Student Ministries

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William J. Dunn, M.S., Director
Michele McAlack, B.S., Advisor

An important aspect of a biblical university education is the opportunity students have to gain hands-on Christian ministry experience. The purpose of the Student Ministries Department is to help equip students to serve Christ in the following ways:

• in the local church and its related ministries
• in para-church organizations
• in their daily interpersonal relationships

In order to fulfill graduation requirements, students must satisfactorily complete one ministry involvement for every semester in which they are enrolled for seven or more credits. Each semester students choose a ministry from a number of opportunities, including evangelism, nursing home ministry, youth work, teaching, and urban ministry. Students are strongly encouraged to fulfill their ministry assignments in the local church with which they are associated.

Ministry Experiences

Freshmen in their first semester at PBU receive credit for student ministry upon satisfactory completion of course requirements for OR 033, Freshman Seminar. During this course, students receive foundational preparation and training for ministry.  In the second semester, students sign up for a ministry opportunity available through the Student Ministries Department.

For a minimum of two years, a student’s ministry experience must involve a teaching and sharing ministry with people of various age levels and spiritual needs in a local church or para-church setting. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in these ministries in the first two years.

Students who transfer into the University must complete two semesters of church or para-church ministry in order to graduate.

Upperclass ministries may include student internships, field placement, student teaching assignments, and other community services prescribed by the student’s professional program and supervised by the program faculty in cooperation with the Student Ministries Department.  Upperclass students not involved in a ministry prescribed by their PBU professional program will be directly responsible to the Student Ministries Department.

Student ministry experiences require students to integrate what they are learning in their course work into ministry with people. 

PBU students are encouraged to become involved in summer ministry opportunities on a local, national, or international level. This extension of their education not only broadens the range of ministry experience, but also better prepares them for a lifetime of serving the Savior.

Personal Evangelism

First-year students receive specific training in evangelism skills to help them develop a life style of sharing their faith in Christ. Other students desiring further assistance may receive personal guidance, and obtain gospel literature, and other ministry resources from the Student Ministries Department at any time during their enrollment. University-sponsored events, ministry projects and mission trips provide diverse opportunities for evangelism.

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