T

he Perspectives course comes to the Sacramento area once annually, and is hosted by area churches.  From February through May of 2014, Chinese Grace Bible Church was privileged to host Perspectives.

WHAT IS PERSPECTIVES? (from www.perspectives.org)

Perspectives is a fifteen-week course designed around four vantage points or “perspectives” — Biblical, Historical, Cultural and Strategic.  Each one highlights different aspects of God’s global purpose.

The Biblical and Historical sections reveal why our confidence is based on the historic fact of God’s relentless work from the dawn of history until this day.

The Cultural and Strategic sections underscore that we are in the midst of a costly, but very “do-able” task, confirming the Biblical and Historical hope.

WHY PERSPECTIVES? (from www.perspectives.org)

God has a “world-sized” role for every Christian in His global purpose.  Whether people go to distant countries or stay at home is a secondary issue.  The primary issue is what most people are hungry to discover: vision to live a life of purpose. Discovering that vision makes this course valuable and perhaps crucial for any Christian.

WHAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE?

Though I was nervous about adding a college-level course to my busy schedule, once Perspectives began I became an eager student.  Perspectives offers outstanding curriculum featuring a wide range of cutting-edge missiological topics, and fascinating testimonies and insights from a variety of veteran missionaries and pastors.  I received support and encouragement from my fellow classmates, volunteers, and staff.  Lavish and exotic dishes during snack time sealed the deal for me!

The concept of evangelizing the “unreached people group” is critical in fulfilling the conditions of Matthew 24:14.  Every people group is important to God.  When every people group on earth has a viable gospel witness, then the task is complete, the end of this age will come, and our blessed Lord Jesus will come again.  The job seems daunting, but Perspectives helped me see the acceleration of the process worldwide.  Perhaps we are only decades away from completion.  Will Chinese Grace Bible Church join in what God is already accomplishing in His world?

I learned that God has called every Christian to become a World Christian, and to obediently engage in God’s purposes to reach every people group in the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The first step is to educate ourselves in discovering God’s global purposes in God’s Word, and to learn from the setbacks and triumphs of World Christians who have gone before us.  I can think of no better way to get “up to speed” than to enroll in Perspectives on the World Christian Movement the next time it is offered early next year.  How about you?