Children and Family Ministry (BA)
Credential: Bachelor of Arts (See 4+1 Bachelor’s + Master’s program options below)
Majors: Children & Family Ministry, Biblical Studies
Certification/Licensure: This program is not intended to lead to certification/licensure.
Location: Lancaster
Program Director: Esther L. Zimmerman, PhD
Program Mission Statement: The Children and Family Ministry major will equip students to lead Biblically-based, holistic disciplining ministries with children and their families anywhere.
Program Description: This program exists because every child in every community all around the world should have someone who can help them know, love, and obey God for a lifetime.
• There are approximately 2.2 billion children under the age of 15 in our world today. The church needs globally effective leaders who share God’s heart for children and have the ability to both think and act well.
• A high proportion of the world’s children are considered to be ‘in crisis.’ Effective children’s ministers must be equipped not only to meet spiritual needs, but to approach children and their families holistically.
• The context of the North American church is changing, and effective children’s ministry can no longer focus exclusively on discipling the children of church members. Children’s ministers must also be equipped to engage non-Christian children in the context of their families and local communities.
This major prepares students to design, develop and lead relevant ministries with children and families in the church, the community and around the world. By combining strong biblical foundations, practical equipping, contextual awareness and significant field experience, students will develop the skills needed for effective ministry with children and families anywhere.
Program Learning Outcomes: As a result of this program, students will:
1. Demonstrate integrity as a Christ-follower and leader.
2. Articulate a biblical and personal philosophy of ministry.
3. Evaluate and respond appropriately to the contextual needs of children and families.
4. Acquire skills for holistic discipleship ministry with children and families.
5. Cultivate skills to build and lead volunteer ministry teams.
Experiential Learning: We place a high value on field experience in ministry preparation. As a result, all undergraduate ministry students will complete a 3-credit internship as well as a 3-credit practicum in Children and Family Ministry prior to graduation. Students are responsible for arranging their own field placements in area churches or parachurch ministries. However, the Church and Ministry Leadership Department maintains an active list of ministry internship opportunities and works closely with students and ministries to ensure a good learning experience.
Curricular Structure and Degree Requirements
|
Curricular Structure
|
Credits
|
|
Bible & Theology Courses
|
42
|
|
Arts & Sciences Courses
|
37
|
|
Children & Family Ministry Courses
|
45
|
|
LBC 100 Foundations Seminar
|
1
|
|
Christian Service CSV 201, CSV 202
|
0
|
|
Program Total
|
125
|
Bible & Theology Courses (42 credits)
| BIB 103 | Creation & Covenants: OT I | 3 |
| BIB 104 | Israel's Life & Literature: OT II | 3 |
| BIB 106 | Interpreting the Bible | 3 |
| THE 105 | Prelude to Biblical & Theological Studies | 3 |
| BIB 203 | Life of Christ: NT I | 3 |
| BIB 204 | Early Church: NT II | 3 |
| THE 223 | Christian Narrative I: Creation & Fall | 3 |
| THE 224 | Christian Narrative II: Redemption | 3 |
BNT
| New Testament Elective | 3 |
BOT
| Old Testament Elective | 3 |
| THE 303 | Theology of Children, Youth and Family | 3 |
| THE 320 | Christianity and Culture | 3 |
THE
| Theology Elective | 3 |
THE
| Theology Elective | 3 |
Arts & Sciences Courses (37 credits)
| LAN 101 | Academic Writing, Research, and Rhetoric | 3 |
| LAN 104 | Public Speaking | 3 |
LIT
| Literature Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
HIS
| History Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
SCI
| Science Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
SCI
| SCI Lab | 1 |
MAT
| Math Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
| SOC 101/PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 326 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Course (400 level) | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
Children & Family Ministry Courses (45 credits)
| CML 102 | Foundations of Ministry | 3 |
| CML 210 | Fundamentals of Leadership | 3 |
| CML 324 | Spiritual Formation of Ministry Leaders | 3 |
CML
| CML Elective | 3 |
| CFM 105 | Introduction to Children and Family Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 201 | Teaching Skills for Children | 3 |
| CFM 310/YMN 310 | Family Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 323 | Pastoral Care of Children and Families | 3 |
| CFM 334 | Discipleship of Children | 3 |
| CFM 350 | CFM Internship | 3 |
| CFM 421 | Community Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 433 | Leadership in Children and Family Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 450 | CFM Practicum | 3 |
CFM
| CFM Elective | 3 |
CFM
| CFM Elective | 3 |
LBC 100 (1 credit)
Christian Service (0 credit)
Christian Service provides an important part of the overall education program of the college. Its function is to assist students in experiencing various forms of practical ministry, proclaiming Christ by serving Him in the Church and society.
