Ouachita Baptist University is a great place for future pastors to attend.

My opinion. Taylor University. By far the best place ever. The education, friendships, community & experiences I gained from being there were INCREDIBLE! I fell in love the moment I set foot on campus and it continued to grow from there. I have friends & know the profs that are/were in the Bible Program and would love to make connections if you'd like.

I agree with Phil Cooke. I went to the University of Connecticut, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. At UConn I found a vibrant body of believers at Campus Crusade for Christ and along with it an opportunity to exercise and share my faith right on campus with classmates. There was no Christian cacoon to be had at UConn so it really provided a place where I had to make my stand as a believer. My advice to your son is to find a great school with a really great campus ministry and become a part of it. Learn what it is to reach out to our community literally as you reach out on campus, and finally graduate and go to a great seminary.

BIOLA!

Late to the discussion I know, but I have to put a plug in for Biola. They infuse a Christian worldview into all majors, from nursing to cinema/media arts. Your son would get to learn from some of today's top philosophical thinkers: J.P. Moreland, William Lane Craig. I'm an alum if you have any other questions. :-)

It IS expensive, and I do agree anyone pursuing ministry has to definitely weigh the student loan issue...

Take a year off between high school and college and go to a YWAM Discipleship Training School...especially in a culture that is foreign to him. That training and then the months of service that follows is a tremendous foundation for any school you put him in - whether it's Harvard (where I went) or Moody.

How did I not know you were a Harvard grad. Man...that's impressive, and daunting. I'll have to practice using fancier words next time we chat. :)

You know your recommendation carries a lot of weight, our plan has always been high school>college, but there does sound like a lot of wisdom in high school>ministry/learning/exploring>college lots to chew on.

ETERNITY BIBLE COLEGE IN SIMI VALLEY, CA FRANCIS CHAN'S SCHOOL!!!

Life Pacific found here: http://www.lifepacific.edu/

Why Life Pacific?

So this was a month ago...but I wanted to respond to your question. I graduated from Life Pacific in 2009 and I love this school. It's on the smaller side, which I saw as a plus. The faculty and staff truly care for the students and there are some really exciting things going on there. The student body are very focused on seeing changes in their community, the nation and the world. The guest speakers that come in for the chapels and the faculty are people who have their finger on the pulse of the Christian community and are actually out there practicing what they preach.
If he's interested in doing a YWAM type program they have Ignite, which also earns him college credit. Through that program he can spend a few months in missions work in a non-traditional college setting.
The tuition is lower than at some other colleges and they are accredited, so his degree will transfer elsewhere if he's interested in pursuing further education afterward.
One final thing, you get out of bible college what you put into it. There are people who graduate and think that then they'll become a pastor and impart all of their knowledge on others. It's the people who do internships, participate in missions and non-profit causes that really get the most out of their education. No amount of learning can fully prepare you for ministry. It's getting out there and making the mistakes, creating the connections and seeking out mentors that will help him in the long run.

I would strongly recommend the James River Leadership College (based out of James River Assembly in Springfield, MO.) The website is http://www.jrlc.com I'm currently a student in the college, and it has been the most stretching experience of my life. The college is accredited through Central Bible College. Our professors come from CBC, Evangel and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. They are top in their respective fields and constantly challenge us both in the classroom and out. What makes JRLC different is that students also get tons of hands-on ministry experience at James River Assembly. Through going here I've been a part of seeing 1000's of people impacted by the Gospel. We, as students, are constantly challenging and pushing each other to grow in our leadership. There’s a strong family atmosphere within the college. It's definitely a school worth looking into!

Nice to hear. We have something just like that kicking off in Grand Rapids (CBC campus like JRLC). I love the church (Grand Rapids First) and the leadership that is putting it all together.

What's the community like among the students? My concern with something like that is that it acts more like an extension campus, the students aren't all hanging out in the same area, dorms, commons, activities, etc.

