Frequently Asked Questions

M.Div./ICP - International Church Planting (2+2/3)

1. If I am in the MDIV ICP program, do I have to go overseas with the IMB?

Yes, the selection into and completion of the MDIV ICP program is contingent upon acceptance by Southeastern and the IMB. SEBTS does not partner with any other mission board for this particular degree. The IMB works closely with SEBTS to assist 2+2/3 students with their IMB acceptance process. A student must complete all the academic requirements of SEBTS and complete their specified field term with the IMB in order to receive the MDIV ICP degree.

2.  Am I automatically accepted by the IMB?

No, you must go through the IMB acceptance process.

3.  Each year the deployment goes to specific regions; what if I feel called to a different part of the world?

Any request to serve outside of the strategic regions for a given deployment group would be considered an exception, and only the director of the Center for Great Commission Studies can approve these exceptions.

4.  Where will I get an IMB job assignment?

The mission personnel from each year's deployment regions will send specific job requests for our students the Fall semester before their deployment and are available in the CGCS office for students to look through.

5.  Can I go overseas prior to completing all of the on-campus requirements?

This would be considered an exception and can only be approved by the director, but no one can deploy with more than six hours left to complete on-campus.

6.  I'm recently engaged - how does this affect my process?

The IMB requires newlywed couples to wait one year after they are married before deploying to the field. You can begin your paperwork/ application process before the actual wedding date but must wait one full year before deployment.

7.  What are some things that will delay a student from going overseas?

Medical clearance, weight issues, debt, marriage, and pregnancies are the main reasons students are delayed going overseas.

8.  What do I need to do in order to receive my MAIS with my MDIV ICP degree?

You must apply to graduate with both degrees in the same semester. In other words, you cannot graduate with the MDiv ICP and then pursue the MAIS degree. Both degrees must be completed within the same timeframe. From your MDIV ICP degree, 24 hours will also apply to the foundational core of the MAIS. In addition to these 24 hours, you will need to take 12 hours of MAIS track selectives, over and above the courses that you have already taken for your MDiv degree. You will also complete a 12 hour Project in Ministry paper. This will give you an additional 24 hours of credit. In total, the MAIS degree is composed of 48 credit hours.  At the time of graduation, you must have completed a total of 114 credit hours to receive both the MDiv ICP and the MAIS degrees.

M.Div./NACP - North American Church Planting

1.  Who is the Director of the M.Div. NACP program?

Dr. Mike Dodson serves as the Associate Director of North American Church Planting for the Center for Great Commission Studies. Mike has worked in pastoral and church planting roles for over 15 years and has written numerous books and articles including Comeback Churches with Ed Stetzer.

2. Who should I contact with any questions regarding North American Church Planting?

Dr. Mike Dodson (mdodson@sebts.edu; 919-761-2165) or his assistant Kristine Wage (kwager@sebts.edu; 919-761-2138).

3. Why is North American Church planting important?

North America is far from reached, and it is definitely not monolithic. Estimates conclude that approximately 250 million lost people live in North America, and many of that number represent people groups from around the globe. Urban centers around this nation, especially in the Northeast and Canada, are in desperate need of healthy, reproducing churches that embody and proclaim the gospel in a way that is faithful to the Scriptures and meaningful in each particular context. Becoming a church planter or member of a church planting team is a strategic and vital way to invest your life in a North American context.

Mission Trips

1. Who can go on a mission trip through the Center for Great Commission Studies?

CGCS mission trips are intended for Southeastern's college and seminary students as a part of Southeastern's focus on the Great Commission. For this reason, every mission trip involves 3 to 6 credit hours of coursework. Occasionally, exceptions are made for a student who would like their non-SEBTS spouse, child, parent, or friend to join them on the trip. If the spouse, child, parent or friend will take the mission trip for course credit, then they will certainly be permitted to join the trip. This can be done by working with the Admissions Office to gain "non-degree seeking student" status.

2. What kind of coursework is involved in a mission trip, and do I need to register for it?

Students will not need to register for the courses associated with a mission trip. The CGCS will register all team members once their airline tickets have been purchased. Mission trips typically involve some assigned reading before the trip. During the mission trip, there will often be some time set aside daily for focused discussion and lecture about missions and evangelism in that particular context. The students will spend the majority of their time putting these lessons into practice, which will be evaluated through a trip journal. The journal and any writing assignments will be due a few weeks after the students return from the trip. Since so much of the mission trip is a practicum, the courseload is often lighter than the average college or seminary course.

3. Is tuition included in the estimated cost of the trip?

No. The estimated cost of the trip includes such things as food, airfare, hotel, transportation, and all things directly related to the mission trip itself. Tuition is a separate expense which you will need to pay through the Accounting Services Office prior to departure. However, all mission trip classes titled "Evangelism Practicum" involve a tuition scholarship, so students will receive free tuition for that course. The "Current Topics" course will be charged standard tuition rates.

NOTE: If the Accounting Services Office notifies the CGCS that any student has an outstanding balance on their student account, that student will not be permitted to go on the trip.

4. What happens to the money I raise if I drop out of the trip, or what happens to any money I raise over and above the cost of the trip?

All mission trips require the student to pay a non-refundable deposit at the time of application to join the trip (this is usually in the amount of $200). Once you have paid the deposit, we will give you letters on behalf of SEBTS to help you raise money for the trip. When you raise funds for an SEBTS mission trip, you are actually raising money for the SEBTS mission fund in general. This is how the trip can be tax deductible for your supporters. What this means is that if you should drop out of a mission trip, the money you have raised up to that point, including your deposit, will be divided among the rest of that mission team. Similarly, if you raise extra money beyond the cost of your trip, that money will be used to bless other students who might have had more difficulty in raising the funds for their trip.

Due to IRS regulations, the money you raise for a mission trip actually goes towards the SEBTS mission fund and cannot legally benefit the individual student. Therefore, SEBTS cannot distribute any funds directly back to the student.

5. How will I know about all of the logistical details and what I need to do in preparation?

Once you pay the deposit for a mission trip, you will be expected to attend a handful of pre-trip meetings. During these meetings, you will be informed about multiple aspects of the trip from cultural and spiritual background information to itineraries and logistical details. You will need to make every effort to attend these meetings. As soon as you pay the mission trip deposit, you will need to apply for a passport, if you do not already have one. This may be done at any US Post Office. Give yourself at least 2 months to get through the passport application process. If you do have a passport, it must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of the mission trip. Many mission trips do not require a visa or shots, but if they are required, you will learn about this at a mission trip meeting. If you have a question at any time about something related to your trip, you are encouraged to ask Dyna White dwhite@sebts.edu

Field Experience Credit

1. I am serving or have served already as a missionary in the field. Can my field experience count as credit toward my degree?

The answer is often, Yes. And it is a great question, one we have fielded enough over the years to have recently created a page just for you. Please [ click here ] for everything you need to know about field experience credit.