Cross Cultural Bridge Building Course 2024

Produced and presented by The Asia Pacific Discipleship Trust 

Introduction

This course is designed to help disciples of Jesus Christ discover how The Lord Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, moved the religious nation of Israel towards a personal relationship with His Heavenly Father and embracing the work of the Holy Spirit, without renouncing the millennia of revelation they had received through the prior Prophets. We apply these principles and practices to our current encounters with the slaves of the Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. and his ummah. The hope is that discovering a personal revelation of what the Prophet Isa Almasih taught and revealed, both in the Qur’an and the Holy Bible, it will be a catalyst for a dynamic new faith encounter with One God the Father of us all. 

Online interactive teaching sessions 

Each of the 10 sessions is presented on Google Meets. It’s a closed group. You must register prior to the course commencing to be part of the group. Each member is then invited to participate. After registration invitees will be sent a link to join the sessions each Friday night. Having a good high speed internet provider is important. We need to start each session on time, at 7pm, (New Zealand time) so please log on to google meets at 6.50pm and patiently await for the starting time. We plan to finish each night by 9.15pm. On most occasions there will be 2 x 40 minute sessions and a 30 minute question time with 5 minute breaks in between each session. Readings will be emailed 5 days in advance of each session. Participants will be expected to have read the readings prior to the session. Participants  will need a computer or laptop that has adjustable sound levels, and a microphone so we can all hear each other in the discussion times. Google meets has a chat feature and you can type in your questions while another discussion is underway. Please test out your computer before you register to ensure it generates a good clear sound. 

Objective/purpose of this course? 

The CEO of The Asia Pacific Discipleship Trust has discerned a pressing need over the last 3 years to help Christ’s disciples to develop a good understanding or how to help enquiring Muslims they know discover the truth about Jesus Christ our Saviour and Messiah from both the Qur’an and the Bible. So many new enquirers from Islamic backgrounds are contacting our networks. He became aware of the need from the frequent cries for help he received from many people struggling to share their faith with Muslim friends who are seekers. On the other hand he met many Christians whose sons and daughters, grandchildren and spouses who have become Muslims. There has also been a significant surge in disillusioned Muslims put off by the activities of extremist groups. They have chosen to  leave their faith behind, but they are suspicious of any other faith often choosing atheism as their intermediary state. This course wants to offer breakthroughs in helping Muslims discover sacrificial redemptive and salvific truth in Jesus Christ. 

Sessions – Online

16th August 2024 
God Model for Human relationships – Jesus and His incarnation – Jesus and the Kingdom imperative – Matt 6:33 ‘Seek ye first the Kingdom of God?’ – Jesus Christ the ‘Word of God’ in Johns’ Gospel and the Qur’an. 

23rd August, 2024
Who are Muslims? What is Islam? Common Prophets and Holy Texts? Why should we care? Why build a bridge and not a wall? 

30th August, 2024
Learning to love and respect Muslims? Connecting, festivals, prayer, Holy places of worship, cleansing, and other religious ceremonies that build bridges. 

6th September, 2024 
Freedom from fear and paranoia? Spiritual foundations for Inter-faith ministry and outreach. How to prepare to read the Qur’an alongside the Bible and understand its message and hermeneutic. Helpful resources. Some scholars have already done the hard work of research. 

13th September, 2024  
Finding, discerning and making friends with seekers. The call. Types of seekers. Preparing the foundations for building bridges with seekers. Engaging seekers. The stories of the journeys of seekers? 

20th September, 2024                                                                                                                             
What are the main obstacles (objections) Muslims have about the Christian Way of practicing faith in God, doctrines and lifestyles that are hindrances to Muslims taking Christians seriously. Stories and examples from ex Muslims. 

27th September, 2024 
Guiding Muslims to discover the Truth. Avoiding shame and disrespect. The Muslim mindset ability to hold seemingly contradictory views in balance, and the contrast to linear thinking. Honouring and applauding truth discoveries. 

4th October, 2024
Building a team ministry approach. Why it’s important: how to do it: and community  engagement. Kinship, collectivism and collateral security. The divinity of Christ!  How Jesus Christ reshaped the theology of His disciples? 

11th October, 2024
Interpreting the Signs of the Prophets. The Gospel of John the Baptist. The ethics of conversion! Building bridges to the hearts and minds of Muslims thru’ prayer, trust in God and transparency. 

18th October, 2024                                                                                                                          
Developing a strategic prayer movement? It’s goals and objectives? What the Holy Spirit has in mind? The incredible work of God in Islam in these days? What to look out for? How to cooperate with what God is doing? Where too from here? 

Course co-ordinator

Bryan Johnson is the co-ordinator. Other expert presenters will appear in person or via video because of the international time difference.

Bryan has served as a missionary in Asia – Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, India, Philippines, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Kazakhstan, South Africa and the former Yugoslavia. Although his primary focus has centered on helping Muslims discover who Isa (Jesus) is, he has also taught on Buddhism, Hinduism and Atheism. He commenced his missionary ministry in 1977 after being a youth leader at Papatoetoe Baptist, and Hamilton Central Baptist Churches. Bryan, a qualified accountant, studied Indonesian language and culture, Islam and an adult inductive learning at Waikato University. From 1993 to 2003 Bryan was the Principal of New Covenant International Bible College. He was ably assisted by his wife Cheryl as the registrar. From 2004 to 2010 Bryan served the Global International Friendship ministry at the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle. In 2010 he pioneered a ministry for seeking migrants from an Islamic background with Paul Chang. In more recent times he has been overseeing the pioneering of the Friends of Friends Fellowship ministry around Aotearoa in the main University cities. Bryan is fully committed to building bridges of love and peace with Imams and Muslim communities wherever he goes. 

Venue

Your home via Google Meets – When you register you will get a meeting code, and the readings and powerpoint, notes, etc will be emailed to you a week before the course commences as PDFs. During the course you will receive regular readings and notes. 

Cost

The cost of the course is $95 including the notes. A deposit of $35 is required by mid-night Sunday 14th August, 2024. Late fee applies – $35 if not registered by the 14th August. The balance can be paid during the course. Please register and make payment as detailed below.

Register here now – in 2 easy steps

STEP ONE – Fill in this form

    STEP TWO – Deposit the course fee/Deposit of $35 before the 14th August 2024

    Please do a bank transfer of the $95 course fee (or the $35 deposit) into the Newmarket Auckland account of The Asia Pacific Discipleship Trust:


    The Asia Pacific Discipleship Trust
    BNZ Newmarket, Auckland NZ

    02 0240 0030890 097

    Please provide your first name and the initial of your last name with the letters CCBB. For example Yunus Assad would be YunusACCBB. Thank you.

    For more information contact Bryan Johnson – Mobile +64 27 276 6900

    For more information contact Bryan Johnson – Mobile 027 276 6900

    THANK YOU FOR REGISTERING. We look forward to meeting you at 6.50pm on the 16th August, 2024!