NYDS offers three certificates for empowering, equipping, and educating in leadership and ministry:
- Certificate for Christian Ministry — 4 courses [8 units]
- Certificate for Christian Leadership — 8 courses [16 units]
- Advanced Certificate for Christian Ministry and Leadership — 12 courses [24 units]
Courses are divided into three tracks of study:
- Bible-Based: Content, Understanding, Meditation, and Application (B# courses)
- Christ-Centered: Cogency, Ethics, Theology, and Worldviews (C# courses)
- Spirit-Led: Personal Fitness/Growth, Ministry Skills, and Leadership (S# courses)
Course descriptions and units are described below.
All courses have “internship” aspects involving related, appropriate active ministry, in addition to study and writing.
Courses marked with “M” numbers are for transferable for college credits with several colleges and universities who honor TUMI units: City Vision University, Pillar College, Lancaster Bible College, and others.
Bible-Based: Content, Understanding, Meditation, and Application
B31: Biblical Hermeneutics (2 units, M5)
Studying the Bible for all it is worth. Practicing the questions, processes & resources available for truth-based interpretations, exploring what the texts say, & how the texts should guide our behaviors & beliefs, for individuals & groups.
B41: Hebrew Scriptures I (2 units, M9)
Learning the background, transformative texts, and key themes in the nature, content, and history of the Biblical books of Genesis through Esther, the books of Moses and History. Special attention is given to issues of behavior and belief, community and culture, redemption and restoration.
B42: Hebrew Scriptures II (2 units, M1)
Learning the background, transformative texts, and key themes in the nature, content, and history of the Biblical books of Job through Malachi, Wisdom and Prophetic literature. Special attention is given to issues of behavior and belief, community and culture, redemption and restoration.
B51: New Testament I (2 units, M13)
Engaging & exploring the background, transformative texts, and key themes in the nature, content, and history of the Biblical books of the four Gospels and Revelation. Special attention is given to issues of behavior and belief, community and culture, redemption and restoration.
B52: New Testament II (2 units, M14)
Engaging the background, transformative texts, and key themes in the nature, content, and history of the Biblical books of the Acts of the Apostles and all the Epistles. Special attention is given to issues of behavior and belief, community and culture, redemption, and restoration.
Christ-Centered: Cogency, Ethics, Theology, and Worldviews
C21: Christian Ethics, Personal and Relational (2 units, M2)
Examining the basic values practiced in contemporary individual, relational and personal choices, strategies, problems and dilemmas, from Biblical perspectives.
C22: Christian Ethics, Social and Organizational (2 units, M16)
Examining the core values and issues embedded in present social/ economic/civic/organizational – doing justice, loving mercy, being humbly accountable, in Biblical perspectives.
C31: Theology I (2 units, M6)
Studying the foundational Christian beliefs (including revelation and reason, God, Trinity, creation, human nature, faith, family, government, evil, and sin) and these beliefs’ behavioral implications and outcomes.
C32: Theology II (2 units, M10)
Studying the foundational Christian beliefs (including Christology, pneumatology, soteriology, ecclesiology, ordinances and sacraments, and eschatology) and these beliefs’ behavioral implications and outcomes.
C41: Apologetics and World Religions (2 units, M4)
Exploring the many facets of the Gospel in interaction with several points of comparison and contrast in the post-modern and pluralistic environments of NYC, as well as the major world religions.
Spirit-Led: Personal Fitness/Growth, Ministry Skills, and Leadership
S11: Preaching Practicum (2 units, M15)
Preparing, cultivating, and critically improving excellent communication skills and gifts—for anointed preaching and teaching Biblical truth. All students’ educational and homiletical skills are affirmed and more fully guided and developed for Biblical expository teaching and preaching. This course includes a leadership training component, too.
S17: How to be an Effective Teacher (2 units, M7)
How to motivate students to learn, grow, and communicate skills and knowledge—for their consciousness, conduct, character, and communication. Learning how to plan and provide transformative knowledge into students’ minds, hearts and behavior—and for these students to teach to others, who will teach others, to teach others, to teach others.
S21: Spiritual Fit in Serving the LORD (2 units, M12)
Integrating several Christian disciplines to nurture personal spiritual excellence and Godly growth—based in Christian spirituality and the Biblical disciplines of the “inward” journey. A goal is (1) to increase openness to the grace of God, (2) to minimize the issues that keep leaders from finishing well, and (3) to maximize joy, glory and honor expressed to God and to his work in and through men and women. All students are discipled, and they disciple others.
S29: Leadership and Leadership-Coaching (2 units, M3)
Humbly and honestly mastering Bible-based skills and Spirit-led gifts for becoming a fruitful leader and for selecting and guiding others into fruitful leadership—for leading healthy, effectual organizations. Students understand, engage, challenge, transform and utilize individual, cultural, and social patterns, talents, and giftedness—in leading and in nurturing new Godly leaders.
S31: Chaplaincy (2 units, M20)
Learning, embracing, and engaging the multifaceted principles and practices of effectual chaplaincy: representing the presence of God to people in a multitude of critical situations, within and beyond Church walls. Chaplaincy courses are offered in partnership with the New York State Chaplaincy Taskforce or other approved chaplaincy training programs.
S36: Evangelism & Spiritual Warfare (2 units, M8)
Equipping to equip others for representing Jesus Christ, his love, his grace, and his Gospel in situations of hostility or ignorance of him and what he provides.
S51: Pastoral Counseling (2 units, M11)
Training to listen, advise, help, and guide others. Being Godly change-agents, with wisdom based on the Bible and also in sound professional counseling resources.