Ministry Studies
Biblical Equipping for Excellence in Life and Service
Are you “prepared” for ministry?
Calvary’s mission is to “prepare Christians to live and serve in the church and the world according to the biblical worldview.” The Ministry Studies Department is at the heart of this mission. Preparation for ministry requires more than knowledge of the Bible and theology. It also requires strong character and ministry skills. Knowledge is critical! But so are character and skills if you want to effectively minister to people.
Description
The Ministry Studies Department program and concentrations are designed to equip students with the essential academic, interpersonal, and practical skills to serve in local churches and parachurch organizations. Each concentration combines extensive classroom instruction by ministry-seasoned professors and supervised ministry experiences (i.e., internships) with experienced ministry leaders in order to give students the necessary biblical and practical understanding of ministry in today’s world. The program has multiple concentrations.
What’s the Dream?
What is it you hope to “gain” in life? Where do you hope to be in 10, 20 or 30 years? What is your dream? Money? Fame? Travel? Van life? Fly-fishing?
Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 16:25:
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
The goal of Calvary University’s Ministry Studies Department is to prepare you to “lose your life for Jesus’ sake”! To “find true, abundant life” by preparing to serve Christ in His Church and in the world!
This is more than just a job. It’s more than a career. To prepare to be a pastor, a ministry leader, a youth pastor or a children’s ministry director is about life—a life lived for Christ.
Click on the link to the right to watch a chapel message presented by Shaun LePage, the Chairman of the Ministry Studies Department, entitled “What’s the Dream?”
“What’s the Dream?” (a chapel message presented by Shaun LePage, the Chairman of the Ministry Studies Department) will help you understand the answer Jesus gave to “What should I do with my life?”
Ministry Studies Program and Concentrations
Bachelor’s Degrees
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- Ministry Studies
- Children’s Ministry
- Intercultural Studies
- Pastoral Ministry (Bachelor of Arts)
- Pastoral Ministry (Bachelor of Science)
- Youth Ministry
- Youth Ministry – Worship Arts
Associate’s Degree
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- Bible & Theology
- Children’s Ministry
- General Ministry
- Worship Arts
Program Objectives
The Ministry Studies student will:
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- Demonstrate the Christian Character qualities essential for Christian ministry.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the theology, theories, methodologies, and skills essential for effective Christian ministry leadership.
- Develop effective communication skills essential for Christian ministry.
- Develop basic interpersonal skills necessary for addressing the spiritual needs of people.
- Acquire basic ministry skills under the guidance of a mature, seasoned professional supervisor in the kind of ministry setting anticipated after graduation.
Special Requirements
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- A supervised internship in a ministry setting appropriate to the enrolled emphasis is required for Pastoral Ministry, Intercultural Studies, and Youth Ministry students.
- A Senior Seminar oral examination is required for Pastoral Ministry, Intercultural Studies, and Youth Ministry students.
- A grade of C or higher is required in BL232, Greek II, and in each succeeding Greek course before taking the next level Greek course for Pastoral Ministry students.
- A GPA of 2.5 or higher must be maintained in all Ministry Studies courses for Pastoral Ministry students.
Employment Possibilities
Ministry Studies
- Local Church Staff
- Associate Pastor
- Family Ministry
- Campus Ministry
- Christian Education
- Evangelism
- Ministry Coordination
- Para-Church Leadership
- Fund Raising for Faith-Based Organization
- Chaplaincy (with additional training)
Pastoral Ministry
- Senior Pastor
- Associate Pastor
- Campus Ministry
- Christian Education
- Evangelism
- Ministry Coordination
- Para-Church Leadership
- Fund Raising for Faith-Based Organization
- Chaplaincy (with additional training)
Youth Ministry
- Youth Pastor
- Youth Leader
- Student Development at a College or University
- Ministry Coordination
- Para-Church Leadership
- Fund Raising for Faith-Based Organization
- Christian Education
- Campus Ministry Coordinator
- Youth Care Specialist
Children’s Ministry
- Children’s Program Leader
- Christian Education
- Campus Ministry Coordinator
- Para-Church Leadership
- Residential Specialist for Victims of Abuse or Human Trafficking
- Shelter Case Manager
- Children’s Care Specialist
- Family Support Worker
- Refugee Services Case Manager
- Teacher Assistant
Children’s Ministry
The Children’s Ministry major is a partnership with Child Evangelism Fellowship.
Children’s Ministry majors require one semester attendance at the Children’s Ministries Institute, Child Evangelism Fellowship, in Warrenton, MO.
Students who have graduated from the CEF Children’s Ministries Institute will be able to transfer virtually all of their credits from the Institute to Calvary and use them toward meeting the requirements of this major.
Children’s Ministry Resources from CEF
Child Evangelism Fellowship is now offering a 30-minute weekly online Good News Club posted on U-NITE YouTube channel for kids! It features a Bible lesson, song, memory verse, and cliff-hanger missionary story inviting children back next week.
Click here to watch U-NITE
See a Gospel presentation using the Wordless Book. The young boy featured in the video believed on Jesus through the filming!
Click here to watch “Wordless Book”
See an 8-minute video or view a digital copy of the special crisis booklet, “Do You Wonder Why?“
Click here to watch
“Do You Wonder Why?”
Ministry Studies Faculty
Shaun LePage
Th.M.
Department Chair of Ministry Studies, Assistant Professor of Ministry Studies
Dr. Mike Dodds
Th.M.,D.Min.
Director of the CU Press, Professor of Minsitry Studies
Dr. Joshua Paxton
M.Div., Ed.D.
Director of the Burnham Center for Global Engagement; Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies
Ministry Studies Degrees
AA Ministry Studies (Bible & Theology Track)
AA Ministry Studies (Children's Ministry Track)
AA Ministry Studies (General Ministry Track)
AA Ministry Studies (Worship Arts Track)
Ministry Studies (Major)
Children’s Ministry (Major/Minor)
Youth Ministry (Major/Minor)
Pastoral Ministry (B.A. Major/Minor)
Pastoral Ministry (B.S. Major)
Intercultural Studies (Major/Minor)
Ministry Studies Blog/Vlog
How can you help people if you’re not a counselor?
How can you help people if you’re not a counselor? People all around us need help. They need encouragement, help and answers. Should ordinary, average Christians wade into the waters of “counseling” or should we leave that to the professionals? Calvary’s Dr. Tim...
Why bother with the Old Testament?
“Is the Old Testament for us today? Is everything in it for Christians living in the 21st Century? If we fail to study the Old Testament, what might we be missing? What might we be getting wrong? Calvary’s Dr. Mike Dodds invited Joel Williamson, professor of Hebrew...