November 01, 1996 by Amy Barstad

Before I took the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course, I felt like I was driving my car in the dead of winter with a broken defroster. I was able to do the basics. I could see enough to drive to work and the store by rubbing a temporary hole in the fog on my windshield. Spiritually, I knew Jesus died for my sins and He loved me, yet I couldn't see beyond my small routine of life. I never strayed outside my well worn path, because I couldn't see well.

"Taking Perspectives fixed my defroster. A small clear hole began to grow so that I could see God's bigger plan for the world. Instead of trying to fit God into my little agenda, I began to ask God how I fit into His. Gradually it became clear God wanted to partner with me to see His name known and worshipped among every people group.

"God used Perspectives to clarify my life hope and purpose. I've dedicated my life to knowing Jesus and doing the things He is doing, that is, inviting the world to a radical worship service (Rev. 7:9). Now I work with the Caleb Resources, facilitating the Perspectives program in churches throughout Colorado."

What is Perspectives?

Perspectives is a dynamic 15-week course which teaches the history and biblical basis for the missionary movement and unfolds the roles of culture and strategy in completing world evangelization. The course features local and national missions speakers who use their own experience and scholarship to inspire and direct believers who are searching for their role in God's kingdom. This program arose from a vision of the U.S. Center. As it spread across North America, Perspectives has mobilized many laborers for the harvest fields. Christians taking it together are challenged and envision how their churches can be strategically involved in world evangelization. Perspectives is one of the best ways to activate a church in ministry to the world.

Perspectives in Colorado

Since 1988, Colorado has held more than 50 Perspectives courses for more than 1,200 students. This wouldn't be possible without the work of Caleb Resources, an organization born in 1980 by Perspectives alumni from a course at Penn State University. Today, Perspectives still fits perfectly with Caleb Resources's mission: mobilizing and equipping the Church to complete the task of world evangelization. Currently, Caleb Resources is working with Colorado churches to promote nine Perspectives courses which will begin in January 1997.

The Perspectives program in Colorado has three goals:

1. Mobilize host churches to adopt an unreached people group.
2. Facilitate teamwork and unity among different denominations and churches.
3. Foster a movement towards missions in Colorado.

Perspectives and People Group Adoption

Faith Bible Chapel of Arvada has adopted a Central Asian Muslim group and sent a church planting team to the field through Overseas Missionary Fellowship. Cherry Hills Community Church of Highlands Ranch has adopted the Chantik of Indonesia and will send a church planting team through Pioneers in 1997. Living Way Fellowship in Littleton publicly adopted a Muslim group in Southeast Asia, and Orchard Road Christian Center and Cherry Creek Presbyterian are at the initial stages of targeting Muslim groups in China. Other churches, like St. John's Lutheran of Denver, are just beginning to pray about which group God would have them adopt. Although the number of unreached people groups is staggering, the number of evangelical churches in North America alone is at least 600 times bigger! People group adoption is strategic, and Perspectives can play a key role.

What Kind of Churches Host the Perspectives Course?

Our main purpose is to ignite a whole church body to fulfill its God- given role in world evangelization. For this reason we have three criteria for host churches:

1. Church leadership must be involved in Perspectives and open to adopt an unreached people group. We don't want Perspectives to be another sidelined mission activity only for "mission fanatics." On the contrary, we desire to work with the leadership to see the whole congregation embrace its calling in world evangelization.
2. A team of people from the host church must commit to help coordinate the course. The tasks of securing speakers, promoting and managing the course, as well as relating to students, is too great for one person. Usually alumni from surrounding churches also join the team. It is more efficient, healthy and enjoyable to work together as a team to coordinate Perspectives.
3. Each host church must desire to work with other denominations. As students come together from different churches, they will befriend believers from different theological backgrounds, sometimes for the first time. In Colorado, host churches work together in "triplets" to maximize their efforts. Together, they can bring in excellent speakers who teach the three classes on consecutive nights: one church Sunday, the next on Monday and the final on Tuesday.

So How Does This Relate to You?

Are you confused about your life purpose? Do you feel like your defroster is broken? Have you been praying to see more clearly what God is doing and how you can join Him? Do you long for your church to see things from God's perspective? Then Perspectives in the course for you!

Taking the Perspectives course is a great first step in joining God as He draws some from every tongue, tribe, nation and people to the most awesome worship service ever!

Join us in a class in 1997 in Colorado or contact the Perspectives department at the U.S. Center for World Mission at (818) 398-2125 for the class nearest you.

Winter Park Christian Center 540 Zerex, Fraser; Sundays, Jan. 12- April 20, 6:00-9:00 p.m. Contact: Don & Mari McDavid (970) 726-4494

Faith Bible Chapel, 12189 W. 64th Ave, Arvada; Mondays, Jan. 13- April 21, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Contact: Cathy Smoot (303) 456-9597

Calvary Temple, 200 S. University, Denver; Tuesdays, Jan. 14-April 22, 6:30-9:30 p.m Contact: Trinah Cochran (303) 333-9153

Cherry Hills, 3900 E. Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch; Sundays, Jan. 19- April 27, 6:00-9:00 p.m. Contact: David & Sharon Dodrill (303) 987- 2975

Galilee Baptist, 1091 S. Parker Rd., Denver, CO; Mondays, Jan. 20- April 28, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Contact: Marjorie Shelley (303) 691-2365

Centennial Community, 6657 W. Ottawa Ave., Littleton, CO; Tuesdays Jan. 21-April 29, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Contact: Bill & Susan Scott (303) 781-3512

Woodmen Valley, 477 Woodmen, Colorado Springs; Sundays, Feb. 2-May 11, 6:00-9:00 p.m. Contact: Harold & Gwen Britton (719) 531-3598

Aurora South Vineyard, E. Smokey Hill Rd., Aurora, CO; Mondays, Feb. 3-May 12 6:30-9:30 p.m. Contact: John & Rona Durnell (303)693-5875

Covenant Pres., 2845 Parliament Dr., Colorado Springs; Tuesdays, Feb. 4-May 13, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Contact: Mike Brown (719) 594-2085

For general information contact: Amy Barstad at Caleb Resources 10 W. Dry Creek Cir. Littleton, CO 80120 Tel. (303) 730-4170; Fax (303) 730-4177 email: [email protected]