REQUIRED COURSES (16)

LDR 301 • 3 Credit Hours

Foundations of Ministry Leadership

Prerequisites: SPF 101 Spiritual Formation, MIN 313 Pastoral Care and Shepherding (recommended)

A foundational course on biblical leadership and the unique nature of ministry leadership in the Kingdom of God. Students examine the biblical foundation for leadership (the leadership of God Himself, the leadership of Christ, the apostolic patterns of leadership in the early Church), the distinctive marks of biblical leadership versus secular or cultural models (servanthood, character, calling, anointing, accountability), the essential qualities of healthy ministry leaders (integrity, humility, courage, vision, wisdom, perseverance), the unique challenges and dangers of ministry leadership (pride, isolation, burnout, moral failure, leadership idolatry), and the practical disciplines that sustain leaders for the long haul. The course establishes the leadership foundation that all subsequent LDR courses build upon and shapes the leadership ethos of every BML graduate.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate the biblical theology of leadership grounded in Scripture.
• Distinguish biblical ministry leadership from secular or cultural leadership models.
• Identify the essential qualities of healthy ministry leaders.
• Recognize the unique dangers and pitfalls of ministry leadership.
• Develop personal disciplines that sustain leadership capacity over the long haul.

MIN 311 • 3 Credit Hours

Healing Ministry

Prerequisites: SPF 102 The Holy Spirit & Spirit-Empowered Living

A focused course on the biblical doctrine and practical ministry of physical and emotional healing in the name of Jesus Christ. Students examine the biblical foundation for healing (the atonement, the example of Jesus, the apostolic pattern, the believer’s authority), the various dimensions of healing (physical, emotional, inner-healing, generational), the practical skills of healing ministry (laying on of hands, prayer with authority, words of knowledge, faith), the pastoral handling of healing not received (without blaming the sick), and the relationship between healing ministry and contemporary medical care. The course is grounded in the conviction that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) — and that the healing ministry He commissioned the Church to continue is no less available today than it was in the first century.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate the biblical doctrine of healing as part of the gospel and the believer’s inheritance.
• Defend the present-day operation of healing ministry from biblical and historical sources.
• Practice the basic skills of praying for the sick with biblical authority.
• Pastor those whose healing has not yet been received without blame, formula, or shame.
• Distinguish biblical healing ministry from prosperity-gospel distortions and manipulative practices.

MIN 312 • 3 Credit Hours

Deliverance Ministry

Prerequisites: SPF 102 The Holy Spirit & Spirit-Empowered Living, SPF 210 Sin, Temptation, & Spiritual Warfare (recommended)

A focused course on the biblical doctrine and practical ministry of deliverance — setting believers free from demonic oppression in the name of Jesus Christ. Students examine the biblical foundation for deliverance (the example of Jesus and the apostles, the kingdom-of-darkness conflict, the believer’s authority), the categories of demonic activity (oppression, harassment, possession, generational influences), the discernment required for accurate diagnosis (distinguishing demonic activity from psychological, medical, or spiritual issues), the practical methodology of deliverance ministry (preparation, prayer, authority, follow-up), and the necessary partnership between deliverance ministry and ongoing discipleship for sustained freedom. The course is taught with both biblical authority and pastoral sobriety, refusing both denial of the demonic realm and sensationalized misuse of deliverance practices.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate the biblical doctrine of the demonic realm and the believer’s authority in Christ.
• Defend the present-day necessity of deliverance ministry from biblical and historical sources.
• Apply biblical discernment to distinguish demonic activity from psychological or medical issues.
• Practice the basic methodology of deliverance ministry under appropriate spiritual covering.
• Connect deliverance ministry to ongoing discipleship for sustained freedom.

