Taking the Seminary to the Slums

Developing the City Learning Network

After the Urban Poor Churchplanters Consultation, usually a learning network forms where slum pastors continue to meet together every 2-3 months for 2-3 days.

In Kolkata, each time they come together each team does a drama about what they have implemented since the last time. Then an expert practitioner speaks about the topic chosen for that seminar.

In many cities, the first seminar is on HIV/AIDS. In Chennai this was followed by:

Communicating Christ to Children
A Day in Prayer
Career Guidance
Counselling....

In between the pastors meet together every thursday for lunch.

Role of the Urban Poor City-wide Training Facilitator

Some guidelines for gatherings of your network of urban poor workers. We suggest gathering one- three days every three months.

3 Months before the Training Gathering

Decide with workers on which of the 12 modules to use for next training session.
Think about who in the city can speak on that subject for 1-2 hours (40 mins lecture with discussion and response). Contact and confirm availability. Ensure the speaker has a copy of the module from the CD
Set date

2 Months before the Gathering

Send out date and location
Send out readings that are related to the topic for this module (on the CD) to the workers. have these translated into local language as needed.
With the readings send a request inviting the participants to prepare a story from their ministry experience related to this topic, develop the story into a drama, using their team which they will bring with them to put on the drama on the training day. (As each team brings their team, there is multiplication, as more workers are trained and see the passion of others for urban poor ministry).

1 Month before the Gathering

Confirm it all, communicate the venue, time, program for the day etc.
Remind them to prepare stories, dramas or videos.

During the Training Gathering

Start with worship and then prayer
Introduce the theme of the day and say you are seeking to come together from various backgrounds and explore your experiences related to the theme
Have a lecture to introduce it all - 45 minutes with a 15 minute discussion group in between
Eat lunch together
After each story / drama have people who not involved in the drama stand up and respond as to how the drama touched them. (If you can video the stories / dramas and mail us a copy).
To help integrate what has been learned, ask the participants to gather in small groups of 4-5 and reflect on how they will apply the ideas of the day to their lives and ministry. Encourage the group members to pray for one another as they express their hopes and aspirations.
Before they leave decide on next module and date.