Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry

This course is an introductory study of the wisdom and poetry books of the Old Testament. Particular attention is given to the thematic and historical structure of each book. This course is an in-depth consideration of the significant contribution of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Included is a study and interpretation of the Christian faith and experience of God based on God’s divine Inspiration through wisdom and poetry. It will also apply these truths to the full meaning of the Christian life.

This course presents a broad overview of the needs of children from birth through the eighth grade. It explains the needs and states of development of children, the opportunities and obligations for caregivers, teachers, parents and others who interact during this phase of the child’s life. Ways to minister to children silently as well as teaching and leading the child are addressed. The introduction, role and impact on social media is also addressed.

The epistles covered in this course have been somewhat neglected in the history of interpretation. The purpose of this course is to introduce to the student the context of these letters, their themes and their relationship to the rest of the New Testament. In this class various issues that are often perplexing and always interesting will be examined.

Stewardship is being aware of, recognizing and accepting the fact that Christians are responsible to God to develop the spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and financial gifts that He has entrusted to them. This seminar provides Biblical insights on ways to grow and develop each gift Christ gives His followers and then share them with others to bring honor, glory, and praise to His name for all of His benefits.

The process of socialization and adolescent development and the impact of culture on the critical years from eighth through twelfth grade is explained and examined. The needs that adolescents face in searching for their identity, establishing boundaries in relationships, and the importance and resources to develop a lifestyle that contributes to
adulthood wellbeing and personal significance and service is a major topic in this course. The impact of social medial on adolescence is also examined.

This course is a survey of the great works and styles of art, including a discussion of visual art concepts, such as color theory and design, as well as aesthetics and art theory. Particular attention will be given to the influence of Christian thought in the great works of art.

This course describes the role of the pastors in the care and nourishment of Christians as well as non-Christians. It identifies the opportunities that are available to pastors to meet people at their “point” of need and provides principals for servant leaders to be effective in dealing with sensitive situations.

This seminar investigates the nature and meaning of humility as presented in Scripture and the necessity of Christ’s disciples to organize their lives around this God-honoring behavior. It examines the Biblical meaning and message of meekness and modesty, submission and surrender, gentleness and gratitude in all areas of life, recognizing God as the source and substance of all that we are, all that we have or ever will have because of His grace and mercy.

This course investigates the math and science of data collection, analysis, visualization, and interpretation. It also includes the various methods of data collection and the ethical issues and reliability factors utilized in the study. Of particular importance are the interpretation of the data and its perceived effect on religion and society in the areas of
politics, economics, national and international conflict, health and welfare of individuals and groups and their impact on religious communities.

Entering into and progressing through the stages of adulthood, including career choices and education, marriage and family matters as well as maturing in the Christian faith are included in this course. The importance of developing work-life balance, roles of wives and husbands, raising children, service and community activities as well as service in and
through the church are explored and addressed. Critical events in the life-cycle are explained with the essential choices that individuals must make as they mature and age.

This course is a study of contemporary models and specific business administration practices in the local church. Particular attention is given to the development of competent leadership skills with respect to the economic and functional areas of church life.

Discipleship, for the Christian, is a life long journey that begins with a spiritual transformation as a result of the “new birth through Christ.” This seminar explores how spiritual transformation results in a life lived under the Lordship of Christ. It is evidenced in a personal walk with Him and a ministry to others that is rooted and grounded in obedience to the Word of God.

This course examines the processes and procedures to revitalize and grow an established church as well as the methods used to evaluate the need to establish a new church in a new location with members from a local church. In the church growth section of the course methods to reach inactive members and those who do not attend a church or have no church preference are studied. Students will prepare and present a plan to either plant a church or revitalize a church.

This class is designed to provide students with an understanding of the meaning and importance of culture in society. Students will develop skills that will enable them to engage individuals inside and outside of the church to recognize the forces and factors that shape their thinking and behavior. An understanding of partnering with God in “culture-making” to transform the world will be a central theme.

This course studies the concept of worldview in general and then the content of the Christian worldview in particular, with a focus on the major biblical themes of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation and their implications for all of life.

The journey to surrender begins by acknowledging that the Christian is obligated to submit all of one’s life to the dominance of the Lordship of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. This seminar provides a thorough review of the meaning of surrender in both the Old and New Testaments and the importance of seeking God guidance in His
Word, in prayer and meditation and by seeking the council of elders in the church.

The purpose of this course is to enable students to understand their connection to the development of civilizations, cultures and events of the past as they have been recorded by various individuals, tribes and nations. Students will gain knowledge and understanding pertaining to geography, politics, religion, economics, ethics, education and family roles and rites.

This course is an examination and review of the historical foundations and development of literature through the ages. Students are provided with criteria for assessing both text and illustrations of classic and contemporary works written for diverse audiences with a strong emphasis on terminology and genres. The influence of the church on literature and
literature on the church will be included in the course.

In this course, we explore this over-arching question in the context of the world’s religions, the countries visited on the voyage, and the processes of globalization. Central to the course is the recognition that religious traditions are not static; they have changed through the centuries, often in contact with other traditions. The modern understanding and use of religion often deviates from the core teachings of the traditions. The numerous ways in which this has occurred will be compared.

Becoming a whole and effective Christian is both a process of stewarding the gift of life and continually developing one’s God-given potential, including knowledge, skills, abilities, talents and other personal resources to achieve the life calling and purpose of each disciple. Wellness, for the Christian, incorporates a life-long pursuit of nutrition, exercise, emotionally nourishing relationships, stress management, formation of healthy habits and self-discipline, rest, recreation and renewal of all of life as encoded in a Christian world view.

This course is to assist churches prepare for disaster by developing a strategy to minister to their communities during crisis through preparing their facilities, training their members, securing supplies, and developing protocols that will activate their disaster response plan.

This course is an introduction to family roles, structures and interactive patterns, communication dynamics, assessment, engagement and termination using family systems theory, developmental and life cycle issues in marriage and family.

This course is a study of contemporary models and Biblical conflict management strategies with respect to analyzing sources and resolving conflicts that arise in the local church while leading it toward its specific mission. Detailed attention is given to staff/staff, staff/member, and member/member relations.

God has defined the family as the foundational unit of human society as persons related to one another by marriage, blood or adoption. It is initiated by uniting one man and one woman united and committed by covenant for a lifetime. This seminar reviews the teachings of Scripture on family life and living and the roles, relationships and responsibilities of husbands, wives and children to each other, to God, to the church and the community.