Program Overview
Do you love interacting with people to help them know Jesus and grow deeper in Him? Do you enjoy working with particular age-groups — children, or youth, or maybe senior adults? Would you prefer to learn from Christ-centered professors who have both solid academic training and real-world ministry experience?
The Christian Ministries program at Asbury University may be just the thing for you. This program focuses on developing leaders for the ministry of discipleship and formation – understanding the Biblical, educational, and organizational principles behind ministry, and developing the tools for being effective in it. Study in this area is inter-disciplinary:
In addition, experiential learning is woven through the program in a variety of ways, including a practicum and an internship — “You can’t learn ministry just in a classroom,” we’re fond of saying.
Our faculty understand that you want to make a difference in your world through various forms of ministry. You may have felt a “calling” into full-time Christian service. This program is designed to help you prepare to work in a ministry setting. The Christian Ministries major will also prepare you to understand the foundational principles that develop the Christian mind and lifestyle.
The Christian Ministries program provides students with the tools to creatively and intentionally help future church leaders disciple people of all ages into Christ-likeness in a variety of cultures and contexts.
All ministry programs in the department will help you understand basic principles of ministry and the mission and work of the Church. You’ll study the dynamics of spiritual growth, develop views for becoming a global/world Christian and learn how to study the Bible and lead Bible study groups.
The Christian Ministries major will prepare you to understand processes of ministry with people of all ages. You’ll learn a variety of ways to approach discipleship/educational ministry. You’ll learn leadership principles and what organizational structures prove most effective. You’ll discover principles for developing and evaluating curriculum and resources that serve as tools for reaching people of all ages for Christ.
We believe you can’t learn ministry just in a classroom. Therefore, the department employs a three-tiered experiential learning model.
Tier 1: Students observe and reflect on what is happening in ministry settings. These activities begin in the very first course students take, and continue in practicum or internship settings throughout the program.
Tier 2: Students practice the skills they are introduced to in their classes. Sometimes this practice occurs in classes, but students are also encouraged to practice ministry in their church/para-church settings.
Tier 3: Students take on leadership responsibility in ministry. Leadership involvement is essential in the internship which is required in all ministries majors.
Students studying in Christian Ministry usually plan to serve in a church, Christian camp, or other ministry with primary emphasis on children’s ministry, youth ministry, or other educational/discipleship ministry. However, graduates can be found working in a wide variety of careers:
(*) Additional academic work may be needed to work in this field.
Students in this program complete supervised internships or practicum experiences at places like:
Most students choose to complete their internship during the summer in full-time, paid positions. In fact, many churches actively recruit Asburians for these positions.
Christian Ministries students develop an e-portfolio during their time at Asbury that allows them to showcase their views on ministry, the projects and lesson plans they have developed, and to provide character references from internships and ministry experiences. These are evaluated by ministry professionals which help students continue to learn. As one pastor interviewing a student said, “This portfolio is incredible! It demonstrates just how capable Asbury students are!”
Nearly 100 percent of Christian ministries graduates who seek ministry placement secure a position within a few months of graduation; some are hired prior to graduation.
Approximately 50 percent of graduates in Christian Ministries eventually enter graduate school.
admissions@asbury.edu
(859) 858-5000