Module Category: Foundations for Family Studies

FFS Module 10 – The Communication Bootcamp

This module serves as an alternative to the intensive for the online FFS. The material was created as a Communication Bootcamp, based on the same REAPP workshop taught in the intensive. Students who were part of the intensive do not need to complete this module, but are of course free to do so and use it as a refresh and reminder!

Bear in mind that while the content is taught from the perspective of a married couple, the communication principles apply to any relationship, for example friends, parents to children, or between roommates.

The module is created as one flow, which means you walk through each step in sequence.

The video teaching was created by Christiaan and Tineke Baas:

Chris and I married at 21, oblivious to what life as a married couple would look like.
We struggled with our connection and lacked the communication skills to share with each other in a way that the other person would understand.

It took us a long time to figure it all out …
We made a huge amount of mistakes, said many things we regretted later and had fights I do NOT want to repeat 🤭.
But we kept moving forward, pursuing our connection, through many highs and lows.

We’re looking forward to share with you what we’ve learned over the years, so others don’t have to make the same mistakes
(if you are already making them, NOW is the time to STOP your unnecessary fights and start pursuing a strong connection).

In connecting with each other communication is essential.
But it’s something we don’t intentionally learn to do as couples.

That’s why we created THE COMMUNICATION BOOTCAMP.
This is where you get to know our favorite tool to level up the communication game.

An overview of THE COMMUNICATION BOOTCAMP:

☞ Chapter 1 – Your Relationship Reset

Take an in-depth look at your relationship, alone and together, to identify the areas you want to work on.

☞ Chapter 2 – The Communication Basics

You’ve been communicating your whole life. Nothing new there, right? Wrong!
When you become conscious of how you communicate, it will change your life!

☞ Chapter 3 – The Communication Blueprint

Our blueprint is a step-by-step guide to make sure both of you will actually feel heard.
It’s a fool-proof way of communicating clearly, in a way that will help you understand your partner and make you feel understood too.
Here is a connection waiting to happen!

☞ Chapter 4 – Moving Forward

We teach you strategies to implement what you’ve learned in The Communication Bootcamp and to help you create healthy habits so you can keep growing.

Are you ready to invest in your relationship?!

Ps. Can you do the course alone? Yes! You can!
We have set The Communication Bootcamp up in such a way that either couples or individuals can walk through it. For some exercises you can do personal processing (instead of a partner dialogue), based on which you could share with your one-on-one or a fellow student who is also enrolled.

FFS Module 9 – Sexuality +

Welcome to this module, which will explore various aspects of topics related to the way men and women interact. This has been given the title “sexuality” and not “gender”, explaining fundamental ways the men and women are different, and the way behavioural patterns build around these differences.

FFS Module 8 – Families in Ministry

By Angela & Andreas Frész

Lifelong, happy relationships and a strong family – who wouldn’t want that?
This dream that lives within each of us can become a reality, but it won’t happen by accident.
It needs to be planted, nourished, cared for, and defended.
It is fun!!

This module includes 6 hours of video content in 8 units.
Estimated workload (including assignments): 25 hours

Foundations for Family Studies Online

Next school: TBA

Are you considering work with families, couples and/or children? Have you done a YWAM DTS and want to equip families in your church, ministry or base? This foundational school will get you started with a Biblical understanding of family and provides tools to strengthen families and marriages. This accredited program is suited for both single and married people with a heart for transforming families.

(Although you can read this page in many languages, courses are only offered in certain languages.1)

This school will require online participation, a time commitment of about 8 hours per week, and at least one physical meeting (a couple of weeks or perhaps some other format) known as an intensive1. The school runs for fourteen months, finishing the lecture/online phase the following year. The intensive will probably be toward the end of the course, but this could vary with the different cohort groups.

The Foundations for Family Studies (FAM251) introduces students to the Biblical foundational concepts of family life. It presents a model for the study and understanding of the dynamics of family life, and introduces basic tools for working with individuals, couples and families. You will emerge equipped to provide resources for families in your locality. The lecture phase is broken down into these major topics.

  1. Worldview and Biblical view of family
  2. Introduction to the Family of Origin mode
  3. Introduction to Genograms
  4. Marriage relationships
  5. Parenting
  6. Basic seminar skills
  7. Christian family in today’s world
  8. Basic skills for coaching
  9. Families in ministry

…and you will do this mostly from your home! All you need is a computer and a good internet connection!

Students can anticipate a challenge to grow and develop their Christian character traits. You will increase their competence in ministering to families. The FFS will, apart from strengthening your own family and relationships, prepare you to reach out to families in your sphere of influence i.e., the church, community, YWAM base.

This program is essentially on-line, but you benefit from a personal 1-on-1 tutor, group discussions with each module, individual feedback on your assignments, and regular contact with other students through student trios and group “coffee times”. Teaching content is offered via pre-recorded sessions, and these are designed to be short and easily understood. For many modules you will be able to meet with the teacher on-line for an interactive session. You will submit work in the form of written materials or sometimes short videos. You are also required to have a local personal coach who you can choose.

This school will be registered as 12 credits with the College of Family Studies (extension studies) of the UofN. All modules combined may be recognised as the second level FFS school FAM 251 (conditions apply). We expect you will also find opportunities for application (or outreach), during of after the school. ( Residential UofN courses include an outreach phase. In the case of the FFS online, it is possible to integrate outreach with your studies, or to compete outreach credits through application after you have finished the modules. Certain conditions apply). The details are to be confirmed with the school leader.

