Quick Program Facts
Credit Hours: 120
Total Cost: $12,000.00
Prerequisites: High School Diploma or Equivelent
Earn Your Bachelor of Ministry Degree with Vision University India and Christian International School of Theology. Focus Your Studies in Apostolic/Prophetic Ministry or Business Leadership!
Year One: Certfificate in Christian Ministry (CIST Emphasis)
A study of the basic principles of hermeneutics and methods of Bible study.The course is designed to give the new student a solid foundation for the coming four years of intensive Bible study.The course presents the Bible as literature as well as the inspired word of God with emphasis on the importance of textual and historical context in interpreting biblical passages.
This course provides an overview of the New Testament, with a brief introduction to each of the 27 books of the Protestant canon, and a concise summary of their contents, enabling the learner to correctly relate the parts of the New Testament to each other, and to the Old Testament.
The module allows the learners to enrich their knowledge of the Bible and their ability to read each part intelligently, with an understanding of the context in which each book occurs and of how doctrine evolved gradually over the centuries.Armed with this knowledge students are able to develop their ability to relate the Bible and its contents to daily life and to Christian witness.
The fourth Gospel is studied in light of its historical context and its stated evangelistic purpose to discover its testimony of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ and to his saving work.The course will also explain and demonstrate some basic interpretative principles and methods of Bible study.
The major focal point of this course will be upon the family as viewed as a social institution. We will be interested in the tacit dialogue between the institution of the family and that social situation of which the family is a part.
This course provides a careful examination of the modern issues inherent in marital and family relationships; offers suggestions for treatment on an individual and church-wide basis; and provides numerous counseling resources. This course is specifically designed to encourage and help pastors, church workers and counseling students fully engage in the task of learning and growing in the knowledge of the development process of Christian families.
A fundamental premise presented in this course is that the best kind of learning occurs when the student is actively involved in the process of learning. The best education consists not of simply knowing, but of becoming; that is, becoming all that God created us to be.
The format of the course materials briefly examines the external structures of family life throughout the cycle of human existence, from a Christian perspective. It also teaches the student how to communicate and interact in more conscious, deliberate, and constructive ways. He or she can then become more fulfilled in his or her intimate relationships.
A study of the principles of composition with emphasis on language, the mechanics of writing, the types of discourse, and research and documentation. The course develops students' ability to write unified, well-developed and coherent expository essays that employ standard English usage and mechanics, and exposes the students to literary works that sharpen their critical-thinking and analytical skill necessary in college writing.
The course also includes a study of rhetoric and short essay composition, and readings and responsive writing assignments. This is predominantly a skills course to develop the student's writing competency as a foundation for all future studies.
Course Mentor: Joshua D. Reichard, PhD, DPhil, EdS This course introduces the subject of management, identifies leadership positions, and stresses the importance of the role of leadership and management skills in Christian Ministry.
Biblical principles of leading like a servant and shepherd and qualifications for leaders are also discussed. Major tasks of leaders are reviewed, with emphasis on decision-making and handling conflicts. Guidelines for training leaders and followers are given, and principles of success and reasons for failure examined.
Emphasis is placed on the contex of Management in Community Service, preparing the student to support Community Leadership.
This foundational course explores detail the fundamental foundations of Christian belief. Orthodox Christian truths will be taught in detail and are prerequisite for a dynamic Christian life.
Paul stated that whenever possible we are to live our lives at peace, especially within the household of faith. In our day, we need to learn the pattern for gracious living. While fundamentalism is regarded to view social controversy and moral issues with judgementalism and/or mean-spiritedness, this course will explore social issues in the context of a balanced "sweet reasonableness". Submission in the family, church, and society will be explored in detail.
The core of this course is practical training in the philosophy and methods of soul winning, visitation, discipleship follow-up and evangelistic outreach including signs and wonders.
This course examines the biblical perspectives on God's plans and purposes for man and how God through his love and grace helps man to develop a believer's personality through stages of spiritual development.
This course examines the biblical perspectives on Christian Character and how God through his love and grace helps man to develop a right Christian character and personality through clearly established Biblical processes.
Year Two: Association in Christian Ministry (CIST Emphasis)
This course provides an overview of the Old Testament, with a brief introduction to each of the 39 books, and a concise summary of their contents, enabling the learner to correctly relate the parts of the Old Testament to each other, and to the New Testament.
The module allows the learners to enrich their knowledge of the Bible and their ability to read each part intelligently, with an understanding of the context in which each book occurs and of how doctrine evolved gradually over the centuries. Armed with this knowledge, students are able to develop their ability to relate the Bible and its contents to daily life and to Christian witness.
The foundation for the revelation of God and his dealings with man throughout the Old and New Testaments are found in the Pentateuch or Five Books of Moses. In these books we see the unity and authority of the Bible which always points forward to the Savior.
A detailed study of the origin and development of the apostolic church and of the ministry of the ascended Christ as carried on through the church by the power of the Holy Spirit.
An intensive study of the book of Romans and Galatians (for personal devotional purposes) in the light of the principles of sound exposition and analysis.
