Check it out!
Are you considering working toward a first or second Master’s Degree? Would you like to refresh your spirit, sharpen some skills or dialogue with others involved in ministry? For many years NTS has been pursuing creative and dynamic ways to help encourage, equip, and empower women and men to be faithful and effective ministers of the Gospel. In addition to our regular semester-long course offerings, we also offer continuing education seminars and lectures (see back cover for a list), ministry area certificate specializations, one week and two week intensive modular courses, as well as online courses (log on to www.nts.edu to view our catalog and the course schedule for next year).
With this in mind, we want to share with you several exciting course offerings available this summer (delivered as one week or two week intensive classes). To learn more about enrolling in or auditing these or other courses, log on to www.nts.edu/nts-course-schedules or contact the Office of Admissions at enroll@nts.edu or at 1.800.831.3011, ext. 5452.
May 26 – 30, 2008 – Readings in Missional Theology (THE790)
Professors: Ron Benefiel (NTS President) and Dean Blevins (NTS Professor of Christian Education; Director, Master of Arts in Christian Education Degree Program)
This course is a survey of a new-yet-old theological approach to ministry in light of the Missio Dei (mission of God) in local contexts. This course explores the theoretical influences, historical emergence and current expression of engaging the gospel in our cultural context.
June 23-27, 2008 – Youth Spirituality and Spiritual Formation (CED790)
Professors: Dean Blevins (NTS Professor of Christian Education; Director, Master of Arts in Christian Education Degree Program) and Mike King (NTS Adjunct Faculty; President, YouthFront; Administrative Pastor, Jacob’s Well)
Explorations into the contemporary spiritual lives of youth afford youth ministers an opportunity to develop new and innovative approaches to spiritual formation both for and with adolescents. This course explores one such approach to youth spirituality and youth spiritual formation through intensive settings such as retreats, pilgrimages, short term missions and camp ministries. The course utilizes one of the more innovative approaches to youth formation occurring through YouthFront a national youth ministry resource with specialized camp ministries just south of Kansas City. The course allows participants the opportunity to explore the spiritual lives of youth, engage in formation practices with youth alongside recreational settings, and imagine the possibilities of similar ministry approaches in their own contexts.
June 30 – July 11, 2008 – Financial Management for Christian Ministry (PTH720)
Professor: D. Martin Butler (NTS Dean for Administration and Student Services)
Managing the finances of a Christian ministry has always been a challenge, as is illustrated by the fact that even Jesus had to resort to finding money in a fish to pay the temple dues. The course, Financial Management for Christian Ministry helps students wrestle with the issue of how to raise and how to spend money in the 21st century church. It examines biblical and theological foundations for handling money as well as looking at ways to budget, forecast income, raise money to conduct building programs, keep financial records, teach personal financial management to parishioners, and be good stewards of the resources we have. Come join us for the class and bring your fishing pole. We might just catch some fish with money in their mouths!
July 14 – 19, 2008 – Clergy Self-Care: Survival Skills for Lifelong Ministry (PTH790)
Professor: Judith Schwanz (NTS Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling)
This course offers a study of individual and organizational strategies to enhance long-term ministerial well-being, as well as an investigation of relational systems and the dynamics of clergy burnout. Students will explore personal and systemic vulnerabilities and strengths while developing a theological understanding of self-care.
Posted on
Mon, March 31, 2008
by NTS Connection