Word and Spirit Institute

Certificate program in MINISTRY FOR THE AGING: Course 6 – Reaching out: The Church and the Community
2018-09-15 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Toronto) | Covenant Reformed Church, 265 Albion Rd., Toronto, Ontario, M9W 3P1, Canada
Course 6:
Reaching out: The Church and the Community

Description:
Opportunities to serve with the aging already abound, including the elderly living in our own neighbourhoods and throughout our communities. The vast majority (90+%) live in their own homes or with their own families; 2/3 of those over 85 live in their own homes or with their families. 85% of those with dementia live in the communities (not in institutions). Further, loneliness in Canadian seniors is widely recognized as “an epidemic”: “1.4 million elderly Canadians report feeling lonely”, “while 80 years and older say that up to 80 per cent of the time they feel lonely” (here). This course provides an overview of this situation, a profile of those in our communities, and considers how we might respond.
“The righteous … flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the LORD is upright”
(Psalm 92).
Facilitators:
Dr. Tom McCormick
Tom McCormick enjoys the interrelationships among several disciplines. He has a BA in philosophy and mathematics, an MA in Bible (Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia), a PhD in Humanities (Linguistics & Philosophy, University of Texas, Arlington), and a PhD in Philosophy (Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto). Tom also integrates praxis with thought, serving as a chaplain at Long Term & Residential Care Homes, teaching ESL, helping coordinate services for immigrants, assisting minority language groups overseas with literacy, development, and Bible translation, while helping to train consultants and literacy workers. He has taught mathematics, linguistics, reading theory, orthography design, philosophy, theology, education, qualitative research methods, and language acquisition. His books include Meditation: a Practical Guide to a Spiritual Discipline; 2 books on Nursing Home Ministry; Theories of Reading in Dialogue; Science, Imagination and God; Towards a Christian Philosophy; The Field and the Spirit; Meditation: a Biblical Study. Tom has been working with those in Long Term Care Nursing Homes for more than 40 years and has taught at both graduate and undergraduate institutions, including conducting workshops both in North America and overseas.
FEES
Audit – There will be a $100 fee for auditing the module ($50 for those who ONLY attend the conference).
Certificate Level – There will be a $150 fee for each module or $750 if preregistered for the entire program ($650 for chaplains).
Bachelors/Masters Level – Please contact the Word and Spirit Institute for tuition of Bachelor and Masters courses.
There will an additional cost for the purchase of required reading material.
COURSE SCHEDULE

Biblical Foundations of Ministries with the Aging
Principles and Practices of Spiritual Care for Seniors (I)
Aging, Stages of Human Development, and Spirituality
Principles and Practices of Spiritual Care for Seniors (II)
Reaching out: Institutional settings; Families and Caregivers for Seniors
Reaching out: The Church and the Community; Families and Caregivers for Seniors
Cultural, Gender, and Religious Diversity; Global Aging

Interested?
Please e-mail wsinstitute@outlook.com for more information, to register and/or to receive the course-syllabus

Certificate program in MINISTRY FOR THE AGING: Course 5 – Reaching out: Institutional Settings; Families and Caregivers for Seniors
2018-05-19 09:00 - 16:00 | Bethel Canadian Reformed Church, 11251 Bayview Ave, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4S 1L8, Canada
Course 5:
Reaching out: Institutional Settings; Families and Caregivers for Seniors

Description:
Opportunities to serve the aging already abound, including the elderly living in our own neighbourhoods and throughout our communities. The vast majority (90+%) live in their own homes or with their own families; 2/3 of those over 85 live in their own homes or with their families. 85% of those with dementia live in the communities (not in institutions). Further, loneliness in Canadian seniors is widely recognized as “an epidemic”: “1.4 million elderly Canadians report feeling lonely”, “while 80 years and older say that up to 80 per cent of the time they feel lonely” (here). This course provides an overview of this situation, a profile of those in our communities, and considers how we might respond.
“The righteous … flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the LORD is upright”
(Psalm 92).
Facilitators:
Dr. Tom McCormick
FEES
Audit – There will be a $100 fee for auditing the module ($50 if you ONLY attend the conferences).
Certificate Level – There will be a $150 fee for each module or $750 if preregistered for the entire program ($650 for chaplains).
Bachelors/Masters Level – Please contact the Word and Spirit Institute for tuition of Bachelor and Masters courses.
There will an additional cost for the purchase of required reading material.
COURSE SCHEDULE