Course Mentor: Delores Horsman M.A. This course proposes to help the student discover the basic concepts of Christian counseling and increase skill and competence in counseling situations. This introductory course in psychology covers many of the major ideas in contemporary psychology, but focuses mainly on psychology in the context of Christian Counseling.
Examination of psychological phenomena from biobehavioral and sociobehavioral perspectives will be emphasized. The course will explore different approaches to counseling such as behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, biblical, and integrative Christian.
In addition, the course describes different environments in which counseling is applied, especially in the context of the local church. The course will also explore the difference between counseling and other helping situations.
Course Mentor: Sara Reichard, Ed.S., R.N. This course is designed to familiarize the student with the principles of teaching in a structured environment. Emphasis is placed upon the principles of organization and presentation methodology including, Stating Objectives, Lesson Planning, Evaluation, Curriculum Selection and Development, Teaching Illiterate Students, and Teacher Training.
Course Mentor: Klaus, Tal This course is an overview of financial management issues, principles and tools. The course involves discussion, theoretical understanding, and practical applications of basic financial management. Understanding basic financial management issues is important for analyzing the current and future financial health of an organization, church, or ministry, leading to more informed decision-making.
For all managers of churches and nonprofit organizations, understanding the basic concepts of funding streams, stewardship, budgeting and financial statement analysis is essential to building and maintaining a strong organization.
Course Mentor: Steven M. Mills, D.Min. Thanksgiving, praise and worship are vital for the New Testament Christian. Worship is dynamically illustrated and taught in this course. Emphasis on who we worship and why is maintained throughout.
Course Mentor: Joshua D. Reichard, PhD, DPhil, EdS Living a life of victory, power and sufficiency requires faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. This course discusses in detail the dynamics of faith and their relationship to the believer.
Course Mentor: Dr. Stan DeKoven This course will explore a variety of experiences that develop basic concepts of the oral communication process. The class includes communication theory as well as speech preparation and delivery. Basic techniques of the oral performance of literature with emphasis on content analysis and performance.
Application of public speaking, oral interpretation and debate skills to competitive situations. This course also focuses on the fundamental methods of sermon preparation. It emphasizes both structure and delivery. Attention is given to the determination of audience type, the proper use of voice and other principles of public speaking.
Year Three: Advanced Diploma of Christian Ministry (CIST Emphasis)
The ministry of the prophet and the gift and function of prophecy is explained from a historical and modern context. The place and environment of prophetic ministry, prophetic presbytery, and the office of the prophet is explained.
Course Mentor: Delores Horsman M.A. This course contains the biblical bases for the concept of inner healing and healing of the memories. The student will be able to deal with issues in his or her own past that may be preventing them from being a "real person".
Students will examine cultural anthropology from a Christian perspective, with particular emphasis on environmental analysis for missions. The students will gain a deeper understanding of different approaches to cultural anthropology and the applications of cultural theory for understanding cultural and religious diversity in the modern world. The importance of applied cultural anthropology to address the challenges of cross-cultural living and ministry will be emphasized.
A study of church history during the Apostolic Age, the ante-Nicene period, and the post-Nicene period. Topics include the rise of orthodoxy, the many transformations that took place after the conversion of Constantine, the rise of the papacy, the many forms of medieval religious life, and the emergence of new forms of both lay and clerical piety. The developmental history of Western Civilization, in relation to the History of the Church, is noted in particular.
This course explores the fundamental foundation of Christian belief in the area of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Orthodox Christian truths will be taught in detail and are prerequisite for a dynamic Christian.
Course Mentor: Joshua D. Reichard, PhD, DPhil, EdS This is a study of the practical side of a minister's life and duties. It will include instruction in the proper manner of services, and a discussion of many of the problems a pastor faces.
Course Mentor: Dr. Stan DeKoven Essential elements of servant-leadership will be addressed, including a brief overview of what Scripture teaches about leadership. Students will be exposed to a number of different leaders and put their learning into practice via a comprehensive project. This will include the Dynamics of Leadership, Qualifications of Leadership, Counseling and Ethics, Church Administration and Government, etc.
God has one unified, global purpose for all He does. This course introduces the exciting biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic dimensions of His plan. It addresses key issues: the basis of and necessity for world missions, and the status of and plan for world missions. Students are introduced to the basics they need to pursue missionary training or to help lead their local church in its global ministry.
The Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20) is the continuing mandate of the church. Though methods of evangelism and church planting have changed, the mandate remains the same. How to "grow the church" is the focus of this course.
This course is an advanced study in hermeneutics and interpretation theory from pre-modern times to the present, with a focus on the interpretation and method of reading biblical texts. The course is designed to prepare the student for advanced interpretation of scripture and will investigate biblical interpretation in light of current theological, philosophical, ecclesiological, historical and social challenges.
The student will be exposed to current scholarship on a variety of hermeneutical topics. The student will learn to be humble and open-minded when approaching the text, even those that seem familiar. A scholarly approach will be presented.
