As he travels across the country meeting faithful supporters of American Family Association, AFA Vice President Wesley Wildmon is often asked, “Does AFA offer worldview training that covers the issues discussed daily on AFR and addressed in The Stand?”
For Christians who have needed a resource to help shape their faith and equip them to stand firm in the face of controversial issues, the answer is now, “Yes!”
“[Supporters have] asked for this type of biblical application for years. We are excited to offer such a structured course to educate, encourage, and equip Christians in their everyday lives to step out and become active in their faith right where God has them,” explained Wildmon.
Having been in the works for two years, the new curriculum, titled Activate: Biblical Worldview Training, released July 1.
What is Activate?
Activate is an in-depth, educational, worldview training course that addresses AFA’s core values, which flow from Scripture. Students learn how those beliefs and values are the foundation of a biblical worldview. The course challenges them to take what they have learned and apply it to issues in their lives and communities.
Individual unit studies address cultural issues such as the sanctity of human life, marriage and family, religious liberty, biblical stewardship, and more.
In addition to the curriculum’s use of instructional videos and printed materials, progress through the course is tracked through a user-friendly online “dashboard.”
First things first
The curriculum begins with Activate 101, taught by AFA Vice President Ed Vitagliano. An articulate defender of Christian citizen activism, Vitagliano makes a case for the necessity of a strong biblical foundation. His introductory unit helps participants grasp the course’s challenges and expectations. Once Activate 101 is completed, students work through the units in order at their own pace.
Challenges and rewards
Required challenges are divided into three categories: “Memorize,” “Do,” and “Share.” These must be completed in order for students to advance through the curriculum.
In the “Memorize” section, participants are assigned Scripture verses that pertain to the unit’s content. Students are asked to memorize the verses and recite them.
Next, users must get involved in hands-on activities and do something related to what they learned. For instance, in the sanctity of human life challenge, participants are asked to volunteer at or learn about a local crisis pregnancy center.
Activate students are also encouraged to “share” what they’ve learned. This could involve inviting a friend to lunch to discuss what was learned, asking a pastor his stance on a course topic, or sharing with a group the information learned through the unit.
For participants who complete the course, AFA will host a commencement ceremony at its headquarters in Tupelo, Mississippi. This will be a time to recognize individuals or groups for their hard work.
“We want participants to become active, instead of passive, followers of Christ,” explained Kendra White, Activate project director. “What sets this curriculum apart is the accountability aspect and its focus on areas that are under attack in our culture.”
Getting started
Step 1 is to visit activate.afa.net and choose a package: individual/household or small group. An online account and personalized dashboard are then created. Students have access to all five units, 18 teaching videos, and related challenges.
Instructors include familiar AFR voices and friends of the ministry: Abraham Hamilton III (The Hamilton Corner), Bert Harper (Exploring the Word), Jameson Taylor (AFA director of policy and legislative affairs), Joseph Parker (The Hour of Intercession), Meeke Addison (speaker, author, evangelist), Peter Rosenberger (Hope for the Care Giver), Rick Green (At the Core), Rob West (Faith and Finance), Jeff and Debbie Schreve (From His Heart), Scott Klusendorf (Life Training Institute), and Stephen McDowell (Providence Foundation).
In addition to the video presentations, Activate also includes a workbook component that complements the video series. The workbook contains thought-provoking questions, scriptural guidance on cultural issues, and additional information related to the video content.
The bridge to action
As informative and engaging as the video presentations are, the goal of Activate is to challenge Christians to act on their knowledge within the culture.
“We don’t just want to teach people about important topics,” Wildmon stated. “We want to give them practical ways to act and inspire them to go out and actually do something.”
(Digital Editor's Note: This article was published first in the August 2024 print edition of The Stand. Click HERE for a free six-month subscription.)
