Bachelor of Arts in
Ministry and Leadership

Program Overview

The Oral Roberts University College of Theology is a diverse and multi-faceted home to many exciting majors focused on ministry. As a Ministry and Leadership major, you will gain extensive knowledge of the Bible, a sound understanding of theology, and an excitement for ministry that will fuel your passion for the future.

In this degree plan, you get to choose from five concentrations: church operations, evangelism and outreach, local church pastor, sports ministry, intercultural studies, or youth and family ministry.

Church Operations Concentration

The Church Operations concentration will train and equip you for church operations. Foundational to this concentration is training in organization, programming, leadership aspects, and the relationship of the church to the denomination and society. You will develop skills in the administration of nonprofit organizations, principles of management and organizational behavior. You will also get training and development in preaching and teaching the Bible. This major emphasizes a strong biblical/theological foundation and provides well-balanced training in the theory and practice of pastoral ministry.

What are some of the core experiences of the Church Operations concentration? 

• Principles of Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Administration of Non-Profit Organizations
• Teaching the Bible

Evangelism and Outreach Concentration

The Evangelism & Outreach concentration prepares students for service in the professional capacity of itinerant evangelist or staff evangelist. It emphasizes a strong biblical/theological foundation and provides well-balanced training in the theory and practice of evangelism.

What are some of the core experiences of the Evangelism and Outreach concentration?

• Introduction to Evangelism
• Evangelism and the Local Church
• Church Growth and Planting
• Urban Outreach Ministries

Local Church Pastor Concentration

In the Local Church Pastor concentration, you will be trained and equipped to grow the kingdom of God through leading at the local church level. You will receive broad knowledge and a diversity of skills in pastoral care, preaching, teaching the Bible, evangelism, mission work and discipleship developing pastoral attitudes and abilities to help them train, supervise, lead, and nurture a local congregation of believers. It emphasizes a strong biblical/theological foundation and provides well-balanced training in the theory and practice of pastoral ministry.

What are some of the core experiences of the Local Church Pastor concentration?

• Church Growth and Planting
• Christian Leadership
• Pastoral Care
• Team Ministry
• Church Administration

Sports Ministry Concentration

Do you feel called to full-time ministry but also feel called to the sports industry? The Sports Ministry concentration could be for you! In the United States and in many countries around the world, sports are a part of everyday life. This major responds to that demand as it unites a major industry with ministry. As a student of ORU’s Sports Ministry program, you will have opportunities to be involved in summer camps, church camps, sports camps, local sports leagues, and major sports leagues including the NFL, WNBA, MMA, NASCAR, and more. Within this concentration, you will see that the field is wide open for chaplaincies, camp directors and counselors, strength coaches, team coaches, and ministers to be involved in evangelism and discipleship ministries. As a student in the Sports Ministry major, you will receive training in legal aspects of sports as well as ways to minister the Gospel in the sports industry.

What are some of the core experiences of the Sports Ministry concentration?

• Pastoral Ministry
• Global Perspective of Sport
• Psychology of Human Performance
• Ethics and Christian Approaches to Counseling

Youth and Family Ministry Concentration

Youth ministry is a super fun, yet super critical aspect of ministry. It is so important that youth ministers are properly trained and prepared for this line of work. Not only will you receive an extensive foundation of biblical knowledge, but you will also gain an incredible array of skills in pastoral care, teaching the Bible, evangelism, missions and discipleship. You will leave ORU ready and able to fulfill the call of God on your life to reach our youth.

What are some of the core experiences of the Youth and Family Ministry concentration?

• Youth Culture
• Introduction to Youth Ministry
• Media and Technology in Ministry
• Pastoral Care of Families with Youth
• Teaching the Bible

What makes ORU’s Ministry and Leadership program stand out?

In the Ministry and Leadership program, you will have so many amazing opportunities to really hone in on the direction you want to go in ministry. You will be exposed to many facets and avenues in ministry and the experience is second to none. The Theology Department at ORU is committed to your growth and success and provides a support system to walk you through the program to reach your full, God-given potential.

What about accreditation?

As a university, we meet the accreditation standards set by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of the top outside regulators in the U.S. 

Are there scholarships available?

Many of our full-time, undergraduate virtual students receive ORU grants and scholarships through academic achievement and ORU’s premier Quest Whole Leader Scholarship. To learn more about financial aid, click here.

Reasons to complete my ORU degree Virtually

• Attend classes from anywhere...in the world
• Live. interactive lectures in real-time through high-definition video conferencing
• Taught by ORU on-campus faculty
• Interact and engage with fellow students and professors in and out of the virtual classroom
• Access to ORU Virtual resources 24/7
• Fully accredited and Spirit-empowered degree program

Experience what students around the world have gained earning a degree with ORU Virtually.