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 interpersonal relationships

In order to fulfill graduation requirements, all undergraduate 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 in the local church or ministries such as evangelism, nursing home ministry, youth work, teaching, and urban ministry.

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 exposure to local ministry opportunities and information important to students new to university life.  In the remaining semesters, students sign up for a ministry opportunity they have identified or one found through the Student Ministries Department. All students must complete a minimum of two semesters of ministry in a local church. Specific guidelines for student ministry are provided on the Student Ministries web page.

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. Ministry to people is a key element of PBU’s academic vision.

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 are introduced to evangelism principles and 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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