Skip to main content

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” — Luke 23:42

Critical Global Issues Study Guides
Subscribe by RSS

 

Critical Global Issues Study Guides

These study guides are for mission co-workers to complete before orientation. Please answer the questions for each study guide and email your answers to Del Braaksma before January 14th, 2013.

Critical Global Issue #1

  • Question #1: What are the possible symptoms of poverty in a particular culture? What are the causes of poverty? What is the difference?
  • Go to http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/world-mission/global-discipleship/. Read the section called "We will identify and address the root causes of poverty, particularly as it impacts women and children."
  • Watch this video on Critical Global Issue #1: Poverty.
  • PC(USA) has adapted The Community Health Evangelism (CHE) initiative, a form of outreach that combines community health and development, evangelism and discipleship, is a growing model of ministry in Africa. Read about one of the church's mission co-workers, Kari Nicewander, and how she uses the CHE model: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/missionconnections/nicewander-kari-and-dejong-joel/
  • Question #2: After reading section 1 of the critical global issues statements entitled "We will identify and address the root causes of poverty, particularly as it impacts women and children," which of the situations or issues mentioned there do you think are more likely to be present in your country of service and related to your assignment?

 

Critical Global Issue #2

  • Question #1: In her book Graceful Evangelism, Frances Adeney, Professor of Evangelism and Global Mission at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, says the following: "The word evangelism evokes strong reactions from Christians and no-Christians in American society today. To many Christians it is a word full of hope . . . To other christains evangelism is "The E word." Evangelism is an outdated way to alienate non-Christians and embarrass the church." Frances Adeney, Graceful Evangelism, Baker Academic, 2010. Where do you fall the spectrum? Why?
  • Go to http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/world-mission/global-discipleship/ and the read the section called "Together with other members of Christ’s body, we will share the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ."
  • Question #2: Read Acts 14:17. "Yet he (GOD)has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." How does this fit in with this critical global issue?
  • Go to http://www.pcusa.org/resource/turn-living-god-call-evangelism-jesus-christs-way/ and download the document "Turn to the living God." Read the section called "Part II. Evangelism in Jesus Christ's Way." As you read fill in the blanks:

Jesus Identified with the People of____________________________
Jesus Evangelized with ____________________________
Jesus Evangelized with ____________________________
Jesus Evangelized by ____________________________
Jesus Evangelized Through ____________________________
Jesus Evangelized with ____________________________
Jesus Evangelized Through ____________________________
Jesus Evangelized Through ____________________________
Jesus Evangelized by Living and Calling ____________________________

  •  Question #3: Can you predict which of these above you will possibly be using in the field the most?
  •  Watch this video on Critical Global Issue #2: Evangelism.
  • Question #4: After reading section 2 of the critical global issues statements entitled "Together with other members of Christ’s body, we will share the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ,"  which of the opportunities mentioned there do you think are more likely to be present in your country of service and related to your assignment?

Critical Global Issue #3

  • Question #1: Contemplate these questions and jot down your thoughts:
  • What words, thoughts or images come to mind when you hear the word violence?
  • What words, thoughts or images come to mind when you hear the word reconciliation?
  • What words, thoughts or images come to mind when you hear the word forgiveness?
  • What words, thoughts or images come to mind when you hear the word peacemaking