Upcoming Workshops

IFD100 How to Provide Your Workshop Online -- September 13-24, 2010 --$100

This is a two-week workshop designed to familiarize participants with the mission of the Institute for Discipleship and BeADisciple.com, the basics of planning and teaching online workshops, and the basics of the use of Blackboard software. Participants will complete a series of exercises. In the first week, you will use the software as a student in order to give you familiarity with the perspective of the "students" in online workshops. You will also begin to think about a potential workshop you might want to offer online. In the second week you will be given a workshop site of your own to administer as if you were leading a workshop. Many participants who come into the How To workshop with ideas end up developing much of their actual workshop in the second week. Once you have completed the How To workshop, you will be certified to offer your own workshop through the Institute for Discipleship and BeADisciple.com.

If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.

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Living into the Answers: A Workshop on Personal Spiritual Discernment -- August 16-27, 2010 -- $100

Are you facing a decision?

How do you know what God wants you to do?

The Art of spiritual discernment involves asking these questions and then living into the answers. This workshop provides students with the opportunity to explore the process of discernment in an on-line setting. The course utilizes the content of the Circles of Discernment as a guide for learning the discernment process.

The workshop is based on the book – Living into the Answers: A Workbook for Personal Spiritual Discernment by Valerie K. Isenhower & Judith A. Todd (Upper Room 2008). It will be led by the authors beginning August 16, 2010. Participants will need to purchase a copy of the workbook available from Upper Room Books.

If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.

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How to Become a Disciple Online Facilitator -- October or November, 2010 -- $50

Do you have persons in your congregation who are missing out on DISCIPLE because of their schedules? Do you have some whose travel keeps them from committing to a weekly class meeting? Do you have some who might like to take DISCIPLE with others who have a similar life experience? How about the appeal of participating in a serious, tranformational Bible experience with other Christians from around the world?

The Institute for Discipleship is providing an opportunity for Christian leaders to participate in DISCIPLE Bible Study -- online!

In this workshop, DISCIPLE Bible Study facilitators will learn how to facilitate this amazing, life-transforming 34-week walk through the Bible in an online format using one of the top educational online software packages available. Used primarily for college online course curriculum, BeADisciple.com offers this software for use for online workshops and other educational opportunities to nurture and enrich Christian leaders, lay and clergy, for effective living and ministry.

What better way to nurture and enrich Christian leaders, and to make disciples of Jesus Christ, than through DISCIPLE Bible Study?!

The course will be offered in October or November 2010, at the cost of $50. To learn more about Disciple Online, please visit www.BeADisciple.com/discipleonline.

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Disciple Making 101 - September 13 to November 8, 2010 -- $20

What is the simplest system one can use to make disciples and mature them spiritually to the point where they can make their own disciples?

A flood of new ideas and methods in evangelism has made us skeptical. The innovation that is needed in churches today is far more elementary yet entirely sufficient: Jesus is Lord.

How can we overcome resistance to this innovation?

This workshop offers a specific, step by step plan of spiritual formation based on the discipleship systems of the world's largest and fastest growing churches.

Participants will learn practical spiritual disciplines based on the Great Commission that operate in pre-venient as well as sanctifying grace to develop Christians into better disciples and then disciple makers.

This online workshop is based on Dr. David Kueker's 2007 Doctor of Ministry project on evangelism, church growth and organizational change at Fuller Theological Seminary (www.disciplewalk.com).

This seven session course at an introductory rate is a great way to try out online learning at BeADisciple.com.

Participation limited to 18. It will be offered September 13 to November 8, 2010.

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Writing (or Editing) Your Safe Sanctuary Policy -- September 13 to October 9, 2010 --$150 (for church team of 3 people)

This four-week online workshop for United Methodist congregations instructed by Beth Perry will help you write (or edit) a Safe Sanctuary policy. It is for congregations who care about their children but who haven’t yet put a policy in place and/or congregations who have a policy that needs to be edited. There must be three participants from each congregation (examples): the pastor, another staff person or a representative of SPRC; a representative of the Trustees; and a representative of the children/youth ministries. These three people will be the basis for the congregation’s Safe Sanctuary committee. Each congregation will need a copy of the most recent edition of Joy Thornburgh Melton’s book Safe Sanctuaries which participants can share or a copy for each participant. Each participant will need a computer and internet connection – dial up, cable, DSL, etc. – and an email address.

You’ll be participating online using Blackboard software provided by www.BeADisciple.com. Students will be instructed on the use of the Blackboard software and technical help will be available throughout the four weeks. You’ll learn why congregations should have a Safe Sanctuary policy; who to include in your Safe Sanctuary committee, what the Safe Sanctuary Policy and Response Plan are; how to get them approved in your local congregation; how to implement the policy once its written; and unique issues that may arise in different congregations.

You’ll have access to the website throughout the entire four weeks and be able to work at a time most convenient for your daily schedule. There will be daily assignments, including evaluating sample or existing policies. You’ll receive information, read, and discuss with other participants in a discussion board and chat room format. You’ll draft your policy, get feedback, and make revisions. And by the end of the four weeks, you’ll have a policy ready to send to your Trustees and Church Council for approval. You may also choose to sign up for an additional six weeks of contact to support you through the approval process.

