Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategies Course

Learn how media can accelerate disciple-making where you live. The next course dates are to be determined.

Upcoming course is in-person as a Pre-EMDC training track May 2024. (Use the EMDC registration page to start the process then register for Pre-EMDC Track #8 Foundations of Digital Disciple Making Strategies. EMDC registration fees only. No additional MMU fees.

Live, mentored 5-week course. Next online course will be Fall 2024. Registration details to follow.

It’s Just Life

Commonly we hear a distinction made between “online life” and “offline life”. But in our day and age that distinction rarely exists -– it’s just life. Digital permeates every aspect of most people’s lives. And in the same way, digital should be fully integrated into every aspect of our mission and ministry.

How will the unreached people and places to which God has called you be reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? How will Believers be discipled? How will disciples, groups and churches multiply and grow? And how does digital fit into each of those stages of mission?

We will answer these questions and more as we explore opportunities together and begin drafting a strategy plan that includes digital engagement (social media, websites, apps, and other digital content or tools). Digital is not a one size fits all — so our focus will be on how varied tactics and digital models can be integrated and used to advance your strategy tailored to your context.

“This class was a game changer. It helped me to think at a much higher level about how media could be used strategically in what we are doing. I can’t wait to tell my colleagues about it!“(Middle East field staff)

What You’ll Get From This Course

– A foundational overview of a field-driven, digital engagement and media strategy philosophy.

– A structured approach for continuous improvement of your strategy through the introduction of appropriate digital components at each stage of your mission.

– Tools and encouragement to develop an intentional digital engagement strategy using media so you and your team are more effective in evangelism and discipleship.

– Training on how to wrap content around your strategy instead of wrapping strategy around your content in order to best reach your target audience.

– Access to case studies and current “best practice” resources from thought leaders around the world.

– Join the groundswell of field workers using this new approach to accelerate their mission. Check out these stories from around the world.

– Be prayed for each week by a dedicated prayer partner.

Course Modules

Module 1 focuses on your mission vision and strategy and how it fits within the big picture of moving people from being ignorant of the Gospel to multiplying disciples, groups, and churches. This will enable us to identify where digital tactics, tools, and content can be integrated into your strategy.
Outcome – Students will begin identifying their basic mission strategy which will be built on in each of the following modules with a major focus on how digital engagement fits in each piece of the strategy.

Module 2 leads you through assessing your field, the unique characteristics of the people you are ministering to, the digital environment in your context, and explore what digital engagement or available content is already there to connect with.
Outcome – Students will gain tools and resources for better understanding their missions context and culture enabling them to communicate and minister more effectively. Students will also learn of digital tools and content already available for their language and people focus and explore partnership opportunities with others working to reach the same area.

Module 3 examines tactics, tools, and case studies for using digital in a more personal or small-scale way. This module will focus on how you can use and train other Believers to use digital in personal evangelism, discipling others, and facilitating or shepherding groups.
Outcome – Students will determine the specific digital tools, training and content that can be used at each stage of their strategy in more personal and organic ways.

Module 4 centers on examples and models of digital engagement being used for large scale Gospel impact through websites, social media platforms, and responding to internet searches to identify spiritually open people with structured systems and plans for follow-up.
Outcome – Students will be equipped to choose the most appropriate pathway to be involved in broad scale digital strategies whether that be specific to their individual team or as part of a larger coalition or network.

Module 5 looks at how to wrap content around your strategy with an emphasis on curating available digital content as well as basic helps for creating local content.
Outcome – Students will learn a basic process for choosing the right content for different points of their strategy and where to find content others have created as well as best practices for creating their own content.

Our approach to pricing

We want every motivated student to be able to join a course. The MMU team works hard to make sure our training platform is sustainably priced. Learn more about our pricing strategy here.

Standard

$270

$230 per person if two or more register together.
$20 early registration discount until two weeks before course.
25% Two Course Bundle discount available.

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“Majority world” working with a “Western” organization

$230

$190 per person if two or more register together.
$20 early registration discount until two weeks before course.
25% Two Course Bundle discount available.

GET STARTED

“Majority world” NOT working with a “Western” organization

$100

$60 per person if two or more register together.
$20 early registration discount until two weeks before course.
25% Two Course Bundle discount available.

GET STARTED

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TBA

Learn more about course logistics >

Frequently Asked Questions

A five-week, mentored experience: The next online course begins September 26, 2024. Each live session will be on Thursday at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC -7.00, use this time zone converter). Live sessions are recorded and made available for further review.
One hour weekly live classroom: After registration, you will receive a link for our Zoom video conferencing service that will require a plug-in for your computer. You may also download the Zoom app from the iTunes store or Google Play for a mobile device, but we strongly recommend using a computer for the best learning experience.
- In this course, we provide new content material for each week in advance. Students should read new content articles, watch videos, etc. before our live class meeting. This gives us a chance to highlight and interact with the new content and apply it to our ministries.
  A typical live session will look like this. (All times are Pacific Time.)
  0650 – 0700 (optional pre-class chat)
  0700 – 0720 Pray. Review of previous week’s assignments, questions, student examples, and discussion.
  0720 – 0755 Highlights from current week’s material, discussion of new content, and case studies
  0755 – 0800 Wrap up and initial Q&A. Pray
  0800 – 0815 (optional) post-class Q&A and discussion
Flipped Classroom: Each module will have a 15-20 minute pre-recorded lecture. It is expected that each student will have viewed the lecture prior to the live classroom. This facilitates maximum interaction with the instructor around the course material as well as with other students.
Two hours of independent work: (reading, videos, projects) will be expected each week for a total of 3 hours per week.

Web classroom: (using Moodle) with materials, mentored discussion boards, and practical application assignments at each stage.
Take the course as a team: The class will make the most impact if students take the course in small teams (2 or more students) to enable collaboration and immediate application in their ministry context. There are discounts when you sign up with other team members.

To receive a certificate of completion:
- Attend 4 or more of 5 live sessions.
- Do the preparation reading and viewing for each module.
- Complete 4 or more of 5 independent practice assignments.
Endorsements: See what students have said about the course in the past.
Instructors: Adam Johnson

May 2024 : Pre-EMDC training track will be presented in person before the EMDC for 2024.

Fall 2024: The next online version of the course will begin September 26.

Enroll Now

A five-week, mentored experience: The next online course begins September 26, 2024. Each live session will be on Thursday at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC -7.00, use this time zone converter). Live sessions are recorded and made available for further review.
One hour weekly live classroom: After registration, you will receive a link for our Zoom video conferencing service that will require a plug-in for your computer. You may also download the Zoom app from the iTunes store or Google Play for a mobile device, but we strongly recommend using a computer for the best learning experience.

Mission practitioners who want to sharpen their skills, get inspired by new ideas, make new connections, find collaborative opportunities and receive mentoring.
Teams or Individuals who want to explore digital engagement but don’t know where to start or which path to take and want to understand how it fits with their mission strategy.
Teams or individuals who are already using digital engagement in their mission strategy but want to identify gap areas or ways to make improvements to their digital strategy and increase its effectiveness.
Leaders in mission organizations, churches and ministries seeking to be more effective at reaching and teaching people for Christ.
Creatives with a missional heart seeking to better understand how to use media in mission.

Early bird pricing ends two weeks before the beginning of the first class.

Group discounts apply for 2 or more from the same organization.

Save 25% off this course and Strategic Storytelling for Movements by signing up for them together as a bundle.

Sign up to receive notification of future course offerings here.

Instructors: Adam Johnson