Every ministry student is concerned about 3 things:
- How can I be developed into who God is calling me to be?
- How can I get a job doing what I’m called to do?
- 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. Deepy 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 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
Completing two degrees in five years through the Kern Mentoring Program costs considerably less than completing one undergraduate degree in four years. Kern students can qualify for up to $3,000 in aid through a Kern Loan-Grant*** each academic year in the undergraduate degree and a scholarship of $191/credit hour each semester of the graduate degree.
Next Steps
- APPLY. Upon acceptance to Indiana Wesleyan University, the Kern Mentoring Program application is accepted at any time.
- INTERVIEW. Upon receipt of the application, Kern staff will reach out to schedule an interview, either on-site at IWU or a video call.
- 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 kern@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
***Awards are given based on GPA:
- 5+ = $3,000
- 2–3.49 = $1,500
- 0–3.19 = $500
The Kern Loan-Grant award is considered a loan at the undergraduate level, requiring students to sign a promissory note each year that they receive money. Once 29 graduate credits have been completed, half of the undergraduate loan-grant is forgiven. All is forgiven at the completion of the master's degree.