Master of Urban Church Growth
Master of Urban Church Growth
Do you have a desire to effectively reach the lost, make disciples and experience ministry growth in today’s urban context?
The Master of Urban Church Growth (MUCG) focuses on helping the student understand God’s Kingdom framework for the evangelistic mission of the church. You will be equipped with a practical biblical perspective to prepare you to grow an effective, stable and sustainable ministry in today’s modern context.
The Master of Urban Church Growth (MUCG) focuses upon the development of a biblical Kingdom framework for the evangelistic mission of the church.
the MASTER OF Urban Church Growth
In the MUCG program. we examine contemporary trends of church growth in an urban context. You will learn the theological, methodological, and contemporary issues in evangelism and church growth while being empowered with effective tools to succeed in ministry.
The Master of Urban Church Growth program explores the rate and pattern of church growth while focusing on the study of principles in church growth. Special attention is given to theological, cultural, and indigenous principles, also emphasizing church growth in the global context.
Courses
The Master of Urban Church Growth program contains the equivalent of 90 credit hours. These 90 credit hours are comprised of 21 required courses and 9 elective courses.
THEOLOGICAL REQUIRED COURSES
This course is designed to expand one’s exegetical skills through the interpretation of Old Testament narrative. It will expand one’s understanding of genre and the methods used to interpret Old Testament narrative and poetry from a literary perspective. The course is also designed to understand and be able to employ data from ancient Near Eastern culture in the interpretation of Genesis through Malachi. This course will assist the learner in applying Old Testament theology to modern biblical interpretation.
This course is designed to expand one’s exegetical skills through the interpretation of Old Testament narrative. It will expand one’s understanding of genre and the methods used to interpret Old Testament narrative and poetry from a literary perspective. The course is also designed to understand and be able to employ data from ancient Near Eastern culture in the interpretation of Genesis through Malachi. This course will assist the learner in applying Old Testament theology to modern biblical interpretation.
New Testament I will be devoted to surveying the Gospels and the book of Acts. This course is designed to be an introduction to the books of the New Testament, with special emphasis on the life, teachings, and redemptive work of Christ; the founding and growth of the church. On the basis of the biblical text, parallel readings, projects, and lectures, the events and messages of the New Testament will be portrayed against their historical and cultural setting.
New Testament II will be devoted to surveying the Epistles and Revelation. This course is designed to be an introduction to the books of the New Testament with special emphasis on the life, teachings, and redemptive work of Christ; the founding and growth of the church; and the teachings of the epistles and Revelation. On the basis of the biblical text, parallel readings, projects, and lectures, the events and messages of the New Testament will be portrayed against their historical and cultural setting.
This course is designed to give you a concise introduction to the nature, history, and methodology of systematic theology. It will also provide a helpful stimulus in understanding the relationship between the practice of one’s faith and the belief context into which that practice fits. The course will focus on the nature of a theological vision, the inspiration and authority of scripture, the interpretation of those scriptures, and the nature of the God whom we worship.
This course will build upon the theological doctrinal tenets of Systematic Theology I, allowing the learner to gain deeper insights to understanding the basics of theology from redemption to glorification, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology and how these doctrines are applied in one’s personal ministry. Systematic Theology II formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topics or what is true about God and His universe. It also builds on biblical disciplines, church history, as well as biblical and historical theology. Systematic theology shares its systematic tasks with other disciplines such as constructive theology, dogmatics, ethics, apologetics, and philosophy of religion.
The course will cover the history of Christianity from its inception to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. We will survey the major movements, doctrines, persons, and institutions that arose within the church and affected its development during this time. Our emphasis will be the development of a doctrinal understanding in the church, as well as careful study of select key individuals whose lives should inspire us to biblical faithfulness today.
The course will cover the history of Christianity and Christian thought from the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century to the present. We will survey the major movements, doctrines, persons, and institutions that arose within the church and affected its development during this time. Our emphasis will be the development of a doctrinal understanding in the church as well as careful study of select key individuals whose lives should inspire us to biblical faithfulness today.
