World missions strategies course

TL;DR:
This page is a hub of links to resources for a course on strategies for global evangelism and cross-cultural ministry. Framed as “Coffee Break on the Mission Field,” it examines real-world issues missionaries discuss: using media such as radio, nurturing partnerships between missionaries and national church leaders, leadership training, church planting, Bible translation, education for missionary children, and resource stewardship. The page links to course essentials—syllabus, study guides, topic-paper examples, case studies, conflict-management tools, and multimedia such as TED Talks and presentations on community development and the 10/40 Window.

A course in missions methodology

Open Educational Resources

This page and the resources linked from it are Open Educational Resources (OER).

This course explores methods and strategies used in Christian missions. I have sometimes informally subtitled it “Coffee Break on the Mission Field” because we discuss many of the issues missionaries talk about when they get together:

Use of radio in evangelism
Relationships between missionaries and national church leaders
Leadership training models
Beginning ministry in countries new to the denomination
Church planting
Bible translation
Educating missionary children
Resource management in Christian missions

Course resources

Syllabus
TED Talk: “What Happens When an NGO Admits Failure”
10 Imperatives for Christian missionaries
Conflict management strategies
Case studies
- Group conversion
- Tough times -- breakup of a missionary team
- Roberto de Nobili: A case study in accommodation
Reflections of a missionary on home assignment
10/40 Window explanation and map
Cycle of despair for the poor in lower-income countries
World population statistics, number of languages and other global data
PDF presentation: Christian community development
Working in groups: Unwelcome group members
Exam study guides
Sample “topic paper” ideas
Sample “topic” paper

In the “What-will-they-think-of-next?” department

Check out the new bullet-proof polo shirts at geek.com. (Just go to https://newatlas.com/bullet-proof-polo-shirt/10187/.) These might seem like the latest fashion-conscious missionary garments. However, check out the price tag.

Writing standards

Most courses at SNU contain a writing component. I expect students' written work to be focused, well-developed, organized, and relatively free of grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors. Papers falling far short of this standard may be returned to students without a grade for revision and resubmission. See my writing checklist.