Ministry Concentration
“Through love serve one another.”
That is the heart of ministry. The Spirit will express His loving service in a multitude of ways through each of us according to the unique manner in which He has created and shaped us.
By love, we serve one another.
Our Ministry concentration has four main objectives:
1) A working knowledge of the Bible. This is a society that has lost its absolutes. We need to return to the Scriptures as a foundation for living. We cannot teach biblical principles without a working knowledge of the Bible. While we have no desire to be legalists, we must know the truth if we are to set people free.
2) An intimate relationship with Christ. Handling the Word of God without a relationship with God can be deadly. The heart of ministry is reconciling people to God, returning them to the loving fellowship experienced in the Garden of Eden. It is out of our love relationship with our Lord that we are able to invite others to join us.
3) A compassionate relationship with people. The entire ministry of Jesus flowed out of a compassion for others. So must ours. Our generation does not need more professional ministers, but it desperately needs men and women full of divine compassion.
4) A balanced life. Serving God and serving people can develop a lopsided life. We need to be balanced, aware and rightly related to ourselves and to our families to do our best in ministry
There are as many ways to express a heart of service as there are uniquely formed and gifted believers and needy people. Don’t try to fit yourself into some job description that you believe encompasses the call to ministry. Release the Holy Spirit’s anointing and creativity within you to bring everything that is uniquely “you” to serve those that only you can touch.
Online Ministry Degrees
The courses listed below may be taken as a Ministry Certificate or applied as a major concentration toward any of the following online Ministry Degrees:
- Associate of Ministry
- Bachelor of Ministry
- Master of Ministry
- Master of Divinity
- Doctor of Ministry
- Doctor of Divinity
For people aspiring to be trained for pastoral ministry, we recommend you earn any of the following degrees: Ministry, Divinity (graduate level only), Christian Counseling, Bible, Theology (recommended in this order).
Additional work is required when an undergraduate-level course is taken on the graduate level. Course substitutions and combining major concentrations are possible when working toward your Ministry Degree online. Discuss these options with the Dean. The key is to follow God’s passion within your heart. Students in the Master’s and Doctoral programs earn approximately 30 credits for each degree from specific courses, and the remaining 10 credits by doing practical ministry work and earning “practica” credits.
Courses
Communion With God - REN103/503
Have you ever wished you could sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? When you’re worried or confused, wouldn’t you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond? When things don’t seem to be going your way and your prayers aren’t answered the way you had hoped, wouldn’t it be great to hear Him tell you where He is in the midst of it, and what He is working out in your life?
Jesus promised that “My sheep hear My voice” (Jn. 10:27). If you are one of His sheep, then He is speaking to you and you are hearing His voice! The problem is that we have not learned how to recognize His voice and differentiate it from all of the other voices that bombard our hearts and minds. This course will help you discern the voice of the Lord within your heart, clearly and consistently, leading to a deeper intimacy with Him as well as greater faith, hope and joy. Your life will be transformed! (3 credits for REN103; 4 credits for REN503) (Course syllabus: REN103; REN503)
Naturally Supernatural - REN204
Through the working of Almighty God, He has joined His Spirit to our spirits. We will study and experience the glory of Christ (through the Holy Spirit) living within us, as well as ways of approaching Him and releasing His indwelling presence. We abide in Christ to the extent that we know that Christ abides in us. We will also learn how to allow the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit within us to flow out through us. Prerequisite: REN103 Communion With God. (3 credits) Course Syllabus
“This course radically changed my life in every way possible. When once the Christian life was somewhat of a duty and chore, it is now a lifestyle of rest. What was once my trying to be good for the Lord is now having Him be good out through me. What was striving to serve Him in every aspect of my life is now simply loving Him and yielding to His Spirit to live out of me. By understanding, experiencing, and living out the seven revelation truths of abiding, my life in every way and dimension has been radically changed.” —Student taking Naturally Supernatural
Every Christian should read Naturally Supernatural at least once a week! You write so clearly it would be pleasant to sit under your teaching! It really would be a life changing experience!— Isaac E. Rerri
Counseled by God - COU202
God’s Spirit is a “Wonderful Counselor”. We will let God speak to our hearts and counsel us about the basic emotional pressures of life. These include anger, doubt, depression, condemnation and inferiority. We will learn to let God replace these with His opposites, as His voice releases His grace within our hearts. Those whom the Son sets free are free indeed. (3 credits) Course Syllabus
Fulfill Your Financial Destiny - BUS102/BUS502
Take Charge of Your Health - HEA102
We have a covenant of health with our God, which is based on four prerequisites (Ex. 15:26). One of these is to keep all His statutes. In this course, we will learn the statutes of God which will keep us from cancer and the other “Black Plagues” of our century. We need not die prematurely if we become responsible by keeping God’s simple health commands. (3 credits) Course Syllabus
“Take Charge of Your Health” taught me that sickness may strike a variety of places in our lives, which affects the whole person. We must heal the spirit’s illness caused by sin. We must experience “inner healing,” which is the healing of hurtful memories and damaged emotions. The effects from harmful memories may consist of guilt, shame, and depression. This is why we need to repent, ask God for forgiveness, and go through deliverance of demonic strongholds.I believe that most mental illness is frequently misdiagnosed; and is, in many cases, demonization, the influence of demonic activity. Some people become so saturated with sin and invading spirits, that they no longer have control over who and what they are.
