Children’s Ministry
MACH 5312 (3-3-0) Ministry with Children
(CHST 4306, MALA 5361)
This is a survey class to help students learn how to develop a quality ministry to children in grades 1-6 and their families. The course will include a review of the characteristics of children from this age group. Students will study practical skills of providing age-appropriate learning experiences and activities for the children's teaching ministry of the church. Special consideration will be given to understanding the importance of safety and security, curriculum evaluation, and developing lay leadership for children's ministry. A brief overview will be given for the early childhood age range during the introductory session(s) of the course. Special consideration will be given to developing lay leadership for children's ministry. This 5000-level course is cross-listed with a 4000-level course and includes specific graduate course requirements which reflect appropriate deeper learning experiences and rigor in the higher-level course.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall. Spring, Alternate Summer, Online.
MACH 5313 (3-3-0) Disability and Suffering
(CHST 4304)
This course will provide an overview of disability in American society and how these needs are addressed in ministry, education, and daily life. Students will explore concepts related to disability accommodation, disability services, and the biblical truths related to suffering. This 5000-level course is cross-listed with a 4000-level course and includes specific graduate course requirements which reflect appropriate deeper learning experiences and rigor in the higher-level course.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Periodically.
MACH 6311 (3-3-0) Early Childhood Ministry
During the first five years of a child's life, foundations are laid for a lifetime of learning and growth. The course will combine knowledge, theory, and practical application to enable the student to work with young children in any church setting. This study will include a review of the characteristics of early childhood. Students will study the practical skills needed to provide age appropriate learning experiences and activities for children birth through five years of age. Attention will be given to planning and operating programs for this age group in the church and during the week. The roles and work of the early childhood minister including his/her role with parents will be discussed.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Online.
MACH 6315 (3-3-0) Ministry to Children with Special Needs
This course is designed to provide ministry leaders an understanding of the major areas of special needs that may be encountered when working with children in the local church. In addition, the course will guide students to provide leadership that raises the awareness of the need to progress toward greater participation by children and their families in the life of the community of faith and provide accommodations that make that participation possible.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Online, Periodically.
MACH 6316 (3-3-0) Advanced Ministry to Children with Special Needs (S-L)
This course is designed to provide ministry leaders with in-depth examination of the issues most relevant to welcoming and including children with special needs and their families within the life of the church. The course will equip students with practical information for initiating or expanding ministry to children with special needs. The course will also guide students in how to identify and address potential barriers to presenting the gospel in a way that is accessible to children of all abilities. This course contains a field-based service-learning component.
Requisites: MACH 6315.
Offered: Spring, Online.
MACH 6350 (3-3-0) Ministry in Church Weekday Education Ministries
This course will equip ministers to understand the purpose, variety, initiation, operation, and success of weekday ministries for preschoolers and children beyond the basic program organizations of Bible study, discipleship, music, or missions. This includes Church Weekday Education, Christian schools, after-school programs, recreation leagues, summer camps, literacy partnerships, support groups, and arts programs. Special attention will be given to accreditation, licensing, and risk management in these programs.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Online.
MACH 6351 (3-3-0) Children and the Christian Faith
As children develop mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically, they are also growing spiritually and even theologically. This course will investigate the biblical foundations and history of childhood ministry as well as the faith and moral development of the child from birth to sixth grade. Attention will be given to issues related to addressing appropriate biblical content for the ages and stages of development. The course will have a significant focus on children and conversion which will include training in counseling children about salvation and equipping leaders and parents to talk with children about conversion. The class will also introduce the historical and present-day issues related to catechism and discipleship of Baptists appropriate to conversion, baptism, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper.
Requisites: MACH 5312 and MACH 6311.
Offered: Online, Periodically.
MACH 6352 (3-3-0) Advanced Childhood Ministry (S-L)
This course is designed to focus on leadership and management of childhood ministry with close attention given to volunteer followers and employed staff, as well as pastor and staff relations. Students will also have the opportunity to gain an understanding of processes in administration including financial, personnel, and committee work. To extend the experience and knowledge of the students, focus will be given to children and families with special needs including community resources. This course contains a field-based service-learning component.
Requisites: MACH 5312 and MACH 6311.
Offered: Online.
MACH 6353 (3-3-0) Ministry to Families
(MAFM 6353)
This course will survey what the church can do to minister to the family as a unit, not just as the individual parts of preschoolers, children, parents, or guardians. Students will explore biblical foundations of family ministry. Students will have the opportunity to learn skills related to understanding the social and cultural contexts of families and give them a foundation for designing and carrying out ministry with and through the family.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Online.
MACH 6354 (3-3-0) Research: Faith Formation in Childhood (S-L)
An understanding of the process and point of conversion is essential for leaders in childhood ministry. This course will seek to equip students with skills in qualitative research that will endeavor to further knowledge in the area of children and faith formation, and will encourage serious analysis, synthesis and evaluation of developing patterns and trends by learners who are in ministry with children and their families. After obtaining the proper approval and training, students will interview children, their families, and other important individuals in their faith formation, transcribe the interviews and utilize qualitative software to discover patterns and trends. The culmination of the course will be a research synthesis of the appropriate literature, interviews, and findings. This course contains a field-based service-learning component.
Requisites: MACH 5312, 6311, 6351, and 6353.
Offered: Periodically.