curriculum & course descriptions
Click on the categories below to see the required classes for our AA in Global Christian Ministry.
Bible
Year One
Acts and the Work of the Holy Spirit
- Description: The book of Acts will be thoroughly examined in this course in a verse by verse approach. Students will become very familiar with the major themes of each chapter and the happenings surrounding the formation of the Church. The final week of this course will follow up on the teachings of the book by examining the person, work and doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
3 credits (BTH 122)
Synoptic Gospels
- Description: A study of the Gospels, synoptic issues, and the life and ministry of Jesus as revealed in the historical accounts.
3 credits (BTH 121)
Old Testament I
- Description: A study of the historical background and themes of the OT books giving an overall perspective on the message of the OT in the light of its contemporary setting. Covers creation, fall, flood, Abrahamic covenant, Patriarchs, exodus, Mosaic covenant, tabernacle and other issues within the Pentateuch. Also covers sacrifices, feasts, wanderings in the wilderness, conquest, judges, Kings, exile and return from exile.
3 credits (BTH 111)
Year Two
Hermeneutics
- Description: This course is designed to create in students a deep hunger and passion for the word of God and provide them skills to explore God’s Word through the inductive study method. Through learning these methods and applying them in a study of the gospel of John students will grow in their passion and understanding of how to study all of God’s Scriptures.
2 credits (BTH 241)
Romans
- Description: An in-depth look at Paul’s letter to the Church of Rome. Special emphasis will be given to the doctrines of sanctification and freedom from sin for the believer.
2 credits (BTH 221)
1st Corinthians
- Description: This course works methodically through the major themes and texts of 1 Corinthians highlighting the issues this church was facing (sects, schisms, immorality, disunity, etc).
2 credits (BTH 222)
Old Testament II - Prophetic Literature
- Description: Students study the Prophetic literature of the Old Testament in an attempt to gain an understanding of the prophet’s contemporary message as well as dealing with interpreting these works today.
2 credits (BTH 212)
Theology
Year One
Christology
- Description: The man Christ Jesus is the central focus of study for His disciples and His messengers. Knowing God necessitates knowing Christ both in ones understanding as well as one’s experience. This course will dive deeply into the character and work of Christ which will reveal God, ‘If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father’.
3 credits (BTH 131)
Eschatology
- Description: Often relegated to the back closets of systematic theology, eschatology is one of the most vitally important areas of study for one aspiring to advance the Kingdom of God. Apart from knowing where we’re going and what we will face as revealed in the prophetic Scriptures we will be hard pressed to live upright lives in a crooked generation, attempt various missions strategies that God will not endorse, build church structures that cannot withstand the pressures coming and likely become disillusioned when the judgments of God are poured out on the earth. Students will be compelled to consider what we know about the future and therefore be motivated to align their lives and thinking accordingly.
3 credits (BTH 132)
Year Two
Theology I - Attributes of the Father
- Description: Theology, the study of God is the most vital study of all. To know God’s character, values, thoughts, ways and words will be the focus of this course. The concentration of this course will be on God the Father whereas the Christology and Holy Spirit courses will deal with the other two persons of the Trinity.
2 credits (BTH 231)
Theology II - Man, Sin and Salvation
- Description: Deals with a Biblical evaluation of mankind, his fallen nature, his inability to save himself and the nature of the gracious salvation afforded by Christ’s finished work on the cross.
3 credits (BTH 232)
Suffering Church
- Description: The early church expected to suffer; it was part of the known cost of following Christ. This suffering has gone on through each generation since and will intensify as we approach the return of the Lord. Western missionaries have historically been more protected from intense suffering but must be prepared for it as well as be prepared to serve a suffering church. This course covers the suffering of the early church and establishes a theology for suffering from both New and Old Testament.
2 credits (ICS 222)
Inter-Cultural and Social Studies
Year One
Biblical Worldview
- Description: So much of what we think to be ‘true’ or ‘right’ is shaped by how we view the world. Every person has a bias that creates presuppositions and often leads students to untrue or incomplete conclusions. The objective of this course is to establish a firm Biblical worldview in each student. Other major worldviews will be examined for the purpose of comparison.
3 credits (ICS 111)
Communications
- Description: Missionaries and ministers of the gospel must be skilled communicators with individuals as well as to small and large groups of people. This course explores communication theory as well as introduces the dynamics of cross cultural communication. Much further study of cross cultural communication will occur during Global Internship course work for those who choose the BA program.
3 credits (COM 111)
Intro to Missions - Historical and Contemporary Missiology
- Description: Missions was not the invention of modern believers nor even New Testament Saints. God has passionately yearned for the revelation of His goodness and glory in all nations since creation. His missionary agenda is seen strongly from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem. He longs to dwell with His people. This course will take students through the journey of understanding the never changing purpose of God to dwell with his people both historically as well as evaluate current missiological trends.
3 credits (ICS 121)
Year Two
Church Planting & Ecclesiology
- Description: This course is designed to examine the Biblical concept of the church; its essence, structure, and function with the aim of refining the student’s current perception. More than understanding the nature and function of the Church, students will be challenged to consider how such understanding should be applied in church planting. Students will be interacting with various approaches to church planting and examine their universal reproducibility.
3 credits (ICS 221)
Personal Leadership
- Description: As one of the final courses students take, this course will assist them in determining next steps for their future. Bethany staff will work closely with students to provide them with direction and guidance but more importantly, students will be challenged and given the opportunity to hear from the Holy Spirit what He wants to communicate to them.
2 credits (CHM 213)
Preparation for Ministry I
- Description: This course not only equips students with knowledge of fundamental skills required for adequate preparation for ministry but actually requires students to begin those preparations. Building a support team, fundraising, acquiring visas and emergency planning are just a few of the areas in which students will be prepared for either their Global Internship or another ministry venture in the future. During this term a one-week intensive seminar on support raising will be included.
