STUDENT MINISTRY HANDBOOK
I. STUDENT MINISTRY It is the responsibility of each student to locate a student ministry and contact those supervising that ministry. Students are encouraged to discuss potential student ministries with the faculty, staff, academic advisors, and upperclassmen. Ministry opportunities are also communicated in Faith Formation experiences by visiting pastors and leaders from organizations. II. STUDENT MINISTRY PURPOSE Student Ministry is vital to a student’s education. It takes students from the classroom and gives them opportunity to put into practice what has been learned. It also provides area churches and community programs or organizations with a task force of trained personnel. Students are required to complete Student Ministry for graduation from each program. In addition, each BRE graduate is required to complete an internship. Students registered for their internship are responsible for finding a placement with a local pastor, some other full-time ministry professional, or a community organizer for a field-based internship. Experience is gained in various ministry and work-force related activities. While the students’ learning experience is important, the overall goal of Student Ministry is to expose our students to local ministry opportunities, requiring them to step out of their comfort zones and participate in something they may not typically do otherwise. Participation in Student Ministry gives students an opportunity to develop a passion out of the experiences that they did not know existed and ultimately to shape their vocational direction. Another goal of the program is to edify the body of Christ and share the love of Christ with others.
Objectives:
• To serve God and other people. • To promote the discovery and development of ministry skills and spiritual gifts through service. • To provide the student with supervised ministry training, accountability, and evaluation.
III. REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION FOR STUDENT MINISTRIES • Students are to select a ministry that will assist them in their personal and vocational development. • For incoming freshmen, one Student Ministry Credit will be given for satisfactory attendance and participation at a local church. (See Church Attendance, page 22.) • Students should be challenged by the requirements of their student ministry but not overwhelmed. Therefore, ministry selections should be made with the student’s current experience, training, aptitudes, interests and needs in mind. • Students should select a ministry that requires at least 2 hours of preparation and participation each week of the semester (total of 30 hours/semester). • Students must locate work with a student ministry supervisor. A supervisor should be someone who directly oversees the ministry in which the student is serving and is willing to provide the student with accountability, counsel and feedback. • Students may participate in a ministry that occurs over the summer or in a concentrated portion of the school year, such as camping or missions’ ministry. • Each credit, other than the first semester credit for incoming freshmen, requires a minimum of 30 hours of preparation and participation. All student ministries must be approved by the Director of Student Ministry. • Upon locating a ministry and a supervisor, students must complete the appropriate forms and return them to the Director of Student Ministry for approval. Students are encouraged to participate in a brief meeting with the Director of Student Ministry if they have any concerns or suggestions regarding student ministry.
STUDENT MINISTRY AND SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS
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