1988-1989 Academic Catalog

20 Student Life Christian Ministries Every student is encouraged to participate in some area of Christian ministry for at least two of the four years of the college program. This experience provides a vital means of achieving the stated objectives of the college. Located in the offices outside the chapel auditorium the Chris– tian ministries department provides opportunities f~r practical application of knowledge gained in the chapel and classroom. Directed by the vice president for Christian ministries and coordi– nated by seven full-time staff members, this department offers one of the largest ministry programs of any Christian college in the country. Students volunteer for any one of eighty-eight different ministries. Their impact is extensive: gospel teams minister in over 400 churches each year, compassion teams reach out locally thro1;1gh nearly sixty social ministries, and Missionary Internship Service teams share the gospel on every continent in the world. The vice president for Christian ministries is responsible for the assignment of students who register for Christian service work and is available for pastoral counseling. He and his staff coordi– nate Sunday services and prayer meetings on campus, traveling teams and all outreach ministries. Records are kept of all Chris– tian ministries activities, and a permanent file is maintained for each student. Missionary Internship Service _M~S provides unique opportunities for students to experience m1ss10ns first-hand. Each year, particularly in the summer, nearly 100 students share the gospel around the globe through team and individual ministries. This involvement in missions aids mission– aries in their work and helps students discern God's direction in their own lives concerning career missionary service. Participants are expected to raise their own financial and prayer support and report on their ministries. Some students choose to earn academic credit for the experience. Details of the program are available from the Christian ministries office. Countries in which MIS teams have served include: Australia Germany Spain Br~zil Israel the Ivory Coast Chma Jamaica the Philippines England New Zealand New Student Orientation Immediately prior to the beginning of each quarter new stu– dents participate in an orientation program designed to facilitate a?justments to their new surroundings and provide an opportu– mty for course selection and program planning with the assistance of ~n assigned faculty adivsor. The fall program includes an orien– tat10n pr?gram for parents. Special interest sessions, question and answer times, small group meetings, and social activities allow student~ and parents to meet friends while addressing the needs found m the new surroundings. During this period several apprai.sal in~truments are administered to new students. Required fall onentat10n programs for freshmen involving sessions on time management, study skills, and test-taking extend into the first quarter. One of eight gospel teams that travel to churches during the school year, the Mas– ters Puppets specialize in children's ministries, using puppets to share spiritual truths.