Children & Family Ministries

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Children & Family Ministries at a glance

North Central’s Children & Family Ministries major will prepare you to be a minister, teacher, mentor, and servant for children and their families in your church, community, or mission field. Through courses taught by experienced, passionate professors, you’ll learn to work with children at various developmental stages, develop programs that will spread the Gospel and build the Kingdom, and form partnerships with churches, pastors, and community leaders.

What sets us apart

Internship opportunities

Intern with local churches, community programs, and service groups.

Get real-world experience and hands-on training

The internship experience is an important part of all programs in the College of Ministry at North Central. In the Children & Family Ministries program, you’ll have opportunities to intern with NCU’s partner churches and organizations. Your internship will present you with new challenges and learning experiences as you prepare for your career after graduation and get one step closer to living out your calling.

One of the keys to a successful internship is the mentoring relationship you’ll form with your internship supervisor and your advising professor. We work with our partner churches and organizations to make sure your internship is a valuable, fulfilling experience. Plus, you’ll be supported, mentored, and coached by your advising professor throughout your internship and afterwards as you reflect on the experience. This will give you insights into your passions and God-given talents, and help you pursue a fulfilling career path. Plus, when you finish your internship you’ll have hands-on experience in the field and a network of people who work in children and family ministries and can recommend you to future employers—or hire you!

A Bible and Theology professor in his office.

Biblical foundation

Get the biblical foundation you need to effectively serve children and families.

Study the Bible so you can share its truths in today’s world

Preparing and training ministers for service has been core to North Central’s mission since its founding in 1930. A key part of this preparation is making sure graduates of our programs have a solid foundation in the Bible, so they can effectively share God’s Word with others.

In the Children & Family Ministries program, you’ll take foundational courses in the Old Testament and the New Testament, learn about the history, practices, and beliefs of the Assemblies of God, grow in your understanding of historic and contemporary theology, and discover ways to meaningfully teach Bible and theology to children.

Study abroad in the Holy Lands

As part of your program, you’ll take a 3-4 week tour of the Holy Lands.

Experience the Holy Lands

Led by Dr. Marc Turnage of the AG Center for Holy Lands Studies, this tour includes lectures from some of the leading archeologists and scholars in Israel and visits to ancient sites in Israel and Jordan. Numerous once-in-a-lifetime experiences work together to bring the land of the Bible to life in a way that will enrich your biblical knowledge and reading for the rest of your life.

You’ll also have opportunities to participate in activities such as snorkeling in the Red Sea, a Camel trek through Wadi Rum, swimming in the springs of Sakne, hiking down the Arbel Cliffs, Jeep treks through the desert in Jordan, an evening boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, floating in the Dead Sea, participating in the Temple Mount sifting project, and an archeological dig in Beth Gurvin.

Some scholarships are available so interested students should apply early.

Details, application materials and year-specific trip information are available on the Center for Holy Land Studies website.

For more information, contact:

Vienna Lewin
Study Abroad Coordinator
vglewin@northcentral.edu
612.343.4184
Liechty Hall 103

Skills you’ll gain
When you graduate from the Children & Family Ministries program, you’ll be prepared to:
- Minister to children at various developmental stages and their families
- Provide pastoral leadership
- Use technology, storytelling, puppetry, drama, and other illustrative skills to reach your audience
- Develop and lead ministry teams
- Teach Bible and theology in meaningful ways
- Train children to participate in and lead worship experiences
- Plan and implement programs through budgeting, team building, scheduling, and communicating
- Practice spiritual formation
Potential careers
Our graduates succeed in a variety of jobs and careers. Here are some possibilities:
- Children’s pastor
- Family pastor
- Youth pastor
- Director of Family Ministry
- Urban and international children’s and family pastor
- Leader of camping ministries
- Ministry in drama
- Ministry in music
- Ministry with special needs children
Minors & supporting programs
We want you to be well-rounded and well-prepared when you graduate, so you’ll have the opportunity to choose a minor or supporting program so you can explore another area of interest. Here are some possibilities:
- Alcohol & Drug Counseling
- Biblical Languages
- Deaf Culture Studies
- Evangelism & Church Planting
- Intercultural Studies
- International Development
- Leadership Development
- Preaching
- Urban Studies
- Youth Ministries
See the full list of minors and supporting programs.

Current Student (Double Major in Children & Family Ministries and American Sign Language)

Elizabeth Erickson '16
Richfield, WI

"I get excited about my classes because I know my professors are passionate about what they teach. I'm challenged to think further, work harder, and never give up."

Requirements

All students must complete the General Education Core and Christian Studies Core. General electives may be added or an optional minor may be selected. You need 124 total credit hours to complete the Children & Family Ministry degree.

View course listing

Meet one of your professors

Lon W. Flippo, D.Min.

Professor, Children and Family Ministries

Dr. Lon Flippo hails from the plains of Kansas. He and his wife, Chris, have been married for over 30 years and have two children and two grandchildren. Lon has pastored for over 30 years in a variety of roles and has a passion for inspiring parents to pass their faith onto their children.

Lon holds a Doctorate of Ministry from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary and has authored three books. His work has received acclaim from: readers, for its realism and theological insight; parents, looking to pass their faith onto children; and teens caught in the modern challenge of connecting scriptural wisdom to modern life.

Find more at www.iparentnow.com (@iparentnow).

Books by Dr. Lon W. Flippo:

Available on Amazon.com, Kindle or iBook.

What are your areas of expertise?

Children and Family Ministries/Pastoral Ministry/Homiletics

What do you love about teaching at North Central?

NCU students are amazing. They are passionate and desire to use their calling to make a difference in the world. I am honored to be a part of their journey in faith and higher education.

What are your favorite classes to teach?

I love teaching, so honestly all my classes are exciting to share with students.