Lancaster Bible College’s undergraduate, fully online Ministry Leadership degree has been a popular choice for those desiring to take their ministry service to the next level. Now, this same degree is also available on campus at the bachelor’s level for those studying in person in Lancaster, Pa.
The Ministry Leadership degree, both on-campus and online, is one of several ministry-related programs at LBC, including Pastoral Ministry, Children & Family Ministry, Intercultural Studies and Youth & Young Adult Ministry. Along with additional Bible & Theology programs, these are under the umbrella of LBC’s School of Bible & Ministry.
The new on-campus Ministry Leadership program is a general ministry degree that allows students to take courses in multiple different areas of focus to fit their specific needs. Dr. Esther Zimmerman, Program Chair of Undergraduate Ministry Leadership, believes this degree is the perfect fit for two types of students.
“There are typically two kinds of students that find themselves drawn to this degree,” Zimmerman said. “One is the student who knows they are called to ministry, and they want to make a difference for God in the world, but they don’t see themselves as a pastor. They have a more general call to ministry. This degree allows them to step into the ministry space without being confined to a particular program.
“The other kind of student that I find has been attracted to the degree,” she continued, “is one who has a very specific thing that they are interested in, and it doesn’t line up with one of the other degrees in the department.”
MacKenzie Arnold (’26), a transfer student to the on-campus Ministry Leadership program, is a prime example of this. “I chose to major in Ministry Leadership at LBC because I knew that the field I wanted to go into wasn’t specific to any of the other Church & Ministry Leadership programs,” Arnold said. “I knew that this major would best prepare me for my calling and equip me to do what God has called me to do! After graduation, with my degree, I hope to go into the anti-human trafficking field, working with a nonprofit organization.”
A few main focuses are key to the Ministry Leadership program, regardless of whether students engage in learning fully online or on campus. Many of these core elements are common throughout all ministry programs at LBC.
“We believe character is important,” Zimmerman said, “so who somebody is becoming is every bit as important as the skills they are building. Additionally, personal integrity and spiritual integrity are going to be significant themes in any of our ministry programs. Leadership skills will be a significant focus of the program, as well as basic skills of teaching God’s Word, caring well for people, discipling people and approaching people who don’t yet know Jesus.”
Because ministry programs at LBC are robust, students have many opportunities to learn and grow in several areas.
“For the student who is unsure of where they fit,” Zimmerman said, “this degree gives them the opportunity to more deeply explore the different areas of ministry and find what fits them best.”