The School of Ministry is designed to form students in the heart of Jesus for the local church. This major prepares future pastors and ministry leaders to carry the message of the gospel with clarity and courage—and to carry people with wisdom, compassion, and integrity. We believe the church is not a project to build, but a people to love. Ministry is not performance; it’s presence. It’s truth spoken with tenderness. It’s leadership expressed through service.
In this program, you will grow both spiritually and practically. You will learn how to handle Scripture faithfully, communicate it clearly, and apply it with discernment. You will be trained to shepherd people through real life—moments of need, seasons of growth, conflict, restoration, and discipleship—so that you’re not only knowledgeable, but trustworthy. This is about becoming the kind of leader others can safely follow, and the kind of servant others can confidently lean on.
Because ministry is learned by doing, this major emphasizes real-world preparation. Students will practice sermon development and delivery, work through pastoral care scenarios, learn the basics of church leadership and stewardship, and strengthen the skills needed for healthy ministry life over time. The goal is not to produce impressive ministers, but faithful ones—rooted in the gospel, steady in character, and ready to serve the church for the glory of God.
Preach and teach Scripture with clarity and conviction– Building sermons that are Biblical, Spirit-led, and understandable.
Shepherd people with wisdom and compassion– Offering pastoral care, counsel, and guidance rooted in truth and love.
Lead ministry teams with maturity– Navigating staff dynamics, communication, meetings, and decision-making with humility.
Serve a healthy church with practical stewardship– Understanding structure, planning and budgeting, so ministry can be faithful and sustainable.
The School of Ministry is for those who sense a genuine call to serve the local church and want to be trained for real pastoral life. It’s for students who desire more than information—they want formation. If you want to learn how to care for people with love and truth, teach the Word faithfully, and lead with humility instead of ambition, this major is for you. It’s especially for those who are ready to grow in responsibility, serve consistently, and become the kind of steady, Christlike leader that the church can trust.
You will build a strong foundation in the message of the gospel and the inner life of a ministry leader. This stage focuses on forming a shepherd’s heart—humility, integrity, and spiritual maturity—so that your ministry flows from abiding in Christ, not striving. You’ll learn to serve without ego, lead without control, and stay anchored in Jesus when ministry becomes demanding.
You will be trained in the essentials of caring for people the way pastors must: with wisdom, patience, and truth-filled compassion. You’ll work through pastoral counseling foundations and real-life ministry situations—conflict, grief, crisis, sin patterns, relational issues, and discipleship needs. This stage helps you learn how to respond with discernment, how to listen well, and how to guide people toward Jesus with both grace and firmness.
You will learn how to build sermons from the text of Scripture and deliver them in a way that strengthens the church. This includes developing outlines, shaping applications, communicating with clarity, and preaching with both conviction and compassion. Students will practice preaching in front of others, receive feedback, and grow in confidence, discernment, and spiritual authority without slipping into performance.
You will develop practical leadership skills that support a healthy, sustainable church culture. This includes staff dynamics, meetings, communication, organization, and basic budgeting and stewardship. You’ll learn how systems can serve people (not replace them), how to lead teams without burnout or chaos, and how to build trust through faithful planning and wise decision-making. The goal is leadership that protects the church, strengthens mission, and honors God.
You will grow in how to study the Bible carefully, interpret it faithfully, and communicate it clearly. This includes learning the difference between teaching and preaching, when to use a sermon versus a Bible study, and how to guide others into Scripture without confusion or compromise. The goal is to become a trustworthy handler of the Word—clear, accurate, and full of life.