Certificate in Christian Ministry

07/17/06

Belton, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is offering a special class this summer as a part of its relatively young Certificate of Christian Ministry program. The program is designed to reach people who are interested in a formal ministerial training without the time and cost of a four-year college education.

The class meets once a week at New Hope Baptist church in Cedar Park, TX where a handful of adult students are studying the Doctrine of Revelation. Dr. William Carrell, Dean of the College of Christian Studies at UMHB, is teaching the course, which he said is not about the book of Revelation, but rather how we know God.

"A good bit of the focus is on how the Bible reveals God to us," he said.

The Certificate in Christian Ministry is earned when students complete 18 one-unit courses, typically over a period of three years. The current class is a special studies course which some students will substitute for another course. Completed units can be transferred back into UMHB as freshman hours, if the student wishes to pursue a bachelors degree at a later time.

The necessary classes are offered during the regular school semester at four different central Texas locations in Belton, Killeen, Cedar Park and Round Rock. They are designed to meet the needs of individuals who have families, work full-time, or are looking for an alternative to traditional schooling.

"It is not limited just to people who are going into the professional ministry, but also people who want to grow in their knowledge of the Bible or doctrine or church history," Bill Muske, director of church relations at UMHB said. "It's really open to anyone who wants to enroll in it."

UMHB adopted the certificate program about four years ago and since that time has had approximately 15 graduates and increased local interest. The university's Chief of Police, Gary Sargent and his wife, Dianna Sargent received their Certificates in Christian Ministry in December of 2005. Sargent said they felt a calling to serve in the ministry and the program was a step in preparing them to answer that call.

"We wanted to be better equipped to do the jobs we may be asked to do in the future," he said.

For Sargent, who has a bachelors in Criminal Justice from Baylor University, the courses served as a tool for transitioning back into an educational setting. He said he plans on using the foundation from the certificate program when he enters seminary in the coming months. Students, like Sargent can receive focused education and training to help them in their current ministry or prepare them for future service. The 18 units to complete the certificate cover fundamentals of Christian ministry from Old and New Testament to Baptist History and Basic Christian Ethics.

A major benefit of the program is that students enrolled in the certificate program receive a high quality education at about a third of the price, Carrell said. The cost is $140 per unit or credit hour with an application fee of $25.

UMHB receives support for the program through the Baptist General Convention of Texas which also awards a scholarship to students who are active members of a BGCT affiliated church. The scholarship currently provides students with $50 per credit hour. Scholarships through the Bell Baptist Association and Fort Hood Baptist Association are also available. For more information contact Bill Muske at (254) 295-4606.

Whether students are preparing for full-time service in the ministry or simply desire to take an educational approach to understanding their faith, the certificate will give them "a significant amount of credibility," in any situation Muske said. "The possibilities are endless."