LDR 302 • 3 Credit Hours

Building Healthy Ministry Teams

Prerequisites: LDR 301 Foundations of Ministry Leadership

A practical course on the biblical theology and applied disciplines of building and leading healthy ministry teams. Students examine the biblical foundation for team-based ministry (the model of Jesus with the Twelve, the apostolic ministry teams of Acts, the principle that no one ministers alone), the essential elements of healthy ministry teams (shared vision, complementary giftings, biblical accountability, mutual submission, healthy communication, conflict resolution), the practical disciplines of team leadership (recruiting, equipping, releasing, evaluating, restoring), the dynamics of team culture (trust, transparency, honor, prayer), and the most common reasons ministry teams fail (vision drift, unresolved conflict, broken trust, leadership control, lack of accountability). The course is designed for any student preparing to build, lead, or serve on a ministry team, with extensive practical application.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate the biblical foundation for team-based ministry.
• Identify the essential elements of healthy ministry teams.
• Apply the practical disciplines of team leadership (recruit, equip, release, evaluate, restore).
• Build healthy team culture grounded in trust, transparency, honor, and prayer.
• Diagnose and address the most common causes of ministry team failure.

MIN 313 • 3 Credit Hours

Pastoral Care and Shepherding

Prerequisites: SPF 101 Spiritual Formation

An introduction to the biblical theology and practice of pastoral care — the shepherding of God’s people through every season of life and ministry. Students examine the biblical metaphors of pastor and shepherd (Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, John 10, 1 Peter 5), the essential disciplines of pastoral ministry (presence, prayer, listening, biblical counsel, faithful confrontation), the pastoral care of common life situations (marriage difficulties, parenting struggles, financial crisis, grief, illness, spiritual dryness, doubt), the ethics of pastoral relationships (boundaries, confidentiality, dual relationships), and the limits of pastoral care (when to refer to professional counseling, deliverance ministry, or other specialized care). The course is for every student preparing for any form of ministry leadership, not just senior pastors.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate a biblical theology of pastoral care grounded in shepherding metaphors.
• Apply essential pastoral care skills (presence, prayer, listening, biblical counsel).
• Provide initial pastoral care for common life situations and crises.
• Maintain biblical pastoral ethics including boundaries and confidentiality.
• Recognize the limits of pastoral care and refer appropriately to specialized resources.

SPF 301 • 3 Credit Hours

Discipleship and Spiritual Formation

Prerequisites: SPF 101 Spiritual Formation, MIN 201 Evangelism & Discipleship

An advanced course on the biblical theology and practical methodology of discipleship — the central activity of the Church and the explicit final command of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18–20). Students examine the biblical foundation for discipleship (the model of Jesus with the Twelve, the apostolic patterns of Paul with Timothy, the multiplication strategy of 2 Timothy 2:2), the essential elements of effective discipleship (relationship, intentionality, accountability, Word-centered teaching, Spirit-empowered formation), the major obstacles that prevent the contemporary Church from making disciples (programmatic substitutes, lack of personal investment, fear of accountability, addiction to numbers over depth), and the practical pathways for forming disciples who can in turn make disciples. The course aims to equip students not just with the theory of discipleship but with the practical skill to begin discipling others immediately.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate the biblical theology of discipleship from the Gospels and apostolic writings.
• Identify the essential elements of effective biblical discipleship.
• Diagnose the obstacles that prevent the contemporary Church from making disciples.
• Develop a practical personal discipleship pathway for ministry application.
• Begin discipling others using biblical principles and Spirit-empowered methodology.

MIN 314 • 3 Credit Hours

Evangelism and Reaching the Lost

Prerequisites: MIN 201 Evangelism & Discipleship

An advanced course on biblical evangelism and the practical ministry of reaching the lost in contemporary culture. Building on the foundational evangelism skills of MIN 201, this course examines the biblical theology of mission and evangelism, the contemporary cultural barriers to gospel reception (post-Christian secularism, religious pluralism, postmodern relativism, social media tribalism), the various biblical and historical models of evangelism (relational, public, mass, lifestyle, apostolic), the strategic principles of effective evangelistic ministry (prayer, preparation, partnership, follow-up), and the role of signs and wonders as confirming witness to the proclaimed gospel. Students are equipped to lead evangelistic initiatives in their local churches and ministries with biblical fidelity, cultural intelligence, and Spirit-empowered confidence.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate a biblical theology of evangelism and mission in contemporary culture.
• Identify and respond to the major cultural barriers to gospel reception today.
• Compare biblical and historical evangelism models and choose appropriate strategies.
• Lead evangelistic initiatives that combine proclamation, demonstration, and follow-up.
• Equip and mobilize others for everyday lifestyle evangelism in their relational networks.

