Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA (Hons)) top-up in Theology, Mission and Evangelism

Full Time – 1 year (after successful completion of the FdA)

Our BA (Hons) top-up course in Theology, Mission and Evangelism, validated by The University of Chester, seeks to provide an innovative and practical approach to learning how to pioneer and study evangelism. At The Light College, we are concerned with making sure that theory and practice go hand-in-hand, marrying Theology and Biblical Studies with on-the-ground practical mission. Although there is very much a ‘classroom’ component to studying with us, much of the learning happens in context while on placement, actively engaged in mission activity. All our staff and lecturers have a passion for sharing the Gospel in fresh ways, and this is very much reflected in all the teaching and learning that takes place. Many of our FDA students go on to progress to the BA (Hons) programme.

Entrance Requirements

The BA (Hons) is designed to be highly accessible to people from a wide range of backgrounds (ages, abilities, church traditions etc.). The BA (Hons) top-up programme is open to graduates of our FdA. Graduates of other suitable foundation degrees and students with appropriate Level 5 or equivalent qualifications are welcome to apply.

The application process for those successfully completing our FdA course involves the submission an application form and an induction interview. Those wishing to apply following relevant level 5 study elsewhere must apply to the college and attend an interview, with this being followed by a short period of discernment by both the applicant and the college, after which an offer to join the course may be made.

Studying on the Course… Learn how to be a Pioneer Evangelist

After successful completion of the FdA, or relevant Level 5 study from elsewhere, full-time students will study 6 modules over a further year, studying at 4-5 gathered weekend residential ‘lecture blocks’ (venues may vary) and 1 or 2 virtual online lecture blocks.  In addition to these lecture blocks, all students will have online lectures/tutorials and worship times on Tuesday evenings each week during term time.

What will you Study?

The focus for the course is pioneering mission and evangelism, and all of our modules have that at their core. As such, modules in Theology or Biblical Studies, for example, will retain a fundamentally missional emphasis. The following are the 12 modules studied for the FdA, and the 6 modules studied for the BA.

FdA Modules

• Discipleship – We begin with a focus on personal discipleship, looking at and developing our own spiritual lives of prayer and Bible study etc., and considering how this interacts with our lives of action as evangelists.
• Historical Approaches to Evangelism – This module explores how people over history have engaged in evangelism, mapping the growth of the church throughout history and pausing at some particular movements including the Celts, the rise of the Evangelicals and finally Pentecostal and charismatic approaches to evangelism.
• Christianity, Culture and Communication – Here we examine how the Gospel is communicated in ways that are sensitive (and also potentially challenging) to our culture, with a particular practical focus on the Christmas message.
• Introduction to Biblical Studies – An engaging and highly practical look at the Christian scriptures, taking into consideration various useful methods of examining and studying them in-depth, as well as the central role of the reader in interpreting them.
• Nurturing New Believers – In this module, we look at some of the approaches and concepts around discipleship, analyse contemporary church-based courses and resources, and reflect on our personal experiences of being discipled and discipling others.
• Using John’s Gospel in Evangelism – Continuing with the skills learned in Biblical Studies, some central themes of the Gospel of John are considered, especially in relation to what this book has to say about mission and evangelism.
• Christian Leadership – This module focuses on leadership of others specifically in relation to mission and evangelism, and offers the opportunity to reflect on your own leadership within the context of a missional placement.
• Creative Arts and Media in Evangelism – Examining the use of the arts and media to convey the Christian message in context-related ways, you’ll be encouraged to explore your own ways of creatively expressing the Good News.
• Theological Approaches to Mission – There are many ways of thinking about mission and evangelism, and here we look at some of these, focusing primarily on holistic mission (including social care and justice and creation care).
• Evangelism in Contemporary Culture – The central question addressed in this module is around how God interacts with groups of people or ‘cultures’ (rather than individuals) in making himself known.
• Approaches to Christian Theology – Some key theological doctrines are unpacked and examined through the particular missional lens of apologetics – providing reasoned defences of Christian faith.
• Pauline Studies in Evangelism – We look at some of the central themes of Paul’s letters, in particular how they relate to real-world mission in the 21^st Century.

Progression

Students can progress on from the FdA to study the BA (Hons).

FdA Modules

Progression

After successful completion of the Pioneer Chaplaincy course students can progress onto the 2nd year of the part time FdA. studying 3 modules a year over the following 3 years.

BA (Hons) top-up Modules

• Pioneering – This module explores what it means to follow Jesus "the pioneer... of faith" (Hebrews 12:2) and to participate in the mission of God beyond the walls of the church, examining fresh and emerging expressions of Christian community.
• Evangelistic Communication and Preaching – This very practical module will examine and reflect upon, and ask you to carry out, engaging communication of the Gospel
• Christian Interpretation and Use of the Old Testament in Mission – This module seeks to interpret the diverse texts of the Old Testament from a particularly Christian perspective and therefore in light of Jesus, the New Testament and our own faith experience.
• Dialogue and Christian Mission with other Faiths – This Module will explore the beliefs and practices of other world religions, equipping students to understand and critically evaluate both the religions themselves and the theological and missiological interpretive approaches taken by various Christian thinkers.
• Action Based Research Project – This double research module will allow you to go more deeply into an area of mission and ministry that you have found of particular interest in your practice in pioneering mission and evangelism, helping you to formulate your question well and to seek to address it through effective research.

BA (Hons) top-up Modules

Tuition Fees

Information and guidance on student finance is available at www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk

For self-funding students, The Light College has a small bursary fund and we will attempt to help any students who truly need financial assistance. Light College students are eligible for a Stewardship Account for friends and family to support them financially.

If you would like more information please contact the course administrator via admissions@lightcollege.ac.uk or telephone (03333) 446489 and leave a message.

Our current tuition fees are:

Full-Time - £7,800/year

Part-Time - £3,900/year

Enquire / apply or have a look at our courses menu for more options

Accredited Baptist Ministerial Training

Develop your pioneering and mission skills

While studying on a Degree course (above), students simultaneously have a pathway into accredited Baptist ministry training with a particular emphasis on pioneering and mission. This training is offered in partnership with Northern Baptist College who provide the Baptist Ministerial Formation element.

Enquire / apply or have a look at our courses menu for more options