2 credits (CHM 211)
Preparation for Ministry II
- Description: This course not only equips students with knowledge of fundamental skills required for adequate preparation for ministry but actually requires students to begin those preparations. Building a support team, fundraising, acquiring visas and emergency planning are just a few of the areas in which students will be prepared for either their Global Internship or another ministry venture in the future.
1 credits (CHM 212)
Survey of World Religions - Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam
- Description: This course will provide both an academic understanding of the different major world religions as well as practical insights as to the working of those systems through people who have lived in these religious contexts.
3 credits (ICS 211)
Spiritual Development
Year One
Kingdom Lifestyle - Intimacy, Intercession and Fasted Living
- Description: This course will dramatically reorient those who’ve grown accustomed to what has become normal Christianity in the west. As children of God and followers of Christ our mandate is to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God and His Christ which will soon be established on the earth when Messiah returns for His inheritance. As those preparing to reign with Him we must learn to reign like him now. This course will progress from establishing students in intimacy with their King, intercession to their King, and the fasted lifestyle of the Kingdom.
3 credits (SPD 121)
Prayer and Christian Ministry I
- Description: Each term students will engage real life ministry, developing their understanding of ministry as ‘to God’ through their prayer life, intercession, and outreach opportunities.
2 credits (CHM 121)
Prayer and Christian Ministry II
- Description: Each term students will engage real life ministry, developing their understanding of ministry as ‘to God’ through their prayer life, intercession, and outreach opportunities.
2 credits (CHM 122)
Spiritual Formation I - Power of the Cross
- Description: This course explores spiritual development from the perspective of the complete work of Christ on the cross, God’s standards for morality, ethics, righteousness, integrity and God’s design for relationship with Him and each other. This includes a weekly cell group meeting led by a mentor.
2 credits (SPD 111)
Spiritual Formation II - Power of the Cross
- Description: This course explores spiritual development from the perspective of the complete work of Christ on the cross, God’s standards for morality, ethics, righteousness, integrity and God’s design for relationship with Him and each other. This includes a weekly cell group meeting led by a mentor.
2 credits (SPD 112)
Year Two
Spiritual Formation III
- Description: This course explores spiritual development from the perspective of the complete work of Christ on the cross, God’s standards for morality, ethics, righteousness, integrity and God’s design for relationship with Him and each other. This includes a weekly cell group meeting led by a mentor.
2 credits (SPD 213)
Spiritual Formation IV
- Description: This course explores spiritual development from the perspective of the complete work of Christ on the cross, God’s standards for morality, ethics, righteousness, integrity and God’s design for relationship with Him and each other. This includes a weekly cell group meeting led by a mentor.
2 credits (SPD 214)
Missions
Year Two
Cultural Anthropology
- Description: Arrival in a new country is an important learning time. New sights, sounds and surroundings allow for ample time to observe and reflect on the new culture and community. This course will begin to prepare students to be cultural observers and learners in the new context they may soon find themselves in. Even for those who don’t spend long periods of time in foreign cultures this course will help them analyze their own cultures and prepare them to be effective workers in our own multicultural nation.
2 credits (ICS 212)
Global Internship
Ministry Practicum
- Description: Global Interns will earn three credits for their service in the ministry placement they become involved in on the field. They will work under a supervisor designated by the church or ministry who has been approved by BCOM. Global Interns are expected to approach the ministry they are given as servants and as learners. They will have countless learning experiences through this service and have the opportunity to make an eternal impact on those they serve and those they serve with. Field Supervisors will do a formal evaluation of the intern’s performance in this area at both the half way mark of internship as well as when internship commences and submit their evaluation to BCOM. This course will carry throughout the entirety of your internship.
4 credits (CHM 321)
Electives
Year One (one elective)
Year Two (two electives)
Business as Missions
- Description: A This course will provide class participants with the vision to glorify God through work that transforms communities spiritually, socially, economically and environmentally. This course exists to:
1) Expunge the sacred/secular divide that culturally exists between work and ministry.
2) Empower participants to pursue the full scope of vocational gifting and calling toward missionary service.
3) Reinforce how business can provide legitimate entry for missionaries to operate with integrity in restricted access countries.
4) Demonstrate how business can multiply the transformational impact of missions.
2 credits
Communicating God’s Story
- Description: This course is not about learning God’s story, but telling God’s story. Various approaches to communicating the Whole Story of God effectively to different target groups will be presented. Two major methods of presenting the big picture of the Bible to unreached people groups are studied; the first is the Chronological Bible Storying approach developed by the Southern Baptists, targeting Primary Oral Learners and the second major method presented is a Theological Education by Extension (TEE).
2 credits
God’s Heart for the Jewish People
- Description: This course is designed to equip students at Bethany College of Missions with understanding the Church’s relationship to the Jewish people and tools necessary for relevant Jewish Ministry. This course will help prepare those called to the task of sharing the gospel in Jewish communities and equip them in mobilizing others to join in this work.
2 credits (ICS 231)
Preaching and Teaching
- Description: Regardless of vocation, as those entrusted with the gospel we must be prepared to communicate the message of God’s coming Kingdom. This course will equip students with the basic tools and understanding necessary to be effective communicators of God’s Word. These skills will be utilized immediately for those who begin the fundraising process in preparation for their internship.
2 credits
English Composition
- Description: In this course students will focus on the process of writing comprehensible, correct and effective essays. They will learn how to express thoughts logically, clearly and coherently in a variety of rhetorical modes. The course will teach students how to critically revise and edit their own compositions while avoiding mechanical, grammatical and spelling errors.
1 credits (COM 121)
