CERTIFICATE IN HOLISTIC LIBERATION:
WORD, SPIRIT, STREET
(formerly known as Certificate in Ministry on the Margins)
'Theological education that connects people from the mainstream with people on the margins reveals a gospel that is active and powerful, enabling both groups to discover their vocation and serve together as Christ's body in the world.'
- Bob Ekblad, Co-Founder, Tierra Nueva
Take the Certificate in Holistic Liberation self-paced online— from anywhere!
The Certificate in Holistic Liberation can be taken online, so that it is accessible to everyone, wherever you are.
The online Certificate in Holistic Liberation includes:
43 sessions in two modules (exactly the same training sessions as the in-person Certificate in Holistic Liberation, but as video and audio recorded versions, plus downloadable slide packs
Module 1: Identity, transformation and mission
1. Reading the Bible for Personal & Social Transformation
2. God’s Mission and Ours in Genesis 1-3
3. Departure and Re-entry into the Garden in Genesis 2-4
4. Identity and Authority as a Child of God
5. Open Doors to Spiritual Oppression & Holistic Liberation-Definitions
6. Deliverance and Holistic Liberation in the New Testament
7. Abraham’s Call & Ours in Genesis 12 (generation entrapment & soul ties)
8. Steps in interpreting a biblical text and reflecting theologically (Hagar’s call)
9. Exodus: Hearing God for Liberation & Mission
10. Jesus’ Baptism & Ours (identity & empowerment)
11. Jesus’ mission in the Gospels: Luke 5 (Jesus’ recruiting)
12. Healing of Father Wounds & Images of God as Father
13. Healing of Mother Wounds
14. The Power of Forgiveness
15. Resisting idolatry & animism: Male + female in mission (Genesis 1-2)
16. Kingdom Identity: resisting nationalism & the powers
17. Spiritual Warfare: Crossing over to the other side in Mark 4:35-41
18. Multi-layered, holistic liberation: Mark 5:1-20
19. Unhealthy beliefs: Identifying & replacing false images of God & self
20. Confession, repentance and receiving forgiveness.
21. Ministry protocol: Praying for healing and deliverance (separate out two. Be aware of this….)
22. Mission according to Acts of the Apostles
23. Mission according to Paul
Module 2: Word on the Street: transformational Bible study, prophetic mission & peacemaking
1. Informed from above: Spiritual practices according to Psalm 1
2. Prophetic mission according to Isaiah 1-39
3. Mission to exiles in Isaiah 40-66
4. Discernment in a time of deception: learning to ID the Messiah with Simeon in Luke 1:21-35
5. John the Baptist as example of prophetic ministry: Luke 2:1-7
6. Preaching of the Word
7. Understanding the parable of the Sower (Luke 8: 1-18)
8. Biblical Hospitality according to Genesis 18-20
9. Healing of Rejection—Jephthah (Judges 11)
10. Confronting passivity: The rape of Tamar
11. Reading the Bible for discipleship
12. Jesus and the woman caught in adultery: John 8:1-11
13. Understanding the death of the firstborn in Exodus 12 & the New Testament
14. Exposing and resisting retaliatory violence: Luke 6
15. Jesus ministry of forgiveness and healing: Jesus Heals a paralytic (Mark 2:1-12)
16. Resisting racism in the light of Acts 10
17. Kingdom Identity—Freedom from nationalism & the powers
18. Praying the Psalms for spiritual warfare
19. The end of history: Discerning the times
20. Maintaining spiritual health and mission
Manuals for modules 1 and 2
Recommended reading lists
What to Expect from an in-person CHL:
Community:
The course emphasizes mutual support and sharing best practices.
Participants journey as a cohort through the one-year program.
On site, we eat and study together each day. Between modules, the online community fosters peer relationships.
Inclusive teaching styles:
Each module includes lecture, worship, practical reflection, ministry opportunities, and group discussion.
There will be recommended reading before each gathering.
Robust curriculum:
The course weaves together five key themes related to ministry on the margins:
1. God’s identity and mission—and ours
2. Healing and holistic liberation—biblical foundations and principles
3. Social prophetic mission—justice, advocacy, and peacemaking
4. Word on the street—preparing & leadings transformational Bible studies
5. Practical reflection—how does this work in my life and ministry?
The Certificate is specifically designed for those already serving/pioneering work in (or on behalf of) poor and marginalized communities.
This training seeks to bring together ‘Word’, ‘Spirit’ and ‘Street’ perspectives in order to encourage and further equip practitioners wanting to live and share a liberating/empowering gospel with those excluded from economic, social, political and cultural mainstreams.
Offered by The People’s Seminary, a learning centre for scripture study and theology, rooted in active ministry in solidarity with our excluded brothers and sisters.
Led by Tierra Nueva founders Bob and Gracie Ekblad in Burlington, Washington.
Join us for two sets of five-day gatherings designed to encourage and equip you to share a liberating gospel in poor, marginalized, and under-reached communities.
Sites:
AFRICA Kinshasa, DRC (Module 1 March 16-20); Lesotho (Module 2, March 23-27)
Past sites
Past Module Recordings Available
Modules 1-2 of the online Certificate in Holistic Liberation are available to purchase as an online course.
Upon purchase, we will send you a link and password to access the module resources.
Please contact communications@tierra-nueva.org if you have any questions