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Christian Ministries and Leadership Major in Pennsylvania

Are you interested in becoming a church pastor? A youth worker? A missionary? Are you eager to grow and share your own faith but also to understand the faith practices of others around the world? Earn your bachelor's degree in Christian ministries and leadership at Messiah University!

Study Christian Ministries and Leadership at a Christian University

In the Christian ministries and leadership major at Messiah University, a nationally ranked Christian university in Pennsylvania, you will take foundational Bible and theology courses, and take an in-depth look at various Bible texts, including Pentateuch, Historical Books, Poetical and Wisdom Literature, Gospels, Paul and His Letter, and Revelation. If you are interested in missions, there are also many courses available in missions training, world religions and world Christianity.

We offer two concentrations within the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Christian ministries and leadership program: community engagement and congregational leadership, as well as a wide range of specialized courses.

Programs related to Christian Ministries and Leadership

In the Christian Ministries and Leadership program, you will take a selection of courses that successfully prepare you for a career in a related field. Hands-on experiences and classroom learning within the framework of Christian faith will give you the skills and knowledge to achieve your goals. Our programs offer a wide variety of courses that will not only help you excel in your future career, but challenge you to develop a deeper understanding of your field of study.

Course options for Christian Ministries and Leadership:

Christian Ministries and Leadership (B.A.) with Community Engagement Concentration

Christian Ministries and Leadership (B.A.) with Congregational Leadership Concentration

 

Christian Ministries and Leadership careers and outcomes

Where our grads work

Graduates of the Christian Ministries and Leadership program work in positions of leadership in their places of employment, using the tools and knowledge a Messiah University education prepared them with. Each year, eager employers and some of the nation's best graduate schools welcome Messiah graduates into their organizations.

Where they work

  1. Teen Mania Ministries
  2. Project SHINE
  3. New Hope Christian Fellowship
  4. Messiah Village
  5. Camp Hill UMC
  6. YWAM
  7. Holy Spirit Hospital/Christian Publications
  8. Manchester Board of Education
  9. Oobe Company
  10. First United Methodist Church
  11. Manor Church
  12. Visions Community Services
  13. Youth Advocate Programs
  14. Hoffman Homes for Youth
  15. The United Church of God
  16. Messiah College
  17. Lancaster Day Care Center
  18. Bancroft NeuroHealth
  19. Home Instead Senior Care
  20. Chambers Hill United Methodist Church
  21. COACH Program
  22. BIC & Messiah College Archives & Historical Library
  23. Cornell Abraxas/William Penn ACTS
  24. Glad Run Lutheran Services
  25. College of Southern Maryland
  26. Shepherdstown UMC
  27. Lighthouse Evangelical Church
  28. Zion United Methodist Church
  29. Lakeside Christian Camp
  30. Zion Lutheran Church
  31. Christian Peacemaker Teams
  32. Coventry Healthcare
  33. Grace United Methodist Church
  34. Chambersburg Memorial YMCA
  35. N Street Village
  36. Teach for America
  37. Mennonite Central Committee / St. Jude Junior School
  38. Mt. Nittany United Methodist Church
  39. South Central Pennsylvania Young Life
  40. Bethany Evangelical Church
  41. Private Language Center
  42. Bethany Evangelical Church
  43. New Hope Ministries
  44. Bethesda Mission
  45. Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries
  46. Green Spring Church of God
  47. Newburg United Methodist
  48. Hope Community Church
  49. Maryhaven Center Of Hope
  50. Chapel Hill Church of God
  51. Chesapeake Church
  52. Reynolda Church
  53. Azuza Pacific University
  54. Yorkshire United Methodist Church
  55. Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church
  56. Salt 'n Light Youth Ministry
  57. First United Methodist Church

What they do

  1. AmeriCorps VISTA
  2. Associate Pastor
  3. Children's Volunteer
  4. Director of Student Ministries
  5. Discipleship Training School
  6. Special Education Aide - High School
  7. Youth Pastor
  8. Teacher
  9. Therapeutic Staff Support
  10. Mental Health Worker
  11. Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Life
  12. Director of Youth Ministries
  13. Intervention Specialist
  14. Mental Health Assistant
  15. Youth Pastor
  16. Director of Student and Young Adult Ministries
  17. Food Service Director
  18. Youth Coordinator
  19. Volunteer
  20. Management Development Program
  21. Family/Youth Program Aide
  22. Community Outreach Coordinator
  23. SALT - Primary Math & English Teacher
  24. Intergenerational Pastor
  25. Youth Center Worker
  26. Youth Pastor
  27. Coordinator of Youth and Worship
  28. Worship Minister
  29. Direct Care Counselor
  30. Director of Children's Ministry
  31. Director of Relational Connection and Social Media
  32. Director of Student Ministries
  33. Grad student

Graduate school

  1. Reformed Theological Seminary
  2. Asbury Theological Seminary
  3. Ashland Theological Seminary
  4. Myerstown Theological Seminary
  5. Duke Divinity School
  6. Wesley Theological Seminary
  7. SUNY Potsdam
  8. Shippensburg University
  9. Temple Medical School
  10. Bethel Seminary
  11. Western Governors University
  12. Southern Evangelical Seminary
  13. Messiah College
  14. Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
  15. Emmanuel School of Religion
  16. Liberty University
  17. Duke University

96% of the Class of 2022 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation.

Our Alumni

Regional and national employers seek out Messiah graduates for their academic preparation, work ethic and personal character. The transformation you experience at Messiah readies you to transform the lives of others through your chosen career path.

Meet Alumni from the Department of Biblical, Religious and Philosophical Studies

Practicing Christian ministry

As a Christian ministries and leadership major, you’ll be required to do field work and a practicum in a local church or ministry setting. You will also participate in Messiah’s “Fitness for Ministry” program, which includes mentorships, spiritual reflection, portfolio development and church involvement as a way to develop your portfolio and experiences.

Messiah's unique approach to hands-on learning

Learning in the classroom is important but actually applying that knowledge in a hands-on way can make all the difference. At Messiah University, the Experiential Learning Initiative (ELI) allows Messiah to take this hands-on learning to a new level by giving students the opportunity to apply what they have learned to various real world contexts--such as an internship/practica, service learning, off-campus program, holding a student leadership position, or participating in undergraduate research.

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