The following is an overview of the 1,500 missionary training curriculum I have spent five years researching, compiling, writing, editing and overseeing the translation. Included are course summaries, module summaries and module outlines.
China Mission School
Program Overview
Course One: World Missions
In the Garden of Eden, God demonstrated His missionary heart when He sought Adam and Eve after the Fall, calling out, “Where are you?” Though some say Paul was the first missionary, missions really began with God, and it continues today through His Church.
We live in an exciting time for missions, because there are more people on the Earth today than have ever lived before. However, modern tools make these people more accessible than they have been in the past, enabling the missionary of today to cross the globe to witness of the saving love of Jesus Christ to the people of far away lands.
Many missionaries have given their lives for the spread of the Gospel, though not all of them died. In laying down their lives for Christ, however, they found something better. Many left behind the comforts and conveniences of home as well as family and friends to share the love of God with others, setting aside what they knew to take up the call. They crossed rivers and valleys, mountains and deserts, suffered from diseases, and endured without—all for the sake of individuals who, without a preacher, would not know the Good News about Christ.
In this course, we seek to cover missions work’s generalities, the history and philosophy behind it, and the types of people to whom missionaries reach out. It is our prayer that the knowledge within this course will enrich your life and build a foundation of learning for every successive lesson hereafter.
Module One Summary: Introduction to Missions
When Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately hid from God. He, in turn, came into the Garden calling out, “Where are you?” Missions began with God and it continues today through the Church. This module primarily studies the biblical foundation for all missionary endeavors. It also covers topics such as missionary motivations of the heart, stages of services, strategy, and how to relate compassionately to lost people.
Module One Lesson Outline: Introduction to Missions
1. God: The Source of Missions
2. Jesus Christ: The Message of Missions
3. The Holy Spirit: The Power of Missions
4. The Church: The Vessel of Missions
5. The World: The Target of Missions
6. Who will be a Missionary? God’s Will for Reaching the Lost
7. Missionary Motivations of the Heart: A Personal Reflection
8. Stages of Missionary Service
9. Personally and Compassionately Relating to the Lost: Identification verses Withdrawal
10. Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ Cross-Culturally: The Nature of Cross-Cultural Communications
11. Planning for the Future: The Role of Strategy in Missions
12. Planting New Churches: The First Task of Missionary Work
13. Nurturing New Believers: The Second Task of Missionary Work
14. Training Leaders: The Third Task of Missionary Work
15. Building Responsible Churches: Establishment of Spiritually and Materially Independent Churches
Module Two Summary: The History and Philosophy of Missions
Why is it that men and women willingly sacrifice their own lives to be missionaries? Why were men such as William Cary willing to defy their leaders who said, “When God chooses to win the heathen, He will do it without your help or ours”? History is filled with stories of inspiration, nuggets of truth and words of priceless wisdom from those who have taken the missionary journey. This second module of CMS introduces the missionary to these stories and describes how willing men and women of God touched many lives through their obedience.
Module Two Lesson Outline: The History and Philosophy of Missions
1. The Apostle Paul and the Missionary Task by Arthur Glasser
2. Church History Part I
3. Church History Part II
4. Church History Part III
5. Four Men, Three Eras, Two Transitions: Modern Missions by Ralph Winter
6. Who (Really) was William Carey? by Vishal and Ruth Mangalwadi
7. The Obligation of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens by William Carey
8. The Call to Service by J. Hudson Taylor
9. China’s Spiritual Needs and Claims by J. Hudson Taylor
10. Tribes, Tongues and Translators by Cameron Townsend
11. Learner, Trader, Story Teller by Donald Larson
12. Redemptive Analogy by Don Richardson
13. Women in Mission by Marguerite Kraft and Meg Crossman
14. If I Perish by Brother Andrew
15. Ten Reasons Why I Am A World Christian by Terry Law
16. The Lausanne Covenant
Module Three Summary: The World and its People
When Paul began his missionary journeys, there were two things that significantly contributed to the rapid spread of the Gospel: a common language and a very sophisticated system of roads and maps for easy travel. As missionaries we need to know as much about the world as possible, so that like Paul, we can use modern technology and conveniences to ignite a rapid spread of the Gospel throughout the earth. This third module is an introduction to the biblical concept of nations or people groups. It includes topics such as the 10/40 Window and a brief study of the continents and people groups of the world.
