religion program introduction www ucollege edu/ religion
2 overview tyson kahler 3 2014 graduate now a pastor in the Minnesota Conference experience a greater purpose God s presence is what changes us and the world we live in one day and one person at a time. Whether mentoring young people as a pastor or teacher, shepherding a congregation, leading others in Christian service or getting involved in online ministry, you can prepare to follow God s calling. When you embark on this mission, get ready to walk with and lead others on a powerful spiritual journey. Now that I am a full-time pastor, my semester internship at Andover church in Minnesota has proven to be my number one reference when making decisions and ministering to members. I am better equipped for ministry because of my field experience. Ultimately, I feel that my calling from God was reaffirmed several times over during my off-campus internship. experience ministry in action At Union, students get involved in ministry on campus and in the community, too. They preach, give Bible studies, help with evangelistic series, work as student pastors and collaborate with local churches in a variety of real-life settings. The Ministry Club provides more opportunities for involvement, including spiritual retreats, weekly prayer and share time, camping trips and gatherings at faculty homes. You ll find plenty of ways to put your beliefs into action at Union. Religion students can often be found participating in many faith-building activities such as volunteering at a homeless shelter, leading praise teams, sharing their personal testimonies and organizing Bible studies. Whether they work behind the scenes or up in front, these students learn teamwork as they train for a lifetime of active ministry. Through fostering relationships and practical involvement, students at Union are compelled to participate in lifelong leadership, service and evangelism.
4 experience options 5 experience your calling The classes and skills learned at Union will launch you into a life of Christian ministry. By learning about the Bible and applying its lessons to real life, Union s religion program empowers students to serve and lead others to God. Class concepts and real experience go hand-in-hand here. You can learn to read the Bible in its original languages, give engaging sermons, share your testimony with many different people and explore your personal call to ministry. You ll go beyond merely acquiring knowledge of Bible teachings; you will cultivate and practice Christian discipleship, developing a deeply-rooted relationship with Christ while leading others to Him. The religion program at Union includes four majors: theology, religion, religious education and social media ministry. Our newest major, social media ministry, empowers students to spread the Good News online. By learning how to use the many fast-changing forms of social media, students can grow their ministries and reach more people for Christ. Theology majors are introduced to church ministry in Church Leadership class, where they are placed in nearby churches to practice their preaching skills once a month. The fall semester of their senior year, every theology student is paired with a mentoring pastor to experience what it takes to be an effective minister. experience the difference True education goes beyond book work and test scores. At Union, we believe true education involves the whole person physical, mental, social and spiritual and is founded on God as the source of all true knowledge. This Christ-centered approach to education prepares students for useful, joy-filled lives, fosters friendship with God and lays a foundation of Bible-based values for selfless service to the world. That is the Union difference.
6 mic and tori henton anna romuald degree options 7 experience Union College It s just different here, and we mean that in a good way. Students notice the difference almost immediately, and even their families can see it without trying. We love it the difference, that is though we don t always know what to call it. What s more, we re not exactly sure what it is. But whatever it is, it s here and it s life-changing. We are a Seventh-day Adventist school and our faith is part of it. You don t have to be an Adventist to attend here, and we think you ll like our focus on you as a whole person your learning experience, your health and your relationships. So for lack of a better word (anything s better than it), we call it the Spirit. 2009 graduates now pastors at the Lee s Summit and Kingsville churches near Kansas City, Mo. Our education at Union has helped us tackle many theological questions that church members have, given us practical skills to develop outreach programs and prepared us for leadership roles and loving others where they are. The theology, pastoral care and Bible study work we learned at Union College have all been a huge support and part of our ministry for the last five years. We believe that you can never be fully prepared through only academics, but they have given us a strong foundation to face the new challenges of managing the church and loving the people. 2012 graduate now assistant pastor of a church in Minneapolis, Minn., and assistant young adult director for the Minnesota Conference Beyond the theology and training I received through my coursework, my real preparation began with the professors who invested in me to be successful and effective in ministry once I graduated. It began in an environment where the demand for relevancy and practical application launched our theological training into something greater than just head knowledge. Bachelor of Arts in Theology: Prepares students for gospel ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Bachelor of Science in Religion: Prepares students for graduate studies leading to Christian service in a professional setting. Religious education, secondary subject endorsement: Prepares students for certification for teaching classes in biblical studies on the secondary level or serving as academy chaplain. Social media ministry: Designed for ministry in a local church congregation, or with a few more classes could be used in communication in conference and church institutions. Emphases: Business, missions service, pastoral care. Minors: Biblical languages, missions, religion, social media ministry and youth ministry. possible career paths Bible teacher teaches classes in biblical studies in Adventist school settings, sometimes also serving as spiritual mentor for the students or school chaplain Bible worker shares the Gospel in the community through Bible studies, prayer groups, literature evangelism, home visitations and much more Chaplain serves as a minister in a specialized setting such as in a school, hospital or the military, providing spiritual counseling or guidance as needed Missionary serves in remote locations in educational, pastoral or medical roles Come experience it. Experience the Spirit. Pastoral minister leads a local church congregation Youth pastor develops spiritual programming and mentorship for youth
8 contact Contact us to learn more about the religion program at Union College. religion program www.ucollege.edu/religion religion@ucollege.edu p 402.486.2526 f 402.486.2574 union college Admissions Office Union College 3800 South 48th Street Lincoln, NE 68506-4386 www.ucollege.edu enroll@ucollege.edu p 402.486.2504 f 402.486.2566