Welcome to The Outreach Centre
The Vision and Purpose of the Outreach Centre
Since 1984 the team of the Outreach Centre has been actively involved in training cross-cultural missionaries, short-term volunteers, Christian aid workers, and tentmakers. Our vision is to challenge, equip and send well prepared labours for global impact. Since its beginning trainees from different countries and denominations have benefited from our missionary course.
Our one semester training program is very practical, and with sound theological, cross-cultural, missiological and developmental content. It has being designed to equip Christian workers to minister effectively across cultures.
Training in Norway
Norway is a country with a rich spiritual heritage and a fascinating history of more than one hundred and fifty years of missionary endeavour. It has been and still is one of the top missionary sending countries in the world. Over one thousand Norwegian cross-cultural missionaries are working today in 82 countries, with thirty different mission agencies. This precious missional capital of over a century of work experience abroad makes Norway one of the best places for cross-cultural training.
As missionaries “It is the [unbelief] that we want to get rid of, not the national character. We will distinguish between Christianity and European forms of civilization; the first we will give them in their own vessels, and the second we will leave in Europe.”
Lars Olsen Skerfsrud, Norwegian pioneer missionary among the Santal people of India (1840-1910).
We offer two courses in English:
Faith in Action (2 semesters)
This is a course for you who want to:
- Learn more about the Christian faith, the Bible, religion and crosscultural leadership
- Explore mission
- Travel and work on projects for six weeks
- Be equipped to live as a Christian
- Make a difference and be changed
Stay abroad:
A six week stay abroad is a part of the program. We cooperate with several mission organisations, amongst others Open Doors. And you can travel to Europe, Asia, Africa or South America.
Credits
The study will give you credits from some international colleges or universties.
Fall semester
Teaching on faith, the Bible and crosscultural leadership.
It's also important to prepare when you are going to live in a new country with a different culture for several months. This is emphasised during the first semester.
Stay abroad
You travel to one of the countries on a team with 2-5 other people. The stay abroad lasts for over two months. What you will do abroad varies from country to country.
When you come home:
The journey isn't over yet! :) When you come home you have a lot of time to digest all your experiences and learn how to communicate it to others. There will also be time to learn more about God, the Bible, the Chuch, leadership and get even more experiences.
Costs:
The year long program costs around 90.000NOK
This includes on campus accomodation and some meals. Travel abroad with room and board are also included.
Information
For more information, please contact Maitê Celeti: maite@gus.no
Applied Missiology and Development (1 semester)
- Prepares you for missions
The Importance our Course
Almost everyone in the business world or in a missionary venture going abroad for long or short-term service frequently ask themselves this question: “Am I going to survive out there?” The answer to this question is in direct connection with the quality of training people receive before going abroad.
Our training in Cross-cultural Studies, Missions and Development is done by people who have been there. Our trainers and teachers have a wealth of experience of many years of missionary work in various countries.
Cross-Cultural Studies
The course starts with two weeks of focus on the practical issues of living overseas and crossing cultures. The various modules will address the challenges of living abroad, the maintenance of your emotional and physical health, the development of interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, the important steps toward cultural adaptation, and how to take care of your spiritual life on the mission field.
Missions
On the following weeks different lecturers will address a variety of missiological themes in a progressive order. Each week has a main focus, as you can see in the course program.
Internship
Students can also benefit from the multicultural environment of Oslo to practice and apply what they are learning. The students will get involved with the many ethnic churches in Oslo. Students from other countries have the advantage of having a cross-cultural training in a cross-cultural milieu.
Development and Aid
By the end of the course we offer three weeks of emphasis on Diaconal Work, Community Development, Self-Sustainable Projects, and Models of Aid Work. The training is carried on by teachers with a lot of practical experience in the different areas of holistic work abroad.
Counselling
Service abroad implies undergoing significant amount of mental and emotional changes. It is important to focus on your spiritual life and personal development during this time of preparation. To stimulate this process and help the future cross-cultural workers through it, the school provides regular group and personal preventative counselling to all students throughout the course.
Course Resources
The School has library with approximately 7000 titles that can be used freely by the students.
All the lecturer’s notes and all teaching material will be made available on a DVD to all students upon finishing the course. This material and handouts that teachers expect the students to read are included in the course fee.
Costs:
The semester long program costs around 50.000NOK
This includes food and lodging.
Information
For more information, please contact Gerson Celeti: gerson@gus.no
If you are interested in applying one of our coursers, please fill in the application form below and send it with a letter of recommendation from your pastor or mission leader.