I can't speak for Grand Rapids, but as far as JRLC goes, it's a great community atmosphere like any college. For housing, JRLC rents blocks of apartments/townhomes together. This upcoming year, for example, all the students will be staying in a brand new apartment complex next to church. This creates a very tight knit family of students. My closest friends here in Springfield were all fellow students with me. Because of the size of James River Assembly, there are tons of common/study areas. JRLC even has its own library on campus. You can usually find most students around the church, the housing or at coffee shops in the area.

As far as leadership (and I don't just say this because I'm a student here haha), the pastors and staff of JRLC are second to none. They are some of the most incredible people I've ever worked with. From our lead pastor John Lindell and JRLC Director Dr. John Spence, they're all top notch and passionate about raising up the next generation of leaders.

I agree that a non-denominational Bible college is a great experience. I grew up A/G and am so glad I chose a non-denominational college because I was exposed to a wide breadth of theological and doctrinal positions. I think a it's important, especially for a pastor, to be able to have reasoned through various stances and to be able to defend and communicate his position.

Also, while Christian colleges can be expensive, not everyone graduates with debt they'll never get out of. My husband and I both attended private Christian schools and were debt free by ages 24 and 27... working in ministry!

Check out Northwestern College in Saint Paul. (http://nwc.edu) It's a liberal arts college with a degree in Pastoral Studies as well as several others in the Christian Ministries field... and awesome communication and graphic design programs, too. <wink></wink>

I'm an executive pastor. So I probably don't count as a real pastor.

I spent 15 years in higher education teaching and working as an administrator before spending the last 10 years as an associate/administrative/executive doing everything from the business side to counseling to preaching to spiritual formation.

Further, I'm a Wheaton grad, (as well as UT-Austin), married to a Moody grad, with kids that have gone to a local state university and to Bethel (IN). I have worked at a Bible college, a Mennonite college, a Catholic university, and attended Baptist (three different kinds), CMA, Missionary, and Brethren churches.

As a result, either I have no commitment to anything or I have a range of experience, at least part of it being God-directed.

With all of that, here's my recommendation. There is no optimal school that any of us can recommend for your son. I watch people come to pastoring from Bible college, seminary, grad school, Christian college, state university. I watch people from every one of those struggle and from every one of those succeed (with all the appropriate biblical measures of success).

Instead of asking what school, ask where your son can find mentors? Where can he find formation for his soul? Who are the people that God has put on his heart and what does he need to learn to be able to reach them? What clear simple, completely irrational "that's it! That's the place!" is God poking him with? What is he already doing that is about making disciples and where can he best extend that (wait, he isn't? He's waiting for the education? (I know better than that)).

And, why assume that being a pastor is a mono-vocational thing? It isn't necessarily a biblical model.

enough.

At the risk of starting an online war, my question is "Why a Bible college?" If he's going to be a pastor, that's the LAST place I'd send him. A pastor today needs to engage the most complex, difficult, distracted, and disrupted culture in history. As a result, he needs a well rounded education. He needs to understand the liberal arts - history, science, mathematics, literature, the arts, and of course theology.
That's why I think "Bible colleges" are way off the beam. Send him to a Bible College and he'll get an incredibly small sliver of the education he really needs if he's going to make an impact in today's culture.
Send him to Oral Roberts University, Biola, APU, Regent, Liberty, Moody, Gordon-Conwell, Wheaton, Pepperdine, or any of the other great Christian liberal arts universities out there. (And there are many).
Better yet, send him to Harvard or Columbia, and THEN to Seminary.
I don't mean to trash Bible Colleges. For some who can't get into a 4 year university, or those who are older or in full time employment, it's the only option. But for a young person who's expecting a bright future? Well...
We can only thank God that men like C.S. Lewis went to Oxford and not to Bible College...

I agree with Phil. Bible/christian college might not be the answer. It took me several years of grinding it out in going no where pastoral roles to 'de-program' my education (liberal arts christian college) and truly discover my strengths.

I think some of the internships that some churches are doing are a better place to start. I like to see kids get involved in ministry and life for a few years and then figure out what kind of education to get.

I do really like the idea of an internship. Lots of great churches and organizations out there, could be a really good first step.

