Africa School of Missions

The purpose of the Missions and Pastoral training programme is to provide in-depth study in the areas of the Bible, Theology, Missions and principles of church leadership. This Mattersey Hall Distance Learning option is available to those who choose to undertake their ministry and missions preparation at Africa School of Missions. Graduates of this course may serve as pastors, evangelists, educators, missionaries and in other church-related occupations (as well as in many other fields). The objectives of the modules are designed to help build the student’s skills for ministerial and related professions and the knowledge and skills a graduate is expected to achieve should allow the graduate to serve in various leadership capacities in a local church or ministry organization. This course is aimed at potential church leaders, missionaries and ministers.

The general objectives are that, by the end of the programme, graduates will be able to demonstrate:

Skills in biblical interpretation
Knowledge of church history
A grasp of Christian doctrine
An understanding of the issues and methods of Christian theology
Skills in the communication of Christian doctrine
Understanding of the principles and history of Christian mission
An ability to interact critically with a broad spectrum of theological positions
Competences in areas of possible ministries such as those informed by counseling, leadership and church growth.

The goal is to assist students in loving and serving God through learning His word. Each course has been prepared by experienced leaders with solid academic qualifications, and all the subjects are carefully selected to reflect the needs of today’s generation.

This programme aims to introduce students to the academic disciplines of Biblical and Missiological Studies, and Systematic Theology, from a solidly faith-based but analytical perspective. It seeks to develop students’ critical skills to enable them to make rational assessments about the interpretation and application of biblical texts to contemporary situations. Preparing men and women both intellectually and in other ways for all forms of Christian ministry remains a key focus of the programme. This program does not take a disinterested and clinical academic approach, but seeks to enable graduates to become more effective in serving the nations through missionary work, and church ministry as well as other more broadly defined ministries such as teaching, humanitarian and academic work.

In partnership with an UK based University, Mattersey Hall is pleased to be launching a BTh (Hons) degree in Bible, Missions and Theology purely by distance learning to those who choose to participate in the Missions and Ministry Development Programme at ASM.

Mattersey Hall is subject to regular and thorough quality assurance processes by the university. This guarantees the credibility and value of the qualification you will earn. You can rest assured therefore that the academic standards are entirely comparable to those of any mainstream university and will be recognized internationally.

This vocation-driven programme is designed to enable those who are passionate about Christian mission to engage with the entire discipline in a more comprehensive and meaningful manner, whether their interest is as an intending missionary, or as a church leader keen to facilitate and support missions from their home base. If you are already a missionary, this course will help you to analyse your activities in the light of the modern science of mission and to interact more meaningfully and efficiently with the very latest research, in the hope of making your ministry even more effective.

The course consists of a choice of four modules from the list below (not all options will be available each year – you will be given the choice of modules available when you are accepted for the course). There is also a 20,000 word dissertation.

This course is presently available part time only and is facilitated for two weeks per year, for two years, on the ASM campus. For these two weeks you will be accommodated on the ASM campus in White River, where library facilities are also available. After these two contact weeks each year, you are required to work on your essays and dissertation in your own time and send them in to the Mattersey Hall faculty on the appointed due dates.