This course explores the manuscript and archaeological evidence supporting and detracting from the reliability of the text of the Bible as an original ancient manuscript. The origins of the biblical texts, the establishment of the canon, and issues of higher criticism will be explored. The courses also introduces the student to unique perspectives concerning the authority of the Bible and its application in church and community life.
In the church, we use words that are often not clearly understood by the new Christian or by the unchurched. In this course the student will study the meaning of each theological word and will be able to apply these words to their own life.
An introduction to the basic teachings of the Christian faith, this course includes discussions of the nature and task of theology and of the Christian understanding of God, revelation, creation, spirituality, sin, and redemption.
Course Mentor: Dr. Stan DeKoven A study of church growth and development with special emphasis on church health. Attention will be given to the skills of observation of the historical and contemporary roles of the church and society. Students will describe the socialization and dynamics of the church to culture, and develop skills for effective ministry.
Common errors in church leadership and development will be explored. Leadership in the church and administration of church affairs are explored in detail. Methods of administration and forms of leadership style and responsibility are delineated .
In almost every field, apologists recognize that "proof" will convince people only when they are already disposed to believe. The deepest human need is emotional, not rational; human hearts must be stirred before our intellects will respond. Thus the "proofs" of God in the end are valuable mostly as adjuncts to the witness of scripture.
For that reason, many people, whose faith is already simple, untroubled, and firm, find no use for these proofs. But others are not so fortunate, and for them the proofs are an encouragement to faith, and a stiller of doubts. This course contrasts the Biblical concept of apologetics with various alternative positions, both theistic and non-theistic.
This course will insist upon an intellectually humble and reasonable approach to apologetics, opposing the bombastic certainty espoused by some approaches to apologetics. This course will propose an apologetic that accounts for the inadequacies of arguing faith-dependent issues in rationalistic or empirical terms.
This course is designed to refine the student's Christian Worldview to engage a humbled perspective of science, religion, culture, and human existence. This course also considers major problem areas such as authority, miracles, evil and evolution and sets forth a basis for Christian apologetic which is theologically and historically sound.
Year Four: Bachelor of Ministry Degree Emphasis (Apostolic/Prophetic Ministry)
This course presents six biblically based keys to marketplace success and lays a scriptural foundation as to the importance of implementation of those keys by every marketplace Christian, not only into their place of business but also in their individual lives.
These six keys to business success are essential for every Christian to be able to fulfill their purpose and call in the place where God has positioned them whether it be in the home, in business, in some professional field, or in the market square.
The topics included are: Workmanship; Stewardship; Servanthood; Values; Ethics and Integrity; Hearing the Voice of God; and Vision.
This course will bring an understanding of some of the key characteristics of relationships; especially in the marketplace, the dynamics of the Relationship Cycle and how it operates. Learn the nine principles of focusing on God and His Kingdom and examine how to manage that which God controls.
Learn to submit to His ultimate control over your business and understand God's perspective on them. Learn to understand how God uses circumstances to direct career paths. Understand the value God puts on people and how much He cares about developing the man so much more than ideas, things or money.
Develop an understanding of the Scriptural meanings of servant along with four principles of servant leadership. Examine five functions of a manager operating as a steward. Learn how to understand conflict, how to hear the Voice of God in it, allowing Him to reveal answers to conflict problems. Recognize early warning signs in order to prevent deeper conflict.
Learn how to successfully bring Christ into the work place, without adversely affecting your work habits, and offending employers and employees. Achieve an understanding of true mentoring and the process it entails. Learn the answers to nine questions answered in an economic system through a study of economics from a Biblical perspective.
Understand free enterprise capitalism and how it works and learn about profiles and characteristics of a successful entrepreneur. Learn to understand the content of a market feasibility study; how to lay out a plan of action or vision for success in your specific field of expertise. Gain understanding in the intricacies of your calling and what God expects of you as a Marketplace Minister.
Understand the Biblical perspective of excellence and success versus the world�s view of success. Understand the character qualities of a man with whom God is pleased; learn to use these examples in becoming a mature Christian with biblically based character traits. Understand the definitions of ethics, Biblical ethics and moral judgments and learn four tools which can be used in analyzing moral judgments.
God created us to hear His voice and He desires to communicate with us regarding chosen fields of expertise. Learn to understand God's methods of communication and the importance of communication with God. Learn techniques on active listening, what interferes with the communication process and how to be heard.
Achieve a new level of communication by understanding to enhance the communication process. Learn and understand the operating principles of how the Kingdom of God works and the nature of the Kingdom of God. Understand God's perspective and the Biblical principles of work.
Learn to recognize the major issues confronting marketplace ministers. Understand the importance of a Christian worldview and how a Christian World View directs our life in the workplace. Learn how to understand the nature of burnout and stress and how to avoid becoming burned out along with remedies that can be utilized in relieving burnout.
Learn the nature of the marketing process through basic elements of marketing and steps in the marketing process. Understand the "Four P's" applied to both business and nonprofit marketing techniques.
Develop an understanding of utilizing marketing skills and tools in order to finance and raise funds for both non profit organizations and secular business.