Always difficult to have a prize ahead (ie. diploma, credentials, etc) and doing things that postpone that, but it might be the right move.

I took a year off from school after I graduated and it was the time God worked in me the most in my life. Postponing a diploma or credentials wont postpone what God can do. :)

I've had a few people suggest that, and I really like the thought process behind it. I don't want him to go somewhere that separates him from the dark, but prepares him to be an influence within it. I don't want to surround him with online sunshine and choir music (one of the reasons a school like Bob Jones is off the list)...I want him, as the Moody video points out, to roll up his sleeves and get into the filth. Of course he also has to be equiped and filled up so that he ends up cleaning the filth and not be eaten up by it.

And, what of the "boys club" that I have to imagine exists within the schools and helps get him a job later on. The community side of college is a big thing we're looking for.

If you are 100% sure your son is going to be an AG pastor then the most valuable thing about going to an AG bible college is the contacts he is going to make. I can't really overestimate the value of this. It is the difference between a part time youth pastor gig three miles outside of nowhere and an entry level position at a visible ministry.

If he is not sure when or where he is going to minsiter then I say find the best AG church (with ministry training) that is in a college town in your state. Cheap tuition, ministry training, good degree, ministry experience, not inundated with kids who were forced by their parents to go to a christian college.

If he is sure after college he wants to go to ministry and nothing really avails itself he can go to grad school through the denomination of choice and pretty much be guaranteed a job.

He's probably more sure of it than I am. It's what he knows. While I do see a lot of strengths to the denominations, and the brotherhood within A/G is strong...I see a lot of the churches that are making big strides and big differences outside of those denominational lines. I do have a lot of respect for many A/G pastors and I also like that A/G is a bit looser (in fact I don't think they call themselves a denomination) and let the church leadership move as they see fit. At least from what I know.

There is an extension of CBC kicking of in Grand Rapids...the only downside there is he wouldn't get the campus experience like he would at a more traditional college. But I love the practical side that he would get there and love the people that are a part of the college there.

I live in the Dallas area and my pastor attended Christ for the Nations. I personally know several people who've graduated from there and it's a great school. I'm actually looking at attending their evening program. I think it worth a look

Here's a sobering comment from a Pastor that came in from FB:

"I read your blog and am excited that he has a call of God on his life to become a pastor. This is a good thing. The "tough fact of life" right now is that the average A/G bible college student graduates with $40-50K in student loan debt, then has to pay this off on a youth pastor or pastor's annual salary that averages $20,000 during the first five years out of college. The fact that over 50% of bible college students find their mate at school, and their spouse has an equal amount of debt is disturbing and heartbreaking.

Many financial experts right now agree that private college for four years is the worst investment a family can make, unless the student is going into a technical field with a guaranteed job at the end of the degree. Another viable alternative that families are looking at is keeping the student home for two years to complete their "general education" requirements at a local community college and then transfer to finish at the school of their choice. Unless the family has saved and put aside $100,000 in advance, the alternative scenario may be the best decision to consider."

As a current Moody student I think this speaks volumes in favor of Moody.

Also not mentioned before is the fact that Moody does not waive tuition fees, they are in fact covered by donors who have heard, been affected by, and/or want to be a part of the ministry that is the Moody Bible Institute.

Check out moody.edu for more info, but also check out moody conferences, same site, to see all the chances we as moody students get to hear and in many cases get to rub elbows with leaders in ministry from around the country and the globe.

As for minstry exposure, from rural to urban areas, the Chicagoland area has it all. There is no place that has the vast depth of possible ministry opportunities that we have here.

Our location in the heart of downtown Chicago is just a sweet bonus.

-Kevin
International Min. Major
MBI Class of 2012
czechkevin.wordpress.com

Wow, that video http://bit.ly/any4hG definitely puts Moody on our list.

And it definitely says something about what they're doing if they have donors that will cover much of the tuition. I like that not just because it relieves his debt as a pastor, but it shows that they have something to believe in.

I'll have to dive into their belief systems, etc. Are they associated with a denomination, or closely tied?

