What this is all about

Welcome to Sr. Bible. I know you have all read this before (you picked this course) but I thought I'd put it up as a reminder as we go through this term. We'll discuss my madness behind the words as we delve deeper into the course. In developing this course I wanted to make sure that the ideas and questions being discussed were ones that I have at some point or still am struggling with in my life. I am not an answer genie and I will require that you think, hard, about these concepts and share your opinions. They count. A lot. I'm not sure if any of these questions posed will get an actual concrete, universally accepted answer but I'm willing to work at them with you. I'd like to guarantee this course will change you (I can't) but if your willing to journey with me, welcome aboard.

Missions. The word permeates Christian culture. It’s in churches, youth groups, and schools. It’s connected to the spread of the gospel and occasionally a project of some sort. How does missions fit with aide? Is a missions trip a form of aide? Does time count more than money? Does your money even matter? Can your life be “a mission field” or do you have to leave North America? Missions and aide and the role that Christians have to play in both has the potential to change lives radically, but what do they have to do with you? This course will focus on looking critically at the place of missions and aide within the Christian community. In this we will look at the culture surrounding the idea of both short and long term missions and some of the issues that arise around assumptions made about both. As well we will have the opportunity to converse with several non-profit aide organizations about their roles in the area in which they have chosen to engage culture. Above all this class is aimed at being an opportunity to have frank discussions about a topic often looked at as needing the “calling of God” in order to engage it. But what if HE has called all of us?