Ministry Training Options – Why Are There So Many?
NBC is the premier ministry training college for the Church of the Nazarene. We exist to prepare people for ministry.
Why, then, do we have so many program options? Because the Church needs different people in different roles, and we are committed to offering the preparation they need.
The Right Fit
The NBC Enrollment Management Team walks students through the entire entrance process, guiding their early conversations with the question, “Is NBC is a good fit for this potential student?” To answer that question, we explore 4 possible fits.
Together, they explore four key areas.
Mission Fit – NBC serves those who are called to ministry. By helping students articulate their call, we help them clarify their ministry goals before committing to a specific program.
Program Fit – Choosing the right program will depend on a person’s ministry call, goals, spiritual gifts, and personality. Students who choose the right program are more likely to finish their training.
Finance Fit – An important discussion before enrollment is finalized must explore how students will pay for their education. Most will have access to Federal Financial Aid and scholarships.
Andrological Fit – “Andragogy” is the philosophy and practice of educating adult learners. NBC offers a unique way for students to learn.
The classroom experience is asynchronous. Instead of a “live” classroom experience, lectures are available through video, audio, and manuscript.
Much of the classroom experience happens through ongoing prompted communication between professor and students and among all the students in the class through the discussion module and the carefully planned reading and writing assignments.
This style of learning allows students to share from their own lives and experiences, as well as learn from classmates, the course material, and the expertise of the professors. The asynchronous model also gives students the opportunity to learn critical thinking and to articulate God’s truths with excellence.
When students understand course expectations up front, they can more effectively determine if NBC is right for them.
What are the possibilities?
We offer a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry and an Associate of Arts in Ministry in both English and Spanish. The English bachelor’s degree offers majors in Pastoral Ministries, Bible and Theology, Counseling for Christian Ministries, Leadership and Ethics, and Pastoral Leadership. The Spanish bachelor’s degree has a major in Hispanic Pastoral Ministries. All are fully accredited college degrees.
We also offer a Ministry Preparation Program (MPP) and a Programa de Preparación Ministerial (PPM) for students seeking ordination in the Church of the Nazarene. These low-cost programs prepare students for ordination as elder or deacon through college-level courses worth one semester hour each.
In partnership with the International Board of Education of the Church of the Nazarene, NBC also offers the Non-degree Course of Study (NCOS) which is a new video-based ministerial training curriculum designed to prepare students for ordination in the COTN. This program does not offer college credit.
God is still calling people into His work, and NBC remains committed to preparing adults for God’s service with excellence.