Back to Course

Quarterly Workshop Course

0% Complete
0/0 Steps
  1. Learning Preparation
    Introduction to the Subject
    1 Topic
    1. About Mission Increase
  2. Workshop Learning
    Workshop Welcome
    1 Topic
  3. Sample Lesson 1
    1 Assessment
  4. Sample Lesson 2
    1 Topic
  5. Sample Lesson 3
  6. Continued Learning
    Toolbox: Resources for Your Team
  7. Coaching: Get Help From Your Area Director

Participants 68

Show more
Quarterly Workshop Course Introduction to the Subject
Lesson 1 of 7
In Progress

Introduction to the Subject

Welcome! We're so glad you're here.

This module constitutes our best introduction to the workshop topic. Learners who invest the time to work through this content will be more prepared for the in-person portion of this course.  

  1. Read and pray on a passage of Scripture (5 minutes)
  2. Watch a video summarizing the course’s main ideas and teaching the concepts behind them (5 minutes)
  3. Review the definitions of key terms relevant to the topic (10 minutes)
  4. Reflect on a key concept and its application to your ministry (5 minutes)

Some of the preparation content used to be delivered at the time of the workshop. Delivering the introduction prior to in-person learning can help you make informed decisions about your participation and allows us to focus our in-person time on group learning-by-doing. 

  • When Learners see this icon, it is an invitation to respond to the prompts provided by recording their thoughts and reflections in this course's built-in notebook. To access the notebook, log in and click on the green "Take Notes" button at the bottom of the screen.
LET'S GO!

Scripture

The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:18-23

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Devotional Thought

This course will build on the foundation of the central message of a foundational passage of scripture. While most of our content focuses on wise approaches to fundraising, leadership, communications, and organizational health, the Word of God informs how we should behave and relate to God, to one another, and to the world around us. 

We want to be very intentional about including that Scriptural foundation early and prominently in each course. This allows us to refer back to this biblical truth as the standard by which we measure the human wisdom presented throughout our training content. 

  • Take a moment to reflect on this passage in your notebook.
NEXT STEP

Introduction Video

This video is our best version of a presentation that introduces and summarizes this course’s content. It could be simple webcam video of a single instructor giving a short lecture, or it  could be a montage of highly-produced clips that include illustrations, graphics, examples, etc. The goal is to provide you with a concentrated capsule version of of the entire course. 

NEXT STEP

Terms and Definitions

It’s important to define the terms we use when talking about important issues. Here, we define key words so that we’re all operating under the same understanding. Whenever these words appear throughout the course, hover your cursor (or tap on a mobile device) and the definition will pop up. We’ll try to do this with important terms, key phrases, passages of Scripture, and any technical language we may introduce. Below are three examples:

Grace

/ɡrās/

Unmerited favor. Blessings from God, who gives generously. Getting what you do not deserve simply because of God’s goodness and provision in Christ Jesus.

Mercy

/ˈmərsē/

Undeserved forgiveness; withholding the punishment that is justly deserved. God accepts the sacrifice of His son, Jesus, as sufficient payment for our sin.

Love

/ləv/

Strong affection. The ultimate demonstration of love is the laying down of life. God loved the world so much that He gave His only son.

NEXT STEP

Food For Thought

"God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies."

Hudson Taylor, British missionary to China, 1854 Tweet

Short Reflection Activity

  • Here, we might ask the Learner to use the "Take Notes" button at the bottom of the page to prayerfully reflect on the main idea of the quote above. Open-ended questions we might ask: "How does the quote make you feel? What questions does it raise? What do you find most relevant about this subject? What sorts of things might you do to be best prepared for the in-person portion of this course? "

Community Forums

Our local ministry community exists beyond in-person workshops. We want to routinely invite Learners to participate in in our Community Forums to engage with their Area Director and local ministry leaders as they learn and grow in generosity together.

Participation in the message boards is entirely optional, but we believe it will enhance the Learners’ experience by providing simple ways to interact. This can also multiply an Area Director’s efforts; we never know who else might benefit from a question, comment, answer, or observation posted here! 

› Forums › Quarterly Workshop Discussion

The place for discussion about this quarter's workshop. Post your thoughts, ideas, suggestions, and questions here!
Viewing 1 - 2 of 2 discussions

You must be logged in to create new discussions.

NEXT

The next part of this course is the live workshop event. It contains the electronic notebook for the workshop, including notes, resources, and tools. The Area Director will unlock that section for registered Learners at the beginning of the workshop. Ideally, this will incentivize attendance for those who would like access to helpful course content. 

In the meantime, we invite Learners to jump into our message boards to discuss all things related to leading healthy nonprofit ministries! 

BACK

NEXT

Lesson Content
0% Complete 0/1 Steps

COACHING

COACHING

Want to learn more? Need help applying to your ministry? A free Mission Increase coaching account includes one-on-one and small group coaching with your local Area Director.

x