On Line Course at CDSP March 25-May 6, 2008 REGISTER NOW! Instructor: FRED VERGARA

Let’s face it: many parishes are struggling, declining, dying---and some are already dead.  Some are in maintenance mode, others are stuck, asleep---and the rest are lulled into passivity. How do we move the parish from maintenance to mission, from lethargy to renewal, from slumber to revival, from death to life?

The Elisha Factor: Seven Sneezes to Parish Revitalization will help participants examine the principles that make up for parish revival, renewal and growth. In seven humorous yet insightful chapters, Fred Vergara presents the image of the prophet Elisha covering a dead child with his body; the child sneezed seven times and then came back to life. Would you join us in exploring this “ministry of raising the dead” and restore our churches back to life? Even if your parish is not dead, this course will help you strengthen the vital signs of a healthy Body of Christ and move on to growth. “Let’s parish, lest we perish.”

The Rev. Dr. Winfred  (Fred) Vergara (D. Min., San Francisco Theological Seminary; D.D. honoris causa, CDSP; M. TH., Southeast Asia ) is Program Officer for Asian American Ministries in The Episcopal Church. The course is the result of 30 years experience and learning as parish priest, missionary, evangelist, revivalist and church planter in Philippines, Singapore, California and New York. The online course can be done at your convenience---any day of the week, any time of the day. It includes weekly lecture, group discussion via e-blackboard, illustrative case studies, and video-streaming. You are expected to do assigned readings and participate in e-mail discussions.

Course regularly costs $ 175 for Individual; and $135 for a group of three or more; For members of the EAM Networ, the course is only $100. To enroll, visit http://cdsp.edu/center_online.php or inquire from Laurie Isenberg, Director of Online and Distance Learning at lisenberg@cdsp.eduor call (510) 204-0703.