Abstract

Purpose, scope and method of study. The study explored students' perceived preparedness for ministry in Christian contexts after exposure to an Outcomes-based Education/Competency-based Education and Training curriculum and instructional approach to ministerial training. This sequential, mixed methods study surveyed 47 participants from two Nazarene institutions of higher education comprised of three subgroups, for quantitative data regarding their perceptions of their preparedness for ministry. Qualitative data was gathered by interviewing seven participants with the highest and lowest scores on the survey.

Findings and conclusions. The study found similarities in the scores obtained from both institutions and in students' perceptions of their acquisition of stated student learning outcomes. Overall, students felt moderately prepared for ministry and were positive about the impact of the curriculum. However, there were observable differences in perceived preparedness between students from the two institutions and between modalities. A greater percentage of online bible college students (83.4%) felt very prepared and moderately prepared for overall ministry than the percentage of on-campus university students (63.8%). More bible college students also felt very prepared and moderately prepared in leadership, administration, and discipleship than their university counterparts did. Qualitative findings revealed broad thematic categories that substantiated quantitative findings on students' perceptions of cognitive, affective, and spiritual competencies, and other factors influencing their perceptions of preparedness.