We all must remember that the body houses the spirit and soul within us and we must properly maintain all three. Don’t you think you should be responsible for your health? The CLU course “Take Charge of Your Health” will help you do that.—Mark Huddleston
Experiencing God in the Small Group - MIN310
“I cannot tell you what a blessing the course Experiencing God in the Small Group has been to my life. My small group meetings have been awesome. They have also grown to ten members consistently. God has been expanding me and our group has been experiencing greater measures of Him during our meetings.” —Student taking Experiencing God in the Small Group
Gifted to Succeed - LEA103
“These last 12 weeks have been like looking into a mirror and seeing things in me that I have never seen before. Then taking those things, learning more about them and pruning them to work most effectively for and in myself, my life and my ministry.” —Student taking Gifted to Succeed
Apprenticed to Leadership - LEA310
Religion-Free Christianity - THE125/525
The law and the flesh always war against faith and Spirit. The battle is as old as Isaac and Ishmael, and recounted for us clearly in Galatians chapters 3-5. Each of us battles daily between law and Spirit in our own lives. Discover how God’s voice sets us free from the bondage of legalism and error. God’s vision is for a triumphant, empowered, overcoming Church that lives out of intimacy with His Holy Spirit. Learn what a church which is free of religion looks like. Let the Church be the Church! Let us be children of the faith! (3 credits) Course Syllabus
Cornerstones of Communication - COU203
Five Fold Leadership - LEA203
Pneumatology & Life in the Spirit - REN210/521
The key to the successful Christian life is walking and living by the Spirit. This course has two emphases: to increase our awareness of our own spirits and to become better acquainted with our Helper and Comforter, the Holy Spirit. All 1400 verses of Scripture that deal with the heart and spirit of man are closely considered, with the one objective of learning to sense our spirit and the Spirit of Christ within our spirit. In addition, we will meditate on a multitude of Scriptures that speak of the Holy Spirit so that we may come to know Him more personally and intimately than ever before. (3 credits) Course Syllabus
Prayers That Heal the Heart - COU301
“Who needs prayers that heal the heart? Just about everyone! God has really done a work in me through the studying and revelation of this ministry. He has given me a burden and a heart to see all people set free from all kinds of oppression. After all, He did command us to do so and minister to people’s needs. Prayers That Heal the Heart is going to be a major part of what I do vocationally for the rest of my life. I have a burden and a desire to see people walk in the liberty purchased for them on Calvary, and for them to experience the ZOE life God has come to give us. Thank You, Lord, for Your anointing to do what You did and see people come into all that You have for them.” —Student taking Prayers That Heal the Heart
I heartily recommend Prayers That Heal the Heart. It is the most biblical book I have read on counseling and spiritual warfare, in terms of emotional healing. While there are other good books out there that God has used, red flags have always gone up in my mind by their use of methods borrowed by modern psychology. This book isn’t like that, and it is thoroughly practical with its exercises and worksheets. It can definitely be used by the Lord to change your life and break the enemy’s power in your life.–Brian Shilhavy
Developing the Leader Within - LEA303
Wisdom Through Dream Interpretation - REN310/REN510
Prerequisite: REN103 Communion With God.
“This course has truly made a significant impact on my life and laid the foundation for ongoing change and revelation. It is as if a whole new door has been opened in my life leading to a whole new world of never-before-found treasures and truths. I feel as though I am walking towards a new journey that will impact my life in a great way. I feel that more tools have been added to my spiritual toolbox to help myself and help others. When I fully grasp this practice of interpreting dreams, I will be walking in a greater dimension of wholeness, authority, counsel, wisdom and so much more. If it’s true that we spend one third of our lives sleeping and part of that dreaming, then it feels as though I have resurrected one third of my life and I can live more fully. The revelation of the importance of dreams and what God wants to do with us through dreams has been resounding in my spirit ever since I started this course.” —Student taking Wisdom Through Dream Interpretation
New Trends in Management - BUS320
Bible Research Methods - BIB390
Becoming a Youth Specialist - MIN330
In this foundational course, you will think and pray through your philosophy of youth ministry and explore ways to maximize your effectiveness in reaching young people for Christ. You will examine the theological, developmental, sociological and historical frameworks for youth ministry and evaluate various models both old and new. You will look at the skills needed for effective youth ministry and allow the Holy Spirit to examine your life to reveal your strengths and areas in which you need to grow. Finally, you will assess various resources for youth ministry and how you can use them more effectively.
NOTE: This course requires you to apply what you are learning in an actual youth group. If you are not currently working with a youth group, you will need to develop a relationship with one for the duration of this course. (4 credits) Course Syllabus
Anointed Preaching - MIN415
This course will teach the student how to get his messages from God and deliver them under the anointing of the Holy Spirit’s power. (3 credits) Course Syllabus
The Father Heart of God - REN105
Believer’s Worship I - WOR101
Secrets of the Spirit - PRO101
In this course you will learn how to flow in the full manifestation of the Holy Spirit, just like Jesus and Paul. This course trains you through the example of powerful testimonies, a study of the teaching of other leaders, and extensive biblical research to arrive at a theological summary of what is required for you to not only experience the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but to release all of His gifts as well. This class will teach you how every believer can flow in every spiritual gift and you will be equipped to more easily and daily live and walk by the Spirit! (3 credits) Course Syllabus