Course Outline
Course Description
This course gives the foundation for engaging with a community using an Integrated Mission and Faith-Based Facilitation (FBF) approach at the same time as, supporting a personal development through the identification and pursuit of personal learning goals and application of action-reflection learning. The course links biblical and personal reflection, theology, practical applications and readings with everyday life and ministry. It supports a movement towards change in personal life and community.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
| Course Objectives | Programme Outcomes | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Empowered to identify gaps in personal learning | Able to identify and act on own learning needs | Completion of a personal learning statement and action plan |
| Learning to learn from what is happening, how and why | Able to use the cycle of learning (act-reflect-review-improve) | Completion of the sessions’ reflections as guided |
| The importance of establishing a network for support, learning and accountability | Able to work with an accountability partner and a learning group | Evidence of interaction with accountability partner and learning group in workbook |
| Linking of learning with behavioural changes | Able to utilise the cycle of learning to achieve behavioural change(s) | Completion of the review forms after session 6 and 11 |
| Use Bible stories and discern their meaning in daily ministry | Able to reflect on Bible stories and apply learnings in ministry | Clear link between belief and action evidenced in approach to completion of course and to community conversation reflections |
| Community engagement skills – visits | Able to engage a community as per instruction | Completion of a personal notebook/electronic folder including reflections and learnings |
| Community engagement skills – questioning and listening | Able to identify all types of questions and put them to use in team visits and reflections | Evidence of questioning and listening skills through analytical feedback in notebook/electronic folder and workbook |
| What to do next – points for an action plan | Able to draw out learnings from engagement with community and increased personal mission understanding | Identification of next steps on learning pathway regarding self and community |
Course readings
Read more about Integrated Mission from the downloadable resources Mission in Community, The Salvation Army’s Integrated Mission (International Headquarters, 2006) and The Salvation Army’s Integrated Mission: A Manual (Alison Rader Campbell, 2015).
More detailed information on the FBF process can be found in Building Deeper Relationships Through Faith-Based Facilitation (International Headquarters, 2010). Other translations are available.
Course registration
Learning Pathways is centrally administrated and offered at Salvation Army International Headquarters. However, course coordination for the students is arranged via territorial headquarters (THQ) /divisional headquarters (DHQ). Please contact your Territorial Learning Pathways Coordinator for the start date of Learning Pathways in your region as well as course registration. Any questions arising along the way can be addressed to your accountability partner (for course content) or Learning Pathways coordinator (for course coordination).
Course requirements
Students will complete all 12 sessions of both Community Engagement and Personal Development including filling in the supplied workbook and keeping track of personal reflections and practical applications using a personal note taking system of your own choosing.
Course schedule: Community Engagement and Personal Development are designed to run alongside each other. Students are encouraged to fill in expected dates of completion and actual dates of completion in the Personal Development workbook. This will help to keep track of progress in real time.
| Personal Development | Community Engagement |
|---|---|
| 1. Identifying learning goals | 1. Being in community |
| 2. Planning and Bible reflection | 2. Integrated Mission: Key concepts |
| 3. An introduction to action – reflection learning | 3. Listening skills |
| 4. Personal reflections | 4. Questioning skills and Integrated Mission first visits |
| 5. Reflecting on relationships | 5. Integrated Mission: Theological principles |
| 6. Review | 6. Review |
| 7. Reflecting on our emotions and feelings | 7. Integrated Mission: Behavioural approach |
| 8. Reflections on community | 8. Integrated Mission: SALT methodology and associated reflection questions |
| 9. Reflections on mission | 9. Integrated Mission: visits in team |
| 10. Completing learning goals | 10. The Faith-Based Facilitation process |
| 11. Review | 11. Faith-Based Facilitation and community projects |
| 12. Bringing it all together | 12. Identifying common themes and trends |
Students will identify learning goals using the process described, pursue them through writing out and fulfilling points in the action plan, review and adapt as the course develops and report on how it went using an action-reflection approach.
Students will find an accountability partner to accompany them on their learning journey. This person will help the student to achieve their goals and sign off the workbook at the completion of each session.
Students will also meet with a learning group (either face-to-face or virtually) to support each other, discuss your learnings and complete the practical applications.
Remember: Just say/write what comes to your mind. Be honest with yourself and others. Your answers are yours and yours alone. Your personal development and learning are your responsibility.
Learning by doing through practical applications and reflections in Community Engagement
| Practical applications | Reflections |
|---|---|
| 1. First visits – session 4 | 1. Jesus in the Breadline – session 1 |
| 2. Who am I – session 5 | 2. Elisha and the widow – session 2 |
| 3. Visits and theological principles – session 7 | 3. The power of deliberate listening – session 3 |
| 4. Visits in team – session 9 | 4. Asking good questions – session 4 |
| 5. Faith-based facilitation process – session 10 | 5. Jesus and the Samaritan woman – session 6 |
| 6. Common issues and teams – session 12 | 6. Action-reflection – session 8 |
| 7. Case study: Who does the project belong to? – session 11 |
Certificate
A Learning Pathways certificate will be issued by the Salvation Army International Headquarters.
