigate the work of God around the world, through history and to consider their role in His purposes.

Developed by Dr Ralph Winter, Steve Hawthorne and other staff of the U.S. Centre for World Mission in Pasadena, California, Perspectives surveys background, development and potential of Christianity as an international social movement. It does so in four main sections:

 

  • Biblical: God's unchanging purposes for the nations
     
  • Historical: The expansion of the Christian movement
     
  • Cultural: Communicating the gospel cross-culturally
     
  • Strategic: Means for completing the Great Commission
     

The course is taught in weekly class sessions lasting two and a half hours each. In addition to this, students spend approximately 3 to 4 hours per lesson in independent study working through the study materials for the course (the Reader and Study Guide).


COURSE PURPOSE
The purpose of the Perspectives course is to help participants develop a clearer perspective of God's global mission in the world so as to enable them to make informed decisions about their strategic participation with Him in this. The course is intended to confront participants with the personal challenge of how they can contribute to fulfilling the Great Commission whether as:

People contemplating doing the course should be aware of the fact that it carries a health warning! Steve Hawthorne comments in the introduction to the Standard Perspectives Study Guide, "This course carries with it a certain danger. Quite possibly, the experience of taking this course will, in itself, set you apart in certain ways from even your closest friends...One way to head off this kind of danger is to take this course with your friends. Or at least seek to sensitively impart your vision and commitment to others."

ADAPTATION
The North American course has been adapted for use in Australia and New Zealand. This was done with permission. A New Zealand version of Steve Hawthorne's Perspectives Study Guide was developed in 1991. In 1994 the original 20-lesson format was changed to a two-part format with 12 lessons in each part. As part of these changes new lessons were added and the Study Guide material was updated and upgraded. In 2006 the course is again to change with the addition of two new lessions: Buddhism and the Persecuted church. The Perspectives Reader (edited by Ralph Winter and Steve Hawthorne) is common to both parts of the course.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT PERSPECTIVES
"What this course does is bring all of the Bible, all of Christian history, most of what a person studies in seminary all into one solid, profound course. No wonder it's an explosive thing in people's lives. They've never integrated all that information in one place at one time. We've just been amazed at the results." (Dr Ralph Winter, USCentre for World Mission).

"The on-going work of evangelising the world, especially the unreached people groups where there are presently no churches or witnesses, is a primary responsibility of Christians everywhere. There is no other course of which I know that will inform, inspire and motivate Christians for world evangelisation......it will stretch your mind, warm your heart and stir your will" (Dr Billy Graham)

"The Perspectives Course is brilliant. It has widened my horizons for what's going on in missions. It's stretched my knowledge and clarified lots, including some of what we were doing in Pakistan. It's strengthened my commitment to God's worldwide mission. I commend it highly. No Christian should stay home without it. " (Canon John Thew, Federal Secretary Church Missionary Society Australia)

" The Perspectives course shakes us in our parochialism, it focuses on the world and away from our little corner. It forces students to "look at the fields". Excellent and rewarding. " (Dr Robert Benn, former National Coordinator Australian Presbyterian World Mission)

"The Perspectives course has opened my eyes to a whole new world! A world with many needs and challenges. I see now that I have a part to play in meeting those needs and challenges. Perspectives offers the means of equipping people as well as calling them to take part in God's mandate for missions." (Student)

"Perspectives reveals that the command to make disciples of all nations is not a vague, general command to the Church, but is directed at me personally in a very practical way." (Student)

"This course has broadened my vision. It has led me to know what it means to be a World Christian." (Student)

"Perspectives must be the best 'taster' course around for missions. It is a must for anyone thinking of going, praying, motivating or sending. All Christians should have some exposure to the contents of this course." (Student)

"I have personally found the Perspectives programme to be a life changing experience which has given me a clear understanding of Christ's global cause." (Student)

"I found the course exciting and challenging." (Student)

 

PERSPECTIVES IN AUSTRALIA
Following the example of New Zealand, Perspectives was first taught in Australia in 1991. Since then over 250 courses have been run with over 3100 people taking part. The programme is under the overall coordination of Joanne & Ray Green (Tasmania) and courses are now being run in almost every Australian state.

PERSPECTIVES IN NEW ZEALAND
The first Perspectives course in New Zealand was held in 1987. Since then almost 3,500 New Zealanders have done the course. Around 200 courses have been run in New Zealand during that time in a variety of churches and Bible Colleges. The course has had such an impact that Patrick Johnstone comments as follows in the New Zealand entry in"Operation World" (1993:415): "The missions vision of the New Zealand church is an example to many other lands. A new surge of interest has followed the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement courses, and many new candidates for missions are coming forward".

 

•General Information •

A. TYPES OF PERSPECTIVES COURSES

The Perspectives course comes in three main categories: Residential Courses, Church Courses and Bible College Courses. Church Courses are our main focus, offering the Perspectives course in churches throughout Australia. Students are mainly drawn from the church concerned, but church courses are not denominational in nature.
 

B. PERSPECTIVES COURSE LENGTH

Each Perspectives course, the Standard Perspectives (formerly Part One) and Advanced Perspectives, (formerly Part Two), consists of 13 lessons and take 13 weeks or an equivalent length of course and study time, e.g., a two weeks residential course.
 

C. PERSPECTIVES COURSE CERTIFICATE

At the conclusion of each course those people who have attended at least 11 out of 13 Perspectives classes and completed all study requirements receive a certificate of achievement. This certificate is issued by the National Perspectives office.
 

D. CROSS-CREDITING WITHIN PERSPECTIVES

Most students enrolled in the Perspectives programme will not be doing the course for academic credit, apart from students enrolled in Bible college programmes. Nevertheless, it may be possible for students doing the course in a non-Bible college setting to cross-credit their course into a Bible college programme. Students who wish to exercise this cross-crediting option are encouraged to write for details to their chosen Bible college.
 

E. COURSE COORDINATORS

In line with the policy followed in United States and New Zealand, all Perspectives courses are run by coordinators who have completed a Perspectives course to the standard as above and a Coordinator Workshop run by an authorised Coordinator Workshop leader. Coordinator Workshop leaders are experienced course coordinators and are authorised by the Centre for Mission Direction. Coordinator Workshop leaders are kept in touch on a regular basis with current developments. They have the responsibility of oversight of and liaison with those people coordinating a Perspectives course in their area.
 

F. FOLLOW-UP MATERIALS

After completing Perspectives, most students like to get involved in completing the task of World Evangelisation, either as mission mobilisers, active senders or by cross-culturally communicating the gospel. Some graduates become a PSP partner and receive the quarterly newsletter Window on the World to stay informed.