Intercultural Ministry

Intercultural Ministries is a program designed to develop intercultural leaders and catalysts who understand that “global challenges require global cooperation.” It is for men and women who have a heart for the nations. It is for Jesus’ disciples who desire to faithfully live out both the Great Commission and Great Commandment, wherever God has placed them.

This is a foundational intercultural ministry program with a focus on diaspora missiology, providing future graduates with the under-standing, character, and empathy for local and global intercultural engagement.

PURPOSE

This program is designed for those who are preparing specifically for Intercultural Ministry with a focus on missional discipleship. The core requirements provide a foundation in Bible, theology, and intercultural formation, and the major requirements offer training and development in best practices for local and global leadership in growing multicultural contexts.

PROGRAM LENGTH
    • 129 credit hours
    • 4 years full time
PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Sherman Lau
Sherman Lau, DIS

OBJECTIVES

In addition to meeting the learning objectives required for all programs, the Intercultural Ministry Major will enable graduates to:

      1. Develop an intercultural worldview through understanding the missional nature of both the Bible and the Church.
      2. Become passionate followers of Jesus who have a strong commitment to building healthy intercultural relationships with a Christ-like approach as revealed in Scripture.
      3. Develop awareness of one’s intercultural competencies, personal giftedness, and readiness for intercultural service in a variety of contexts.
      4. Contextualize and apply a biblical worldview to issues arising in culturally diverse ministry settings.
      5. Understand missions history as well as present-day religious, cultural, political and economic issues that are foundational to relating to people of differing backgrounds so that they might be effective as intercultural servants of Christ.
      6. Recognize the unique leadership challenges and dynamics of church ministry across cultures.
      7. Comprehend the diversity and complexity of human cultures and religions as expressed in language, behavior, beliefs and ethics, through exposure to theories from the fields of cultural anthropology, social sciences, humanities, education and Christian theology.
      8. Commit to effective verbal and non-verbal communication of the Gospel, whether teaching, preaching or in daily intercultural interactions.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

In addition to completing the 66 credit-hour core, students in this major also take the following:

BIBLE AND THEOLOGY COURSES (15 credit hours)

    • BIB 251 Acts of the Apostles (3)
    • THS 361 Analysis of Worldviews (3)
    • THS 461 Theology of Missions (3)
    • Bible and Theology Electives (6)
      This includes Bible, Theology, Biblical Language, or Apologetics courses.

MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT COURSES (39 credit hours)

A. Ministry Formation (9 credit hours)

      • PTH 201 Spiritual Formation II (3)
      • PMN 252 Homiletics I (3)
      • PMN 282 Leadership Development (3)

B. Intercutural Ministry Major (18 credit hours)

      • ICM 211 Intercultural Communication (3)
      • ICM 222 Introduction to Christian Missions (3)
      • ICM 325 History of Missions (3)
      • ICM 334 Intercultural Issues and Ethics (3)
      • ICM 361 Intercultural Discipleship (3)
      • ICM 482 Intercultural Leadership (3)

C. Practicum Requirement (6 credit hours)

      • ICM 460 Intercultural Ministry Practicum (Local or Global) (3 or 6)

D. Capstone Requirement (6 credit hours)

      • ICM 455 Ethnography (3)
      • ICM 472 Missions Research Project (3)

OPEN ELECTIVES (9 credit hours)

 

PROGRAM LINKS

Program Checklist

Tuition & Fees

PURPOSE

This program is designed for those who are preparing specifically for Intercultural Ministry with a focus on missional discipleship.

PROGRAM LENGTH
    • 64 credit hours
    • 2 years full time
PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Sherman Lau
Sherman Lau, DIS

OBJECTIVES

In addition to meeting the learning objectives required for all programs, the Intercultural Ministry Diploma will enable graduates to:

      1. Develop an intercultural worldview through understanding the missional nature of both the Bible and the Church.
      2. Become passionate followers of Jesus who have a strong commitment to building healthy intercultural relationships with a Christ-like approach as revealed in Scripture.
      3. Develop awareness of one’s intercultural competencies, personal giftedness, and readiness for intercultural service in a variety of contexts.
      4. Contextualize and apply a biblical worldview to issues arising in culturally diverse ministry settings.
      5. Understand missions history as well as present-day religious, cultural, political and economic issues that are foundational to relating to people of differing backgrounds so that they might be effective as intercultural servants of Christ.
      6. Recognize the unique leadership challenges and dynamics of church ministry across cultures.
      7. Comprehend the diversity and complexity of human cultures and religions as expressed in language, behavior, beliefs and ethics, through exposure to theories from the fields of cultural anthropology, social sciences, humanities, education and Christian theology.
      8. Commit to effective verbal and non-verbal communication of the Gospel, whether teaching, preaching or in daily intercultural interactions.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

In addition to completing the 12 credit-hour core, students in this diploma also take the following:

GENERAL STUDIES COURSES (12 credit hours)

    • GEN 100 Personal Resource Management (3)
    • GEN 101 Academic Writing (3)
    • GEN 105 Academic Writing Lab (0)
    • GEN 261 World Religions (3)
    • GEN 371 Cultural Anthropology (3)

BIBLE & THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (9 credit hours)

    • BIB 251 Acts of the Apostles (3)
    • THS 461 Theology of Missions (3)
    • Bible and Theology Electives (6)
      This includes Bible, Theology, Biblical Language, or Apologetics courses.

MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT COURSES (31 credit hours)

A. Intercutural Ministry Major (30 credit hours)

      • ICM 211 Intercultural Communication (3)
      • ICM 222 Introduction to Christian Missions (3)
      • ICM 325 History of Missions (3)
      • ICM 334 Intercultural Issues and Ethics (3)
      • ICM 361 Intercultural Discipleship (3)
      • ICM 482 Intercultural Leadership (3)
      • PMN 282 Leadership Development (3)
      • PTH 101 Spiritual Formation I (3)
      • PTH 114 Life & Ministry in the Holy Spirit (3)
        or   PTH 325 Evangelism Strategies (3)
      • PTH 201 Spiritual Formation II (3)

B. Practicum Requirement (1 credit hour)

      • ICM 290 Intercultural Ministry Practicum (1)
PROGRAM LINKS

Program Checklist

Tuition & Fees

Back to Programs Page