Christian Ministries Major
Sensing a call to serve God and others in full-time Christian service? George Fox University’s bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries enables graduates to succeed in ministry, whether in formal church settings; youth ministry; missions; education or parachurch organizations; in service-related professions like nursing, counseling or social work; or in the marketplace as a person of faith.
Possible fields of emphasis include theology and vocation, cross-cultural ministry and youth ministry. For more information on the course requirements of the degree and each concentration, see the current academic catalog.
At the center of the program is the conviction that the Christian faith is relevant to all of life. Our professors draw from the best of George Fox’s evangelical and Quaker heritage. Their research includes historical social justice issues; theological and historical studies in the Wesleyan tradition; theology in a global context; worship and homiletics; and Christianity and culture.
Choose from three concentrations:
This concentration equips students interested in serving in cross-cultural ministry contexts in the United States and overseas. Within the cross-cultural ministry course sequence, students explore foundational topics such as the biblical theology of mission, the historical development of the global church, issues and trends in contemporary mission, and contextual methods for cross-cultural ministry.
In addition to the core courses, students engage in practical cross-cultural ministry experiences through the semester abroad program and via internships in local churches, nonprofit organizations, or parachurch organizations. Graduates of the cross-cultural ministry emphasis enter into professional fields such as international relief and development, medical missions, urban ministry, international missions work, Bible translation, pastoral ministry, and teaching English as a second language (TESOL).
The theology and vocation concentration forms students into reflective practitioners, able to think deeply about the theological and practical implications of their vocational calling. Over the course of four consecutive semesters, students participate in a cohort learning community of 12 to 18 students, called theological praxis, that invites them to explore their personality, spiritual formation, theological commitments, their relationship to God, the church and the world, and real-life application of these areas to contemporary critical issues.
This unique kind of immersive learning community creates rich relationships that allow for deep exploration of intellectual and experience hands-on, embodied practical ministry together. Cohorts are open to Christian ministries majors, minors or those majoring in other disciplines who wish to explore applied theology in their vocational context. New cohorts begin in the fall.
In the Youth Ministry concentration, students are prepared for ministry with adolescents in either church or parachurch settings. Its four-course sequence gives students tools for ministry that include theological and philosophical foundations for ministry; tangible and practical skills for leading small and large groups; theologically reflective skills for engaging with adolescents and pop culture; and fundamental tools for counseling.
With the conviction that practical field experience in ministry is the best way to develop ministry skills, cultivate a sense of calling and enhance future employment opportunities, the youth ministry concentration places a high priority on field ministry in church, parachurch and youth social service settings. Finally, throughout the concentration, an emphasis is placed upon spiritual formation, and the development of personal theological faith commitments.
Request more information about the Christian ministries major at George Fox University or schedule a visit to begin your education at Oregon's Christian university, ranked as one of the top Christian colleges in the nation by Forbes.
Jobs, Internships and Graduate School
Christian ministries graduates find themselves both qualified and sought after for positions in churches, mission organizations and faith-based nonprofits. Those alumni that pursue graduate education find themselves well-prepared for pursuing advanced degrees in biblical or theological studies, and it is not uncommon for graduates to build on their Christian ministries foundation by pursuing upper-level degrees in teaching, social work and counseling. All Christian ministries graduates leave as men and women formed by Christ and ready to serve as agents of formation in the lives of others.
- Night Ministry, Portland Rescue Mission
- Nurse, Sisters of Providence
- Youth Minister, 2nd Street Community Church
- Dentist, La Clinica
- Translator, Wycliffe Bible Translators
- Chaplain, United States Air Force
- Adjunct Professor, University of Notre Dame
- Missionary in Indonesia, Wycliffe Bible Translators
- Principal, Newman Catholic Middle/High School
- English Teacher in Rwanda, Rwanda Yearly Meeting of Friends
- Portland Seminary
- Gordon-Conwell Seminary
- University of Edinburgh
- Princeton Theological Seminary
- Dallas Theological Seminary
- Yale Divinity School
- University of Notre Dame
- Eastern University
- University of Nebraska
- University of Portland, School of Nursing
- Oregon Health & Science University, School of Dentistry
- Mission Year
- 2nd Street Community Church, Newberg, Ore.
- Dundee Covenant Church, Dundee, Ore.
- Love, INC, Newberg, Ore.
- Friendsview Retirement Community, Newberg, Ore.
- Minuteman Community Education
- Catholic Community Services
- Youth Dynamics
In the News
Grad’s passion for racial reconciliation is changing lives in Philadelphia
If there’s ever the temptation to get discouraged and give in – to let all the brokenness and heartbreak around him derail the work at hand – Jael K.D.L.V. Chambers doesn’t let on. He can’t afford to. The need is too great, the stakes too high.
As associate regional director for Young Life in Philadelphia, Chambers sees it all: the fatherless homes, the desperation of “the hood,” the palpable racial and political tension in the city. And yet, he remains unfazed. He’s witnessed too many instances of restoration and reconciliation to lose hope now. Read more …
Student Experiences
"I spent two years doing ministry with the safety net and coaching of my professors. I experienced some majorly challenging moments in ministry that continued even after I graduated, and to know I still had professors I could call on to meet and to problem solve was huge for me. They helped me understand how God had been working over the course of my life to show me what his calling on my life would be, and they gave me the tools I needed to do the work God has for me."
- Frances Bunday
"I was taught to think critically and faithfully about the message of Jesus and how it impacts our lives, and I saw that truth lived out daily in my relationship with my professors. George Fox has left a lasting legacy on my spiritual life and my desire to do excellent biblical and cultural exegesis in order to demonstrate just how compelling Jesus is. But more than anything else, God has taught me to trust and to follow and to take care of myself in order to better care for others. I learned the skills of self-care in my time at Fox. I am confident that I am a healthier, better-adjusted follower of Jesus because of the foundations I received in my time there."
- Mat Hollen
Points of Distinction
- Faculty members have real-life ministry experience.
- Our programs prepare students for a life of service, not only “professional” ministry positions.
- Programs include perspectives on social justice issues, peace and reconciliation.
- Students are prepared for graduate and post-graduate studies.
Why George Fox?
Christ-centered community
Our faith influences everything we do here, from the way our professors teach to the way we relate to one another and serve in the community.
Global opportunities
More than half of George Fox undergraduate students study abroad, ranking George Fox among the nation's leaders in study abroad participation (U.S. News & World Report).
Small classes
Our 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio means you'll get to know your professors on a personal level.
National recognition
George Fox University is a Christian university classified by U.S. News & World Report as a first-tier regional university, and Forbes ranks George Fox among the highest Christian colleges in the country.
