ADAPTATION
The
North American course has been adapted for use in Australia and New
Zealand. This was done with permission. A New Zealand version of Steve
Hawthorne's Perspectives Study Guide was developed in 1991. In
1994 the original 20-lesson format was changed to a two-part format
with 12 lessons in each part. As part of these changes new lessons were
added and the Study Guide material was updated and upgraded. In 2006
the course is again to change with the addition of two new lessions:
Buddhism and the Persecuted church. The Perspectives Reader (edited by Ralph Winter and Steve Hawthorne) is common to both parts of the course.
PERSPECTIVES IN AUSTRALIA
Following the example of New Zealand, Perspectives
was first taught in Australia in 1991. Since then over 250 courses have
been run with over 3100 people taking part. The programme is under the
overall coordination of Joanne & Ray Green (Tasmania) and courses
are now being run in almost every Australian state.
PERSPECTIVES IN NEW ZEALAND
The first Perspectives
course in New Zealand was held in 1987. Since then almost 3,500 New
Zealanders have done the course. Around 200 courses have been run in
New Zealand during that time in a variety of churches and Bible
Colleges. The course has had such an impact that Patrick Johnstone
comments as follows in the New Zealand entry in"Operation World"
(1993:415): "The missions vision of the New Zealand church is an
example to many other lands. A new surge of interest has followed the
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement courses, and many new
candidates for missions are coming forward".