If you are interested in pursuing a degree in Family Studies, please indicate this when registering for this school, so we can discuss the requirements.

The online tuition fee for the FFS online is 7702 euros. This excludes costs for books (usually available as e-books at a minimal cost). The price includes access to all the online modules (as long as your work submissions and participation are up to date), personal staff tutoring and of course credit registration with the UofN.

The intensive (planned toward the end of the school) is estimated at 750 euros in Europe3, including accommodation and meals (the final price will depend the location, cohorts may be able to participate in an intensive locally).

1.This could vary in form depending on the location. Cohorts are currently anticipated in Europe, India, Brazil (Portuguese) and Madagascar (French).

2. A €27 non-refundable registration fee is included. It is possible to apply for a % scholarship for the tuition fees if your situation merits consideration. Your local cohort leader will be able to inform you about this after you have applied.

3. The cost for the intensive may vary significantly depending on the location and the modality of the intensive.

For questions contact us or email ffs@familystudies.online
Ready to apply? Fill out this form.

FFS Module 7 – Group leadership skills

Group leadership skills

Speaking, teaching, and public presentation

Family celebrations and parental blessing

You can start working on your PGP for this module here.

Module Content

Introduction
Effective discussion group leadership
Presentation skills
Family traditions and blessing

FFS Module 6 – What is marriage?

The objective of this module is to give you a good overview of the concepts behind marriage. We should be careful to talk about the idea of marriage, and not just the form. In many situations we see that couples have adhered to a form, but forgotten the idea, while others still believe in the idea but not the form. Forms can vary with cultures and sub-cultures, while good marriages are founded on very similar principles.

You will work through this process somewhat in reverse, coming to marriage preparation at the end of the module. There are opportunities for discussion around the presented topics, as well as some optional material that you can work through if you feel that you are already familiar with some of the presentations.

Our expectation is that you emerge from this module confident to accompany a couple in marriage preparation, in thinking through their wedding day, and in post-marriage coaching situations, as well as being able to address certain issues with those who are not yet in a relationship with marriage as a goal.

FFS Module 12 – Self Study module

Objective:

Study and write up on a specific theme that is relevant for the ministry you are involved in with Families / couples / singles. The final document should be suitable for presentation and perhaps publication. It may include any form of presentation (written, video, groups, worksheets, ppt. etc) appropriate for the content.

Modality

This is a short piece of work that should take you 25 – 30h and is worth 1 credit unit (LCU). Of course, you can work more hours, but you will only get 1 LCU for this module.

  1. Identify the subject and the goal
  2. Consider any literature or articles / videos that would be relevant
  3. Look at the subject from a Biblical perspective
  4. Envisage an original approach to the subject matter
  5. Produce a final, presentable piece of work 

FFS Module 5 – Marriage Coaching Basics

This module introduces you to Marriage coaching. Being married is not a pre-requisite, anyone can coach someone to become stronger in their relationships. The module consists of videos, and assignments for which you may need a partner (your spouse when married or a fellow student) to do the task.

You should take a moment to look over the whole course and make sure you can download the materials you need.

This module is presented by David and Nancy Harper. They are YWAM-ers since 1989, currently in and from Canada, who have coached and trained many couples over the years. From their website:

David comes from a missionary family, and spent his early years in Malawi and Zimbabwe. Nancy grew up in Vancouver, Canada, and we met as singles on a church planting team on the island of St Lucia. We knew we were called into missions full-time, and in 1989 joined Youth With A Mission (YWAM). Over the years we have had a special focus on training and sending out national missionaries as we worked in six different nations.

Our main calling has been discipling and mentoring leaders, using our skills as professional Life Coaches. In 2016 we pioneered Together, a ministry to missionary and leadership couples. We believe that a healthy, growing marriage is the foundation for lasting success in life and ministry, and we are building a global network of marriage coaches to help strengthen marriages.

We raised our four children on YWAM bases in the Caribbean, and today enjoy watching our four grandchildren grow up in Canada. We lead Together from our home in Nanaimo, Canada. Check out our YWAM home base at www.ywamnanaimo.com

FFS Module 4 – Parenting Children

In this module we will work through the Parenting Children material, written by Mark and Lindsay Melluish, pastors in the UK and leaders of the national New Wine movement.

We have chosen this approach due to it’s qualities as a value driven approach to parenting, and also as it has a full set of facilitating materials available. You will discover the book, the teaching videos, full transcripts of the teaching, a participants manual, a leaders manual, and an editable ppt presentation. There is also a leader’s guide for accompanying children through the same curriculum (written by Joële and Guy Zeller, Kings Kids). In addition, the written materials are also available in French, and could be translated into other languages.

You may, or may not be a parent. This does not prevent you from becoming engaged with parents and transmitting ideas that will help them. The way this course works depends heavily on the interaction that will take place between parents in small group situations. You will see that there is a lot of flexibility in the way the content can be presented.

This module will put you immediately in the driver’s seat, transmitting some of the content to a group of parents in your locality. When you emerge at the end of this module you will be equipped to take this content out to others*.

Take 20 minutes to look through the book and get an overview of the course.

Paul Marsh

* You should also be aware that you can design and submit further presentation of this material as an outreach credit for the FFS. If you wish do do this please use the dedicated registration form.