student preaching in Seeger Chapel

Ministry Leadership

Be part of a new generation of ministry leaders. Get the best in academic and theological training, combined with practical ministry experience and one-on-one mentoring from ministry leaders. Milligan’s Ministry Leadership Program offers a comprehensive ministerial formation unlike any other.

Admission

Apply

When you apply to Milligan University, indicate your interest in one of the following majors:

  • Biblical & Theological Studies
  • Children’s Ministry
  • Church Leadership
  • Intercultural Studies
  • Student Ministry
  • Worship Leadership
Scholarships

New students enrolling for the first time may be eligible for a $5,000 minimum Ministry Leadership Scholarship.

MINISTRY LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS

  • Apply and be admitted to Milligan University as a degree-seeking traditional undergraduate student
  • Minimum 21 ACT/980 SAT OR 3.0 final weighted GPA for entering first-year students
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA for entering transfer students
  • Enroll full-time (12 or more credit hours per semester)
  • Maintain a major in Biblical & Theological Studies, Children’s Ministry, Church Leadership, Intercultural Studies, Student Ministry, or Worship Leadership
  • Agree to enthusiastically participate in required co-curricular activities of the program
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 by the end of the second semester of enrollment, 2.5 by the end of the fourth semester and each semester thereafter
  • This scholarship may NOT be combined with Tuition Exchange, Personnel Grant, Jeanes Honors, Goah, Performing Arts, Athletic scholarships‍

FOCUSED MINISTERIAL PREPARATION

Each major provides ministry preparation built on a foundation of knowledge of the Scriptures — knowing the Bible, understanding its theological and cultural background, and how to apply it to modern life and culture.

PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Spend an entire semester in an immersive full-time mentored ministry field experience. This is more than a regular internship. You’ll gain hands-on experience in supervised ministry and spiritual formation. Every internship is individually tailored to provide opportunities to observe, assist, and lead in ways related to your unique interests. Leaders learn by doing. It’s important that church leaders have not only a theoretical understanding of church and ministry but also practical skillsets in things like preaching, worship, evangelism, discipleship, pastoral care, and leadership. Deepen your knowledge of the Bible, its theological and cultural background, and how to apply it to modern life and ministry.

Learn from innovative, nationally recognized ministry leaders who offer invaluable mentoring and ministerial formation. They offer our students valuable insight into current challenges facing the church, as well as much-needed practical wisdom about how churches are meeting those challenges with passion and integrity.

DISCIPLESHIP IN COMMUNITY

Be immersed in a community of friends, classmates, and mentors who care passionately about ministry, serving, and each other. You’ll build camaraderie and grow together through your studies, MLP retreats (held each semester), Ministry Expeditions, and other co-curricular opportunities. Students often meet on their own for weekly small groups focused on Bible study, prayer, and spiritual formation. This forms a close-knit group of trusted friends and colleagues for a lifetime of ministerial support.

Milligan students studying on the library lawn

LIBERAL ARTS FOUNDATION

Your entire Milligan experience is grounded in a unique liberal arts approach, where you learn to better understand the world and the people to whom you will lead and serve. We believe a liberal arts education provides the best ministerial preparation. Ministers must know the Scriptures and how to interpret them, but they also must understand the world in which they are called to minister. Due to Milligan’s liberal arts approach, you will be in class and on campus with the types of people who will be in your churches and ministries: teachers, nurses, engineers, business men and women, IT professionals, etc.

CARING FACULTY

WHO you learn from is pretty important. At Milligan, our faculty are not only excellent teachers and caring mentors but are recognized and published scholars, with doctorates from Duke, the University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology, Notre Dame, Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. They have practical experience and great wisdom which they generously share with our students.

Josh Little
Director of Ministry Outreach

Associate Professor of Humanities and History

Curtis Booher
Professor of Christian Ministries

Craig Farmer
Joel O. and Mabel Stephens Chair of Bible; Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities; Professor of History and Humanities

Associate Professor of Bible and Humanities

Phil Kenneson
The Kenneth E. Starkey Chair of Bible and Christian Ministries; Associate Dean of the School of Bible and Ministry; Professor of Theology and Philosophy

Jeff Miller
Vera Britton Chair of Bible; Professor of Bible

Michael Sweeney
Professor of World Mission and New Testament; Director of the Master of Arts in Christian Ministries Program

Seeger's Steeple infant of a yellow sunset