The following fictional example shows some of the potential advantages of our e-learning sessions:

Susan is a church youth leader that is trying to figure out how she and the other leaders on her team can connect with the ethnically diverse young people in her community.  Here are some training options that are available to her:

• ReNew e-learning session: Crossing Cultures with Dr. Brenda Salter-McNeil
• College course: There is a Christian college 30 minutes away that is offering a 3 credit hour course on cross-cultural ministry next semester.
• Conference: She heard there is 2 day multi-ethnic conference next month in a city that is a 5 hour drive away.
• Book: She could hunt online for a good book on cross-cultural ministry.
• Search on the internet: She could browse online for articles and other resources on cross-cultural ministry.

If Susan did a lot of research she could create a comparison chart like this:

She would receive very thorough training by attending the college course, but it would require a great deal of time and money.  She would learn a lot and be encouraged by other similar-minded Christians at the conference, but it would also require a significant investment of time and money.  Reading a book could be very helpful (if she found the time), but it may not provide her with much practical, "hands-on" type training.  Hunting on the internet would be free and easy but it is unlikely that she would find effective training for her needs by browsing through random websites.

The e-learning session would provide her with high-quality, inexpensive training. It would equip her with both principles and how-to's.  She could take the session at her own pace at anytime that is convenient.  Because the e-learning sessions have a narrow focus, her time would be maximized--she wouldn't need to spend a lot of time learning about topics that didn't apply to her situation. If she found the training was helpful she could ask her team to go through the training as well and they could discuss how to apply the content.