Master_Ministry_2024

A master's program that fits within your ministry.

100% Online | Cohort Based | Affordable

Prairie has a long history of preparing men and women for a variety of roles in ministry.  The Master of Christian Ministry Leadership delves deeper by building on what students have already learned and experienced in ministry.  

Recent research and anecdotal evidence has shown that pastors and other ministry leaders feel increasingly lonely, isolated, and burned out  – even after just a few years in ministry.  This program has been designed to help address issues that many ministry leaders face, and allows students to spend time working on their own spiritual formation: equipping them to  serve others better. 

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We have created this program around three central themes.  Students will be invited to Know God, Know yourself, and to Serve others. 

Know God:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10. Throughout this program you will be invited to go deeper with God by building a biblically based theology of ministry.

Know Yourself:

While the goal of ministry is often articulated as serving God and others, a lack of understanding of who you are as an image bearer of God and an aversion to going deeper in your own spiritual formation can hinder your ministry or result in burn out. Our goal is that during your time in this program you would come to understand yourself better and be further formed in the likeness of Christ.

Serve Others:

Finally, the outcome of this program is that you will be able to take what you have learned and lead organizations and people for the advancement of God’s Kingdom here on earth.

Who is this program for?

We believe that this program will benefit anyone who wants to grow in their knowledge of God as a Christian and a leader.

However, we have developed this degree specifically for those who have already been in ministry for several years.  If that is you and you are beginning to see a need for more training and mentorship without leaving your ministry context, this program might be for you.

Master's Faculty

Do you have questions? Let's chat...

Steffen_Kelly-square

Kelly Steffen

Program Director and Professor of Youth and Pastoral Ministry

Cohorts: New cohorts will begin annually in January. Each cohort will be made up of less than 20
students and will proceed through the courses together.

Course Pacing: All courses are offered online. In some cases, an in-person option may be made available for some courses. This program is made up of 10 taught courses, six offered in the first year and four in the second year. Students will also be enrolled in:

  • Spiritual Formation Mentorship: each student will be assigned a mentor who they will meet with regularly throughout their time in the program. These meetings will complement the courses taken throughout the program as well as help the student prepare for their Capstone project.
  • Capstone Project: students will finish the program by completing a Capstone Project. The nature of the project will be determined by the student and approved by the student’s mentor and the Program Director. The format of the project may vary from student to student but the project should address an area of ministry the student wishes to develop.
 

For more details on policies see the Graduate Student Handbook.

BT 501 Biblical Theology in Global Context
BT 503 Hermeneutics
BT 602 Mastering Biblical Tools
BT 692 Bible Books Study
SF 532 Theory and Practice of Spiritual Formation
SF 534/535 Spiritual Leadership Mentorship I & II: Spiritual Life and Leadership of Prayer 
SF 634 Spiritual Formation Mentorship
SF 660 Spiritual Direction
HF 540 Understanding and Engaging with Culture
SS 510 Helping with Trauma and Mental Health
ML 530 Theology of Global Christian Leadership
ML 620 Leader as Organizational Steward
ML 670 Capstone Project

This degree will equip graduates to:

  • Know and love God through a deepening relationship of life transformation in the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • Know and love others in a life of service and care centred on the needs in our time and culture. 
  • Know and love oneself by a purposeful, personal, and growing relationship with Jesus Christ. 
  • Develop and strengthen leadership skills for Christian ministry and service in a local context. 
  • Study the Bible skillfully with a global and culturally aware perspective integrating biblical principles and teachings in local ministry and service. 
  • Establish and foster a maturing understanding of spiritual formation and growth that enables the student to guide others’ spiritual formation. 
  • Develop biblically based principles and sound fiduciary practices in managing and being good stewards of Christian ministry time and resources.  

The basic requirements for admission to Prairie College graduate degree programs are as follows: 

  • An active Christian faith as demonstrated through the applicant’s personal testimony and
    references.
  • A baccalaureate degree from a recognized institution with a grade-point average (g.p.a.)
    of 2.7 (B-) on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) which includes a minimum of 9 credits in Bible and 6 credits in Theology and/or Practical Theology. 
    Applicants who have completed a baccalaureate degree which does not contain the required Bible and Theology credits may complete these courses at a discounted rate through Prairie College’s undergradute online self-paced courses.
     Applicants who obtained a degree from an unrecognized institution may file a written appeal to have their degree accepted by an Admissions Committee composed of the Admissions Director, the Program Director, and the Registrar. 
  • Demonstrated English proficiency. Applicants whose undergraduate degree was not in
    English must also prove English proficiency. They may do so in one of the following ways:

    •  The academic level International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) exam with an overall band score of 6.5, with no band scores less than 6.0.
    • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 90 on the internet based test with a minimum score of 21 points in each section.
    • Cambridge C1 Advanced (Certificate in Advanced English) or Cambridge C2 Proficiency (Certificate of Proficiency in English) with a score of at least 180.
    • Duolingo English Test with a minimum score of 120.

