BA, Intercultural Studies + MDiv, International Church Planting

Accelerate Missions gives students the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Arts, Intercultural Studies and Master of Divinity, International Church Planting in just 5 years. The program provided graduates with introductory experience in Christian missions, combined with formal instruction in cultural studies as well as biblical and theological foundations for international missionary service.

Accelerate Missions incorporates a minimum of one year in the Fusion program; a residential program at Spurgeon College for young believers which sends them to the most unreached unengaged peoples of the world in partnership with the IMB. By participating in Fusion their first year, those involved in Accelerate: Missions will be working with the unreached immediately, not putting it off until they are done with school. Why? God is not receiving the glory He deserves among all peoples. Serve, study, and train for a lifetime of making disciples among the nations through Accelerate: Missions.

Accelerate Missions Outcomes

Students completing the Intercultural Studies major will be able to do the following:

Interpret Scripture using theologically and historically informed principles
Demonstrate skill in communicating biblical truth cross-culturally
Demonstrate basic leadership skills in Christian missions and ministry.

Why Accelerate Missions?

Are you already interested in long-term service with International Mission Board or another sending organization? Often, seminary hours are required for those who intend to be career missionaries. Not only that, but those who are serving in pioneer locations can greatly benefit from seminary education in their personal walk with the Lord. Completing a Master of Divinity alongside your Bachelors saves you money and precious time serving God in hard to reach places.

IMB Education Requirements

View IMB Requirement Details

Long-Term Team Member (Apprentice | 1st Term)
- The head of household needs 12 hours of graduate-level theological studies in the following areas:
  - 3 hours New Testament Survey
  - 3 hours Old Testament Survey
  - 3 hours Biblical or Systematic Theology
  - 3 hours Hermeneutics
- All long-term applicants who are not the head of household will be required to have a minimum of 12 hours of certificate, undergraduate or graduate theological credit.
  - 3 hours New Testament Survey
  - 3 hours Old Testament Survey
  - 3 hours Biblical or Systematic Theology
  - 3 hours Hermeneutics
Long-Term Team Member (Career | 2nd Term following Apprentice term)
- For Career status, the head of household needs a minimum of 20 hours of seminary studies. No additional education is required for wives.

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Program Completion and Duration

The Accelerate: Missions program allows students to complete the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity Degrees in 165 total hours, over 5 years of study. Applicants to the Accelerate: Missions program must submit additional documentation in the admissions process. Students enrolled in Accelerate: Missions must maintain a 3.0 GPA while taking 30 credit hours per academic year to remain in the program. Students who cannot meet the requirements of Accelerate: Missions will be transferred to the standard Bachelor of Arts or Master of Divinity degree programs, depending on the extent of their progress thus far. Students successfully completing the first four years of the program will graduate with the Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies. Once the fifth year of Accelerate is completed, students are awarded the Masters of Divinity, International Church Planting degree through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Contact Information

Questions about Accelerate?

Taylor DiRoberto | Director of Accelerate
tdiroberto@mbts.edu
(816)414-3826

Questions about Fusion?

The Fusion Staff
fusion@mbts.edu
(816)414-3777

FAQ

Do I have to do Fusion to participate in Accelerate Missions?

Great question! No, you do not have to do Fusion to do Accelerate Missions. However, for single students who are between 18 and 23 Fusion is a great way to get immediate experience in the hard to reach places of the world.

Helpful Links

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Accelerate Missions Tracks

Fusion Track

BA Intercultural Studies–MDiv ICP

General Education (45 hrs)

BN170 Introduction to Business & Finance
CM110 Introduction to Public Speaking
GE101 English Composition I
GE102 English Composition II
GE135 Quantitative Reasoning
GE185 Introduction to Physical Science
GE205 World Geography
GE240 Survey of World Literature
GS101 Foundations for Kingdom Success
HM300 Introduction to Philosophy
HT112 Church History I
HT113 Church History II
HT411 World Religions
MS201 Global Missions
PY100 Introduction to Psychology

Intercultural Studies Major (36hrs)

BC100 Fundamentals of Biblical Counseling
CE405 Making Disciples
GE111 Phys Ed I (1 hr)
GE112 Phys Ed II (1 hr)
GE220 First Aid (1 hr)
IC395 Fusion Internship or CE210 Christian Leadership
HT460 Biblical Theology
IC101 Personal Leadership Development
IC301 International Security & Risk Management
MS220 Foreign Language I
MS221 Foreign Language II
MS250 Intro to Cross Cultural Studies
MS350 Missions Practicum
MS420 International Leadership

Additional Undergraduate Courses (12hrs)

HT200 Introduction to Ethics
HT450 The Church
Undergraduate Biblical Language I
Undergraduate Biblical Language II

Graduate + Undergraduate Credit by Exam (30Hrs)

BS2210 Old Testament Survey I*
BS2211 Old Testament Survey II*
BS2310 New Testament Survey I*
BS2311 New Testament Survey II*
MN5060 Evangelism & Discipleship*

Graduate Foundational Core Courses (24hrs)

BS2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics**
HT3110 Baptist History**
HT3200 Theology I**
HT3201 Theology II**
HT3300 Introduction to Apologetics
MN5110 Principles of Preaching***
MN5111 Expository Preaching Lab***

MDiv, ICP Courses (18hrs)

MN7209 Cross-Cultural Communication/Language Learning
MN7217 ICP Practicum I
MN7218 ICP Practicum II
MN7216 Cross-Cultural Church Planting
Graduate Biblical Language I
Graduate Biblical Language II****

*Taken on Graduate level with undergraduate credit given upon successful completion of a Credit-by-Exam. In lieu of the exam, students may also take the undergraduate course in addition to the Graduate level course.
**Taken on Graduate Level and will fulfill requirements towards a BA as stipulated by HLC 3+2 Program.
***Female students take CE8110 Principles of Teaching I and CE8111 Principles of Teaching II.
****Take Hebrew if undergraduate biblical language was Greek; take Greek if undergraduate biblical language was Hebrew.

Standard Track