CSV 201 and
CSV 202
4+1 Programs, Bachelor's + Master's
4+1 Program Options
4+1 Master of Arts in Ministry
4+1 Master of Arts in Biblical Studies
In a 4+1 program, students work toward the completion of an undergraduate degree while also pursuing a Master’s degree. Graduate-level courses taken during undergraduate studies fulfill both undergraduate elective requirements and graduate program requirements. In the 4+1 program, students are dual-enrolled in LBC and Capital Seminary and Graduate School. For more information about the application process, please speak with your academic advisor. Available master’s programs include the Master of Arts in Ministry (MAM) and Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (MABS).
Admission Requirements
A student may opt for the Four-Plus-One track at any point up through the beginning of their junior year. Before a student is formally admitted to the track, however, an evaluation will be conducted by their academic advisor. The evaluation should consider the student’s previous academic performance, character and ability, and the recommendation of another LBC faculty member. Students may then either be admitted into the Four-Plus-One track, be given provisional admittance with requirements (e.g. raising GPA, etc.), or denied admittance and remain on the traditional four-year track.
BA/MAM Curricular Structure and Degree Requirements
Bible & Theology Courses (39 credits)
| BIB 103 | Creation & Covenants: OT I | 3 |
| BIB 104 | Israel's Life & Literature: OT II | 3 |
| BIB 106 | Interpreting the Bible | 3 |
| THE 105 | Prelude to Biblical & Theological Studies | 3 |
| BIB 203 | Life of Christ: NT I | 3 |
| BIB 204 | Early Church: NT II | 3 |
| THE 223 | Christian Narrative I: Creation & Fall | 3 |
| THE 224 | Christian Narrative II: Redemption | 3 |
| THE 303 | Theology of Children, Youth and Family | 3 |
| THE 320 | Christianity and Culture | 3 |
BNT
| New Testament Elective | 3 |
BOT
| Old Testament Elective | 3 |
| Theology-focused Elective | 3 |
Arts & Sciences Courses (37 credits)
| LAN 101 | Academic Writing, Research, and Rhetoric | 3 |
| LAN 104 | Public Speaking | 3 |
LIT
| Literature Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
HIS
| History Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
SCI
| Science Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
SCI
| SCI Lab | 1 |
MAT
| Math Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
| SOC 101/PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 326 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Course (400 level) | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
Children & Family Ministry/MAM Courses (75 credits)
| CML 102 | Foundations of Ministry | 3 |
| CML 210 | Fundamentals of Leadership | 3 |
| CML 324 | Spiritual Formation of Ministry Leaders | 3 |
CML
| CML Elective | 3 |
| CFM 105 | Introduction to Children and Family Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 201 | Teaching Skills for Children | 3 |
| CFM 310/YMN 310 | Family Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 323 | Pastoral Care of Children and Families | 3 |
| CFM 334 | Discipleship of Children | 3 |
| CFM 350 | CFM Internship | 3 |
| CFM 421 | Community Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 433 | Leadership in Children and Family Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 450 | CFM Practicum | 3 |
CFM
| CFM Elective | 3 |
| MIN 504 | Communicating Biblical Truth | 3 |
| MIN 511 | The Church in God's Mission | 3 |
| MIN 512 | Personal Spiritual Formation | 3 |
MIN
| MIN 522 or MIN 523 or MIN 524 | 3 |
| THE 501 | Christian Doctrine I: Revelation, God, Humanity, and Sin | 3 |
| THE 502 | Christian Doctrine II: Christ, Salvation, Church, and the Future | 3 |
| MAM Concentration 1 | 3 |
| MAM Concentration 2 | 3 |
| MAM Concentration 3 | 3 |
| MAM Concentration 4 | 3 |
| MAM Elective | 3 |
| MAM Elective | 3 |
LBC 100 (1 credit)
Christian Service (0 credit)
Christian Service provides an important part of the overall education program of the college. Its function is to assist students in experiencing various forms of practical ministry, proclaiming Christ by serving Him in the Church and society.
