Christian Distance Learning

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) is a program in Pentecostal Leadership designed to expand the influence of leaders with following.

More than a degree, the AGTS D.Min. is a journey of personal transformation in which you will be joined by a diverse cohort of peers. The program is focused on your ministry context and personal growth as a leader. Our participants and alumni represent ten nationalities, and as many denominations, and are leading ministries of all kinds in 26 nations around the world.

The D.Min. experience can be customized to your needs by taking advantage of one of four concentrations: Missional Leadership, Biblical Preaching, Military Chaplaincy or Self-Design study.

The D.Min. program is designed for in-service ministers and is taught in one-week modules offered in February, June and October. New cohorts begin each February, but participants may start in any session. The program consists of nine modules, plus a professional project and takes approximately four years to complete, but the benefits begin on the first day.

Concentration Options

Missional Leadership: Featuring courses such as Leading Christian Organizations, Conflict Management and Strategic Planning, this concentration is designed to serve the minister seeking greater effectiveness in reaching the world through the enhancement of the leadership arts.

Biblical Preaching: The preaching concentration assumes that participants are experienced speakers and focuses on the biblical, theological and practical aspects of becoming a more authentic and convincing expositor of God’s word.

Military Chaplaincy: Chaplains may transfer a portion of their military training into the D.Min. program to create a very efficient and economical way to complete the degree.

Self-Design Study: Following completion of the Core courses, a participant with a specialized ministry interest may work with the D.Min Team to construct a combination of courses, directed research and other experiences to produce an educational framework that is a precise fit to their specialty and context.

D.Min. Program Features:

The AGTS D.Min. experience consists of nine modules, plus a professional project, and is built around several components:

Pentecostal perspective: Distinctive emphasis on Spirit-empowered ministry is framed in a global context.

Lifestyle fit: Relocating is not necessary; your full-time ministry setting is the “first classroom;” travel to Springfield only 3 weeks per year

Cohort experience: Learning and growth occur through the bonds formed in diverse small group relationships.

Modular format: Courses are taught in one-week modules, with a new cohort beginning every February, but you can begin in any session.

Personal transformation: The leader’s interior life is the starting point for expanded influence.

D.Min. Program Goals

Mission: transforming leaders to transform their organizations

Vision: leaders worth following

The D.Min. experience focuses on giving participants the opportunity to expand their influence by growing into ministers who are:

Self-Aware: a consistent commitment to cultivating the disciplines of self-leadership, personal spirituality, and integrity

Holistically Pentecostal: a deepening historical and theological appreciation of the Pentecostal-Charismatic tradition leading to a distinctively Spirit-empowered ministry

Professionally Mature: an increasing competency for effective leadership, preaching, military chaplaincy or other ministry

Academically Integrative: a growing ability to utilize the insights of both biblical and practical theology, as well as the social and behavioral sciences

Globally Aware: an expanding awareness of the implications of globalization for Christian ministry

Peer Networked: a mutual benefit from long-term personal connections with other ministry professionals

Missionally Engaged: a renewed emphasis on the priorities of evangelism and world mission within the overall ministry of the church

Research Contributors: an enduring service to the larger Church through the publication of a Professional Project

Published Authors: a broader audience reached through the development of professional writing skills