MODULE 7 COMMUNITY OUTREACH DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPANT AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, SO I AM SENDING YOU AMBASSADORS fostering a new generation of spiritual leaders MODULE 7 COMMUNITY OUTREACH DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPANT AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, SO I AM SENDING YOU AMBASSADORS fostering a new generation of spiritual leaders All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Other version used: The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson All rights reserved. Primary contributors are Patty Prasada-roa and Charity García Layout, design, and graphics by Jonatan Tejel Photos: istockphoto.com, photodune.net Editorial work by Erica Jones and Maria Manderson AMBASSADORS Copyright © by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist® Youth Ministries Department www.gcyouthministries.org. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means— electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America Rights for publishing this book outside the U.S.A. or in non-English languages are administered by the Youth Ministries Department of the Seventh- day Adventist® Church. For additional information, please visit our website, www.gcyouthministries.org, email [email protected], or write to Youth Ministries Department, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® Church, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904, U.S.A. contents table of Welcome 9 Session Template 11 Session 1 - a model for christian community development outreach 13 Session 2 - what does it mean for Community development outreach to be church-based? 19 Session 3 - what does relocation mean for me? 27 Session 4 - how do I listen to the community? 33 Session 5 - redistribution of resources for everyone’s benefit 41 Session 6 - empowerment: “teach a man to fish…and own/maintain the pond!” 47 Session 7 - wholistic shalom: nothing missing, nothing broken 55 Acknowledgements The Ambassador Curriculum owes much to the extraordinary contribution and collaboration of many people, without whom its completion would have been almost impossible. We wish to thank: The writers: Gavin Anthony, Tim Lale, and Troy Fitzgerald. Gilbert Cangy, whose guidance, leadership and support brought this curriculum through the long process from birth to realization. Special thanks for reading the first draft and providing keen insight and practical guidance that made this resource an inestimably better one than it otherwise would have been. Special thanks for overseeing the development of the project goes to: Kathy Beagles and the Department of Discipleship and Religious Education at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Charity Garcia, our official Hub, for the extraordinary work she did in developing the curriculum and identifying/collaborating with the writers for all seven modules, and without whom the completion of this project would have been impossible. Silvia Sicalo, our savvy administrative assistant, who kept the emails going and made sure that deadlines were met. Erica Jones, for her copyediting expertise and attention to detail that prevented many early mistakes and helped create a wise and functional model. Jonatan Tejel, for his technical expertise and selfless willingness to help, and to Rodrigo Araya, whose technical help enriched the outcome. Maria Dunchie, for her creative contribution in design and support in other practical ways. Hiskia Missah, for his encouragement throughout this process. Task Force A special thanks to the team of Division Youth Directors who, under the chairmanship of Gilbert Cangy, served as task force to periodically review and provide constructive counsel through the process: Benjamin Carballo (Inter America), Busi Khumalo (Southern Africa Indian Ocean), James Black (North America), Jobbie Yabut (Southern Asia Pacific), Paul Tompkins (Trans European), and Ravindra Shankar (Southern Asia). AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, SO I AM SENDING YOU AMBASSADORS Welcome to Ambassadors. Ambassadors is a new level of youth ministry designed to equip you to be the best that you can be and to be part of a new generation of youth that will take on the challenge to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus in your local church and community. An ambassador generally represents a country or a cause. A Christian ambassador is a representative of another kind; they represent the values, principles, culture, and laws of the kingdom of God. They stand for the character and purpose of the King of this kingdom— Jesus Christ, Himself. The Ambassadors training is based on seven foundations designed for your development. They include: 1. A Christ-centered discipleship plan 2. Leadership development 3. A personal, public, and small group based mission lifestyle 4. Character and personality development, including outdoor, high adventure programming 5. Lifestyle and vocational training 6. Nurturing godly relationships 7. Community outreach development through service projects and emergency preparedness training Each of these seven foundations will be taught in the form of seven modules, and you will acquire certification for each module completed. Each module contains four elements that will be consistently present throughout the course: • First, the concept of a spiritual companion. At the beginning of each module, you will choose a friend who will be your companion for the duration of the module. You will meet with that friend during each meeting for mutual encouragement and support towards your growth as an Ambassador. Groups of spiritual companions will also join for certain activities. This will foster the concept of community, interdependence, and accountability into the Ambassador’s experience. • Second, an Individual Discipleship Plan (IDP). At the beginning of every module, you will make a simple plan of how you would like to grow spiritually and acquire the practical skills, knowledge, and experience proposed in the module. Your spiritual companion will be there throughout the module to help and encourage you to accomplish your plan. The IDP helps to emphasize • the continuing nature of discipleship and that learning is a continual part of life. It stresses the need for interdependence on each other as we learn, grow, and work for God. (See guidelines for creating your IDP on the next page.) • Third, projects. Each module will have a project that will integrate the core concepts from the module into a service learning activity focused on helping others. This will be an opportunity for your group to work together as a whole. • Fourth, social activities. A social activity will be planned for the group at least once a month. Make sure that you always participate. Participant’s Guide A participant’s guide for each module has been prepared for you. You hold one in your hands. • The Participant’s Guide is essentially your workbook, which contains all the lessons for each module that you will engage with. • In the back pages of each module you will find the following: a page to create your IDP, and a list of the sessions of the module that your leader will sign and date upon completion. • You will be required to complete 75 percent attendance and participation to receive your certification or award at the end of each module. Participants can make up for missed lessons to achieve the required 75 percent at the discretion of their leader. Fostering togetherness is at the heart of a model for discipleship, which the General Conference is focusing on; it is known as “Together Growing Fruitful Disciples.” This model emphasizes understanding, connecting, equipping, and ministering—but doing all of this “together.” For God did not design us to grow or minister alone, but in community. Paul writes that growing in Christ is achieved as everyone uses the gifts God has given to them, “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Thank you for accepting the call and challenge to become an Ambassador of Jesus Christ and His kingdom. May this experience enrich your life and assist you in discovering God’s greater purpose for you. General Conference Youth Ministries Department Gilbert Cangy Hiskia Missah Jonatan Tejel Subirada GC Youth Director Associate GC Youth Director Associate GC Youth Director