Practicing Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG11

2 5 2 /

P R A C T I C I N G C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

the Baker Series (i.e., Baker’s Worship Handbook, Baker’s Wedding Handbook, and Baker’s Funeral Handbook ). While the students may think this is overkill, and while they may not use these in the classic sense as textbooks in this course, it is important for you to remind them of the purpose of the Capstone Curriculum. It was designed to provide an urban leader with all the resources needed to either plant or lead urban churches. These texts are critical for those who go into more formal leadership roles, so encourage the students to use these prime resources wisely. They constitute a good beginning of Christian worker’s or pastor’s practical library for ministry, covering the vast majority of situations they will encounter, frommarriage to baby dedications to funerals to counseling sessions. 4. Your ability to refer to the ideas in the reading assignments during your class sessions will help the students understand the importance of gleaning from them insights that will enhance their ability to lead. Again, for some who are studying formally for pastoral ministry, such encouragements will be less necessary. For those lay leaders who are taking the course for enrichment, you will have to encourage them to “sharpen their saw” with an intent to be prepared for whatever the Lord might have for them to do. 5. From a practical standpoint, the books in this module address many contemporary questions that your students are likely to have great interest in. Encourage them to become acquainted with them, especially the Baker Handbook Series and the GrahamChristianWorker’s Handbook as they deal with a broad number of important topics the students will encounter as they minister to and counsel others. They are aptly named, handbooks to deal with specific issues, concerns, and problems. Encourage them to use them in this way. 6. Both Cothen’s and Carter’s books deal with the subject matter of the sessions in a more direct and complimentary way. Make certain that you read the week’s assignment ahead of time, and make a note to yourself to refer to the reading at some time during the class session. This will help the students not only see the relevance of the reading to the study assignment, but will force them to think critically how the materials connect with the themes of the day.