Minor in Missions

Overview
The missions minor equips students to reflect on the historical, theological, cultural and strategic realities that impact effective cross-cultural witness and service. As agents of the Great Commission, students are prepared to exegete Scripture and cultural context, avoiding the mistakes of the past while using the most effective means possible to advance the gospel.
Courses
Below are the course requirements for this academic program. In addition to these program-specific requirements, all majors include Biola's traditional undergraduate core curriculum. For more program details, including a sample course sequence, visit Biola's academic catalog.
Core Courses
ANTH 200 | General Cultural Anthropology |
The nature of people in culture; worldview and perception; culture change; a study of the subsystems of cultures, including social organization, religion, language and related topics. Includes practical applications to global problems such as AIDS, human rights, etc. Notes: Approved for Core Curriculum Behavioral Science credit. Grade Mode: A. | |
BBST 458 | Theology of Mission |
Study of God's redemptive acts in Scripture on behalf of mankind, with application to the mission of the church today. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 233 | Foundations of Global Studies |
Exploration of foundational issues related to international and intercultural ministry, including foundational models of global Christian witness, mission formation, contextualization, and an overview of various global realities (poverty; international development; Islam; unreached peoples; urbanization; globalization; and peace, security and conflict) from a Biblical perspective. Career tracks in intercultural and global service are explored. | |
INCS 333 | Principles of Church Multiplication |
Exploration of the foundational issues related to global ministry, emphasizing church planting strategies for entering and leaving an area. A holistic approach to ministry designed to empower nationals for ministry and using teamwork with the investigation of spiritual gifts, skills and life experience. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 334 | Church Planting Models and Strategies |
A survey and analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of various church planting strategies. Emphasizing key factors which the church planter can implement in a given cross-cultural context with strategy for turning over the leadership to the local church. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 338 | Urban Ministry Models |
This study moves beyond the classroom to actual urban church plants in the greater L.A. area. Visits and dialogues provide the practical ways pastors, lay people, parachurch people, and missionaries prepare themselves and their congregations for intentional church planting in ethnically diverse communities. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 410 | Frontier Missiology |
An examination of the theology and missiology of the 'frontier missions' movement and the emphasis on 'unreached peoples', including its historical background, leading proponents, anthropological conceptions, and strategic implications; the dynamics of pioneer church movements; contextualization in Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Tribal societies; insider movements; and other models of mission breakthrough. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 444 | History of the Expansion of Christianity |
The historical development and spread of the Christian faith from the apostolic period until today. Emphasis is given to the modern era, especially growth dynamics in the Global South (non-Western world). Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 450 | Theology of Mission |
A study of the centrality of God's redemptive acts on behalf of mankind from both the Old and New Testaments, as well as theological issues related to the mission of the Church in modern times. Notes: See BBST 458. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 451 | Principles of Evangelism and Church Growth |
A basic understanding of evangelism and church growth concepts as related both to local congregations and to the task of worldwide evangelization. Attention is given to identifying receptive peoples, bringing them to faith, incorporating them into the church and multiplying more churches. Grade Mode: A. |
Elective Courses
INCS 324 | Introduction to Islam and Islamic Theology |
An introductory survey of the Islamic world and its faith, and major themes in Muslim theology and doctrine from the Qur'an to contemporary Muslim thinkers. Topics include faith, practice, the daily life and spiritual world of Muslims; the systematic character of Muslim thought; theological, historical, political, social and cultural barriers and bridges between Muslims and Christians. Critical issues like contextualization, power encounter, church multiplication, the role of women, and contemporary Islamic thought including the emergence of Islamic fundamentalism and militant Islam. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 332 | Peoples of the World |
A study of specific cultural areas with an emphasis on customs, social structures, religion, arts, and history. Areas of specialty may include: | |
INCS 333 | Principles of Church Multiplication |
Exploration of the foundational issues related to global ministry, emphasizing church planting strategies for entering and leaving an area. A holistic approach to ministry designed to empower nationals for ministry and using teamwork with the investigation of spiritual gifts, skills and life experience. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 334 | Church Planting Models and Strategies |
A survey and analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of various church planting strategies. Emphasizing key factors which the church planter can implement in a given cross-cultural context with strategy for turning over the leadership to the local church. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 338 | Urban Ministry Models |
This study moves beyond the classroom to actual urban church plants in the greater L.A. area. Visits and dialogues provide the practical ways pastors, lay people, parachurch people, and missionaries prepare themselves and their congregations for intentional church planting in ethnically diverse communities. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 342 | World Christianity |
An introduction to the contemporary worldwide Christian movement, focusing on social, cultural and missiological issues; the translatability of the gospel; and non-Western missions and religious movements. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 360 | Short-Term Mission Leadership |
Preparation to effectively lead a short-term mission team (STM) and program, including team training and preparation, models of STM service, spiritual and cultural issues, analysis of the STM paradigm, and assessment of STM effectiveness. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 410 | Frontier Missiology |
An examination of the theology and missiology of the 'frontier missions' movement and the emphasis on 'unreached peoples', including its historical background, leading proponents, anthropological conceptions, and strategic implications; the dynamics of pioneer church movements; contextualization in Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Tribal societies; insider movements; and other models of mission breakthrough. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 447 | Approaches to the Islamic World |
Exploration of historical and contemporary approaches to Muslim peoples, including an analysis of effective interactions and Muslim perceptions, and individual and organizational approaches like evangelism, apologetics, interfaith dialogue, evangelism, apologetics, education, development and compassion ministries, reconciliation, peace-building and the planting of transformational communities. This course will equip students with an understanding of the basic competencies needed to live and serve effectively among Muslim peoples in the name and spirit of Jesus. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 448 | Topics in Islamic Studies |
Studies in selected issues pertaining to Islam, such as Islamic Theology; The Qur'an and Muslim Tradition; The Life of Muhammad; Muslim-Christian Relations; Islam in the 21st Century; Islam and State; The Anthropology of Islam. Conflict and Change in Islamic World or an in-depth study of a particular aspect of Islamic thought, practice or history. Notes: May be taken multiple times with different content. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 451 | Principles of Evangelism and Church Growth |
A basic understanding of evangelism and church growth concepts as related both to local congregations and to the task of worldwide evangelization. Attention is given to identifying receptive peoples, bringing them to faith, incorporating them into the church and multiplying more churches. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 456 | World Religions |
The distinctive features of the historical ethnic religions, with special emphasis on their comparison and encounter with Christianity and their bearings upon missionary strategies. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 457 | Urban Research |
The use of social science research techniques to learn about the people, needs and opportunities for living, working, and serving in the city. Special attention is given to researching people groups and the adaptations they make to urban contexts. | |
INCS 458 | Village and Tribal Cultures |
Analysis of the cultural institutions and values in tribal, peasant and newly emerging economies, with special consideration as to their openness or resistance to change. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 468 | Women in Cross-Cultural Ministry |
The dynamics of women in missions and cross-cultural ministry; historical, social, cultural, psychological, physical, and spiritual issues. Special focus on challenges and opportunities in the contemporary world. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 470 | Seminar in Intercultural Studies: Selected Topics and Issues in Missions |
Explores various themes and topics of current interest in Intercultural Studies. | |
INCS 480 | Directed Research |
Directed reading, individual work, in-depth investigation of a topic under the guidance of the faculty using standard research procedures. Notes: Topic selection and course enrollment by advisor's approval. Grade Mode: A. | |
INCS 490 | Practical Mission Training |
Topics in missionary preparation. Notes: Also available for CPLE. Grade Mode: A. |