The General Council Credentials Committee issues a Specialized License for those who wish to pursue a specific field of ministry such as a minister of Christian education, minister of music, youth minister, or children’s minister. Upon completion of the Specialized Ministries program, the student will have the necessary academic preparation for a position of leadership in a designated area of the church: Christian education, youth, children, music, or senior adult. The student will have mastered basic Bible content, theological principles, general ministry skills, and specialized skills in the area of concentration.

As with any other credential preparation, these courses must be taken using closed-book examinations, and the credentials are issued by the General Council Credentials Committee upon recommendation of the appropriate district, not by Berean School of the Bible.


A Specialized Ministries Diploma will be awarded for the satisfactory completion of the following courses of study:

CORE COURSES

BIB 112	Synoptic Gospels: The Life and Teachings of Christ
BIB 115	Acts: The Holy Spirit at Work in Believers
BIB 117	Prison Epistles: Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon
BIB 121	Introduction to Hermeneutics: How to Interpret the Bible
BIB 212	New Testament Survey
BIB 214	Old Testament Survey
BIB 215	Romans: Justification by Faith
MIN 123	The Local Church in Evangelism
MIN 181	Relationships and Ethics in Ministry*
MIN 251	Effective Leadership
MIN 261	Introduction to Assemblies of God Missions
MIN 281	Conflict Management for Church Leaders*
THE 114	Introduction to Pentecostal Doctrine
THE 142	Assemblies of God History, Missions, and Governance**
THE 211	Introduction to Theology: A Pentecostal Perspective
THE 245	Eschatology: A Study of Things to Come

*District-taught seminar. May be taught in a local church study center or taken by independent study with district approval.
** THE411 The Church: Pentecost to Reformation may be taken in place of THE142 Assemblies of God History, Missions & Governance for those students who are not pursuing Assemblies of God credentials or who are not affiliated with the Assemblies of God. Credential candidates may not take THE411 in place of THE142.



CHRISTIAN EDUCATION EMPHASIS
Students who have completed the Specialized Ministries Diploma with an emphasis in Christian Education will have the necessary academic preparation to serve as Christian education directors, Sunday school teachers and administrators, or in other capacities in other educational ministries in the church. This program is not designed to meet state teaching certification requirements.

MIN 111	Biblical Counseling
MIN 242	Principles for Christian Teaching
MIN 325	Preaching in the Contemporary World
MIN 441	Leadership in Christian Education

YOUTH EMPHASIS
Students who have completed the Specialized Ministries Diploma with an emphasis in Youth Ministry will have the necessary academic preparation to serve as youth pastors, youth sponsors, or in other roles that involve sharing God’s Word with teenagers.

MIN 111	Biblical Counseling
MIN 253	Foundations for Youth Ministry
MIN 325	Preaching in the Contemporary World
MIN 441	Leadership in Christian Education

CHILDREN'S EMPHASIS
Students who have completed the Specialized Ministries Diploma with an emphasis in Children’s Ministry will have the necessary academic preparation to serve as children’s pastors, children’s evangelists, or in other roles that involve sharing God’s Word with children.

GEN 147	Child Guidance
GEN 244	Home and School Discipline
MIN 257	Introduction to Children's Ministry
MIN 441	Leadership in Christian Education

MUSIC EMPHASIS
Students who have completed the Specialized Ministries Diploma with an emphasis in Music Ministry will have the necessary academic preparation to coordinate church music programs. The program is not designed to teach music, but to teach other skills required for coordinating the church music program.

GEN 265	The Director of Church Instrumental Music
MIN 441	Leadership in Christian Education
GEN 289	The Ministry of Music
THE 311	Prayer and Worship

SENIOR ADULT EMPHASIS

Students who have completed the Specialized Ministries Diploma with an emphasis in Senior Adult Ministry will have the necessary academic preparation to coordinate senior adult ministries or to serve as senior adult pastors in the local church.

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