Biblical Foundations of Ministries with the Aging
Principles and Practices of Spiritual Care for Seniors (I)
Aging, Stages of Human Development, and Spirituality
Principles and Practices of Spiritual Care for Seniors (II)
Reaching out: Institutional settings; Families and Caregivers for Seniors
Reaching out: The Church and the Community; Families and Caregivers for Seniors
Cultural, Gender, and Religious Diversity; Global Aging

Interested?
Please e-mail wsinstitute@outlook.com for more information, to register and/or receive the course-syllabus

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Certificate program in MINISTRY FOR THE AGING: Course 3 - Joy in Aging (old number 3)
2017-12-02 09:00 - 16:00 | Covenant Reformed Church, 265 Albion Rd., Toronto, Ontario, M9W 3P1, Canada
Course 3:
Joy in Aging
Description:
Aging has unique challenges and joys.
Many think of aging with a sense of dread. And yet, mature Christian authors suggest Finishing Our Course with Joy (J.I. Packer) and Aging Joyfully (Timothy Starr). The Bible promises a flourishing life in old age (Psalm 92), even counting all our various trials as joy (James 1; Romans 5). In this course we will consider the promises and possibilities of joyful aging, along with the fears, challenges, and fun of growing older, all in the light of a biblical perspective on aging.
Come and learn to prepare for joyful aging.
“The righteous … flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the LORD is upright”
(Psalm 92).
Facilitators:
Facilitators:
Dr. Tom McCormick, Chaplain: LTC; Retirement Home.
Cathy Clark: Cathy is Manager of the 911 & Emergency Planning Program for the County of Simcoe, serving within the Health & Emergency Services Division. She has an MDiv from Tyndale Seminary, and is active ministering with seniors in her church and community.
Pastor Matthew H. VanLuik, Director Word and Spirit Ministries.
Cathy Clark, MDiv.
This course is the third course out of 8 courses with the option to obtain a Certificate in MINISTRY FOR THE AGING
FEES
Audit – There will be a $75 fee for auditing the module.
Certificate Level – There will be a $100 fee for each module.
Bachelors Level – There will be a $125 fee for each module.
Masters Level – There will be a $150 fee for each module.
There will an additional cost for the purchase of required reading material.
The cost will include a light lunch on the day of the conference.
COURSE SCHEDULE
1. Biblical Foundations of Ministries with the Aging (April 2017).
2. Principles and Practices of Spiritual Care for Seniors I (Sept. 2017).
3. Joy in Aging (Dec. 2017).
4. Reaching out: The Church and the Community; Families and Caregivers for Seniors (March 2018).
5. Aging, Stages of Human Development, and Spirituality (Sept. 2018).
6. Reaching out: Institutional settings; Families and Caregivers for Seniors (Dec, 2018).
7. Principles and Practices of Spiritual Care for Seniors II (March 2019).
8. Cultural, Gender, and Religious Diversity; Global Aging (Sept. 2019).
Interested?
Please e-mail wsinstitute@outlook.com to register

or fill out the form on the “contact us” page
scroll down for a map to Bethel church 11251 Bayview Avenue Richmond Hill, ON, L4S 1L8

Philippians - Understanding "The Gospel of Joy" (Conference Part 2)
2015-02-07 08:30 - 12:30 | Grace Canadian Reformed Church, 10301 Creditview Road , Brampton, Ontario, L7A 0X3, Canada
Philippians – Understanding “The Gospel of Joy”
Course instructor: Dr. Eric Pennings
Conference Dates: January 31 and February 7 from 8:30am to 12:30pm

Conference will be held at:
Grace Canadian Reformed Church, 10301 Creditview Rd. (at Fairhill Ave.) Brampton
Course Description:
A study of the practical implications of the message of Paul’s epistle to the Philippians.

Course Objective:
To learn the main message of Philippians in order to apply it to the students’ life and ministry.

Synopsis of the Course:
The book of Philippians is written in the historical context of several other Pauline Epistles. The student will be familiarized with these books during the study of this course. During the course the student will learn concepts of Christian joy that is characterized by and leads us to gratitude, faithfulness, humility, submission, justification, eternal life, peace and sharing.

Explanation of the Course Format:
The course is introduced by a conference that consists of 8 hours of lectures by the professor. The conference is open to anyone for a fee, without committing to the course requirements. Those who register as a student for the course will, in addition to the conference lectures, meet in class for 16 hours of follow-up classes. These follow-up classes can be held in different geographical locations where the number of registered students in the area warrants.

