Resource review: Journeys

Review by Cedric Hobbs, Oxfordshire, UK

Here is a pre-evangelistic course that has come out in the last few years. Less intellectual than the Y-Course and Christianity Explored it seeks to capitalise on 2 significant features of present-day (post-modern) Western culture: personal stories and the search for a spiritual dimension to life.

The slow pace and non-confrontational style are helpful for many people who are “feeling their way”.

Rob Harley, who has more than 25 years’ experience, produced “Journeys” from a TV documentary series about faith and courage lived out at “street level”. The result is a skilled and often very moving presentation. You could

• run it as a course with a leader and small group leaders
• show the first programme as a one-off. If people want more, they can come back next week…and the week after, but all the time free not to come any more
• allow newcomers to join in at any point, since the programmes also stand in their own right (difficult to do with Alpha after week 2 or 3)
• offer it to individual church members to show one or more programmes to a friend (just stick the video on; don’t bother with the books)
• even divide up the different testimonies and see what kind of discussion ensued.

The cross and salvation are not explained till weeks 4 and 5. You might want to expand on this by asking whether anyone wanted to keep meeting and using elements of other enquirers’ courses.

More details

Type of resource	Published by Willow Creek Association UK in 2002. Trialled extensively in New Zealand. Intended for spectators, rather than active seekers. Some churches have been running it as a course, others are using it one on one.
Based on	Blend of stories about lived-out faith – e.g. Rachel Scott, murdered in Columbine school mass shooting - and interviews about powerful spiritual encounters – e.g. Ian McCormack, stung by box jellyfish.
Format	5 documentary-style programmes on 2 videos, presented by TV current affairs journalist Rob Harley. Each video lasts 20-30 minutes. Participant’s guide outlining the various elements of each session;  includes 2 or 3 leading questions (also on the video) for discussion in small groups and (optional) homework. Video guide to running the course – after programme 5.  Leader’s guide – slightly expanded version of participant’s guide.
Order details	Cost of starter pack: £79 Order from 0845 1300 909 or www.willowcreek.org.uk (https://vault2.secured-url.com/wca/mall/res_journeys.asp)
Range of questions asked	Aims to take the viewer on a journey of exploration up to the point of making his/her own step of faith in Jesus. 1. Is there a spiritual side to me? 2. If God and heaven exist, what are they like? 3. Does this faith thing work in real life? 4. Does God have real power to change things? 5. Crossing the line – what’s it like? Opportunity to pray a prayer of repentance and commitment to Christ.