Educational Ministries

Youth Ministry

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” The Missions Program aims to train men and women who will effectively make disciples of Jesus Christ, plant churches where there are no churches, and establish communities of disciples that will proclaim and demonstrate the love, peace and justice of God’s reign. This program aims to provide training for: 1) Missionaries working in cross-cultural situations in Asia and elsewhere in the world 2) Missionaries working with people groups within their own cultures or countries 3) Missions mobilizers who will enable their churches to become missionary churches participating in God’s mission 4) Missiologists training missionaries

1. A missionary training program of high academic excellence
2. Practical training through the Short-Term Missions Internship
3. A tutoring/mentoring program enabling missions students to
   • Identify their skills, gifts and areas for further development
   • Develop these through additional study, reading, or practical training
   • Undergo pre-field training (studying the religion and culture of the people group)
   • Experience spiritual formation and learn the spiritual disciplines needed for spiritual growth on the field.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”

That’s why Alliance Graduate School has designed the Missions Program.

There are still more than a thousand unreached people groups and billions who need to be reached with the Good News of Jesus Christ. They all need a valid opportunity to hear the Gospel and accept Christ as Savior and Lord.

How can we achieve this and accomplish his command to make disciples of all nations?

The local church is called to participate in God’s saving mission for the world. This vision must be taught and caught in the local church where every Christian should become a disciple that proclaims in word and deed the love, peace, and justice of God’s Kingdom, and works for the integrity of God’s creation.

Christian women and men are called to mission locally and overseas/ The church has the responsibility to train, equip, and support those called by God so they can be as effective as possible in this missionary calling.

Our Goals:

Missionaries to communicate the Gospel effectively and relevantly in different contexts to diverse people groups.

Missionaries to live and minister effectively in intercultural situations in the Philippines, Asia, and throughout the world.

Church leaders and missionaries to plan and implement effective missions strategies.

Missions mobilizers to empower their churches to become missionary churches participating in God’s mission by being involved actively in missions.

Missiologist to train missionaries.

Program Strengths:

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Cultural Anthropology

This is a study of the theories and methods of cultural anthropology, which equips students for effective cross-cultural ministry. Students acquire an understanding of anthropological concepts and methods relevant to cross-cultural ministry.

Christianity in Context

This course explores the complex interaction between Christianity and its cultural expressions, with a view toward more effectively living out the demands of Scriptures in our own contexts. Students gain an understanding of the crucial issues raised by the relationship between Christianity and culture, interact critically with various attempts at contextual theology, and address a specific aspect of their own ministry in light of the Word of God in an attempt to develop a local, contextual theology. (Prerequisite: Cultural Anthropology)

Mission Strategies

An introduction to strategically based missionary outreach drawing from a wide variety of disciplines including theology, anthropology, history, communications, and management theory. Students gain an understanding of the mission of the church theologically and study a people group in depth.

Intercultural Communication

A study of the communication process in intercultural settings to prepare ministers and missionaries for more effective communication of the gospel. Students gain an understanding of the many components of the communication process, become conversant with basic communication theories and the complexities of the communication process, and learn to apply this understanding to enhance intercultural communication. (Prerequisite: Cultural Anthropology)

Asian Religions

An overview of the basic background and tenets of the major religions which had their origins in Asia. Students develop an appreciation for the Christian faith through the study of Asian non-Christian religions and insight into preparing strategies as they work in a society deeply influenced by non- Christian values.

Islamic Studies

An in-depth study of the history of Islam, its beliefs, theology, worship, and traditions. Students gain an understanding of the Islamic faith and its cultural contributions to the world. This understanding will further enable them to witness the Christian faith effectively to Muslims.

Muslim-Christian Encounter

An exploration of the dynamic interaction of Christians and Muslims through history. The course investigates how the theologies, religious ideals and self understandings of these major religions were affected through religious and cultural encounters and the legacy of those interactions today. (Prerequisite: Islamic Studies)

Biblical Foundations of Mission

This course seeks to foster a biblical understanding of the mission of the church. Students study the Bible to discern its teachings regarding God’s mission and the mission of the church. They develop a biblical theology of mission and consider the impact of their theologies upon their lives and ministry. (Prerequisites: At least one course in Biblical Studies and one in Theological Studies)

Theology and Issues in Mission

An exploration of the impact of different theologies, paradigms, and issues upon the perceptions of mission and its practice. Students learn to recognize the diversity of theological thinking regarding mission and appreciate the similarities and differences among the mission theologies of different church traditions. (Prerequisites: Biblical Foundations of Missions; at least one course each in Biblical Studies and Theological Studies)

Missionary Life and Practice

An overview of personal issues that confront missionaries in fulfilling their calling. Students are introduced to common questions and problems faced by missionaries in their life and ministry, as well as different attempts to address these questions and problems. They develop a preliminary personal response to these issues. (Prerequisite: Cultural Anthropology)

Culture and Language Learning

An introduction to the disciplines of linguistics and semantics with application to learning a language. Students gain an understanding of the nature of language and the social and psychological dynamics of language learning and are able to apply these understandings to learning a language. (Prerequisites: Cultural Anthropology)

Folk Religion

An introduction to the primal belief systems and rituals underlying Filipino and Southeast Asian religions, as well as the continuation of these traditional or popular religious elements in Roman Catholicism, Islam, and Protestantism.

History of Missions

A study of the history of the Church from the perspective of missions to glean principles for effective missionary work today. Students learn key principles that contributed to the expansion of Christianity, discover similar principles at work within the life of a particular missionary or mission agency, and relate these principles to the contemporary practice of missions.

Evangelism and Discipleship

Examines the biblical theology and practice of evangelism and discipleship developed in the history of the church for the purpose of equipping and enabling the pastors to lead their local churches in doing evangelism and discipleship. The students are required to design a biblically and contextually based evangelism and discipleship program for the local church.

Missions LIFE – Short-Term Missions Internship

All missions students should do a LIFE program in the form of a Short-Term Missions Internship of at least 8 weeks during which the student should be involved in a full-time missions ministry. For more detailed requirements see the Missions LIFE Pamphlet available from the program director.

Educational Ministries

Youth Ministry