SMBS – Course descriptions

Lectures are generally presented by a different lecturer every week. Lectures are taught by Torchbearers International faculty, local Romanian ministry leaders/ teachers, or by resident ministry faculty. Lectures can include reading assignments, practical application exercises, or group discussions and are presented in English or Romanian with translation available, if two or more students should require.

Subjects that are covered are (minor changes possible):

• Various Books of the Bible
  • Ephesians (2018)
• Fundamental Aspects of Cross-cultural Missions
• Youth Work in a Cross-cultural Context
• Discipleship
• Ministry Tool Development
• Outdoor Adventure Ministry
• Apologetics
• Ethics
• History of Missions
• Evangelism
• Ministry Developement

Other relevant subjects like team work, leadership and cross-cultural communication are covered through experiential learning activities.

Outreaches

Each student will be assigned to a weekly local outreach location. They will be required to organize the outreach activity together with at least one other student. The local outreaches can vary from children/ youth after school programs, children/ youth English programs, or youth group (Mici Exploratori).

Students will also participate in group outreaches  during the program, where they will do ministry together as a student body (examples are: Easter outreach, sports outreach, orphanage outreach, Gypsy village outreach)

All students will also participate in a larger Mission Outreach. This will be a multi-day outreach that will be a longer distance from the center. Students will begin preparation for this outreach early in the program in order to be thoroughly ready when it comes time to begin.

Prayer

Prayer is an intentional and important element here at PdF. We want our students to engage with God through prayer as often as possible  whether it be in their morning devotions, before meals, before leaving on an outreach, or just sitting with friends, it is an essential element of the missionary’s life. Students will also be given the opportunity to  participate in prayer walks within local communities near the center (Rasnov, Shadow Valley, local Roma villages, etc).

Schedule

The weekly schedule consists of five lecture days (Monday to Friday) with 2 – 4 lectures a day, along with time in the afternoon for reading, personal study, practical duties, fellowship, language studies and recreational activities. The weekends are either organized for outreach and special activities, or free for students to spend as they wish.

Assignments

Students will be required to read at least one chosen book, as well as selected bible readings (ex. entire New Testament, Old Testament, etc). Along with the bible readings, students will be taught methods of bible reading that require applicational journaling, to help them digest what they are reading.

Students will be required to complete an assigned bible memory program.

We feel it is very important for students to be physically active during their time with us. Because of this we require that students obtain a set amount of fitness points each week.

Family Groups

Students are assigned to a different staff family group each week. During this time the students and family will have dinner together and either discuss relevant topics or just hang out an have fun together. The purpose of this time is for the students to get a first hand experience of life as a missionary, to experience the unique culture of each family, and to grow in relationship to the staff here at PdF.

Church

Students will attend selected churches throughout the program, in order to experience the different ways that church is done here in Romania. On some afternoons students will be sent to a church member’s house for lunch.

We will have evening chapel on selected Sunday evenings where 1-2  students will share their life story.

Prayer Nights

We will have selected prayer nights throughout the program to pray for topics relevant to the students, Romania, and world in general. The most important aspect of this time is for the students to connect with our Lord Jesus in a deep and intimate way.

Praise and Worship 

Students will have a period for praise and worship prior to the first lectures each weekday morning, during the evening chapel services, and on selected worship evenings during the week. If there are enough musically gifted students, student worship bands will be formed and asked to help with the praise and worship events. Instruments such as upright piano, keyboard, two guitars, box drum, djembe, tambourines, shakers are all available for the students to praise God with. We have an overhead projector connected to a wireless iPad to control slides. A sound system with microphones, DI boxes, soundboard and recording capabilities is also available.