EVAK Faculty Training Theme: Lots of Stuff, Little Time
What does organizing coffee have to do with teacher training?
Last week 14 teachers split up into 4 teams and had to categorize and explain 20 types of Vienna coffee. Now you may ask what in the world does that have to do with teacher training at a theological school?
Great question, I am sure many of the teachers thought the same thing. Last week Christoph Windler and I lead a faculty workshop where we were providing tips and tools for the teachers to understand how to grasp the core issues of a subject, focus on them and be able to communicate this. We used the various coffees of Vienna as an example. They were split into groups with the task of being able to tell a non-coffee drinker the differences. It was suggested, next time to have taste testing as apart of this activity.
This was just one of the activities we had for the day.
The training was centered around concepts of a book,Viel Stoff Wenig Zeit (Lots of Stuff, Little Time) written by a professor here in Vienna. I had a lot of fun working with BAO’s president, Christoph Windler as we planned and co-lead this day. This was one of the biggest presentations I have done in a long time and am pleased with how it went.
We have many quality teachers who teach at the Evangelical Academy. The way they participated in the day was encouraging. Many had a learners attitude and I am sure will put to use some of the things they learned. Many instinctively already used some of the methods we taught but the way in which we presented we were able to make the concepts easy to remember next time they prepare a class.
The Evangelical Academy has a unique position in training current and future leaders for the Evangelical church here in Austria. With evangelicals in the minority, less than 1% of the population, many who are learning at the Evangelical Academy already have influential positions. It is our desire that the students learn how to think biblically and theologically about the ministries and daily contexts they are involved in. Not only that but that they would be equippers and coaches for men and women to grow in the knowledge of Christ and know how to reach their nation for Christ in practical and effective ways.
Here is a picture of all the teachers that took part in the training day. We appreciate your prayers for these people as they teach, guide and mold the future leaders of Austria.
Here’s an informative infographic on the different types of coffee.
Our Vienna Scenic View from our Window
The outside of our apartment building is being renovated. We are excited about this because our bedroom gets pretty cold in the winter and they are adding insulation. This building is over a hundred years old. Here is a glimpse from our hallway window. We are amazed at how they are doing this and how fast they are doing it. Here is a short video to show you what we see.
What Would Make Your List for a Perfect Church Leader?
What do you think an ideal church leader or church planter looks like? What qualifications (character), skills and attitudes are needed as they train for future ministry? Questions like these have been rolling around my head the past few months. This isn’t just an academic exercise for me. Sure, I have been in discussions like this in seminary or with friends but right now this is different. Let me provide a little background and explain.
Even though the Evangelical Academy has been around for about five years we are continually learning and improving the way things are done. We have had quite a steep learning curve in learning the ropes in higher education. We have something really good that is meeting an immediate and future need but we could be better.
One way we are improving ourselves is by asking a series of questions from a variety of the schools stakeholders like, the school’s faculty, the school’s leadership board, the mentors of the students, Church leaders etc… Each group will discuss the same set of questions that will help gain a 360 view of what needs to be taken into prayerful consideration as we prepare the school’s curriculum.
Here are two of the first questions we are asking:
- What are some of the things that are hindering the spread of the gospel, and nurture of churches in Austria? This question is broken down into 1) external hindrances produced by the culture and context unique to Austria and 2) internal hindrances produced by the evangelical churches and It’s sub-culture.
- What type of person will it take to meet these hindrances? What skills, behaviors and character is needed? What can be developed through training, mentoring and practice?
The answers will be analyzed and synthesized in providing a graduate profile, a detailed description of what a graduate from the Evangelical Academy will be able to know, feel and do.
I have already done this myself identifying a number of unique things that pertain to Austria specifically. I believe this is of little help if one person provides a document like this. Ultimately, the document will be short sighted; having gaps in different areas and robs the leaders and stakeholders of gaining ownership of something they are all heavily invested in. That is why I am excited about starting this process with the schools leadership board toward the end of September.
After completing the graduate profile process, the next project is to look at our current curriculum to see if it addresses the necessary issues Austria is facing. My guess is many of the classes we already have are good but there will need to be some adjustments as to the content and approach for teaching. I also am excited to see if any new classes or emphases are needed.
As you can see I am excited about this and am glad to be a part of this process. Many of the things I am learning in my doctoral classes I am able to put into immediate use. I am indebted to Robert Ferris and Perry Shaw for the time they took in teaching and talking with me this past year.
I will keep you posted on the process. I am sure it will be interesting to see how this plays out in real life. Making plans on paper always seems so simple yet when it leaves the table and enters the real world it takes on a different life.
Detective Week 2011
This week some of our friends from Newfolden Minnesota are helping put on an English camp here in Vienna. Here is a short video to show some of the highlights so far.
