I look at Power to Change's site just a few times a year to see what they're up to; I noticed that they have a Canadian project scheduled for 2019, but it lasts only four weeks, and now goes by the name Praxis Summer (bold, links in original):
PRAXIS SUMMERAlarm bells went off in the head of this blogger at the sight of this announcement. There are a lot of buzzwords and phrases that never used to be used in evangelical circles. The word "praxis" is ones of those words that religious liberals use when communicating with one another, and is seldom heard outside those circles. When it comes to "practical application," the summer projects in the old days of the '80s had plenty of practical application.
Cost: $3950 (only includes flight from Summer Missions Launch in Guelph, ON to Victoria, BC)
Location: Victoria, BC
Date: April 29, 2019 to May 27, 2019
Deadline: January 31, 2019
APPLY
prax·is | \ ˈprak-səs: the practical application of theory. The exercise or practice of an art, science, or skill
Why PRAXIS?
We so often live fragmented lives, where our ‘being’ is disconnected from our ‘doing.’ It’s easy to view missions as something to “do” versus something to “be”. Can we be missional, living lives on mission wherever we are?
Jesus invites us to come to him and to learn from him (Matt. 11:28-29). In Jesus, we see the perfect union of being and doing; Jesus’ ministry activity always was an overflow of his rich and abundant connection with his Father.
PRAXIS is not just a “personal development” trip; rather, it is a unique missions opportunity that offers participants the space to apply the formational and developmental lessons they are learning in a missional context.
The rhythm of our day will integrate all that we’re learning. For example:
Mornings: focus on leadership development and spiritual growth
Afternoons: missional engagement on campus
Evenings: rest, community, and mentorship
What Will We Be Doing?
Through PRAXIS, we will experience and learn what it looks like to integrate both our exterior world (the “doing”) with our interior world (the “being”) — identifying and being attentive to how God is at work in our lives. We desire that this will result in the transformation of how we engage missionally with those around us.
Through exposure to formative spiritual practices, practical leadership training, and life-changing mentoring relationships, we will seek to transform our approach to how we engage missionally with our contemporary culture. We will also seek to partner with local and international partners as we participate in Missio Dei — the mission of God.
Missional Engagement
. Learn how to share your faith in a post-Christian context with other students
. Experience listening to the Holy Spirit as we seek to share our faith
. Cultivate a vision for lifelong ministry, as we partner with other organizations
Leadership Development
. Experience and learn principles of biblical leadership
. Practice time and people management skills
. Work on a team and learn how to effectively resolve conflict
Spiritual Growth
. Learn about how to develop daily spiritual rhythms
. Engage with God’s word through mind and heart
. Experience various approaches to prayer
Through PRAXIS, we hope that we will form foundational practices and perspectives to help us take steps toward a greater embodiment of what it looks like to love God and love others.
Let’s Trust God to Do Something Extraordinary
Do you long for more? Do you recognize that your life is compartmentalized, but desire to live more holistically? Do you want to mature in your faith and in how you participate in God’s mission?
Join us as we endeavour to create space in our lives for God to transform us, and those around us.
Questions? Email praxis@p2c.com
BEGIN THE ADVENTURE
"Missional" is a word I never heard until about 2003, when the Emerging Church came along ; it seems to have replaced the word "missionary." "Missional" seems to include a connotation of man building the Kingdom of God on Earth. "Holistically" is a word that's always been popular with New Agers.
"Formative spiritual practices," "daily spiritual rhythms," "various approaches to prayer," and "foundational practices," sound like contemplative spirituality, i.e., Eastern spiritual practices masquerading as Christian. For information on contemplative spirituality, I especially recommend Lighthouse Trails Research Project and Herescope.
When I wrote to the email address above, I received an admirably quick reply, but without the clarity I was hoping for. I was told, "Cultivating a posture of receptivity to God’s leading is found in disciplines that include but are not exclusive to: Bible study, memorization and contemplation of God's word, personal and corporate prayer, time with God in song, in nature, in fellowship of other Christian believers."
