MISSIONS - MS 518Fall Term 2011, Wednesdays: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.Reformed Theological Seminary/CharlotteDr. John W. P. OliverCourse DescriptionThis course examines issues in the world mission enterprise in light of today’s challenges,opportunities, and obligations. The biblical mandate for missions is clarified, the historical spreadof Christianity with missionary movements and leaders is reviewed, and barriers to missions areexamined. Contemporary issues is present-day missionary endeavors are mentioned briefly atterm’s end, but cannot be dealt with extensively in a two-hour introductory course in missions.Such issues would form a considerable part of the content of a subsequent course in missions,were there such in our present curriculum. Course goals1. To inform the student on the role of the pastor in leading the congregation in obedience tothe Great Commission.2. To enable the student to understand the biblical/theological basis of world evangelization;that world evangelization is the goal of the Gospel. It is not an option; it is an obligation.3. To introduce the student to the general history and the leading personalities of the Christianworld of missions, the realm of international missionary cooperation, and authentic evangelicalecumenicity.4. To develop a strategy for missions that will be personally, professionally anddenominationally effective in programming the local church into the biblical mission as given byour Risen Lord.5. The course will introduce the student to the resources available for continuing growth in thestudy and presentation of the mandate given by our Lord to evangelize the world.Means of Achieving the Aims1. The student has the assignment to read one missionary biography (previously unread by thestudent!) that is legitimately book-length (no evangelical cliff notes, please!), which will bepresented in a one or two page written report. The biography is about a missionary (technically)as opposed to evangelists or other outstanding leaders (Billy Graham, George Whitefield et al) ora movement (such as the Welsh Revival of 1904). Ideally the student will select a missionaryabout which little is previously known. The idea is to learn of someone basically unknownheretofore to the student (Who are Mary Slessor, “Praying Hyde,” Henry Martyn etc?) OnSeptember 21, 2011 the student’s selection should be turned in (typed, please) on a sheet ofpaper that includes on successive lines, in order, the student’s name, the missionary’s name, thename of the biography with the author, publisher and number of pages. Copies of the writtenreport (Two pages at most; one, if possible!) are to be provided for the professor and each classmember. This written assignment is due on October 19, 2011.2. A brief (and somewhat polemical!) essay of three to five pages dealing the method ofproviding missionary support is to be submitted. The essay is to look at both sides of the issue ofthe so-called “faith mission” means of missionary support vis-a-vis missionary salaries paid from ageneral (denominational or agency) fund. While the essay should look at both sides of the issue, itshould argue for one position as well as shore up the view that missionaries should itinerate tosecure prayer support from individuals, Christian groups and congregations. This is dueNovember 16, 2011.3. The reading of the primary text, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, should be basically dividedby the weeks of the term. (490 pages divided by thirteen weeks in the term equals 38 pages aweek!). The subjects of class presentations will often (generally) coordinate with information fromthe sections of the book. Tucker’s book is very readable and should be enjoyed as the mind andheart are informed and moved. Please - stay current in reading Tucker’s book!4. A short-answer examination during the period for finals will principally review materialdiscussed in class which in most cases will coordinate with the material in From Jerusalem toIrian Jaya. Two questions to be answered along with the final examination (which if answeredpositively will be a nice help toward a good grade) will be whether or not both required textbooks (From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya and Back to Jerusalem) have been read in their entirety.Without doing the required reading, it is not possible to receive higher that a C+ even if all othergrades are an A!Field Trip to JAARS at WaxhawOn Wednesday TBA the class will assemble at 1:00 p.m. at the JAARS (Jungle Aviation andRadio Service) headquarters in Waxhaw, N.C. Annually, the staff there provides a mostinformative tour for the Missions Classes at RTS. The tour will be completed by 3:00 p.m. Classmembers are invited to be Dr. Oliver’s guests for lunch in the JAARS cafeteria. General servingbegins at Noon, and, by special arrangement to assist class members, will continue until 12:30p.m. Those who have a morning class lasting until Noon should ask the professor to be excusedat 11:40 a.m. if they wish to have lunch in the JAARS cafeteria. Students should allow forty-fiveminutes to drive from the campus to JAARS, park and be in the serving line before 12:30 p.m.The class will assemble (at 1:00 p.m.) in the small auditorium just beyond the main entrance/lobbyof the main building. Attendance will be taken. This is always a highlight for our MissionsClasses here at RTS. The Lord has raised up JAARS and used it in amazing ways to further theGospel, especially through Bible translation. Directions to JAARS will be provided in class.Class ParticipationPrayer for MissionsEach student enrolled for credit will take a turn leading in prayer for the country (countries)named for the a Wednesday date beginning with March 12 in Operation World. Before theprayer, a THREE-MINUTE (ONLY) summary about the country to be prayed for should begiven from material in Operation World. Of particular interest in the three-minute summarywould be, for example, the percentage of Christians to total population, several of the majormissionary agencies at work in that country etc. (Keep the summary CONCISE andmemorable!)Presentation of Missionary AgenciesEach student enrolled for credit will present a one-page, single-spaced