This course will explore Christianity in light of cultural distortions and the Kingdom of God. We will examine the modern-day church and how greatly it has been impacted by the historical watersheds of history, beginning with Romanization, followed by Europeanization, Colonization, Westernization, and Americanization of the gospel. The influences of these historical epochs have greatly altered the original message of Jesus and the Kingdom of God in its Jewish context. The church continued to develop but became less Jewish in its interpretation of scripture and more European in its practices and images. This course will also revisit some doctrinal distortions and examine the dispensations of the church and its reformations to help to provide insight and enlightenment into the abuses of the watersheds and the power that the pure gospel of the Kingdom of God offers.
This course is an introduction to Christian apologetics and its relationship to evangelism. The course will teach the biblical, theological, and historical foundations of Christian apologetics. Additionally, the course will serve as a primer for cultural exegesis and cultural hermeneutics. The goal is to equip students with the critical analytical tools to engage contemporary cultural issues as related to matters of faith. Topics include comparative worldview, science and faith, secularism, aesthetics, and ethics. Through required and recommended readings, online discussions, and lectures, the student will gain a clearer understanding of how to navigate and respond pastorally to some of today’s most challenging issues while at the same time formulating a cohesive Christian response to them.
This course will provide a practical perspective to biblical Kingdom Education. Students will focus on what it means to have a relationship with the loving God of the Universe and the method of passing on His precepts to our children and grandchildren. The course will deal with large issues like philosophy, methodology, curriculum, and evaluation, but in such a way that they will be easily understood and mastered by anyone with a willing and teachable heart. You will also gain practical tools like overviews, lesson plans, assessments, and access to many resources for your Kingdom education utilization and application. The goal is that you use this as a beginning point to develop your own enriched biblical curriculum using whatever starting point you have at hand. This course is designed to assist you in how to make any standardized curriculum Kingdom rich. If you don’t have a curriculum, in this course, you will teach you how to develop one. If you are searching for something more than just the traditional Christian curriculum, then this course is for you!
This course examines the African roots of Christainty from a biblical perspective examining the importance of Africa in both the Older Testament and the Newer Testament. The course will examine the rich, historical roots of African Christianty as one of the oldest forms of Christianity today. The course will provide the student with over 2,000 years of African contributions from the origin of Christianity to its present. Students will also explore how the African church has faithfully testified of the power and diversity of God’s Kingdom.
KINGDOM THEOLOGY REQUIRED COURSES
This course examines the current state of the church and explores Jesus’s ministry model as the answer to our 21st century challenges. Students will receive a full review of theologians who have studied the Kingdom of God from the patristics to theologians of the 21st century. This course designed to focus students on the message of the Kingdom of God, analyzing its history, as well as its present relevance.
This course is an analysis of the current trajectory of the church in fulfilling God’s will and its purpose. The course examines the gospel of the Kingdom of God and explores whether or not this message is being taught in the church and lived by believers. The course also revisits the traditional view of the gospel of the Kingdom of God and teaches students, from the Holy Scriptures, how Christ came preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, not the gospel of His resurrection. In this course, the student will learn how the gospel has been misinterpreted, discover the authentic gospel of the Kingdom, and discuss the need for another reformation.
This course will explore the symbolism of the cross in Christianity and its implications to the Kingdom of God. Students will understand the cross from the Old and New Testament, looking at the cross of Christ as a transitory symbol of the Kingdom of God, not the essence.This course will challenge students to rethink their interpretation of scripture and the salvific experience based upon a Kingdom perspective that highlights the crown of Christ as the greatest symbol of the Kingdom of God.
In this course, we will explore the life of Jesus as a Rabbi within the context of 1st Century Judaism. When we examine His rabbinic model we discover that Jesus is engaged in Proclamation, Explanation and Demonstration of the Kingdom. In this course we examine these three areas as models for executing Kingdom ministry. This course traces the history of the ministry of Jesus the Messiah and His approach to fulfilling the Kingdom mandate. This course is a must for those who want to learn of Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God from a Jewish perspective.