LDR 303 • 3 Credit Hours

Leadership Development and Mentoring

Prerequisites: LDR 301 Foundations of Ministry Leadership, LDR 302 Building Healthy Ministry Teams

An advanced course on the biblical theology and practical methodology of developing other leaders — recognizing that the multiplication of leaders is the multiplication of ministry. Students examine the biblical mandate for leadership development (the model of Moses with Joshua, Elijah with Elisha, Jesus with the Twelve, Paul with Timothy and Titus), the essential elements of effective mentoring (relationship, intentionality, accountability, challenge, release), the practical disciplines of leadership development (identifying potential leaders, designing development pathways, providing real-world ministry opportunities, giving and receiving feedback, releasing into independent leadership), the various forms of mentoring (one-on-one, group, peer, distance), and the strategic priority of leadership multiplication for any ministry that hopes to outlast its founding leader. The course equips students not just to be developed as leaders but to develop other leaders themselves.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate the biblical mandate and theology of leadership development.
• Apply essential mentoring principles in personal leadership development relationships.
• Design leadership development pathways for ministry contexts.
• Identify and intentionally develop emerging leaders within local ministry.
• Build leadership multiplication into the DNA of personal and corporate ministry.

MIN 315 • 3 Credit Hours

Intercessory Prayer and the Ministry of Prayer

Prerequisites: SPF 101 Spiritual Formation, SPF 102 The Holy Spirit & Spirit-Empowered Living (recommended)

A focused study on the biblical doctrine and practical ministry of intercessory prayer — standing in the gap on behalf of others before the throne of God. Students examine the biblical foundations for intercession (the example of Moses, Daniel, Jesus, Paul, and the early Church), the practical disciplines of effective intercession (preparation, focus, persistence, alignment with the Spirit), the various forms and contexts of intercession (personal, corporate, prophetic, strategic, warfare), the relationship between intercession and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the practical role of intercessors in supporting pastors, missionaries, and ministry initiatives. The course is grounded in the conviction that intercessory prayer is not a peripheral activity but a primary ministry of the Church and a necessary foundation for every other ministry endeavor.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate the biblical doctrine and theology of intercessory prayer.
• Identify and practice the essential disciplines of effective intercession.
• Lead corporate prayer in a way that engages the body and aligns with the Spirit.
• Develop a sustained personal practice of intercessory prayer.
• Build a culture of intercession in local ministry contexts.

MIN 316 • 3 Credit Hours

Counseling Basics for Ministry Leaders

Prerequisites: MIN 313 Pastoral Care and Shepherding (recommended)

An introduction to basic counseling principles and skills for ministry leaders — equipping students to provide initial care, biblical counsel, and appropriate referral in pastoral counseling situations. Students examine the biblical foundation for ministry-based counseling (the sufficiency and authority of Scripture for life’s challenges), the essential counseling skills (active listening, empathy, asking good questions, avoiding common counseling errors), the major categories of counseling situations (marriage, family, addiction, depression, anxiety, grief, abuse), the legal and ethical responsibilities of ministry-based counseling (mandatory reporting, confidentiality, scope of practice, informed consent, when to refer to licensed professionals), and the practical wisdom for sustaining a counseling-engaged ministry without burnout. The course explicitly distinguishes ministry-based pastoral counseling from licensed clinical counseling and equips students to know which is which.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate the biblical foundation for ministry-based counseling and its proper scope.
• Apply essential counseling skills (active listening, empathy, biblical counsel).
• Identify the major categories of counseling situations and appropriate initial responses.
• Comply with legal and ethical requirements (mandatory reporting, confidentiality, scope of practice).
• Recognize when to refer to licensed clinical counselors, deliverance ministry, or other specialized care.

