Available Courses

• PAR 101 Elderhood in the 21st Century

  • Teacher: Jim Hughes

  Cost: US$ 275.00

  
  

  This course addresses the concept of elderhood, presuppositions regarding elderhood, elderhood in the North Ameicn Society; how and why we age; and the generaions of persons entering and living through elderhood.

• PAR 102 The Generational Church

  
  

  This course addresses issues such as the changing demographics, the greying of the church; the post church culture; ageist attitudes; attitudes of elders in the church; biblcal foundations for ministry with elders; and reasons for ministry to, with and by the elder generations in the church.

• PAR 201 Ministry To, With, and By the Generations

  This course addresses the basic considerations for elder/generational ministries; spiritual gifts, skills, and experiences of elders; the unique characteristics of the generations; the types of older persons; promoting successful Christian aging; and the needs of frail elders in the church and community.

• PAR 202 Program Development for Generational Ministries

  
  

  This course addresses the need for a paradigm shift; involving elders in all the functions of the church; methods and skills for helping others; and spiritual services.

• PAR 301 Administering Programs in Generational Ministries

  This course discusses planning, organizing, implemeting, and evaluating programs of ministry to, with, and by elders in the church and community.

• PAR 302 Leadership of Generational Ministries

  
  

  This course addresses the attitudes and skills needed for effective leadership of staff and members involved in ministries with elders/generations in the church and community.

• PAR 400 Ministry Project/Praxis

  Students, in consultation with an instructor, will choose a project that is associated with a ministry or possible ministry with elders or generational groups.

Site news

PAR Offers First Online Course by Jim Hughes - Friday, 19 June 2009, 02:45 PM

These courses are designed to provide training for ministry with middle and older adults in church settings. While each course is complete in itself, those who finish all seven courses can earn the PAR Certificate in Generational Ministries. Dr. Jim P. Hughes will be your professor. While these courses contain essentially the same information that college degree courses might include they are not intended to be a substitute for college or seminary courses. Instead, they are training courses designed to help concerned persons to improve the quality of ministry/service programs to, with, and by older generations offered by churches and judicatories. Our primary intention is to improve the effectiveness of ministries provided by churches. Professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists may also benefit from several of the courses and use the training these courses provide to meet the required continuing education for maintaining their licenses. Productive Aging Resources is approved by the Texas State Board of Examiners of LPCs, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists as a provider of required continuing education. Courses recommended for professional CEUs will be identified by the Dr. Watkins who is a professional Social Worker. The certificate you may earn by completing these courses will be beneficial to you if you choose to apply for a job where a specialization in ministry with older generations is required. It will certify that you have worked diligently to prepare yourself for planning and implementing programs especially designed to meet the needs of persons in their middle and later years. In addition, it will enhance your credibility with those persons in those age groups whom you already serve. You will receive a frameable certificate that you may display. Elderhood in the 21st Century is the only course completed at present. Every two or three months an additional course will be completed. I look forward to communicating with you as you progress through the courses. May God bless our efforts together as we encourage our older members to use their gifts to serve others.