CSV 201 and
CSV 202
BA/MABS Curricular Structure and Degree Requirements
Bible & Theology Courses (36 credits)
| BIB 103 | Creation & Covenants: OT I | 3 |
| BIB 104 | Israel's Life & Literature: OT II | 3 |
| BIB 106 | Interpreting the Bible | 3 |
| THE 105 | Prelude to Biblical & Theological Studies | 3 |
| BIB 203 | Life of Christ: NT I | 3 |
| BIB 204 | Early Church: NT II | 3 |
| THE 223 | Christian Narrative I: Creation & Fall | 3 |
| THE 224 | Christian Narrative II: Redemption | 3 |
BNT
| New Testament Elective | 3 |
BOT
| Old Testament Elective | 3 |
| THE 303 | Theology of Children, Youth and Family | 3 |
| THE 320 | Christianity and Culture | 3 |
| MABS Elective | 3 |
| MABS Elective | 3 |
Arts & Sciences Courses (37 credits)
| LAN 101 | Academic Writing, Research, and Rhetoric | 3 |
| LAN 104 | Public Speaking | 3 |
LIT
| Literature Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
HIS
| History Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
SCI
| Science Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
SCI
| SCI Lab | 1 |
MAT
| Math Core (100/200 Level) | 3 |
| SOC 101/PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 326 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Course (400 level) | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
| Arts & Sciences Elective | 3 |
Children & Family Ministry/MABS Courses (78 credits)
| CML 102 | Foundations of Ministry | 3 |
| CML 210 | Fundamentals of Leadership | 3 |
| CML 324 | Spiritual Formation of Ministry Leaders | 3 |
CML
| CML Elective | 3 |
| CFM 105 | Introduction to Children and Family Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 201 | Teaching Skills for Children | 3 |
| CFM 310/YMN 310 | Family Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 323 | Pastoral Care of Children and Families | 3 |
| CFM 334 | Discipleship of Children | 3 |
| CFM 350 | CFM Internship | 3 |
| CFM 421 | Community Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 433 | Leadership in Children and Family Ministry | 3 |
| CFM 450 | CFM Practicum | 3 |
CFM
| CFM Elective | 3 |
| BIB 505 | Introduction to Biblical & Theological Research | 3 |
| BIB 512 | Greek I | 3 |
| BIB 513 | Greek II | 3 |
| BIB 517 | Hebrew I | 3 |
| BIB 518 | Hebrew II | 3 |
BIB
| BIB 536 or BIB 537 | 3 |
| MABS Concentration I | 3 |
| MABS Concentration 2 | 3 |
| MABS Concentration 3 | 3 |
| MABS Concentration 4 | 3 |
| MABS Elective | 3 |
| MABS Elective | 3 |
LBC 100 (1 credit)
Christian Service (0 credit)
Christian Service provides an important part of the overall education program of the college. Its function is to assist students in experiencing various forms of practical ministry, proclaiming Christ by serving Him in the Church and society.
CSV 201 and
CSV 202
Program Director: Esther L. Zimmerman, PhD
Esther is Scottish though she now makes Pennsylvania her home. She attended Cairn University (BS, Bible and BS, Secondary Education), Pennsylvania State University (MEd, Training Design and Development) and earned a PhD from Lancaster Bible College | Capital Bible Seminary & Graduate School.
She has been teaching full-time at Lancaster Bible College | Capital Bible Seminary & Graduate School since January 2016. Prior to that, she served for 12 years as International Children’s Ministry Director for a global mission organization while also supporting her husband in local church ministry.
Esther has been blessed with a global ministry perspective as she led a training project that extended to 60 countries. Her passion is multiplication of discipleship ministry to children in their families and communities and she continues to serve as an active member of the Global Children’s Forum.
She and her husband, David, have three children: Rebekah, Daniel, and Abigail.