Ministry
Master of Arts in Ministry (MAM)
Credits
48
Avg. Completion Time
1-2 years (full-time)
Delivery Method
Online OR Hybrid
Why Earn an MA in Ministry through LBC | Capital?
Our Master of Arts in Ministry program provides professional ministry development – and not just for the church. When you choose to study at Capital, you’ll receive foundational and formative preparation for a broad range of careers.
At LBC | Capital, we value the biblical definition of ministry, recognizing that ministry happens in broad contexts. Many of the graduates from this program have gone on to become pastors, church leaders and leaders in para-church and non-profit ministries, church planters, youth and young adult ministry leaders, worship leader and more. This degree program provides individuals with contemporary biblical and theological scholarship that is transferable to ministry and brings vitality and commitment to service and our faculty is committed to the learning experience of students through rigor, dialogue and prayer. Through this program, we strive to raise up Christian leaders who are marked by character qualities consistent with biblical servant leadership, competent in service to God and humanity through the use of essential skills in communication, leadership and management and committed to a set of core values and beliefs that align with the historic Christian faith.
What Makes our Program Different?
LBC | Capital’s MAM program is designed to allow students to take one or two courses per eight-week session in either hybrid or online formats. Depending on the pace students take courses and whether they have been awarded advanced standing, the average program completion time is between between one and two years.
The MAM program is also highly customizable allowing students to choose between six different concentrations of specialized study and skills development to achieve their unique vocational goals.
Course Length
8 weeks
Residency Requirement
2-day in-person residency for hybrid courses
No residency for online courses
Highly Customizable
Choose from six concentrations to design a unique program that meets your educational goals.
Program Cost
Advancement Standing
Receive up to 12 credits of advanced standing
Transfer Agreement
Transfer no more than 50% of a degree from an outside institution
Program Plan
Master Arts in Ministry (48 Credits)
Biblical & Theological 12 Credits
Ministry Praxis 9 Credits
Advanced Ministry Praxis 21 Credits
Field-Based Experience 6 Credits
View the Academic Catalog for the complete curriculum plan, course descriptions and complete program details.
Difference between Hybrid & Online Courses
HYBRID include a required in-person two-day residency that provides a unique opportunity for students and professors to interact face-to-face within a learning community. These residencies also offer natural opportunities for ministry networking, informal peer interactions, and creative learning activities.
ONLINE offer the flexibility of not requiring an in-person residency. Online students can interact with peers and professors through optional weekly synchronous online meetings. Online courses also allow students to pursue their degrees from anywhere in the world.
Career Paths
The Master of Ministry will prepare you for a wide range of service and/or ministry contexts. Here is a sampling of careers in which our MAM alumni serve:
- Pastoral Roles (Children, Youth, Executive, Associate)
- Ministry Leader
- Christian Non-Profit Leader
- Teacher
- Church Planter
Program Goals – In this program, students will…
- Gain a foundational knowledge of the narrative, content, and interpretation of the Bible for the purposes of the development of a biblical worldview.
- Obtain the skill sets necessary to in effectively communicate the Scriptures.
- Obtain the skills necessary for personal spiritual formation as well as the discipleship of others.
- Obtain the character and competencies necessary to be an authentic servant leader.
- Gain a biblical philosophy of ministry and leadership practice applicable in the context of contemporary culture.
- Obtain the knowledge and skill sets necessary to lead individuals, teams, and organizations.
- Obtain the skill sets necessary for assessing organizational health and strategizing for organizational development.
- Gain the knowledge and skill sets appropriate to the selected ministry concentration.
- Gain experiential learning and research skills for maintaining life-long education.
Customize Your MAM Studies with a Concentration
By combining the general MAM plan with one of these concentrations, you can customize your course of study to better meet your educational goals. With the strategic use of available electives, these concentrations provide students with unique opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills within specific domains and disciplines.
Some concentrations may require a remote residency.
Church Planting
For those who have a passion and heart to take God’s love through the Church to every corner, town and neighborhood, the Church Planting concentration provides the tools to expand the kingdom.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Church Planting will take the following courses:
- Theology, History & Models of Church Planting Movements
- Exegeting Culture for Church Planting
- Church Planting I
- Church Planting II
- Church Planting Internship II
Formational Children & Family Ministry
This concentration allows students to delve deeper into the much-needed area of Children & Family Ministry as they serve families and work to bring both current and future generations close to Christ.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Formational Children & Family Ministry will take the following courses:
- Foundations of Children and Family Ministry
- Spiritual Formation of Children and Families
- Missional Families in a Global World
- Global Children’s Ministry
Leadership Studies
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Leadership Studies will take the following courses:
- Leadership Theory & Practice
- Development of Organizational Leadership
- Psychology of Leadership
- Leadership Style Analysis
Pastoral Studies
LBC | Capital’s Pastoral Studies concentration is grounded in the authority of Scripture and places a strong emphasis developing church leaders to become faithful pastors that lead fruitful churches. From a biblical foundation, students learn about the nature of ministry, discipleship and leadership within the context of the local church.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Pastoral Studies will take the following courses:
- Local Church Revitalization
- Theology, History, & Practice of Worship
- Advanced Homiletics
- Designing Strategic Models of Adult Discipleship
Worship Arts
LBC | Capital’s Worship Arts concentration is designed for those seeking to enter leadership roles within ministry or develop their skills further. Focused on the head, heart and hands aspect of ministry, the program draws from the strong MAM core of leadership and spiritual formation and adds deep study of the history, nature and theology of Christian worship. While also developing critical skills for leading and serving artists, this concentration facilitates a Word-focused understanding of creativity and performance for ministry leaders to equip others to lead worship that engages the senses, emotions and intellects of congregations.
Students will gain a robust perspective of the history of Christian worship practices by observing continuities, overlaps and contrasts across various time periods and traditions. The deep tie between the church’s worship and its cultural context will be explored with the study of expressions from across the globe. Beyond enhancing their own understanding of arts in the story of God’s church, ministry leaders will learn to integrate these perspectives into their regular shepherding and administrative tasks. They will interact with the best of current technology to streamline and advance their work in these areas. Students will also complete this concentration with a refreshed vision and a refined set of skills.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Worship Arts will take the following courses:
- Biblical, Historical, & Theological Survey of Worship Art
- Worship and its Cultural Context
- Worship Design & Practice
- Perspectives and Technology for Worship Arts Administration
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Through this robust and creative concentration, students learn both the theoretical principles and practical leadership skills necessary to teach, disciple and lead young people in a variety of ministry contexts, such as churches, parachurch organizations, camping ministries, college student ministries, community centers and more.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Youth & Young Adult Ministry will take the following courses:
- Student Development, Culture & Contextualization
- Student & Family Systems Counseling
- Thinking Theologically in Student Ministry
- Spiritual Formation of Students
Meet the Faculty
Aaron Brown, MDiv
Associate Chair of Church & Ministry Leadership, Director of Formational Leadership programs, Assistant Professor
Esther Zimmerman, PhD
Interim Chair, Church & Ministry Leadership | Children & Family Ministry Program Director
Ryan Shenk, MA
Assistant Professor, Director of Worship Arts Studies, Director of Contemporary Bands
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