Hudson Taylor University exists to provide students with a Biblically-based education designed to prepare them for success in religious or secular careers by enhancing spiritual, ministerial, and theological knowledge and abilities. HTU encourages students to regularly practice Christian service so that they may use their gifts for the glory of God, and it is natural that students should be involved in ministry formation programs for the purpose of spiritual development. HTU’s Chapel offers the opportunity to increase faithfulness, biblical knowledge, and theological knowledge. Practical experiences with local churches and the community allow the students to put their knowledge and ministerial abilities and gifts into practice.
HTU’s ministry formation program, known as the Christian Service Program, is an integral part of the total Christian service experience. It develops and solidifies the spiritual aspects and commitments of theological education outside the classroom. The program integrates academic and theological knowledge and the application of practical skills to equip students with the experience of real-world ministry that will aid them in their careers as ministers of the Word.
1. To train students to take action in faith through obedience to the word of God, and providing opportunities for students to balance their scriptural study with practice by allowing them to participate in practical experiences of Christian ministry. Students are encouraged to fulfil the word of God by active participation in ministry areas in local churches or the community. This serves to aid students in integrating their faith and learning by requiring them to exercise spiritual discipline and to develop or further their personal ministry skills.
2. To give students the opportunity to use Biblical truths and principles and the meaning of Scripture in local churches and communities. Philippians 4:9 states “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice.” The Christian Service Program helps students to fulfil this command.
3. To allow students to fulfil the gospel mission, as commanded in 1 Timothy 4:11 “Command and teach these things.” Practical teaching ministry in local churches and communities helps bring the word of God to the people and trains students in actual ministerial duties.
4. To help students to develop their personal talents in service. The Bible teaches Christians to use their God-given gifts to serve Him, His Church, and the community. The Christian Service Program is designed to inspire and aid students to influence the world, and to demonstrate a keenly-developed sense of commitment to glorify God in all aspects of their daily lives.
The Christian Service Program has three components: chapel attendance, practical ministry service, and an integrative seminar course (MATS students are not required to take the seminar course). Chapel attendance (known at HTU as Institutional Requirement), is a non-credit course which requires students to attend chapel services once a week.
HTU’s Ministry Formation program consists of two parts. The first is a several-semester-long course that awards a half-credit per semester, for a total of two to three credit hours, depending on degree program. Overall credit for this course will be awarded upon completion of the student’s penultimate semester of enrollment. During the period that a student is enrolled in these courses, their instructor holds class not less than four times per semester, to monitor the students’ progress. The second part of the program is the Senior Integrative Seminar course, taken during the student’s final semester of enrollment, and which includes practical service accompanied by formal lecture and seminar discussions.
The Program is supervised by the Director of Ministry Formation, who is a full-time faculty member. These courses require the student to be overseen by an approved supervisor in an approved service situation, which may range from actual ministry in a local church to evangelism, mission, or outreach work. The student submits a monthly report explaining their service duties, their reactions, lessons learned, etc. At the conclusion of the course, the supervisor submits a report detailing the student’s abilities, and strengths. Based on these reports, the student is evaluated on his or her ministry skills and issued a final grade for the course.
Required enrollment:
1. PT401-406 Ministry Formation (0.5 credit × 6 semester = 3 credits)
Students must serve in at least two of the ten approved ministry areas over the period of their second to seventh semesters of enrollment.
2. PT490 Senior Integrative Seminar (3 credits)
Students must enroll in this course during the final semester of their enrollment. This course includes the last part of the practical ministry component.
3. IN301-IN308 Institutional Requirement (Chapel)
Students are required to attend chapel services once a week for the duration of their enrollment.
Evangelism
Service
Teaching / Bible Study
Social Justice
Missions / Outreach
Children’s Education
Chaplaincy
Music Ministry
Parish Ministry
Administrative
Evaluation
Credit for CSP participation is assessed as follows:
by the student:
The supervisor at the site will provide the final evaluation, after which the instructor will assess a grade. Complete details of the Christian Service Program may be found in the Christian Service Program Handbook, available from the HTU main office.
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