The Faculty Development Seminar (FDS) held at Vidya Deep College, Ulsoor Road, Bangalore from 3-7 September was a great blessing to the participants. HI Faculty who are teaching regularly in HI seminars are only invited to an FDS based on their track record and performances. An FDS is a highly customized program to help the HI faculty to be more effective trainers.

The FDS Content
The broad content of the FDS takes the participants through three important processes -
(1) Instructional Process
(2) Transformational process
(3) Experiential process
Under each segment the following subjects are usually covered-

1. Instructional Process
The H.I. Vision & Ethos, stakeholders and their expectations is covered and the specific components in this segment include-
1. Characteristics of an effective trainer.
2. Preparation of contents.
3. Teaching style.
4. Communication & presentations skills.
5. Time and A/V management etc.

2. Transformational Process
In this segment the participants are made to realize the difference between transformational and instructional methods of training.
Components of this segment include-
1. Devotions.
2. Faculty as pace setters.

3. Experiential Process
In this segment participants are given opportunities for Microteaching and Modular teaching.

The FDS started with revisit of HI Vision led by Thomas Abraham. The first day opened with a theme titled Great Expectation. Participants Expectations, Stakeholders and their expectations, Characteristics of Pacesetter Faculty, Challenges of Evangelism and Designing Presentations were covered on the day. The day ended with reflections by the participants.

The second day started under the theme Blossoming Students , principles of communications Micro-Lab were the main features of the day.

The third day was focused on Setting minds on Fire, Facilitating Understanding Participants, Group dynamics and Presentation Skills, and Micro-lab were on the day. The day ended with the reflections by the participants.

The Master’s Touch was the theme of the day. Power of Presentations – a case study , The Master’s methods – Teaching for Life Change and micro-lab were main features of the day.

The fifth and the last day was focused on the theme Renewed for Revival.

There was an overall review of the five days of learning and the feed back by the participants. The seminar came to a close with the challenge to the participants to become the pacesetters.

The FDS Facilitators : Prof. Jeyakar Chellaraj and Mr. D. Sudhir, both the faculty led the participants with anointing of the Holy Spirit sharing from their life experiences. Both of them trained the participants with oneness of mind focusing the seminar as participant-oriented one. Every session was really an enriching time leading the participants to the depths of learning.

The Impact :
The participants Mr. Aby P. Mathew, Mr. K. Murali Krishna, Mr. Ravi Raiborde, Dr. P. Manasseh, Mrs. Rebecca Vedamanikam, Mr. Binoy Kumar Mudali and Mr. Paul Balasundaram were greatly benefited and visibly challenged by every session. At the end of the seminar all of them totally expressed their rich learning experiences and complimented the FDS as the best time in their life. One of the participants Mr. Paul Balasundaram said, “I experienced a deep encounter with God, realizing that while techniques are important, eventually it is only through the empowering of the Holy Spirit that I can truly communicate to transform. Praise God for what He has done!”