2024-2025 Catalog

 

MISS - Missions

MISS-500 Cultural Contexts of Ministry

The course offers introductory surveys of cultural intelligence principles, Christian spiritual formation within a culturally diverse community, and the mutual-obligation approach to racial reconciliation. Students will engage in historical analysis of the evolution of the U.S. ethnic and cultural landscape, sociological examination of racialized social structures, critique of historic responses to race-biased injustices, and biblical/theological reflection on both welcoming the stranger and practicing reconciliation. The course ultimately seeks to encourage students to offer ministry that enables them to create faith communities in which constituents strive to know and love others within the local ministry context and in the public space.

3

MISS-510 Cultural Anthropology

In this course, students will learn basic theories and methods for examining cultures by employing investigative principles from anthropology and sociology to gain insights for ministry in diverse cultural settings. The course aims to equip students to critically analyze the socio-cultural contexts of their ministry setting. Students will acquire context-oriented understandings and skills that will inform their ministry strategies and practices. This course further explores the student's cultural perceptions of self and others. Insights gained from the study of cultures, anthropological and sociological theories and methods will enable students to evaluate and propose solutions to practical mission and ministry problems.

3

MISS-520 Cross-Cultural Ministry

This course explores the various facets of cross-cultural ministry. It is designed to expose students to cultures which are different from their own with a view to understanding those cultures and also better understanding their own home culture. Whether by intensive study or direct exposure to another culture, this course equips students to minister more effectively in diverse cultural settings. (Practical)

3

MISS-530 Preparing Leaders to Plant Churches

This course is designed to develop the core competencies essential to effectively starting a new church. Through the use of application-based learning modules, students will develop a contextualized strategy for reaching a specific community through church planting efforts. Theoretical and practical facets of church planting will be explored and analyzed as students focus on customizing strategies for their unique ministry context. In addition to the learning modules, students will be partnered with a personal coach and supervisor, committed to guiding the student through the early stages of their church planting process.

6

MISS-540 Evangelism in Context

This course introduces the student to the fundamental nature of the gospel, as well as to the fundamental dynamics of proclaiming it in multiple contexts. Accordingly, it analyzes the dynamics of culture and in that light strategizes about how best to present the gospel in local, cross-cultural, and global contexts.

3

MISS-550 Foundations of Church Planting and Multiplication

This course will provide principles and practices of leading and empowering multiplication movements. Church planting, multi-site, and new venue opportunities will be explored, including visits to multiple church sites within differing communities and congregations, with differing leadership approaches. Theoretical and practical facets of church multiplication will be analyzed as the student focuses on what is working, as well as customizing strategies for their unique ministry context. Emphasis will be given as to how churches of a variety of sizes can participate in multiplication.

3

MISS-552 The Calling, Character, and Competency of a Church Multiplier

This course focuses on the core of an effective leader's calling, character, and competency within a multiplication context. Emphasis will be given to the leader's development in the areas of spiritual formation, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and relational aptitude.

3

MISS-553 Initiating New Church Plants, Sites, and Fresh Expressions

This course is designed to provide principles and practices for the pre-launch and launch processes of a church plant, site, or venue. Emphasis will be given to discerning the new church, site, or venue model and strategy, developing a philosophy of ministry, exegeting a cultural context, connecting with the community, recruiting a core team, designing the worship gatherings, and creating an efficient leadership structure. This course will provide students with a culturally adaptable framework for the development of a new initiative.

3

MISS-554 Maximizing the Post-Launch Phase

This course addresses the challenges of the post-launch process in years two to ten, including personal health, soul care, leadership development, evangelism fervor, discipleship formation, financial management, spiritual warfare, and organizational management. The course utilizes learning experiences of successful multiplication movements in their post-launch years.

3

MISS-500ES Cultural Contexts of Ministry

This course explores the most relevant contexts in which a person's ministry takes place, including the unity and diversity of local contexts, social and cultural contexts, denominational contexts, national and global contexts, as well as the kingdom context. Special attention is given to the broader Christian context of the cohort, such as the roots of American denominationalism for North Americans.

3

MISS-552ES Core: the Calling, Character, and Competency of a Church Multiplier

This course focuses on the core of an effective leader's calling, character, and competency within a multiplication context. Emphasis will be given to the leader's development in the areas of spiritual formation, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and relational aptitude.

3

MISS-553ES Launch: Initiating Effective New Churches, Sites, and Venues

This course is designed to provide principles and practices for the pre-launch and launch processes of a church plant, site, or venue. Emphasis will be given to discerning the new church, site, or venue model and strategy, developing a philosophy of ministry, exegeting a cultural context, connecting with the community, recruiting a core team, designing the worship gatherings, and creating an efficient leadership structure. This course will provide students with a culturally adaptable framework for the development of a new initiative.

3

MISS-554ES Thrive: Maximizing the Post-Launch Phase

This course addresses the challenges of the post-launch process in years two to ten, including personal health, soul care, leadership development, evangelism fervor, discipleship formation, financial management, spiritual warfare, and organizational management. The course utilizes learning experiences of successful multiplication movements in their post-launch years.

3

MISS-600 The Missional Church

This course is a comprehensive, integrative approach to missional Christianity, beginning with biblical foundations and ending with the tools needed to facilitate mission, church multiplication, and service in the church today. Topics range from the classical fields of evangelism, church growth, and global missions to volunteerism and service to the world in its economic and social dimensions. The course involves contextually appropriate missional ministry and so requires that a student currently be in an approved ministry setting. Prerequisite: MDIV-500

6

MISS-620 Missional Church

This course is a study of the Missional Church-its basic foundations and assumptions, along with its practical application in the local faith community. The study of the missional church touches on the classical fields of evangelism, missions, and Christian service. The course focuses on the application of missional strategy in various ministry settings. Prerequisite: BIBL-620.

3

MISS-600ES The Missional Church

This course is a comprehensive, integrative approach to missional Christianity, beginning with biblical foundations and ending with the tools needed to facilitate mission, church multiplication, and service in the church today. Topics range from the classical fields of evangelism, church growth, and global missions to volunteerism and service to the world in its economic and social dimensions. The course involves contextually appropriate missional ministry and so requires that a student currently be in an approved ministry setting. Prerequisite: MDIV-500

6

MISS-620ES Missional Church

This course is a study of the Missional Church-its basic foundations and assumptions, along with its practical application in the local faith community. The study of the missional church touches on the classical fields of evangelism, small groups, church growth, global missions, church planting, and Christian service. The course focuses on the application of missional strategy in various ministry settings. Prerequisite: BIBL-620

3

MISS-620ES Missional Church

This course is a study of the Missional Church-its basic foundations and assumptions, along with its practical application in the local faith community. The study of the missional church touches on the classical fields of evangelism, small groups, church growth, global missions, church planting, and Christian service. The course focuses on the application of missional strategy in various ministry settings. Prerequisite: BIBL-620

3
Indiana Weselayan