Module Three Lesson Outline: The World and Its People
1. The Nations I: A Biblical Perspective of the Nations
2. The Nations II: God’s Redemptive Plan for the Nations Fulfilled in Jesus Christ
3. The Nations III: God’s Blessing for the Nations: A Fulfillment of His Promise to Abraham
4. The 10/40 Window
5. The Continent of Asia
6. The Continent of Africa
7. The Continent of Europe
8. The Continent of North America
9. The Continent of South America
10. The Continent of Australia
Course Two: World Religions
We live in a diverse world. In fact, new religions and philosophies seem to be born every minute. In most of these man-inspired religions truth becomes a relative and sometimes rather confusing thing. Many misguided worldviews declare that there are many paths to God and certainly no absolute rules to moral conduct. While others only focus on these absolute rules and disregard man’s personal relationship with God.
For Christians, Jesus Christ represents the absolute truth and the only way to God, yet He is also our personal savior. Certainly, our belief in and love of Christ colors our entire worldview. But, it is also essential, that we understand the worldviews of those around us. When we understand the mindset of others, we leap over the largest barrier that keeps us from establishing a relationship and ultimately sharing God’s message of hope with them.
This course focuses on worldview and the four major religions of the unreached world: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. These four represent many of the false worldviews that missionaries are sure to encounter. The missionary must seek to understand these worldviews, but he must also remember his purpose—to share the Good News. He must reveal to them that God longs to open the doors for all people to come into His eternal family; and that He has also made a new way for them to find forgiveness, healing, and permanent acceptance into the family of God through Jesus. This good news is based on grace, not birthright or the deeds of men.
Within these lessons, the student will come to understand the history and beliefs of these religions as well as the vast spiritual problems attached to them. He will come to know the unique quality of the people, their hunger for spiritual truth, and their similarities (and differences) with Christians. These lessons will also encourage missionaries to build bridges between themselves and others of different faiths so that, in time, they may reveal Christ as the sole fulfillment of their long spiritual search for God.
Module One Summary: Worldview
Whether we realize it, each of us has a worldview. Our families, cultures, religions, and personal experiences shape and form our worldviews. As missionaries, we must be aware of the effect worldviews have on people and how they often hinder the Gospel. This module teaches us how to recognize false worldviews, and most importantly, how to clearly articulate our biblical worldview to others.
Module One Lesson Outline: Worldview
1. What is a Worldview?
2. How Does Worldview Affect a Person’s Life?
3. What is Your Worldview?
4. How Does Worldview Influence Communities?
5. How Do Worldviews Differ?
6. Who is God? A Biblical Understanding of God Part I
7. Who is God? A Biblical Understanding of God Part II
8. What is Truth?
9. How Did the World Come to Be?
10. What is the Nature of Man?
11. What is the Meaning of Time?
12. What Will Happen to Those Who Do Not Have a Biblical Worldview?
13. Who is Satan?
14. How Does One Change His Worldview?
Module Two Summary: Islam
God wants each of us to be a part of his eternal family. He has made a way for people of all nations to find forgiveness, healing, and permanent acceptance into His family through Jesus Christ. This acceptance is no longer based on birthright or the deeds of men but rather on grace and one’s willingness to receive it. God longs to heal the hearts of Muslims along with all lost people groups of the world. This module will help explain the history Islam, Islamic culture and how to witness to Muslims, so those who are called to serve Muslim peoples will have the knowledge necessary to win them to Christ.
