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Few readers of Forum, or visitors to the SEAN UK website, will be unaware of the programme that is already under way to revamp SEAN’s mainstream courses for the UK user, especially with those in mind who have yet to experience the riches and value of being discipled through these simple-but-deep Spirit-filled courses. In this issue of Forum we take a look at Life to the Full (the completely new version of Abundant Life for UK users, published in 2003), the second course to have been rebirthed, and at its exciting future.
Life to the Full is aimed at a broad sector of the church – a comprehensive Christian basics course both for new Christians and for ‘older’ Christians seeking to look afresh at, and apply, Bible-based principles to their own Christian lifestyle. As such, the course had to meet specific criteria – in short, it had to be attractive, accessible and affordable.
Perhaps the most important of these, at this point in time in the western culture (however sadly it reflects on the post-modern mindset) is the ‘first three seconds’ test – is it attractive enough to be considered seriously? For this reason the cover design attempts to capture the relevance factor through its immediate ‘youth, therefore cool, therefore OK’ message. The accompanying How can I get to know God? leaflet has also been completely revamped, as have the memory verses and bookmarks (now two, not one).
Next, being in all probability the first TEE material the user is likely to encounter, the course must possess clarity to the point of ‘let’s get started now’ while, at the same time, setting out the principles of the actual methodology, paving the way for proper usage. Here again, much effort has been made to make it accessible through its clean format and clear navigation instructions.
Very important too, is the price. Ask most existing TEE users, and price is not an issue in itself – ‘we’ already know that the value of the course far exceeds its monetary price tag. But, for a church or group weighing up the value of the course (book) for the first time, its preceived affordability is a real factor. For this reason Life to the Full has been commercially printed in quantities which allow a lower unit price, and in a space-saving two-column format.
Over the years, the excellent content of Abundant Life has been finely honed and so needs no adjustment to its scope or theological integrity in its rebirthed format, and the changes in Life to the Full lie more in its presentation, perhaps the most noticeable of which is the illustrating, for which a completely new set was produced, seeking to appeal to the contemporary 21st century user.
We are indebted to SEAN International for commissioning this set of illustrations from Clement Montag (who, incidentally, is currently working on a new set for all six Life of Christ books).
So far the feedback has been extremely enthusiastic and positive, and the only negative comments – on the smaller typeface – have come, obviously enough but of no less relevance, from existing SEAN users (what! change!). However, the real proof of the pudding will come when the course is recognised ever more widely as an effective tool for discipleship – this is our real vision and passion, and one which can be fast-forwarded by you, the existing users, by promoting it in your own church and locality (just ask for a supply of colour leaflets, shown below – we have plenty!). Once again we strongly urge you to consider hosting a workshop in your area, whether for promoting TEE programmes or for tutor training – call us!
So the policy of making Life to the Full attractive, accessible and affordable is a deliberate attempt to place Christian discipleship, through TEE, much higher up the agenda in UK churches. That said, the need to convince churches, especially the leaders, of this need for discipleship is equally paramount, which is why SEAN UK’s programme of workshops is crucial – again, an emphasis only too familiar to readers of Forum or visitors to the SEAN UK website and for which we make no apology!
The cry in UK churches is: ‘We’ve done Alpha – what next?’ Indeed a recent survey, ‘Imagine’, undertaken by the Evangelical Alliance, concluded that 'one of the great needs for the contemporary British church is to find ways to make adult disciples; to teach and train and resource our people to live the Christian life wherever God calls them.' (See Note 1.) Given how much has changed in British society, it is hardly surprising that this is the situation.
Which is where, we are convinced, Life to the Full has an important and timely part to play.
Note 1: Evangelical Alliance, ‘Changemakers, Imagine what the people said’ in idea (January/February 2004), p.23
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