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In the lecture part of the seminar itself, it is pointed out that self growth often is hindered due to: first, confusion between the new spiritual family and one's family of origin, second, a Christ-plus mentality wherein the believer has the unhealthy habit of adding his or her own works to the work of Christ in order to feel accepted before God, and finally a misunderstanding of our Identity in Christ. Even though the emphasis in the lecture is thoroughly positive, understanding the aforementioned categories help the student to sort out their spiritual starting point. Through this process a life growth strategy is developed and then supplemented by the resources of BWGI Ministries. We introduce the student to the workbook Becoming What God Intended: A Study for Spiritual Transformation which they will use for twelve weeks after the seminar. We also make available to them a small group leader's guide for the workbook and if possible training in leading a small group. BWGI Ministries also makes available other material (audio, video, and written) to augment the experience. Campus Ministry
Details Approximately ten years ago the story of BWGI Ministries started. It began when Dr. David Eckman became Executive Vice-President of Western Seminary's work in Northern California. Feeling that the seminary student desperately needed to have an outline of doctrine written on her or his heart, he created an introductory spiritual life course. This course as a goal would have the establishment of an emotionally rich environment in the inner life. God's acceptance through Christ and the identity we have in the Son were at the heart of it all. Dr. Eckman took the discipleship material that he developed in the pastorate and rewrote it for the seminary student. At the same time he introduced an outreach and seminar ministry as a part of school development and recruiting. The spiritual life material was redone for a seminar context. The program was also used as an avenue for the students and faculty to minister in the community. That ministry took on a life of its own, resulting in a 27% annual growth rate in the student body for seven years. In the last few years, the seminar program became an independent non-profit educational ministry known as Kesed Seminars (now BWGI Ministries). Dr. Eckman went part-time at the seminary as an associate professor and full-time at Kesed Seminars. He then partnered with Dr. Roy Low, an Asian-American professor at Western, so the organization can particularly minister to the growing Asian-American presence in the campus ministries. Also, a number of the current BWGI Ministries Interns from the seminary are Asian Americans For two reasons the seminary context is significant. On the one hand, the material in the Setting the Heart Free Seminar has been developed and tested for fifteen years in the pastorate and for an additional ten years in the seminary and also, at the same, time in an expanding church-related ministry. On the other hand, the seminary connection is continually supplying intern personnel for BWGI Ministries. Very few very ministries have the opportunity to train its own on a graduate level for three to five years. In addition, ministerial and counseling students are both participating in this process of training. That is why a number of us consider the seminary-BWGI connection to be the best of symbiotic relationships. Campus
Ministry Details Normally the seminar team is composed of four people, two Bible teachers and two Christian counselors. The teachers are a man and a woman, and so are the counselors. This is consciously done. This way the female and male students have models of a teacher and a counselor. Each member is ...continued in next column |
thoroughly familiar with the material. Each can present the lectures. Typically a team will have one Ph.D. presenting, and all team members will at least have a masters degree. During the breaks in the lecture presentations the counselors are available for voluntary, individual conversation. For two years we have provided this training program for the Northwest Campus Crusade, and we have been told that this will be an annual event. In 1999 at Couer d'Alene, Idaho well over half of the 34 Campus Crusade students present availed themselves of the counseling opportunity. In the year 2000, we presented the same format for a group of thirty students and nine staff in Eugene, Oregon. An even larger percentage of students chose to talk to our team. For both sets of students a number of the issues involved family background. What our counselors did was to try and isolate issues for the students. Then, they made them aware of the spiritual and counseling strategies available. Our counselors also are willing to keep in touch with students. Often the spiritual concerns were already addressed in the handbook Becoming What God Intended: A Study for Spiritual Transformation. After a conversation, as often as not, the students were referred to an appropriate chapter in the book. Campus Ministry
Details
We understand that a labor intensive team approach would be financially burdensome for many campus ministries. Our desire is to have the campus organizations cover travel, lodging, food and a minimal fee. With foundation help and our own non-profit's commitment to the campus ministries, we believe that this is a rich spiritual opportunity.
If you would like to schedule this ministry for your college or university, please contact BWGI Ministries by filling our our Seminar Scheduling form, or call our office at (925) 846-6264. Read more about Setting the Heart Free seminar. Return to Ministry Details, page 1 |
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As part of discovering where the starting point of the student is, we
use evaluative quizzes that isolate the students' knowledge of the
Trinity, God as a Father, and spirituality. Another set of
evaluative quizzes indicates the level of guilt, shame, and sense of
worthlessness in each individual's life. Each quiz and its
results are discussed in a small group with one of our team members.
Inevitably through the quizzes, small group experiences, and
personal counseling, family background and life issues are isolated.
Bud Inman, Modesto, CA: Dr. Eckman's Spiritual Life material has completely revolutionized my understanding of my relationship with our Lord. 
Our
goal is to offer to campus organizations a low cost spiritual life
seminar addressing growth principles and counseling issues.
The reason the fees will be far below cost is three-fold. A
number of BWGI Ministries personnel are supported by donors and the
non-profit is pursuing foundation grants to subsidize this process.
Secondly, a number of our personnel, including Dr, Eckman, consider
it a privilege to minister to these strategic campus outreaches.
Since such is the case, they receive less remuneration for their
services. Lastly, each student and staff person involved is
expected to purchase a workbook, and facilitators are expected to
purchase the leader's guide. Normally other supplemental
material is also bought. These purchases significantly help
the flow of income for our ministry.
Schedule a Seminar