MIN 317 • 3 Credit Hours

Worship and the Ministry of Music

Prerequisites: SPF 102 The Holy Spirit & Spirit-Empowered Living (recommended)

A comprehensive study of biblical worship and the ministry of music in the local church. Students examine the biblical theology of worship (its definition, scope, and centrality to the life of God’s people), the relationship between corporate worship and personal worship, the historical development of Christian worship through the ages, the practical disciplines of worship leadership (musical preparation, spiritual preparation, leading in the Spirit, song selection, transitions, sensitivity to the moment), the role of the worship team and the preparation of musicians as ministers, and the dynamics of Spirit-led worship that creates space for genuine encounter with God. The course is designed both for those called to worship leadership and for every student who will participate in or lead worship in any ministry context.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate a biblical theology of worship grounded in Scripture and the character of God.
• Distinguish biblical worship from cultural performance, entertainment, or empty ritual.
• Apply principles of effective worship leadership in corporate ministry settings.
• Form and shepherd a worship team as a ministry, not merely a musical ensemble.
• Lead Spirit-led worship that creates space for genuine encounter with God.

MIN 318 • 3 Credit Hours

Next Generation Ministry

Prerequisites: SPF 101 Spiritual Formation, MIN 313 Pastoral Care and Shepherding (recommended)

A comprehensive course on the biblical theology and practical methodology of ministry to children, youth, and young adults — the next generation of the Church. Students examine the biblical mandate for next-generation ministry (Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 78, Matthew 18–19), the developmental stages of children, adolescents, and young adults and the appropriate ministry approaches for each, the practical disciplines of effective next-generation ministry (relationship, biblical teaching, family partnership, leadership development, evangelism, discipleship), the unique challenges facing today’s next generation (digital culture, mental health, identity confusion, faith deconstruction), and the strategic priority of investing in young leaders. The course addresses children’s, youth, and young adult ministry as connected phases of a unified next-generation strategy, not as isolated programs.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate the biblical mandate and theology of next-generation ministry.
• Identify the developmental stages of children, youth, and young adults and apply appropriate ministry approaches.
• Design integrated children’s, youth, and young adult ministry strategies.
• Address the unique challenges facing today’s next generation with biblical wisdom.
• Equip parents as primary disciples of their own children.

LDR 401 • 3 Credit Hours

Ministry Ethics and Accountability

Prerequisites: LDR 301 Foundations of Ministry Leadership, SPF 201 Christian Ethics: Character & Holiness

A capstone course on ministry ethics and the systems of accountability that protect both ministers and those they serve. Students examine the biblical foundation for ministry ethics (the higher accountability of those who teach, the qualifications for elders and deacons, the example of Jesus and the apostles), the major ethical issues facing ministry leaders (financial integrity, sexual purity, truth-telling, confidentiality, dual relationships, social media, abuse of spiritual authority), the documented patterns of ministry failure (moral failure, financial failure, doctrinal drift, character failure) and their preventable warning signs, the essential systems of accountability that protect ministers (peer accountability, board governance, financial transparency, ongoing development, soul care), and the practical disciplines for restoring fallen ministers and those they have wounded. The course is designed both as practical training and as a sober reckoning with the unique weight of ministry calling.

Learning Outcomes:

• Articulate the biblical foundation for the higher accountability of ministry leaders.
• Identify the major ethical issues facing ministry leaders and biblical responses.
• Diagnose the preventable warning signs of common ministry failure patterns.
• Build essential systems of accountability into personal and ministry life.
• Address ministry failure with both biblical justice and biblical restoration.

