BSM Online course on counseling. This is another course in equipping students in their ministry as responders to people who request for help through our HELPO CARD. Its is equipping them how to help people find courage, perspective and direction. The course was taught Australian-based guest teacher Rev. Helen Bates.

Urbanization refers to a process in which an increasing proportion of an entire population lives in cities and the suburbs of cities. Urbanization has effects on the ecology and economy of the region. But sociologists observe that people’s psychology and lifestyles change in an urban environment.
We should realize that most of the people in the last days will be urban people. We should equip ourselves for effective evangelism for the urban unreached. This course is designed to equip church church leaders to face the challenges of urban ministry.

The Philippines has more than 1,608 towns and cities with a significant number of conversion of municipalities into cities. In the year 2000, 16 new cities were created and 15 more were converted in the first half of 2001, bringing the total number of cities to 115. Just this year, more cities were proposed to be created. By the year 2020, it is estimated that the country will have more or less 600 cities and urban centers.

This brief course deals with three points:

1. Understanding culture because a missionary’s work involves contact with another culture, hence the necessity of understanding what culture is
2. A review of the Filipino culture because before one can effectively attempt to study and enter into a new culture, he first has to know his own.
3. Examples to show that   no culture is too hard to be penetrated by the gospel Because culture offers contact points in getting people to hear the gospel message

Pneumatology Course with Rey Calusay: DISTINCTLY PENTECOSTAL: The Holy Spirit in the Church

Starts September 29, 30 to October 1,6,7,8 and October 13,14,15 – a three week-course, WThF only at 7-8 PM in BSM Online BEREAN.POH discord server.

1. A biblical and historical study on the distinct characteristics of Pentecostals, as a church body with dynamism, direction, and a destiny for the present evangelization of the world, in the present move of the Holy Spirit.
2. A study of the Pentecostals showing how their beliefs and practices are rooted and grounded in the Scriptures and in the model of the New Testament Church of the apostolic era with special emphasis on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, operation of the gifts in a church meeting, and also the role of signs and wonders in world missions.                      
3. Includes a historical survey of the 20th century Pentecostal Movement in general, and of the Assemblies of God in particular. We will trace from church history that the Power of the Holy Spirit, the supernatural, never left the church.

It has been half way through the academic year. The 44 BSM Online students are bracing themselves to run the second half which will be composed of seven 3-week blocks. Two courses are covered each block.

We are very glad to welcome Steve Sullivan as a guest teacher for BSM Online starting September 15, 2021. Steve Sullivan will teach the course on Introduction to Missions and Culture and Missions Strategy. With his many years of experience in the missions field, here in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar, the BSM Online students really look forward to be challenged with the need of the mission field.

Schedule of classes: Wed, Thu, Fri evenings at 8-9 PM and Sat at 10-11 AM.

The restrictions to large gatherings due to the pandemic seem to signal the churches to have a reset from large congregational gathers to house-church meetings. This course was designed and opened for local church pastors and leaders to help them prepare to transition to the house-church system.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will lead students to a look again at the Biblical record of the Church that Jesus built to discover the basic ingredients necessary for the church to continue to be vital, alive, dynamic.  A special focus will be on the church in the homes that was an essential expression of church life in the formative years of church history and its relevance to our present-day situation. It will include discussion on how to transition an existing church into a house-church system. A later part of the course are practical guidelines how to conduct a house church gathering.

COURSE OUTLINE:

UNIT 1 – THE MAKE OF THE CHURCH

Analyzing the Biblical record about the early church: The origin, the purpose and design; discovering the basic ingredients necessary for the church to be vital, alive and dynamic. One lesson will be on evaluation of the church of today in comparison to the Biblical picture and life of the early church.

UNIT 2 – THE MEETING OF THE CHURCH

Rediscovering facts, principles and practices of the early church when they meet, with focus on the church in the homes that was an essential expression of church life in the formative years of church history and its relevance to our present-day situation.

3. THE MOVE OF THE CHURCH

Discovering how the church operates, as communities, as people of God, as ambassadors of Christ. Knowing how they multiplied and expanded – What are the Principles of growth. Studying a Return to the Basics of Church Life – The House Church;  Learn guidelines and HOW TO’s in implementing “Operation Home Base.”

Teachers: Rey and Zeny Calusay

Schedule:

Starts September 1,2021   (for 3 weeks)

Wednesday-Friday 7-8 pm  and Saturday 10-11 am

Second Block Classes: July 2^nd Week – October of 2021

Second Break: November, first week