Module Two Lesson Outline: Islam
1. Introduction to Islam
2. Spiritual Authority in Islam
3. Two Majority Stumbling Blocks
4. Sin and Salvation in Islam
5. History of Islam, Part I
6. History of Islam, Part II
7. How to Work With Muslims, Part I
8. How to Work With Muslims, Part II
9. How to Work With Muslims, Part III
Module Three Summary: Hinduism
Inherent within the Hindu religion is a psychology of failure that permeates the Indian society. Throughout this module on Hinduism, the student will come to understand the history and beliefs of the religion as well as the various problems that often lead to a sense of desperation in the hearts of the Hindu people. Hindus have a unique capacity for understanding profound and complex spiritual ideas. Missionaries must help them see past their conflicting beliefs and find complete knowledge and revelation through Jesus Christ.
Module Lesson Outline: Hinduism
1. History of Hinduism, Part I
2. History of Hinduism, Part II
3. Beliefs and Practices of Hinduism
4. Hindu Gods
5. Literature of Hinduism
6. Fulfillment of the Vedic Quest through Jesus Christ
Module Four Summary: Buddhism
Today we live in a world of religious diversity, where people of differing beliefs live side by side. We cannot escape this fact. If we are to reach Buddhists with the Gospel, we must first start where they are (how they live and what they believe) and build bridges to Christ from there. This course will help the student understand the history and beliefs of Buddhism. It will also explain the differences between the teachings of Buddhism and the teachings of the Bible, as well as suggest effective and diverse ways of sharing Christ with a Buddhist.
Module Four Lesson Outline: Buddhism
1. 21st Century Buddhism
2. Historical Background of Buddhism
3. Core Beliefs of Buddhism
4. The Expansion of Buddhism
5. Christianity and Buddhism: Contrasts in Concepts
6. Social/Religious/Racial Identity with Buddhism
7. Blessing the Buddhist World through Prayer
8. Witnessing in Practical Ways to Buddhists
Module Five Summary: Judaism
The Bible instructs us on how we should view the Jewish people. This module discusses the history of the Jews, their desire to return to Israel and the obstacles they have encountered along their journey. It also discusses God’s hope for the Jewish people to come to the knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Module Five Lesson Outline: Judaism
1. The Biblical History of the Jewish People
2. Who are the Jews?
3. Jewish Beliefs
4. A Fulfillment of Prophecy
5. The British Administration of Palestine
6. A Time of War
7. The State of Israel
8. The Peace Process
9. Salvation for the Jews
Course Three: Missionary Skills
God Himself loves variety and diversity. Like Him, we should honor all of God’s creation especially in regards to other cultures. If we truly love all people like God, then we will seek to understand them. To do this, we must be willing to put aside our way of doing things in order to be effective in communicating the love of Christ and the message of the Gospel. Part of this act of self-denial involves putting ourselves out on a limb. When we learn about a new culture, particularly that culture’s language, we become vulnerable as human beings. This makes us real and sincere before the people we are trying to win to Christ.
Missionaries are very limited in their ministry if they only minister to those who know their language. If they accept God’s global call to missions on their life, then they will seek to communicate with others in their native tongue. Language learning is ministry and can help one create relationships and open doors for witnessing to others. When the doors are open, people are more willing to listen to God’s message of hope for them.
One of the most essential part of mission’s work is planting churches. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “…I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” As we go forward in ministry, we must understand that for the Kingdom of God to advance in this world, the local church must be established in every community.
Our goal as missionaries should be to spread the Gospel of Christ throughout the nations by developing sound leaders and thriving churches. It is not enough to be mere social workers; we must move the people to repent and confess Christ as Savior and Lord.
The missionary’s ultimate goal is a limited one: to win new souls to Christ. How he does this is up to him. But to become the most effective witness for the Gospel, he must learn how to enteract with the people to whom he is sent. In this endeavor, he will need some rather essential skills to help him along the way. This course will discuss the skills that all effective missionaries must cultivate, detailed in the following modules: Cross Cultural Communications, Language Acquisition, Church Planting Strategies, and Christian Leadership. Indeed, a sincere heart is not enough to win others to Christ. We must also have a strategy to do it. With God’s grace, what you learn in these lessons will give you the practical side of mission’s work along with some valuable knowledge that one can only get from others’ experiences.
