We have a variety of courses and seminars available to churches, groups, organisations or individuals. To enquire further, discuss possibilities or to obtain a quote, please email . To book for individual places on existing courses, go to Booking.
Courses & Seminars:
- Serving as Senders - a day course equipping local churches to care for overseas workers
- All Change/New Directions - a day course or weekend retreat for those recently returned from overseas
- Ready Steady Go - a flexible orientation programme for those entering cross-cultural ministry
- British Culture Orientation - for those coming from overseas to work in the UK
- Ask OSCAR - a brief look at world mission resources on the web.
Serving as Senders
For those in sending churches and supportive individuals, who wish to care more effectively for their missionary friends
This one day seminar is run in partnership with local churches and can be conducted anywhere in the UK. It is designed to help churches care effectively for their overseas personnel and the programme is 'tailor made'. The material is loosely based on the 'Serving as Senders' book by Neal Pirolo, one of the most positively reviewed missionary books of the last decade. A typical day might include:
- Biblical basis of mission
- The role of the local church
- The importance of 'senders' & who sends them
- Pastoral care of overseas workers
- Understanding the strains and stresses of missionary life
- Support at important times: leaving home, furlough, re-entry
- Creative ways to keep in touch
- Effective prayer and financial support
- Effective mission committees
Optional sessions:
- Motivation for mission (being part of the bigger picture)
- Mission needs and opportunities
- Missionary selection
- Special needs of single workers and of missionary families
The course is led informally with a mixture of straight forward teaching and group participation. Well produced handouts accompany each session and use is made of video projector, OHP and video player where available.
There is opportunity for group discussion and case studies, and time to ask questions. It is sometimes possible to offer some of the optional sessions within the programme so that more issues can be covered.
It could be that your church is large enough to run a day for your own people. Church leaders, those involved on the Mission Committee, friends and relatives of missionaries, link people etc. would all benefit from the course. An alternative is for a church to host a course and invite other churches in the locality to join them.
“It was stimulating and challenging about
how to get your church interested in overseas
mission, something I'd been trying to do for
some time. No one else had so many ideas or
was so creative and it was all so interesting
and inspiring ... the best missionary day I had
been to."
Lenora Priestley, Christian Institute Church,
Oswaldtwistle
"It was spot on ... very useful for us as a church and for me as an
individual too. You have given us much to think about." Debbie Hawker, St.
Aldates, Oxford.
To download a brochure (in pdf format) about this course, go to www.oscar.org.uk/sas.pdf
Upcoming Courses open to outside bookings
Serving as Senders:
- Bristol: 26th October 2013 at Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church. £20 per person Info Here
All Change/New Directions
Re-entry Course/Retreat for mission workers returning to the UK
This can be run as a day training course (All Change) or a 2/3 day retreat (New Directions) with plenty of space to reflect.
The day sessions provide a 'toolkit' for mission workers just returned from overseas, to prepare them for re-entry. The retreat sessions include teaching, reflective activities and plenty of discussion and interaction. A booklet of handouts accompanies both courses.
Topics covered include:
- What is Re-entry?
- Transition, Change and Loss
- Changes in Church & Society
- Readjustment
- Re-entry Resources
There is the opportunity to tackle other practical subjects, as needed, drawing on the knowledge and expertise of OSCAR.
Upcoming Courses open to outside bookings
All Change:
- Gloucester: 21st September 2013 at Redcliffe College. £35 per person Book Here
Ready Steady Go
Preparation for cross-cultural ministry overseas
This includes a large range of orientation topics which can be customised to any situation and need. It could be a basic evening or half-day programme for church teams or individuals going on short-term mission, or it could be a more in depth course over several days for those going longer term (i.e. gap years).
Topics available include:
- Understanding Culture & Worldview
- Adaptation and Culture Shock
- Cross-cultural Communication
- The Bible & Culture
- Identification & Lifestyle
- Development & Mission
- The Future of Mission
- Understanding Myself & Others
- Pastoral Care Issues
- Staying Healthy
- Listening Skills
- Work/Life Balance
- Maintaining & Developing your walk with God
- Singles, Marrieds, Families & Children
There is the opportunity to tackle other practical subjects, as needed, drawing on the knowledge and expertise of OSCAR.
British Culture Orientation
Orientation for those from overseas coming to minister/work in the UK
Topics covered include:
- Understanding Culture
- Introduction to British Culture
- Changes in Society & Church
- Cultural Adaptation
There is the opportunity to tackle other practical subjects, as needed, drawing on the knowledge and expertise of OSCAR.
Ask OSCAR
This is a brief presentation looking at world mission resources on the Internet using the OSCAR website. It covers areas of interest for potential, current and former overseas workers, world mission supporters and those who care for mission workers in any way. This can be tailored to the group depending on whether they are mission personnel, supporters or those with a general interest in world mission.
Lasts approximately 1 hour, depending on what's required.
Makes use of a computer and projector which can both be supplied.
Any church, organisation or group can request a tailor made programme to suit its needs, anywhere in the UK (or overseas). If you have a rough idea of what you want we will happily give you a quote. Course venue, accommodation and refreshments/meals are usually the responsibility of the group requesting the course. Occasionally others who run courses open them up for participants from outside. Contact us to enquire about other courses already booked with us.
What have folks said about previous courses we have run?
'Mike was an excellent presenter, engaging and humourous - not an easy task'
'It was clear, user friendly, practical, relevant, concise, inspiring and all very helpful'
'Excellent - well planned and put together'
'Very stimulating and challenging ... very glad I came'
'Very, very helpful, now and in the future'
'Excellent handouts'
'I found the course exceptional'
'We really enjoyed the day and learnt so much from it'
'We believe the challenge and reminder was straight from the heart of God'
Some of these courses are offered in partnership with World Mission Consultancy. For further details on consultancy services related to any of these topics, see www.worldmission.co.uk or contact info@worldmission.co.uk.
( * Photo courtesy of the Plymouth Evening Herald)