Same as CHED 0693 and YMIN 0693.

Designed to deepen our understanding of preaching as a theological and pastoral activity of the church in service to the gospel. Different topics are offered each semester, such as preaching the parables of Jesus, preaching the Old Testament, preaching Christian doctrine and preaching in a multicultural context. Sermons are preached in class and evaluated with the goal of integrating theological reflection and pastoral practice. This course can be repeated as topics change. Prerequisite: PAST 0641.

Provides an introduction to pastoral care and counselling within the context of the Christian ministry. The nature of pastoral care and counselling from biblical, theological, and psychological perspectives will be explored. Emphasis will be on foundational counselling skills and processes within a framework of focused, short-term counseling. Through lectures, readings, group discussions, and practice labs, the student will develop essential skills and models of intervention to be effective in this ministry. Same as COUN 0683.

Same as PENT 0506.

Examines the nature and theology of pastoral ministry with emphasis on the role of the pastor as the shepherd leader. Accordingly, the shepherd leader character traits development and the skills cultivation process are drawn from the wealth of biblical and theological principles. Furthermore, the practical aspects of the pastoral ministry from the pulpit to the caring ministry, from leading the church board to conflict resolution, from the emerging issues in the church ministry to Christ-like leadership succession will also be examined. Recommended prerequisite: SPIR CM09. Offered in Chinese.

Different methods of evangelism to reach the Chinese in North America will be studied, with a goal to establish a new church. The ways to reach the Mainland Chinese immigrants and scholars in North America and bringing them to Christ will also be addressed. Technicality and theories of church planting will be analyzed and evaluated. Case studies may be conducted. Offered in Chinese.

Explores the Christian foundation of worship and music in the Chinese Churches. This course is designed for those who are called to serve in the area of music and worship ministry. This course will equip students with essential and functional knowledge of the subjects, through providing the biblical and theological foundations for worship, training skills for developing and leading congregational singing, teaching principles in planning worship services and developing interpersonal skills for mobilizing musicians to serve in churches and parachurch organizations. It covers the future trends and worship renewal of the 21st century. Offered in Chinese.

Teaches the basic principles of “bridging” what the biblical text meant in ancient times to what it means today, especially in the Chinese cultural context. This includes teaching the practical steps by which to develop the constituent parts of a sermon’s content. Consideration is also given to the important principles of effective delivery of the sermon. Opportunities are provided for each student to practice the principles and skills taught. Prerequisite: BIBL CM01. Offered in Chinese.

Provides students with a basic understanding of the field of pastoral counselling, and prepares the students to be more effective in counselling as a pastor or lay leader. Essential elements of pastoral counselling are covered using the model of Christ as the “Wonderful Counsellor” (Isaiah). Opportunity is provided in small groups to practice basic counselling skills in a supervised setting. Practical tools and resources for building self-esteem and managing emotions are introduced for students to apply to their own lives and to help others. Offered in Chinese.

Builds on the basic principles of sermon preparation and delivery taught in PAST CM21 (previously CHIN CM21). Attention will be given to the expository preaching of Old Testament biblical narratives. Besides the crafting of sermon outlines based on designated texts, students will be given sufficient opportunities through preaching laboratory sessions for sermon presentations and peer evaluation. Students will also be required to study and analyze different preaching styles and expository contents of assigned preachers. Prerequisites: BIBL CM01 and PAST CM21. Offered in Chinese.

Examines the psychological and theological aspects of dying in order to better understand and provide significant pastoral care to those who are dying and to those who grieve. Same as COUN 0684 and SPIR 0684. Exclusion: PAST 0743.

Explores with biblical and theological resources in the face of death, grief and loss. Topics include how the Bible and the Christian tradition portray death, grief and lament, how Christians over the centuries have practiced spiritual care for the dying and grieving, and how to extend care to others in times of sorrow, including the use of the Psalms as a resource for support.

Explores and considers the nature of disenfranchised grief, particularly in situations of profound loss where grief is difficult to express and process. Disenfranchised grief can include suicide, traumatic death and other kinds of grief and loss that can get buried because they are avoided, unacknowledged, or not legitimized. Understanding the language of grief in the healing process will be examined. Included will be training in support group recovery and facilitation.

