The Children and Family Ministries major is designed to prepare students for vocational ministry as a pastor to children in the local church, non-profit organizations and cross-cultural ministry settings. The completion of this major should enable the student to develop and lead a children’s ministries program and function as a professional team member.

Children develop and learn differently than adults. This major gives special attention to understanding child development and family relationships as they relate to nurturing Christian faith through the ministry of the local church.

Recognizing that effective ministry to and role modeling for children depends upon competent understanding and skillful use of the scripture, and a life consistently maturing into Christ-likeness, this major requires a strong component of Bible and theology. This program exceeds educational requirements for Assemblies of God ministry credentials.

Graduates with a degree in Children and Family Ministries will be able to:

1. Apply Scripture using proper hermeneutical principles in the ministry context.
2. Assess distinct viewpoints on theological topics.
3. Articulate a biblical philosophy of ministry.
4. Exhibit effective communication skills for pastoral ministry.
5. Demonstrate core pastoral competencies in an applied ministry setting.
6. Formulate strategies necessary for ministry to children and, where possible, their families.
7. Correlate practical theological reflection with ministry to those in unique developmental stages of birth to pre-adolescence.