A Match Made in Heaven
Sending God's Sons and Daughters to the Nations
Ascent College is officially partnered with Assemblies of God World Missions in a shared commitment to establish God’s Church among all peoples everywhere, equipping and empowering Spirit-filled ministry leaders and pastors to spread the Gospel to the ends of the Earth.
"One hundred years ago, the Assemblies of God grounded its very purpose in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. The often-quoted declaration from the second General Council remains quite remarkable: “We commit ourselves and the Movement to Him for the greatest evangelism that the world has ever seen.” This statement of purpose reflected more than the optimistic exuberance of a small band of Pentecostal preachers. It symbolized their collective calling to take the gospel to the ends of the Earth, daring to believe in Jesus’ promise to enable us, by the Spirit’s power, to fulfill the task (Acts 1:8). "
John Easter
Ascent College is positioned as an active participant in preparing and sending the next generation of the Church’s sons and daughters to those peoples and places lacking access to the message of Jesus. Deploying intercultural studies courses designed and developed by mission scholars with real-time experience, we are sowing the seeds of mighty Kingdom impact by training men and women to understand and adapt to the unique challenges and opportunities of global missional work.
In partnership with AGWM, Ascent College has welcomed Dr. Rob Shipley, AGWM Director of Missiological Resources, to serve as our Adjunct Dean of Intercultural Studies. Dr. Shipley plays an integral role in the direct development of academic programming and missional resources, steering students toward practical insights, tools, and experiences that set a firm foundation for future mission work.
“The Holy Spirit was both promised to and has come upon ordinary believers for a reason. Ordinary people are God’s preferred instruments to announce His Kingdom and plant his church on earth.”
Dr. Rob Shipley
With courses like The Missionary Call and Preparation, Missions and the Local Church, Contextualized Theology, and Contemporary Mission Issues, students build fluency in current global events, Scriptural application in new environments, and compelling Gospel calls to action. Academic programming and related multicultural travel opportunities continue to evolve to remain at the forefront of the missional dialogue. Together, Ascent College and AGWM keep watch, using our combined experience and resources to meet needs every step of the way.
In his book Your Sons and Daughters, AGWM Executive Director Dr. John Easter states:
Yes, and amen!
Will you join us in our shared commitment to sending workers to the nations? Speak to our Director of Admissions, Amy Barney, to explore available classes today, contribute to our Mission Fund, learn more about our partners in Ghana, or help build our D. Wendel Cover Scholarship for World Missions and Jubilee Scholarship funds to support students pursuing intercultural studies.
We are better together!
Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership: Intercultural Studies Concentration
Are you feeling called to the nations? Are you thirsty for the Biblical knowledge, practical skills, and Spirit-filled support that will equip and empower you as a global missionary? Explore the four-year traditional Bachelor of Arts in Ministry leadership degree program at Ascent College.
This 120-credit program includes 42 general education credits and 42 general ministry requirements that can be reviewed in detail on our Program webpage. The Intercultural Studies concentration includes an additional 36 credits ensuring graduates can:
- Demonstrate a passion for local, regional, and global missions and a commitment to serve the people groups of the world.
- Articulate a missional theology that encourages all Christians to participate in missions.
- Describe the cross-cultural dynamics of missions and contextualize the salvation message to various target people groups.
- Develop strategies for evangelizing people groups of the world.
- Explain the spiritual, physical, educational, and financial preparation needed for missionaries.
- Explain the biblical, theological, and historical basis of missions.
- Describe the major religions of the world and be able to compare and contrast them with Christianity.
- Develop mentoring relationships with other missionaries.
Details
Credits
120
Concentration Courses (36 credits)
MIS103 World Religions (3 credits)
This course is designed to equip students with an overview of various major world religions. This course seeks to stir a passion for communicating Christ more effectively and demonstrate the value of building bridges with people of other religions.
MIS105 Missions and the Local Church (3 credits)
This course will explore God’s missionary nature as revealed in His Word and lived out through His people. In doing so, this course will examine the overarching redemptive narrative of Scripture, the role of the local church as sender, the current state of world evangelization, and the missionary task as carried out by those who are sent.
*This course includes a mission trip/travel component.
MIS301 History of Missions (3 credits)
Beginning with the New Testament Church, this course evaluates movements and leaders throughout missions history, providing a rubric and guide for present and future missionary endeavors. Special consideration focuses on the history of Assemblies of God and Pentecostal missions.
MIS302 The Missionary Call and Preparation (3 credits)
This course is a study of the motive, objective, call, qualifications, and opportunities for missionaries today, with particular attention to the practical issues of personal, spiritual, and administrative preparation for missionary service.
MIS305 Introduction to Urban Missions (3 credits)
This course is an examination of the Biblical and theological basis for urban missions and Biblical perspectives on urban issues such as poverty, leadership, and globalization.
MIS405 Leadership and Strategy in Missions (3 credits)
Prerequisite: MIN240
This course addresses the theological and strategic issues related to personal and indigenous church leadership development from a Pentecostal perspective, with special attention to spiritual formation, moral issues, social/organizational structures in a missional context, and cross-cultural church planting movements.
MIS410 Contextualized Theology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: THE212 and THE301
Contextual theology and the process of contextualization relate to the knowledge of God, an unchanging God who reveals himself uniquely within specific contexts. God assures authentic knowledge of Himself through His action in missio Dei. Guided by the Holy Spirit, God’s missionary people communicate Gospel truth in an ever-changing world. This course explores the ways in which culture intersects with and informs the task of theology and examines both the theoretical and practical aspects of contextualization as related to Biblical interpretations, theology, missiology, and leadership development. Contextualization is reviewed and evaluated in terms of its bearing on the communication of the Gospel, the varied expressions of the Christian faith, and its spread in various cultural settings.
MIS421 Contemporary Mission Issues (3 credits)
Prerequisite: MIS302
This course takes a Pentecostal approach to the unique challenges and opportunities facing missionaries today. Spirit-empowered missiological thinking, grounded in Biblical truth, is applied to diverse contemporary missions issues to assist the church and the missionary to communicate Christ to the world.
PRA100 Practicum I (3 credits)
PRA200 Practicum II (3 credits)
PRA312 Missions Practicum (3 credits)
A practical ministry project that provides mentored ministry experience through a cross-cultural missionary experience in another national context, integrating cross-cultural ministry, learning, leadership, and spiritual development in a practical ministry setting.
*This course includes a mission trip/travel component.
Students are always welcome to audit courses or register for classes of interest without committing to a formal degree plan. Reach out to our Director of Admissions, Amy Barney, to explore flexible and affordable learning options today!
Join us in preparing ministry leaders to make a lasting impact for God.
Learn how you can become a part of the Ascent College community, where we equip passionate individuals to grow spiritually, lead effectively, and make a lasting impact for Christ. Join us in our mission to prepare leaders who transform their world.
Speak with our Director of Admissions
Ascent College admits students of any race, color, nationality, or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other school-administered programs.
The College reserves the right to withdraw a student for what it considers to be a necessary cause at any time.