Kern

Every ministry student is concerned about 3 things:

1. How can I be developed into who God is calling me to be?
2. How can I get a job doing what I’m called to do?
3. How am I going to pay off my student debt?

The Kern Mentoring Program meets these needs by developing ministry students who are deeply formed, better trained, with less debt.

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1. Deeply Formed

The Kern Mentoring Program equips pastors through deep spiritual formation, professional development, and robust community-building opportunities.

• Group mentoring in the form of weekly cohorts, students of similar graduation year, meeting weekly for spiritual formation and leadership development.
• One-on-one coaching by a faculty member, upperclassman Kern student, or a local pastor for intentional guidance in your personal formation. 
• Retreats for deeper formation and community development as a Kern cohort.

2. Better Trained

 The Kern Mentoring Program develops better trained students who are more hireable upon graduation in three ways: 

• Two degrees in five years. An undergraduate ministry degree* can be completed in three years and a Master of Practical Theology—an advanced Master's of Divinity equivalent—in two years,* giving you an advanced ministerial education in significantly less time.
• Practical ministry experience. The fifth year of the program (the second year of the Master’s degree) transitions to an online education experience that pairs with a 12-month residency program at an approved "teaching church." Students gain ministry experience through local church practicums, on-campus ministry opportunities, and a semester-long church Internship.
• Professional networking. The bonds students make throughout the five-year program will become key pastoral connections and a strong professional network to support ministry upon graduation.

3. Less Debt

It is more affordable to receive the 2 degrees in 5 years through the Kern Mentoring Program than it is to complete 1 undergraduate degree in 4 years. This is accomplished through:
• Savings from finishing an undergraduate degree in 3 years.
• An annual undergraduate scholarship of up to $3,000 per year, in addition to other undergraduate scholarships (see below for award amount per GPA).
• A $181/credit-hour scholarship during the Master's degree, amounting to just over $11,400.

Next Steps

1. APPLY. Upon acceptance to Indiana Wesleyan University, the Kern Mentoring Program application is accepted at any time. 
2. INTERVIEW. Upon receipt of the application, Kern staff will reach out to schedule an interview, either on-site at IWU or a video call.
3. ACCEPT. Kern staff will contact applicant directly regarding admittance into the program. Freshmen Kern Cohorts begin each Fall semester, and current IWU students will begin participating in their respective cohort immediately.

Contact

For more information about the Kern Mentoring Program, please email jake.thurston@indwes.edu or call 765-677-4103. Apply today!

Note

*Eligible undergraduate majors for the Kern Program include:

• Christian Ministries
• Youth Ministries
• Children’s Ministries
• Worship Ministries
• Christian Education
• Global Ministries
• Community Development
• Pastoral Counseling and Care

**Awards are given based on GPA (Year 1 from high school GPA, Years 2-3 from college GPA):

• 3.5 + = $3,000
• 3.2 – 3.49 = $1,500
• 3.0 – 3.19 = $500