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October 3-16, 2010 Vancouver, Canada

A Servants Orientation Course is the best way to get a thorough introduction to the vision, principles, values and strategies of Servants.  This course is part of the Steps to Joining for anyone planning to join a Servants team in Asia (eg. Kolkata, Delhi, Yangon, Jakarta, Phnom Penh, Manila, etc.) or a Western Servants community.  If there is space we also sometimes accept those who are still discerning God’s call on their life, who wish to attend in order to get to know Servants better.  The Orientation Course runs for 2 weeks.

Location

The course is residential.  Participants will stay in the Servants community house located in the poorest neighbourhood in Canada: Downtown Eastside Vancouver.  The Servants Vancouver community is a place of radical hospitality for those who are not normally welcomed in our society.  We are involved in drug rehabilitation (through a ministry we call “prehab”) and outreach to those who are homeless and/or struggling with addiction.  We have also transformed an unused parking lot on our block into a community garden where neighbours now come to hang out and tend a little corner of God’s creation.  For two weeks course participants will share our space and rhythms of life and prayer.

Content

These are the major components:

Field Visits/Outings.  These trips outside the main meeting place allow the orientees to see some of the principles and theory in practice.

Devotions/Worship times.  Each day will begin by focusing on God with a devotional time led by one of the orientees or facilitators.

Personal Stories.  Each participant is encouraged to share some of their personal story and journey towards mission.

Private Interviews.  Each participant is given an opportunity to raise questions and concerns in private and receive feedback from the leaders.

20 Teaching Modules.  The core curriculum and foundation material that each potential worker needs to know before joining a team:

Module 1:   History, Vision & Mission of Servants

Module 2:   Who, Where & What is Servants?

Module 3:   Poverty and the Urban Poor

Module 4:   Relief & Community Development

Module 5:   A Theology of Suffering

Module 6:   The Incarnational Approach

Module 7:   Simplicity

Module 8:   Holism

Module 9:   Community

Module 10: Servanthood and Empowerment

Module 11: Language Learning

Module 12: Bonding

Module 13: The 5 Values

Module 14: Team Work

Module 15: Servant-Leadership

Module 16: Self-care

Module 17: Cross-Cultural Conflict

Module 18: Evangelism & Church Planting

Module 19: Discipleship

Module 20: The Ministry Ethos and Governance Guidelines of Servants

Cost

If you are able to contribute to the cost of Orientation (about $200 per person covers food, speakers, transport, etc. – for 2 weeks) you are encouraged to make a donation.  We realize that people are coming from very different places and ability to pay so if you are able to give more, please do!, and if you are only able to give a little, we also receive that gratefully and trust that God will provide.

How to Apply

If you are interested in attending this course, or know someone who should be there, let us know asap as we try to keep it to a small intimate group, living together for the 2 weeks, so space will be very limited.  You will need to fill in an Orientation Application Form” if you have not previously completed a full Servants Application form.  Email if you are unsure, or just pick up the phone and give us a call if you have any questions or want a chat (1 800 605 4630).