Christian Ministry and Formation Major

The Department of Christian Ministry seeks to exalt Christ, to form students in Christ, and to equip students for the ministry of Christ.

Majors > Christian Ministry Formation

Bible Department

Program Description

4-Year Plan

Choose Your Emphasis

1

Care and Counseling

Care & Counseling prepares students to enter immediately into pastoral counseling situations or to build a solid biblical foundation for a master’s in counseling.

2

Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy equips students to provide pastoral support to clients in medical, corporate, and state facilities.

3

Children and Family Ministries

A Children and Family Ministries emphasis is perfect for students desiring to work with church and para-church organizations that care for children and their families in the local community.

4

Christian Schooling

Christian schooling prepares students to enter into school settings, like Christian and international schools, where accreditation is not required.This emphasis does not lead to licensure.

5

Cross-Cultural

The cross-cultural emphasis is for students with a desire to join the church-planting movement throughout the world.

6

Experiential Education

Experiential Education focuses on students interested in entering the Christian camping ministry.

7

Leadership

The Leadership emphasis gives students the tools and knowledge to start their own ministry or to learn how to model Christian leadership in any field.

8

Worship

The Worship Arts emphasis equips students to serve as worship arts pastors by challenging students to become competent classical musicians, think philosophically and theologically about worship, and minister with excellence.

9

Youth

Youth Ministry students learn to foster the education, Christian formation, and healthy development of adolescents.

Consider pairing Christian Ministry and Formation with another major and be equipped to minister to others in your field of interest.

Meet Our Christian Ministry and Formation Professors

Jason Lanker

Associate Professor of Youth Ministry

At his heart, Dr. Lanker is a passionate guy who loves to dig deep whether it’s in the classroom, over a cup of coffee or taking one last drop into a wave. Having spent most of his life between California, Hawaii and Washington, he decided to move with his wife and two daughters to the beautiful Ozark Mountains. That’s because he wanted to be a part of JBU’s mission to holistically transform students. His unique role as professor of Youth and Outdoor Leadership Ministries is to prepare students who can help others find their unique identity and most intimate relationships through Christ and His church. When it all comes down to it, his life and his teaching can be summed up in one great quote, “The glory of God is a person fully alive!”

JLanker@jbu.edu

Lou Cha

Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry and Formation

LCha@jbu.edu

Maxie Burch

Chair, Division of Biblical Studies
Professor of Biblical Studies

As a historian and theologian, Maxie Burch is convinced that God is pretty big and therefore a great mystery that one lifetime will be insufficient to figure out.

Dr. Burch arrived at JBU in the fall of 2011 after fourteen years in Phoenix, Arizona. Living in Siloam Springs where there are four defined seasons a year has proved to be a great joy. Teaching and serving JBU students with his colleagues has proved to be a greater joy.

He has the privilege of sharing life with his beautiful wife Lisa, whom he somehow tricked into marrying him. They have four grown children and one grandson. He enjoys backpacking, working out, and fly fishing.

MBurch@jbu.edu