Missions Programs

Be Equipped to Take the Gospel to Any Culture—from Urban Settings to International People Groups

From the beginning, missions has been the heartbeat of mid-america. So we offer a world of degree options that will equip you to cross into cultures new to you and advance the Gospel into areas where little light has been shed. From urban church planting to international missions among unreached people groups, you’ll be trained to reach the lost in any context as your heart is challenged to embrace a passionate desire to win souls for Christ.

Explore the Options and Benefits

what is missions?

is missions a good fit for me?

what makes mid-america distinctive?

ALL PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE!

Four Levels of Training

Master of Arts

Explore the MA in Missiology and Intercultural Studies, a two-year program

MDIV in Missiology and Intercultural Studies MDIV in Urban Church Planting Accelerated MDIV in Missiology and Intercultural Studies

Doctor of Ministry

Explore the DMIN in Missions

Doctor of Philosophy

Explore the PhD in Missions

Want to earn your MDIV in Missions in as little as two years?

Check out our Accelerated Master of Divinity program with a concentration in Missiology and Intercultural Studies.

Earn your MDIV in two years

Program Faculty

Mark Thompson, PhD
Director of the Arkansas Prison Initiative, Assistant Professor of Church History, Missions and Theology

Email: mthompson@mabts.edu

Explore the Options and Benefits

What is Missions?

More than three billion people in over 7,000 people groups are not only unreached by the Gospel but have no access to it. There’s no one around them who knows it—even in many developed nations. In addition to these Gospel frontier areas, much of the rest of the globe in under-reached and unchurched. Even in nations with a strong presence of evangelical Christians, many have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. Missions is how we as believers reach those in spiritual darkness, wherever they may be.

How is a degree in missions applicable for today?

At Mid-America, we consider missionaries as “special forces” and equip them to enter any environment to fulfill the Great Commission. Our Missions degree programs focus on preparation for international or domestic missions and missions-style ministry. The programs prepare you to dissect cultures, understand worldviews, discern historical and current approaches to missions, and plant multiplying churches. If you’re ready for “special ops,” Mid-America is the place!

Is missions a good fit for me?

If you see yourself moving in and out of different cultures, environments, and contexts, a ministry in missions will find you reaching the lost and building communities of followers of Jesus that multiply into additional discipleship communities.

Read the statements below. If you identify with two or more, missions may be a good fit for you, and you should read further.

What Makes Mid-America distinctive?

Since our beginning 50 years ago, three words have defined our focus at Mid-America: Bible. Missions. Evangelism. If you spend any time around the campus, you’ll hear these three words repeated again and again. They are the foundation on which Mid-America was built. They are what make us distinctive, and they remain the emphasis in all we do.

Bible Missions. Evangelism. They build on each other. The Bible is our authority and provides us with the Great Commission to go and make disciples. Missions is the program by which we penetrate the darkness and reach the lost wherever they might be—across the street or across the sea. Evangelism is the plan by which we reach the nations—one individual at a time. To use three more words you’ll hear a lot around Mid-America, we are committed to “LIGHT THE WAY.”

If you’re looking for a seminary where theology meets the street, then Mid-America is your kind of school. We are a major feeder school for missions organizations such as the Southern Baptist International Mission Board (IMB) and North America Mission Board (NAMB). In fact, IMB President Paul Chitwood recently had this to say about Mid-America:

“The watchwords for Mid-America are Bible, missions, and evangelism; therefore, it is only natural we would be partners together in helping churches fulfill the missionary task given by God to His people.
“Since Mid-America’s founding in 1972, the IMB has been sending Mid-America graduates to fulfill many roles including church planters, theological educators, human needs ministers, and even affinity group strategy leaders. We have sent them to every inhabited continent. Because Mid-America students are required to share the Gospel each week while enrolled in Seminary, we know we are getting missionaries trained in evangelism and disciple-making.
“Sending long-term missionaries is not the only way we partner with Mid-America. We also partner through student programs like the 2+2 program, Hands-on, and Nehemiah Teams where current students get a taste of missions while making an eternal impact in the lives of those to whom and with whom they minister on the field.
“The IMB thanks God for this partnership and looks forward to seeing the ways Mid-America graduates and students will continue to be used to fulfill the Revelation 7:9 vision.”
Paul Chitwood
President, International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention

Academic Resources

Questions about our academic programs or scheduling? Explore our catalog, calendar, or course schedules for additional information.