...a gap year with purpose and potential
Pursue-X is an intentional 8-month discipleship program focused on introducing students to the foundations of Christianity, study and interpretation of the Bible, discovery of their identity in Christ, and gaining practical ministry-leadership experience as they serve in the context of their local church.
a gap year with purpose and potential
an 8-month discipleship program focused on introducing students to the study and interpretation of the Bible, discovering their identity in Christ, and gaining practical ministry-leadership skills.
His Word . His Heart . His Mission.
Pursue-X is an eight-month Discipleship Program that focuses on foundational biblical and theological principles through college-level courses. Throughout the year, you will engage in a program uniquely designed to help you develop spiritual disciplines, leadership skills, and being a member of a ministry team. You will serve as an active member of your local church's leadership team.
HEAD (His Word)
- Introduction to college-level learning through accredited and transferable courses
- Interact and participate in Formation and Discipleship courses tailored to the Pursue-X program
- Learn how to read the Bible well; understand the context; know the overarching story of the Bible and how life, death, and resurrection connect the story from Genesis to Revelation
- Develop skills in Bible study and interpretation
HEART (His Heart)
- Discern what you love/worship through spiritual practices and reflection
- Learn to relate well to others by being part of a team and being mentored by leaders
- Develop principles and practices for effective emotional, physical, and spiritual self-care
HANDS (His Mission)
- Understand what it means to align your personal interests to further the purposes of God's kingdom
- Discover your spiritual gifts and explore your calling
- Gain confidence in your abilities, accomplishments, and decision making
- Develop the mindset of being a 'reflective practitioner' who is able to learn from what they experience from hands-on ministry-leadership
EXPERIENCE
Ministry:
- Serving in your local church
- Partnering with a local ministry in a 'distant land'
Personal Growth Opportunities:
- One-on-one Discipleship/Mentorship
- Leadership Development
- Spiritual Direction
Community Experiences:
- Pursue-X Residencies
- local church
- cohort learning
Program Outcomes
- Gain foundational biblical and theological knowledge through discipleship and college-
level courses. - Develop spiritual disciplines, practical personal care, leadership skills and abilities.
- Serve as an active disciple of Christ through ministry opportunities, and projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions regarding Pursue-X, please contact Enrolment Services. Some questions are answered below.
Who is the ideal student for this program?
What will I be doing on the trip?
What will transfer into a degree or certificate?
Discipleship Certificate
Fall Courses
BT102Hermeneutics
Class Time: 3 hours | Credits: 3.00
Online Course Code DEBT102
The heart of this course is centred around the importance of the Bible as God’s revelation to mankind, the metanarrative of God at work in history. The course intends to instruct students in how they read and study the scriptures. The student will be acquainted with the purpose and methods of responsible biblical interpretation, both general hermeneutics and special hermeneu-tics. The intention is to provide tools for interpretation, an emphasis on role of the Holy Spirit their personal reading of the Bible, and an appreciation for the different genres of scripture.
BT101The Bible As Story
Class Time: 3 hours | Credits: 3.00
Online Course Code DEBT101
This entry level course is designed to demonstrate the importance and relevancy of the whole Bible for today. For many, it is a mystery how the Old Testament is related to the New Testament. Some think the former is a source of unrelated devotional stories, laws and prophecies. In truth, the two testaments are the complete story of God’s progressive plan for his people. It is the purpose of this course to concisely trace the story of Scripture, and to help students build a central foundation with which they can understand, interpret and apply God’s word to their lives today.
BT103Introduction to Personal Formation
Class Time: 3 hours | Credits: 3.00
Online Course Code DEBT103
The purpose of this course is to examine the teaching of the Bible and develop a systematic theology that addresses four important themes: the Word of God, the doctrine of God, biblical anthropology, and the doctrine of sin. Efforts will be made to explain how these themes are developed through promise and fulfilment from Genesis to Revelation.
DF101Formation 1: Foundational Living
Class Time: 3 hours | Credits: 3.00
Being a disciple of Christ comes at a cost, but also comes with an eternal hope that so many are without in our world. Through this course students will take an in-depth look at the Biblical lessons learned from being a follower of Jesus including the costs, and practices needed by every disciple of Christ. Students will take time to develop personal habits of a disciple of Christ, as well as be involved with a small group, and mentorship.
FE101Practicum: Pursue - Local
Class Time: 3 hours | Credits: 3.00
Through this practicum students will have a focused time of discussion and preparation for a variety of ministry opportunities which will help to develop a compassionate heart for unreached people in Canada. Students will also learn how to effectively work with non-profit agencies, as well as communicate with people in a Canadian context from various countries around the world.
Winter Courses
BT104Gospels
Class Time: 3 hours | Credits: 3.00
Online Course Code DEBT104
This course is an introduction to the Gospels. It will focus on the four canonical gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Issues relating to the synoptic problem will be explored, as well as the unique contribution of each gospel. The literary nature of the gospels will be examined, exploring the gospels as story, as well as their theological impact. As the title implies, this course will emphasize our response to the gospels: what it means to follow Jesus.
BT105Theology 1: God and the Human Condition
Class Time: 3 hours | Credits: 3.00
Online Course Code DEBT105
The purpose of this course is to examine the teaching of the Bible and develop a systematic theology that addresses four important themes: the Word of God, the doctrine of God, biblical anthropology, and the doctrine of sin. Efforts will be made to explain how these themes are developed through promise and fulfilment from Genesis to Revelation.
DF102Formation 2: Personal Understanding
Class Time: 3 hours | Credits: 3.00
Being a disciple of Christ means that we must be able to contextualize the gospel in all that we do. Through this course students will learn about different ministry styles and discover their own personal ministry style through the S.H.A.P.E. Profile and Spiritual Gifting’s assessments. Students will practice initial approaches to contextualization and ministry by engaging with people of other cultures and religious beliefs through off campus tours and trips.
DF103Formation 3: Life on Mission
Class Time: 3 hours | Credits: 3.00
Recognizing the need of Spiritual Disciplines is fundamental in our personal journey of being a disciple of Jesus. Through this course students will engage with and identify these spiritual disciplines through hands on learning and practical experience. Students will utilize Foster’s book, as well as other biblically founded material to work through these various disciplines, as well as analyze how these change as they continue to move into a variety of stages of life.
FE102Practicum: Pursue – Global
Class Time: 3 hours | Credits: 3.00
Through this practicum students will develop in their understanding of cross cultural ministry, and begin to prepare for a hands on experience in a global context. We also focus on preparing students for going into another country/culture through our Global Orientation. Students will also be able to experience practical, and hands on ministry in carious countries that we are going to this year.