RAD Course One

"Discover Who You Are"

No one can effectively minister if they don’t have a foundational grounding of who they are in Christ, free from wrong perceptions of self and God, or negative patterns of relating with others. Therefore, RAD does not push students to develop ministry skills immediately, but allows students to encounter personal growth first before having the additional challenge of learning to minister to and disciple others.

Course One is the launching pad towards maturity for all RAD students, focusing primarily on the students' understanding of their relationship with themselves, God, and others. The course will begin with three weeks of intense, outdoor adventure experiences wherein students will confront the challenge of day to day lifestyle that have some unique differences from the norm. This portion of the course is aimed at bringing understanding to challenges faced within the team and helping the students step into a greater level of trust, communication, and cooperation. Small group discussions, lessons, and prayer times will have an emphasis on encouraging openness, honesty, and transparency among team members. The goal is for students to begin experiencing changes in their own lives as they remove their defenses and live openly and honestly with their peers. They’ll also grasp the critical importance of servant leadership through teamwork and community such as befits the body of Christ.

Course One is located in a serene setting, allowing students time away from noise, media, and other social distractions. In this setting students will participate in a range of hands-on activities which build into the character of each individual as well as making it an experience they will never forget.

Each adventure activity is designed to teach certain values such as servant leadership, trust, teamwork, and honesty, plus many more life skills. In small groups students will be encouraged to reflect on their experiences, share openly with each other, and learn to pray for each other as they encounter their own personal strengths and weaknesses. The teaching curriculum will highlight topics that reinforce the process of personal discovery begun in the outdoors: finding freedom in Christ, experiencing the fruits of the Spirit, developing intimacy with God, learning to listen to Him, and discovering spiritual gifts. The course will end with a week of debriefing, where students can reflect on the ways they have grown, the new dimensions of their faith, and how these changes impact the course of their life.

Course One Topics

. Personal look intro
. Building personal & team trust
. Flesh & sin pruning
. Forgiveness and repentance
. Life 101
. Worldview
. Personality compass
. Spiritual Gifts
. Character: yours & God’s
. Learning to fast & pray (SOLO)
. In the Word for your identity in  God
. Personal growth - priorities & goal setting

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“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:10