Module One Summary: Cross Cultural Communications
God Himself is the author of cultural diversity. His plan from the beginning was that people would be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth. This module encourages missionaries to acknowledge their need to change and adapt when living in a new culture, in order to effectively communicate the love of Christ and the message of the Gospel. In this module, we will learn to be effective cross-cultural communicators by putting down our prejudice, ethnocentrism, and cultural pride. We will also learn to approach new cultures as learners and servants, sensitive to cultural differences and eager to communicate with the people.
Module One Lesson Outline: Cross Cultural Communications
1. Foundations of Cross Cultural Communication
2. Beliefs about Culture and Ministry
3. Communication
4. What is Culture? Part I
5. What is Culture? Part II
6. What is Culture? Part III
7. What is Culture? Part IV
8. What is Culture? Part V
9. Understanding Your Own Culture
10. Ethnocentrism
11. Freedom from Ethnocentrism
12. Cultural Adjustment, Part I
13. Cultural Adjustment, Part II
14. Conclusion
Module Two Summary: Language Acquisition
Some missionaries try to minister through the use of an interpreter or limit ministry to those who speak their language. However, if missionaries truly want to see the body of Christ established among the unreached peoples of the earth, then they must learn to communicate in the heart language of the people God calls them to serve. This module will introduce simple steps to learning a new language, as well as why and how language learning is ministry. The language learning process itself is often what establishes a missionary’s place in a foreign community and opens many doors for the Gospel.
Module Two Lesson Outline: Language Acquisition
1. Introduction to the Course
2. Language Acquisition
3. Becoming a Language Learner
4. What Language Learners Do
5. Language Learning as Ministry
6. The Daily Lesson Plan
7. Numbers and Transport
8. Shopping
9. Pronunciation
10. Questions and Answers
Module Three Summary: Church Planting Strategies
Planting churches is the most critical part of fulfilling the Great Commission. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “…I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” As we go forward in ministry, we must understand that for the Kingdom of God to advance in this world, the local church must be established in every community.
Our goal as church planters is to spread the Gospel message throughout the nations of the earth and to make true disciples of Jesus Christ.
Module Three Lesson Outline: Church Planting Strategies
1. God’s Purpose for His Church
2. God Calls Us to Join Hands with Him & One Another in His Work
3. Be A Disciple to Make Disciples
4. Lift Up Your Eyes, Look at the Fields
5. Look for Bridges, Pray for the Harvest
6. Go Out in Dependence on God
7. Look for People of Peace
8. What to Do with a New Believer
9. Prayer, the Word, Baptism & the Church
10. Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Sharing Good News
11. Two or Three Gathered in His Name—The Church
12. Leadership, Transformation and Commitment
Module Four Summary: Christian Leadership
Jesus Christ is the Christian’s ultimate example of leadership. As a leader, He corrected and encouraged His disciples in their faith. To be effective leaders, we must be intimately familiar with Christ’s model of leadership. In this module, we begin by discussing basic leadership principles. Then, we move into more advanced material to prepare you to teach others how to remain intimate with Jesus Christ as they grow in leadership responsibilities.
Module Four Lesson Outline: Christian Leadership
1. What is Leadership?
2. Why Do People Follow You?
3. The Five-Element Module
4. Christ in the Life of a Leader
5. Community in the Life of a Leader
6. Character in the Life of a Leader
7. Calling in the Life of a Leader
8. Competencies in the Life of a Leader
9. What Do Leaders Do? Part I
10. What Do Leaders Do? Part II
11. What Do Leaders Do? Part III
12. What Do Leaders Do? Part IV
13. What Do Leaders Do? Part V
14. Building Leaders, Part I
15. Building Leaders, Part II
16. Building Leaders, Part III
17. Building Leaders, Part IV
18. Building Leaders, Part V
19. Building Leaders, Part VI
20. Building Leaders, Part VII
Course Four: Discipleship
Experienced leaders father disciples. Just as we desire spiritual leaders to mentor us so we can grow from their walk with God and experiences, we too must in turn love people while they are still sinners. We must let them see God’s change in our lives and then show them how they too can experience this new life.