Bible study and memorization are certainly good things, as is contemplation of God's word--if the word "contemplation" refers to the use of one's conscious mind to ruminate over the objective truth of God's word. However, the use of the phrase "not exclusive to," combined with the terms mentioned above, still leaves me suspicious that Power to Change Canada is not completely forthcoming in what this project involves. I didn't receive an answer to my request for information on what organizations Power to Change is partnering with in this project. If I receive any further or clearer information, I'll revise this post accordingly. I suggest the reader email Power to Change Canada for information.
December 31, 2023 update: There will be a PRAXIS project in Edmonton in 2024, and the language used is clearer than in previous years in showing that P2C is continuing further down the Social Gospel and contemplative path (bold, links in original):
PRAXIS Edmonton
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Date: May 1, 2024 - June 10, 2024
Cost: $4350
Application Deadline: January 31, 2024
Why go on the PRAXIS mission trip?
PRAXIS Edmonton is an opportunity to practise being a whole person who lives an integrated life.
You’ll experience a balance of actively engaging with spiritual development, meaningful missional engagement, and growth in community.
You’ll have ongoing opportunities to intentionally reflect and process with peers and P2C-Students staff.
And you’ll be equipped to show and share the gospel in unique contexts.
Edmonton itself is a great place to learn about urban ministry in Canada. You’ll come alongside local partners who are showing and sharing who Jesus is to a variety of subcultures. Because you’re learning in a Canadian context, it will be relatively easy to translate your experiences to your own city after PRAXIS.
PRAXIS is for those who want:
. More in their spiritual journey
. To live missionally through hands-on experiences of compassionate care and gospel witness
. To live in a community on mission
What happens on PRAXIS?
A typical weekly schedule will include three main components:
1. Spiritual practices
You’ll develop healthy spiritual rhythms to enrich your faith and be with God. You’ll grow in recognizing God’s voice through times of prayer, silence, and reflection. You’ll experience spiritual practices like retreat, sabbath, silence and solitude, daily Examen, and Lectio Divina.
These spiritual rhythms are integrated with missional activities, so you can learn to both show and talk about the good news of Jesus.
2. Community You’ll be part of fostering an environment of trust and community. Together we will practise a communal “rule of life” to develop consistency and depth in our shared spiritual rhythms.
You’ll also grow as a leader as you take opportunities to guide your teammates in worship, prayer, meals, missional activities, Bible studies, and team building.
3. Missional Opportunities
Each week, you’ll engage in God’s mission by partnering with local organizations. You’ll serve vulnerable populations in Edmonton’s urban setting, often crossing cultures.
These opportunities will broaden your understanding of God’s work of restoration. They will allow you to wrestle with the fullness of God’s mission, the holistic and embodied nature of living as a witness, and the contextualization that’s needed in evangelism.
In the past, this looked like:
.Helping newcomers to Canada
. Caring for creation
. Learning about Indigenous–Settler reconciliation
. Serving at-risk youth
For a deeper understanding of a PRAXIS mission trip, check out this Prezi presentation.
Note: Trip cost includes housing, food, and mission trip activities. Participants will have the option to raise additional funds to cover their travel to Edmonton.
How will this trip deepen roots and widen horizons?
Deepen your roots as you:
. Live out—and not just know about—the good news of Jesus
. Explore your life story, and learn from the stories of others
. Live with integrity in all aspects of life, provoking spiritual curiosity in others
Widen your horizons as you:
. Learn life skills (e.g. time management, food planning and prep, sharing living space and life with others)
. Live in community, serving teammates and stewarding spiritual friendships
. Become aware of the breadth of God’s redemptive work in a Canadian city
Note on applying: To protect the privacy of your personal information, our online project application tool (the “PAT”) now uses two-factor authentication from Okta. You’ll find instructions on how to use and troubleshoot Okta when you apply.
No comments:
Post a Comment