MIN 319 • 3 Credit Hours

The Apostolic & Prophetic Foundation of the Church

Prerequisites: SPF 102 The Holy Spirit & Spirit-Empowered Living, MIN 303 The Practical Use of Spiritual Gifts in the Church (recommended)

A foundational study of the apostolic and prophetic ministries as the biblical foundation of the Church (Ephesians 2:20) and their ongoing necessity for the maturation of the Body of Christ in every generation. Students examine the biblical doctrine of the five-fold ministry (Ephesians 4:11–13) — apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers — with particular attention to the apostolic and prophetic offices that have been most controversial and most neglected in the contemporary Church. The course addresses the difference between the foundational apostles of Scripture and ongoing apostolic ministry, the difference between the canonical prophets of Scripture and ongoing prophetic ministry, the proper exercise of apostolic and prophetic gifts in submission to the authority of Scripture, the dangers and abuses to be avoided, and the necessary role of these ministries in advancing the Kingdom of God in the contemporary world.

Learning Outcomes:

• Defend the present-day operation of all five-fold ministry gifts (Ephesians 4:11–13).
• Distinguish foundational apostles of Scripture from ongoing apostolic ministry today.
• Distinguish canonical prophets of Scripture from ongoing prophetic ministry today.
• Apply biblical safeguards for the proper exercise of apostolic and prophetic ministry.
• Identify and avoid common abuses in apostolic-prophetic streams while embracing genuine ministry.

PRA 301 • 3 Credit Hours

Ministry Practicum I

Prerequisites: Completion of at least 60 credit hours in the BML program; signed JBC Practicum Agreement Form on file

The first of two required ministry practicums for students in the Bachelor of Ministry & Leadership (BML) program. Students complete a minimum of 120 hours of supervised, real-world ministry experience at an approved practicum site (local church, parachurch ministry, missions agency, or other JBC-approved ministry organization). The practicum is jointly supervised by an on-site Site Supervisor (typically the student’s local pastor or a qualified ministry leader) and a JBC Faculty Supervisor who provides academic oversight and reflection guidance. Students integrate previous coursework with practical ministry experience, document their hours and activities through a weekly hours log, complete a 5–7 page reflection paper at the conclusion of the practicum, and receive evaluation from both supervisors. The course is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. (See the JBC Practicum Policy for complete details.)

Learning Outcomes:

• Complete a minimum of 120 hours of supervised, real-world ministry experience.
• Integrate previous JBC coursework with practical ministry application in real time.
• Develop competency in the specific ministry activities of the practicum placement.
• Receive and respond to supervisory feedback for personal and ministerial growth.
• Reflect biblically and personally on the practicum experience through written reflection.

PRA 401 • 3 Credit Hours

Ministry Practicum II

Prerequisites: PRA 301 Ministry Practicum I; signed JBC Practicum Agreement Form on file

The second of two required ministry practicums for students in the Bachelor of Ministry & Leadership (BML) program. Building on Ministry Practicum I, students complete an additional 120 hours of supervised real-world ministry experience — typically in a different ministry context or with expanded responsibility from the first practicum. Students are expected to demonstrate increasing leadership capacity, deeper integration of biblical and theological knowledge with ministry practice, and the practical fruit of their JBC training. Students continue the joint supervision model of PRA 301 (Site Supervisor and JBC Faculty Supervisor), document their hours and activities, complete a 5–7 page reflection paper, and receive evaluation from both supervisors. The course is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Successful completion of both practicums is required for the BML degree to be conferred. (See the JBC Practicum Policy for complete details.)

Learning Outcomes:

• Complete a minimum of 120 hours of supervised, real-world ministry experience.
• Demonstrate increasing leadership capacity and deeper ministry integration from PRA 301.
• Apply the breadth of JBC training to specific ministry contexts and challenges.
• Develop a clear sense of personal calling, gifting, and direction in ministry.
• Complete the BML degree practicum requirements with both supervisors’ written approval.