After studying the New Testament scriptures, many believers are prompted to ask what is the Kingdom of God and why do we not hear this message in the church. In this course, students will receive answers to the age-old questions of “how near” is the Kingdom of God and “when” shall it be established “on earth as it is in heaven.” This course will provide much needed insight and revelation about the Kingdom of God by reviewing the gospels, parables, and other key passages and explaining the Kingdom and its benefits. This course lays out the relation between the Kingdom of God, Israel, and the Church and speaks to the now and not yet of the realization and experience of the Kingdom of God.
CORE CURRICULUM REQUIRED COURSES
SELECT ANY 10 OF THE FOLLOWING 12 COURSES
This course is designed to examine African American Church Growth. Students will explore the prophetic consciousness that appeals to many blacks of the post-civil rights era, and how emphasis on the prophetic will help bring the black church out of the disillusionment of a “post-civil rights malaise.” This course will address both spiritual and social tyrannies within and outside of the church that inhibit church growth in our inner cities and rural communities and discuss how tyranny can be overcome in thriving black churches.
In this course, students will discuss the need for healthy church growth no matter the church size. The differences between healthy and unhealthy church growth will be examined, as well as a discussion of satellite, extension churches, and new church plants as signs of healthy growth. Students will also explore the signs that leaders should look for in knowing if a church is not growing in a healthy manner. The course will explore how growth is affected if you have the right foundation and tools such as vision, the centrality of Christ, biblical preaching, the priority of holy living, sound doctrine, being people-oriented rather than program-oriented, the importance of tithing, and Christian education.
This course is designed for new pastors, seasoned pastors, and lay leaders of African American congregations in administration and spiritual leadership of their churches. It offers administrative advice, suggests methods, and maps out an implementation process for church growth. This course will examine and explore how congregations will respond to different methodologies of growing churches and skillfully connect the elements of spiritual growth with the practical aspects of church ministry.
This course will help pastors and church leaders to better understand and benefit from the cultural shifts we are now experiencing in the Body of Christ. Many African American churches once thought they were immune to the cultural shock waves in our society. They simply argued that they have always been about participation and being relational; yet, like many churches, their numbers continue to decline. African American churches must find a way to reclaim their missional orientation, while at the same time remaining true to their historical identity and witness of speaking truth to power. The valuable goals of justice and bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ, in this time, requires new practices and fresh ideas; the old framework just won’t work any more.
Elective Courses
The Master of Urban Church Growth program includes 9 elective courses. Click the button below for a listing of the elective courses. In addition to these electives, courses from other master programs can also be taken as electives.
Master of Urban Church Growth Degree Plan
Each module represents one 8-week session of classes. Each module also contains 4 required practical ministry seminars. 27 required courses and 3 electives
YEAR 1
Module 1
- Old Testament Survey I Advanced
- New Testament Survey I Advanced
Module 2
- Old Testament Survey II Advanced
- New Testament Survey II Advanced
Module 3
Systematic Theology I Advanced
- Church History I
Module 4
Systematic Theology II Advanced
- Church History II
Module 5
- Church History III
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Module 6
- Apologetics
The Crown and the Cross
YEAR 2
Module 7
- Kingdom Education
- Jesus the Jewish Messiah
Module 8
- Christianity in a Global African Context
- The Kingdom of God and the New Testament
Module 9
- The Kingdom Then, Now, and To Come
- Elective
Module 10
- Core Courses (2)
Module 11
- Core Courses (2)
Module 12
- Core Courses (2)
YEAR 3
Module 13
- Core Courses (2)
Module 14
- Core Courses (2)
Module 15
- Elective
- Elective
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
- 2 courses per session (one session is equivalent to 8 weeks)
- 12 courses per year
- With special approval you can get access to take 15 courses per year
- Midterm
- Final exam
- Reflection papers from weekend lectures (4 per course)
- Final paper
- Weekly “Think Tank” discussions
How Tuition is Estimated
- For the Master of Urban Church Growth degree, courses are $425 per course.
For additional tuition and fees information, visit Tuition & Fees.
Upon receipt of your application and application fee, your application will be reviewed by the Academic Committee. Following the recommendations of the Academic Committee, an Admission Counselor will contact you via email with the results and follow up actions.
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