Itunes University - "Growing Global Christians: Putting Missions in Bible School Curriculum"

“Growing Global Christians: Putting Missions in Bible School Curriculum” by Joyce Hardin
Itunes University – Abilene Christian University – ACU Summit 2008
Reviewed by Kevin Book-Satterlee

The most impacting part of this lecture is the title and it sums up Hardin’s purpose very clearly. Hardin’s premise is that Bible School curriculum, primarily geared towards children, needs to do more to include a missional focus. Though a former missionary in the traditional sense, Hardin operates under the assumption that all Christians are missionaries, and thus ought to be taught earlier on how to be more missional.

In ways of practical suggestions, this lecture is lacking, however its power comes in part by her explication of how current Bible School operations are failing children in their missional development, both internationally and domestically.

One suggestion that is incredibly helpful in setting a direction for increasing missionality in Bible School curriculum is her emphasis to focus on the similarities. She begins the lecture by displaying a jagged object for the class, and after many attempts to guess what it is she says it is the equivalent to an engagement ring in another culture. While the difference is astounding, the sentiment is not so far off. This is where she proposes that Bible School curriculum takes children, to introduce cross-cultural understanding by recognizing that while different, the differences are not so vast.

In terms of its usefulness for the general missions world, I see this hour-long lecture as valuable to share with any who might be missions pastors in churches or those in charge of Christian education. The limits are not only to international missions, but mission in general. For a deeper insight into the development of missions in Bible School curriculum, Joyce Hardin promotes a book she and her daughter co-wrote. For the price and the time, this lecture is worth the listen and could have positive impact on the thinking of Christian education in many churches.