What benefit do you get from participation? Compliance with denominational and Annual Conference requirements! Continuing Education Units, if you need them! But more importantly, the Safe Sanctuary policies protect your children and youth, your teachers and leaders, and your congregation’s reputation and resources! What better benefit to you than to know you are helping in such a great mission?

One person from each congregation should register and pay the full amount. Then the representative should send the name and email address of the two additional people to Lisa Buffum at beadisciple@sckans.edu. In addition, you can schedule six weeks of support while you get your policy approved. The additional time will consist of once-a-week conference calls or chat room conversations and will cost an additional $50.

If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.

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High Touch Through High Tech -- September 13-17, 2010-- $55

The high tech revolution has permeated culture at every level without much consideration of its consequences to humanity. The Church finds itself in a unique position to powerfully offer a high touch in the relationally-deprived desert of a high tech culture. Our workshop leader, Rev. John Zimmerman, has conducted years of "experiments" in the local church attempting to understand and apply the benefits of high tech in the Church. The results have been amazing and totally unexpected. Pastor John has witnessed transformation through internet technologies such as church websites, social networking sites, instant messaging, twitter, webcasting, texting, ect.

In this 5-day workshop the participant will be invited to consider high tech opportunities as more than information-sharing. You will discover the transformational possibilites that the high touch of the Church can bring to the high tech culture which you can easily implement into your own local setting. The workshop will utilize reading assignments, discussion boards and two live interactive online sessions to take you to the next level of implementing internet technologies as a tool for high touch transformation. (While technical expertise is not necessary, the participant is expected to be comfortable using applications such as FaceBook, Twitter, texting, and user-friendly website design.)

If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.

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Wholeness: The Healings of Jesus -- January, 2011 -- $85

A personal relationship with Jesus connects us with His healing power. We will explore how the healing power of Jesus impacts us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. God invites all Christians to move toward wholeness in mind, body and spirit!

In this video series course, participants will hear, read about and discuss 5 ways in which God brings wholeness. Partipants will also learn about and discuss wholeness as it relates to emotional, spiritual, physical and relational well-being.)

The OMNI Centre for Public Media, Inc. is a non-profit organization headquartered in Central Indiana that produces and distributes public service and public information programming. The Center has an extensive portfolio of programming including public service, educational, safety, and human interest content delivered through various media including television, cable, online, and DVD.

This workshop will begin July 5, 2010, and is offered by Greg McGarvey. If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.

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Emergency Preparedness for Houses of Worship -- September 13-24, 2010 -- $150

Think it will never happen to you? Diasters only happen to others? Doing nothing is a strategic approach -- one fraught with danger.

This two-week intensive video series course explores the vulnerabilities and risks that may be faced by houses of worship and the people who use and support them. The course will focus on real, not imagined threats, and will incorporate challenges and problems faced by real organizations. Students will learn first hand what to focus on, how to prioritize, and how public authorities will respond. Students will learn the critical difference between responses and reactions.

The course will explore successful mitigation strategies and students will have an opportunity to share best practices with each other and the instructors. The course will also cover the important tenets of emergency response planning.

It is not a matter of if, but when.

This workshop will begin September 13, 2010, and is offered by Peter Beering . If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.

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Biblical Storytelling I -- September 20 - October 3, 2010 --$50

This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Speaking Ministries.

Learning the sacred stories of Scripture by heart and sharing them with others is both an ancient-future art and a powerful spiritual practice. This workshop’s methods, developed by the Network of Biblical Storytellers International, are for everyone who wishes to learn, to tell and to connect with God and other people through sacred story – yes, you can do it too! By the end of the two-week workshop you will be able to share at least one text with others by heart, and you will understand how this completely non-technological art fits into a digital-communications world. Whether you work with children in Sunday School or dream of bringing Scripture to life in worship or elsewhere, your ministry and your spirit will be enriched by this art.

This is a two-week introduction to the ancient-future art and spiritual discipline of telling the sacred stories of Scripture. Participants will learn to prepare, learn, and tell a Biblical text by heart (not “memory”) using the methods of the Network of Biblical Storytellers International. The workshop is taught by NBS member and United Methodist deacon Beth Galbreath.

This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Speaking Ministries.

If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.

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Biblical Storytelling II -- November 7-December 2, 2010 --$75 (There will be a six-day break for Thanksgiving)

This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Speaking Ministries.

This workshop expands on the methods taught in Biblical Storytelling I. It explores a number of storytelling genres as well as telling the Biblical text, including midrash, chancel drama, first-person storytelling, puppetry, and more. The workshop also offers specific ideas for learning tough passages, using and not abusing voice and body, and enhancing tellings with props, digital media and more, with children and adults. It also suggests ways to deepen your practice of this art as a personal spiritual discipline. Anyone who is already practicing the art of storytelling, Biblical or secular, is welcome; Biblical Storytelling I is an excellent starting place for those new to the art but is not required. In this three-week workshop you will dive deeper into developing your unique storytelling “voice,” expand your technique and polish your art.

Biblical Storytelling I is not a prerequisite for Biblical Storytelling II, but previous storytelling experience is highly recommended.

The workshop is offered by experienced storyteller, Beth Galbreath, beginning November 7, 2010.

This course has been approved by the General Board of Discipleship as an advanced course in Lay Speaking Ministries.

If you have questions about how online workshops work, please check our FAQ's page.

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