Instructor(s)

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course equips students with the dynamics of the urban area and how to plant healthy churches that will be self-governing, self-propagating and self-supporting. Attention will be given to reaching the lost in multi-housing communities.

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course the student will:

1. Define a church in a manner that consistent with the Bible, modern church planting strategy and a particular culture.

2. Present the cultural factors involved in church planting

3. Evaluate several church planting models that are making disciples in the contemporary West African urban context.

4. Implement Learned principles into the development of a strategic church multiplication plan.

III. COURSE CONTENT

Topics

1.   Introduction to the Basis and Basics of Missions and Church Planting

2.   Who plants churches? The Make-up of a planter

3.   Leaders and leadership in church planting contexts

4.   Church planting models

5.   Strategic thinking, planning and implementation

6.   Strategy and Evangelism in church planting

7.   Ministry, Money and Meeting places in church planting

8.   Values, Mission and the Functions of a church

9.   Church growth barriers and church health

10. Mistakes church planters make, Cultural factors involved in church planting

11. Making Disciples, Addition vs Multiplication

12. Writing and implementation of a strategic church multiplication plan

13. Church Mapping and Stronghold using Geographic Positioning System (GPS) and Google maps.

IV.  MODE OF DELIVERY

Students will learn from reading, classroom discussions, course assignments, and lectures.

V.     READING MATERIALS

1. Bennardo, Tom (2019). The Honest Guide to Church Planting: What No One Ever Tells You about Planting and Leading a New Church. Grand rapids, MI.: Zondervan.

2. Hesselgrave, D. J. (2000). Planting churches cross-culturally. 2nd ed. Ada, MI.: Baker Book House

3. Kraft, C. (2003). Anthropology for Christian Witness. Maryknoll, NY.: Orbis Books

4. Malphurs, A. (2011). The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting: A Guide for Starting Any Kind of Church. Ada, MI.: Baker Books.

5. McGavran, Donald A. (1998). Revised and Edited by C. Peter Wagner. Understanding Church Growth. Grand Rapids, MI.: Eerdmans. 

6. Stetzer, Ed. (2006). Planting Missional Churches. B & H Academic.

7. Wagner, C. Peter. (1989). Strategies for Church Growth: Tools for Effective Mission and Evangelism. Ventura, CA.: Regal.

8. Wagner, C. Peter (2015). Breaking Spiritual Strongholds in Your City. Shippensburg, PA.: Destiny Image.