Overview

Compassion Ministry Major

The Compassion Ministry major seeks to equip students for effective service within compassion and care ministries. Students will attain the knowledge and skills needed to work with individuals who experience difficult life situations. Students gain an understanding of the nature of the family, counseling theories, and people-helping skills. Students who complete the program will have entry-level knowledge and skills appropriate for service in full-time church and parachurch positions such as community outreach worker, director of family ministry, family support worker, group home worker, residential counselor, group facilitator and social service liaison.

Program Objectives

The student who successfully completes the requirements of the Compassion Ministry major should

• Understand how they are uniquely created in Christ and have a growing, deepening conviction to follow Him more closely as evidenced in a holistic approach to God and His world
• Combine a mature Christian faith with a counseling framework that integrates theology, knowledge, skills, values and sociological understandings of the individual, family and small group
• Understand human development from infancy to later life, marriage relationships, human sexuality, interpersonal relationships and family dynamics
• Practice people-helping skills that enable the student to minister to individuals and families as well as serve to mentor/disciple others in the Christian faith