Explores the ways in which gender and culture dynamics influence one’s understanding and expression of suffering and grief as well as the process of recovery from loss. Consideration will be given to mourning traditions of different cultures and the need for self-awareness, sensitivity and understanding of various culture and gender dynamics. Effective helping strategies for caring for dying and bereaved persons from diverse backgrounds will be considered.

Involves a study of the dynamics of grief, death and dying in the context of family systems and their significance in human development throughout the life cycle. The course includes discussion of children and youth experiences of death, dying and grief. There is a special emphasis upon personal, familial, communal, spiritual and religious aspects of grief, death and dying and of resources available. Same as COUN 0655.

Designed to educate and equip students enrolled in the study of Thanatology with the basic skills required for effective and ethical pastoral care and counselling. This course involves 3 hours of weekly in-class lecture, demonstration and role-playing exercises to give each student hands on experience practicing the basic skills of counselling, as well as the use of biblical resources such as prayer, scripture and spiritual formation. This course has a strong emphasis on Safe and Effective Use of Self (SEUS), self-care and spiritual growth for both the student and those they will be working with. This course is a prerequisite to enter the internship. Exclusion: COUN 0601 & 0602. Prerequisites: 9 credit hours in PAST TH.

Explores the nature of complicated grief, comparing it with the nature of normal grief and mourning. Topics like why people fail to grieve, the types of abnormal grief, the symptomology of complicated grief and different models of mourning will be discussed. We will also explore the different approaches and goals between counselling and therapy, coupled with their distinctive practical implementation. The course will incorporate research from both past and present experts in the field of thanantology and bereavement.

Reviews ethical values, principles, and issues in end-of-life care. We do so from perspectives informed by the Christian faith, and biblical principles drawing on a breadth of theological voices. We also consider similarities and differences between Christian perspectives and those outside the Christian faith. As we apply Christian values and principles to issues of ethical concern, we explore problems—whether novel or enduring—that plague end-of-life care, particularly in the Canadian context. This equips students for ethical application in local situations.

Analyzes the nature and the impact of the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. The lectures, while including a section on the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (and other Canadian Pentecostal denominations), examine the global impact of this worldwide movement. The movement is traced as to its scope and variety in both Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal circles and analyzed in terms of the factors related to its widespread acceptance.

Examines the theological and practical aspects of pastoral ministry. In addition to an examination of the matters that pertain to pastoral ministry in general, prepares students for ministry in a Pentecostal Assemblies Of Canada (PAOC) church through a consideration of such issues as PAOC polity, Pentecostal worship and the pastoral implications of Pentecostal distinctives.

The work of the Holy Spirit has long been recognized as fundamental to the interests of the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, as well as to the life of the early church. But how does the work of the Spirit relate to Christology, Luke’s primary subject? And how does Luke’s pneumatology relate to the doctrine of the Trinity, prophecy, speaking in tongues, the spread of the good news, the growth of the church, church leadership, signs and wonders, unity and diversity and the like? Attempts to answer to these questions will be made. Prerequisite: BIBL 0501. Same as NEWT 0733.

Offers a fresh, constructive and perhaps even controversial interpretation and re-envisioning of the Pentecostal tradition. A study is made of the early years of the Pentecostal movement and the influence of Wesleyan, Holiness and revivalist-restorationist roots in an attempt to interpret the heart of the movement, as well as the way Pentecostal spirituality has developed over the decades that followed. An attempt is made to be both analytical and descriptive, historical and creative, theoretical and practical. Same as SPIR 0504.

An examination of classical Pentecostal theology with references to the early evangelical influences that contributed to its formation. Attention is given to the manner in which various Pentecostal emphases have been appropriated and developed within different charismatic settings.

Explores the theology and methodology of growing healthy churches for the 21st century. It examines various church growth principles currently advocated by the church growth movement that are intended to produce relevant, strategic and successful churches. Same as PAST 0749.