Registration/Tuition Fees:
Conference fee – $25 (For conferences only)
Course – level 1 – $70 (Bachelor’s level)
Course – level 2 – $100 (Master’s level)
Auditing the course – $40
Initial application fee to register as a student – $25
Contact for more information and to register email: gertievanluik@gmail.com

Course Professor: Dr. Eric Pennings

Ordained minister for 28 years
Born in Canada and married with four children
Education:

BRE in Bible and Christian Education from Kuyper College (formerly Reformed Bible College) of Grand Rapids, Michigan
MDiv from Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan
DMin from Miami International Seminary (MINTS) in Miami, Florida

Ministry Experience:

During his studies, he served part time in several churches as well as serving as a missionary in Mexico and Honduras
After graduation from seminary, he served 8 years with the Christian Reformed World Missions in Costa Rica where he founded a church, directed the Costa Rican Center of Reformed Studies and was a founding member of the Board of the Costa Rican Center for World Mission.
In 1994 he returned to Canada to pastor a CRC church in Strathroy, Ontario for eight years.
In 2002 Rev. Pennings served as a missionary among the Sikhs, an Indian immigrant population in Toronto.
In 2005 he began his ministry with the Miami International Seminary (MINTS) where he has served as Associate Dean for Central America. In March 2015 he will become the International Academic Dean for MINTS.
In 2011 he received his Doctorate in Ministry with MINTS and is currently a PhD candidate at the same institution.

Philippians - Understanding "The Gospel of Joy" (Conference Part 1)
2015-01-31 08:30 - 12:30 | Grace Canadian Reformed Church, 10301 Creditview Road , Brampton, Ontario, L7A 0X3, Canada
Philippians – Understanding “The Gospel of Joy”
Course instructor: Dr. Eric Pennings
Conference dates: January 31 and February 7 from 8:30am to 12:30pm

Conference will be held at:
Grace Canadian Reformed Church, 10301 Creditview Rd. (at Fairhill Ave.) Brampton
Course Description:
A study of the practical implications of the message of Paul’s epistle to the Philippians.
Course Objective:
To learn the main message of Philippians in order to apply it to the students’ life and ministry.
Synopsis of the Course:
The book of Philippians is written in the historical context of several other Pauline Epistles. The student will be familiarized with these books during the study of this course. During the course the student will learn concepts of Christian joy that is characterized by and leads us to gratitude, faithfulness, humility, submission, justification, eternal life, peace and sharing.

Explanation of the Course Format:
The course is introduced by a conference that consists of 8 hours of lectures by the professor. The conference is open to anyone for a fee, without committing to the course requirements. Those who register as a student for the course will, in addition to the conference lectures, meet in class for 16 hours of follow-up classes. These follow-up classes can be held in different geographical locations where the number of registered students in the area warrants.

Registration/Tuition Fees:
Conference fee – $25 (For conferences only)
Course – level 1 – $70 (Bachelor’s level)
Course – level 2 – $100 (Master’s level)
Auditing the course – $40
Initial application fee to register as a student – $25
Contact for more information and to register: gertievanluik@gmail.com

Course Professor: Dr. Eric Pennings

Ordained minister for 28 years
Born in Canada and married with four children
Education:

BRE in Bible and Christian Education from Kuyper College (formerly Reformed Bible College) of Grand Rapids, Michigan
MDiv from Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan
DMin from Miami International Seminary (MINTS) in Miami, Florida

Ministry Experience:

During his studies, he served part time in several churches as well as serving as a missionary in Mexico and Honduras
After graduation from seminary, he served 8 years with the Christian Reformed World Missions in Costa Rica where he founded a church, directed the Costa Rican Center of Reformed Studies and was a founding member of the Board of the Costa Rican Center for World Mission.
In 1994 he returned to Canada to pastor a CRC church in Strathroy, Ontario for eight years.
In 2002 Rev. Pennings served as a missionary among the Sikhs, an Indian immigrant population in Toronto.
In 2005 he began his ministry with the Miami International Seminary (MINTS) where he has served as Associate Dean for Central America. In March 2015 he will become the International Academic Dean for MINTS.
In 2011 he received his Doctorate in Ministry with MINTS and is currently a PhD candidate at the same institution.

Seeing the Forest in the Trees
2014-10-04 08:30 - 15:00 | Covenant Reformed Church, 265 Albion Rd., Toronto, Ontario, M9W 3P1, Canada
