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Introducing New Courses for Cross-Cultural Studies Majors: Business as Ministry I & II

Published On: Friday, April 16, 2010

 

Fact: 83 percent of the world’s population is not accessible with a missionary visa.

Knowing that the purpose statement of Northland International University is “preparing the next generation of servant-leaders for Great Commission living,” we continually ask ourselves, “How can we help prepare our students to better reach this 83 percent?” The answer: a continued commitment to our traditional Bible training while offering courses to students that expand, intensify, and accelerate their ministry opportunities.

Northland’s recent Great Commission Summit on “tentmaking” provided a catalyst for offering business training to our Cross-Cultural Studies students. Paul used tentmaking to facilitate his ministry. It seems reasonable that our next generation of servant-leaders can do the same. Steve Whigham (MBA), Northland’s chief advancement officer who has a rich and varied résumé of hands-on marketing, business management, and entrepreneurship experience, will lead two courses to lay the groundwork for a practical, biblical business philosophy and methodology that can be applied as a means for ministry. The courses will also include highly-seasoned, missions-minded guest lecturers with appropriate skill sets to enrich these classes with practical business wisdom.

What will the new courses cover?
Six (6) key areas of study with a biblical basis and philosophy are as follows:

  1. Marketing & Ministry
  2. Sales Management & Ministry
  3. Finance & Ministry
  4. Business Operations & Ministry
  5. Globalization & Ministry
  6. Entrepreneurship & Ministry

We are excited about how God might use this training to prepare students for future ministry opportunities. In the New Testament, Paul clearly engaged in business to further his missionary work. It is in this spirit that we present these courses.

For more information on these new courses for missions students, contact Neal Cushman, the chairman of the Department of Cross-Cultural Studies  and director of Northland Center for Global Opportunities.