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Student Life

Johnson is more than a place where you receive a quality, affordable education - it's a community where classmates become friends, professors become mentors, and the campus becomes home.

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Academic Calendars

Available

Locations

Florida

Degree

Overview

Christian leaders minister in a complex and rapidly changing world. Effective leadership in this context requires a biblically-based philosophy of ministry, skillful analysis of cultural dynamics, the capacity to think and plan strategically, and the ability to lead and equip people to extend the kingdom of God in his world. Johnson University’s Master of Strategic Ministry program involves a partnership between the academy and the church that equips students for this kind of effective, strategic Christian leadership.

The program includes online coursework in strategic ministry, a study trip to Israel, and a 9-month ministry apprenticeship at a partner church in Peoria, Arizona; Indianapolis, Indiana; or Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Snell serves as dean of the School of Congregational Ministry and as the Arizona residency director. Dr. Rory Christensen serves as the Florida residency director, and Dr. J. Michael Shannon serves as the Indiana residency director.

Application Deadlines

This program begins mid-June. Application deadline is April 15.

Concentrations

Students complete a Leadership Core and can choose a concentration in a specialty area. These may include church administration, intercultural studies, sports ministry, church planting, pastoral ministry, youth ministry, children and family, worship, and special needs.

Customized specialty areas in Indiana and Florida are sometimes developed in partnership with church professionals at those locations on an as-available basis. Throughout the program, apprentices are mentored by Johnson University instructors, some of whom serve on staff at the participating churches.

Curriculum

Courses may include:

Theology & Dynamics of Strategic Leadership
Contextual Implementation of Strategic Leadership
Congregational Leadership
People and Resource Management

For more details on this program, check out our academic catalog.

Careers

Graduates with this degree often serve as leaders in the local church. Because students may choose from a variety of concentrations, graduates with this degree include senior pastors, teaching pastors, church administrators, executive pastors, missions pastors, parachurch leaders, sports ministry coordinators, church planters, student pastors, children and family ministers, and worship pastors.

Concentrations Curriculum Careers