A Story of the Kingdom

A group comes together a couple hours per week for several weeks. One member of the group is a convicted criminal who has done his time. Another member is a district attorney. At the end of their time together, the convicted criminal baptizes the district attorney! And that is just how God’s Kingdom emerges—unexpected, beautiful, powerful, and even ironic. God’s Spirit moved. Two people made a connection from different worlds. Their lives were transformed. The community gathered was changed, and the story rippled through their church.

Can we “make” that happen? No, but we can prepare ourselves to be catalysts by learning to understand God’s Kingdom, allowing ourselves to be changed into Kingdom ambassadors, looking for ways for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done in our churches, and bridging the cultural gap between the Church and our current society. Would you like to be that catalyst? Would you like to be a part of a mustard seed becoming a tree? Would you like to help others find the pearl of great price that is God’s Kingdom now and in the future? That is what the Master of Transformative Ministry is designed to do…

Master of Transformative Ministry
Program Learning Objectives

Goal 1: Ground students in a theology of transformation that proclaims the emerging Kingship of God.

Objective 1.1: Students summarize the biblical metanarrative and Christians’ role in it.

Objective 1.2: Students explain the concepts of the “emerging” Kingship of God (realized eschatology) and the Missio Dei (mission of God) and their relevance for the Church.

Objective 1.3: Students perceive the redemptive movement of God’s Spirit in large and small manifestations of His Kingship in the past, present, and future.

Objective 1.4: Students describe biblical and historical examples of the missional Church engaged in holistic ministry and transformative social action that embody God’s Kingship.

Objective 1.5:  Students apply sound principles, methods, and strategies that facilitate transformative experiences with God’s written Word.

Objective 1.6: Students articulate a personal philosophy of ministry rooted in the Christian Scriptures and the Missio Dei.

Goal 2:   Equip students to experience and promote personal and relational transformation through Christ-centered spiritual formation.

Objective 2.1: Students engage classic spiritual formation literature and exercise spiritual disciplines—that is, being with Christ, becoming like Christ, and participating in the work of Christ.

Objective 2.2: Students develop and implement a “care for the caregiver” plan that promotes resilience and longevity of service for Christian leaders and their families.

Objective 2.3: Students integrate psychological principles, tools, and techniques in their ministries to help individuals, families, and communities overcome psychological and emotional challenges, leading to improved mental health, improved relationships, and overall well-being.

Goal 3:   Equip students to promote community transformation by meeting physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual needs.

Objective 3.1: Students promote the Kingship of God through biblically-grounded, contextually appropriate communication.

Objective 3.2:  Students critically evaluate contemporary worldviews and cultures from a Christian perspective as they develop and implement redemptive ministry strategies.

Objective 3.3: Students demonstrate “cultural agility” by articulating the key elements of a “culture,” analyzing the culture of a given community, and forming ministry strategies appropriate for the cultural context.

Objective 3.4: Students analyze and evaluate contemporary models of holistic ministry employed by “missional” churches and parachurch organizations.

Goal 4:   Equip students to effect organizational transformation through Kingdom-oriented planning, innovative leadership, and effective management.

Objective 4.1: Students analyze and assess organizational, local, regional, and global Market Viability Index (MVI) trends that shape the future of organizations, the Church, and the world.

Objective 4.2: Students critically assess organizational behaviors as well as an organization’s adaptability and willingness to change using industry-standard tools.

Objective 4.3: Students develop strategic plans that address organizational adaptability and success measurements through case studies.

Objective 4.4: Students practice essential leadership functions that prepare churches and organizations for transformation, including analyzing organizational culture, vision casting, renewing the organizational life cycle, strategic planning, and change management.

Goal 5:   Develop habits of lifelong learning that fuel long and productive careers in ministry and service.

Objective 5.1: Students critically engage thought leaders in key areas of ministry.

Objective 5.2: Students research issues and formulate practical, contextualized approaches to ministry challenges.