The people we seek to disciple are in bondage to their sins before they come to the Lord, yet they have been born into their life of sin and know nothing else. They often have no concept of the freedom awaiting them in Christ. As we disciple the lost souls around us, we must first ensure that these people have experienced the life-changing power of new life through Christ Jesus to free them from their past and sinful existence.
Just as we are concerned with the growth and discipleship of those to whom we seek to minister, we must not neglect our families. Our children often see the truth of our Christian lives more clearly than those to whom we minister, and we must not overlook their relationship with Christ or the importance of our family lives. We must look only as far as a man of God with children not living for Him to understand the consequences of neglecting our families. We may save souls abroad, but what of those at home?
Really, without the Holy Spirit inside of us and without a healthy spiritual life, we are unequipped to disciple anyone—our families or others. Even healthy Christian walks can drift away from Christ if we ignore them. Learning to feed ourselves on the Word and understanding the basic tenants of Christianity is vital for a missionary to continue God’s work among the lost. When we disciple others, we must remember where our model ultimately comes from—Jesus Christ. We must look to Him continually, learning and growing as He disciples us. Without Him, we will lack the oil that keeps our own lamps burning brightly. And if we lack God’s fire in our lives, how will others see it and desire it as well? Join us in this course as we consider both the practical and the spiritual aspects of discipleship.
Module One Summary: Making Disciples
Disciples are not made through lessons and programs. They are spiritually fathered. Classes and lessons are useful to a point; however, God wants more. He desires to have sons and daughters. This course is not designed to teach you methods, but to help you live the kind of life that new believers will want to imitate. Making disciples is primarily a matter of loving people while they are still sinners, letting them see the fruit of God’s Spirit in your life, and inviting them to join you.
Module One Lesson Outline: Making Disciples
1. The Importance of Fathers and Mothers
2. Teach Them to Love God
3. Teach Them to Love Their Families
4. Teach Them to Love Christ’s Church
5. Teach Them to Love God’s Will
6. Teach Them to Love God’s Judgment
7. Teach Them to Love God’s World
Module Two Summary: Freedom in Christ
Many people, even sincere followers of Jesus Christ, live in bondage and never move into a level of freedom that God longs to give His children. This module reveals from a biblical perspective our identity in Christ and describes how He desires to heal our damaged emotions. Through these lessons, the student will learn how to bring life to those bound by sin and set them free through the power of Jesus Christ.
Module Two Lesson Outline: Freedom in Christ
1. Our Identity in Christ
2. Healing Damaged Emotions
3. Steps to Freedom in Christ, Part I
4. Steps to Freedom in Christ, Part II
Module Three Summary: Marriage and Family
As surely as God provides for our needs, we also must care for the needs of our families. To do this, they must be a top priority, even above the demands of ministry. Children who see this example in their parents grow up to be devoted parents and followers of Christ themselves. This module encourages believers, particularly those called to some form of full time Christian service, to put their God first, their families second, and ministry third.
Module Three Lesson Outline: Marriage and Family
1. Salvation and Call to Ministry
2. The Covenant of Marriage
3. Spiritual Successors
4. Training Our Children to Hear the Voice of God
5. The Power of Our Words
Module Four Summary: Personal Spiritual Development
Before any missionary can attempt to lead others to Jesus Christ and disciple them, he must first have a firm understanding of his own faith. This module contains foundational principles of the Christian faith, such as righteousness, salvation, baptism of the Holy Spirit and prayer. It is meant to encourage and equip the missionary for the task of discipling nations.
Module Four Lesson Outline: Personal Spiritual Development
1. Righteousness With God
2. Initial Effects of God’s Word
3. The Nature of Faith
4. The Uniqueness of Faith
5. Faith for Salvation
6. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
7. Receive the Holy Spirit
8. How to Receive the Holy Spirit
9. Liberty Under Control
10. Conviction of Eternal Issues
11. Supernatural Attestation
12. Your Authority as a Believer
13. Why Pray?
14. Seven Basic Conditions for Answered Prayer
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