  • For more information and the mature student application process please see the Graduate Student Handbook

Alumni Bursary:
Any student enrolled in the Master of Leadership in Global Christian Education program, who has previously graduated from Prairie Bible Institute/Prairie College, will automatically receive a $1,000 scholarship per academic year.*

Alumni Referral Bursary:
Prairie alumni can refer students by filling out this form to receive the L.E. Maxwell Award.  This award is only able to be awarded to new students in their first year of study.

Church Matching Bursary:
Our Church Matching Bursary is available to all students who receive funds sent directly to Prairie from a Christian church (CRA Registered Charities only) and are to be used for paying the student’s tuition. This will automatically be matched by Prairie with a bursary amount up to $1,000 per school year.* No application is necessary. Please have the church administration contact our financial aid office at 403-443-3042 for more information.

School Matching Bursary:
Our School Matching Bursary is available to all students who receive funds sent directly to Prairie from a Christian school (CRA Registered Charities only) and are to be used for paying the student’s tuition. This will automatically be matched by Prairie with a bursary amount up to $1,000 per school year.* No application is necessary. Please have the school administration contact our financial aid office at 403-443-3042 for more information.

International Student Needs-Based Bursary:
We understand that for some students, converting their home currency to Canadian dollars will put them at a serious disadvantage.  Through the generosity of donors, we are able to offer a few students a more substantial bursary that would allow them to participate in the program.  The amount awarded will depend on the demonstrated need and on available funds.  For each cohort, a number of students will be selected to receive these funds.  To apply for this bursary or to refer a student who you think could benefit from this bursary please fill out the Master of Leadership International Student Needs-Based Bursary Application Form
Successful applicants will be notified after October 31st. 
 

*Note: Each student may only receive up to $2,000 in scholarships per academic year from Prairie with the exception of the “International Student Needs-Based Bursary”. All scholarships and bursaries may only be used to pay tuition and may not be paid directly to a student.
Bursaries tied to a specific orgnization may not be combined. 

Application Fee: $50
Cost/ course: $1,275
Program Fee: $150
Estimated cost/year: $7,850*

*Does not include textbook or technology costs

Canada & United States Application

Winter 2025 (January start), Fall 2025 (September start) and Online Education (start anytime) applications are open. 

International Student Application

Prairie welcomes applications from individuals all around the world! To begin the International Student Application please click the link below. 

Master's Application

If you are applying for the Master of Christian Ministry Leadership or the Master of Global Christian Educational Leadership please click the link below. 

Information Request

Tell us a bit about yourself and an admissions representative will be in touch shortly!

Here are key opportunities you can partner with Prairie

We have launched our Campaign for Greater Impact to provide students with the very best learning opportunities and campus facilities for the decades ahead. 

In Phase One of this Campaign, we plan to invest in much-needed campus renewal, including: upgraded Infrastructure, a new Student Residence, Cafeteria, Worship Auditorium, and expanded Aviation Training Centre. A modern campus requires an investment that is bold, and even expensive, but each Campaign Project is strategic, and designed to enhance Prairie’s campus and student life experience.

Expansion of Prairie Aviation Training Centre

This expansion of PATC’s facility is a key project of Prairie’s Campaign for Greater Impact. It will increase the College’s capacity to train a new generation of Christian aviators to serve God in missions, and also address the growing need for trained pilots in the commercial aviation sector.

Scholarships & Education Fund

Invest in the next generation of missional professionals. Each year Prairie College distributes over $500,000 in scholarships and bursaries to students. We are grateful for each gift that reduces the burden of students’ tuition and allows students to fulfill their God-given professions.

Prison Bible Encounter Program

Encourage inmates in five institutions across Alberta to discover or reconnect with Jesus Christ. This fund assists the students studying the Certificate in Bible program with scholarships, resources for classes, and instruction. 

General Ministries

Prairie College is educating students to pursue a Biblical foundation for life and career.  Your contribution to this fund assists in minimizing the College’s general operating expenses.  

To allocate your gift, please select one of the donation buttons below.