Tell your son to ask the admission folks if its ok for him to pray in tongues in chapel. Doors may begin to close.

http://www.moodyministries.net/crp_MainPage.aspx?id=344

Being a part of a worship experience at each of his top 3 schools will most certainly be a part of the search process. If he can't be on fire for the way they do things, it's not the place to learn to do things.

Non-denominational. I'm from a Christian & Missionary Alliance Church out of Pittsburgh and there is a pastoral major from an A/G church in SW PA on my floor as well.

Our beliefs:

http://bit.ly/cln7jc

-Kevin

Johnson Bible College, Knoxville TN. www.jbc.edu

OSL for sure
gives you not only college credit (not online credit or something like that but actual college credit from Southwestern Assemblies of God University)
has great internships where you don't just do work for the church but you get to be a part of what the church is doing
AND its cheaper then going to regular bible college even though u get more out of it

Check out Columbia International University. You essentially walk away with a dual major - Bible and then whatever your declared degree is. It really encourages you to apply a Biblical worldview to your chosen field. Thanks to my education there, I approach my job as a videographer through a Biblical set of eyes.

http://www.ciu.edu

Liberty is really good. Also Washington Bible College, and Messiah.

I worked at the LA Dream Center for a coupe years and while it is a great place, where God is truly working through people, I don't think it will get your son the kind of intense bible teaching that he is looking for. So, if he does end up going that route- I recommend sincerely doing some research before you invest time into education there.

They began starting the college recently as I was phasing out.
I am starting at Azusa Pacific University this fall, and though expensive, I have only heard great things about. I have also heard great things about Biola and Point Loma down here in California. So those would be my suggestions. :)

Thanks for your thoughts on LA DC, I can definitely see him going there for an internship or something of that sort. He's the kind of guy that wants to do the work...his least favorite part of his youth group's missions trips? The down time where they see the sites.

Not to harp on the subject, but the students at Life frequently get over to the Dream Center to work there. :)

Yea- I went down after I graduated highschool to take a year off and interned for a year. Ended up really getting into Marketing, had a great boss, and stayed there for a couple years while I started school at a community college to save money.

Gave me some awesome experience and a great opportunity to learn from someone I consider very wise. But definitely glad to be going to a University like APU for my actual degree.

Would recommend it for an internship though, definitely a place where anyone would be stretched.

Well, I didn't go to a Bible College, but I have several friends who went to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. It's a great school (founded by it's namesake, D.L. Moody) with lots of opportunity for practical ministry (it's literally in the heart of downtown Chicago). And best of all, it's tuition free due to Moody's desire that no one entering the mission field should do so in debt. Anyhow, worth a look!

Well I like that tuition rate and love Chicago.

I would recommend not going to undergrad for Bible. I have seen so many people go to undergrad for bible, graduate and then go to seminary and in the end they work as 3rd shift manufacturing employees.

I am not discouraging from being a pastor but the core bible training really comes in seminary. So i would diversify the undergrad to give greater flexibility.

Interesting thought. So go to a 4 year, get a degree in journalism, communication, whatever...then move to seminary? Interesting path.

What I like about going to bible college is that he'll be building relationships with others that will hopefully end up in other churches, become pastors, etc. I see college as much about community as I do academics.

I attended Nyack College in NY (45 mins from NYC). While not A/G, Nyack is rooted in a tradition that honors God's work through the Holy Spirit as well as a Christ centered spiritual formation department. There are some fantastic professors in the Bible and Pastoral ministries department. There is a large emphasis on practical ministry and there are many ministry teams that your son could join that minister to those in and around NYC. http://nyack.edu/

My favorite thing about Nyack was the depth and breadth of cultural & academic diversity at the school. It is one of the most racially diverse Christian Colleges in the United States.

Make sure he checks out Evangel University, here in Springfield, Missouri, home of the A/G world headquarters. I'm not A/G, but Evangel seems to be a good school. Springfield is a great college town, too. Plus, Missouri State University has a great graphic design department (featured in Print Magazine a few years ago) if he wants to take a few classes! Let me know if you have any questions about Springfield!