Year one - Semester one
During the first semester of ministry the student is appointed to a cross-cultural or ethnic ministry within a mentored environment. The coordinator of the program will arrange this with the student’s home church and the participating ethnic ministry. Distance learning, module, reading, and online courses are assigned through NBS as a regular program study. The academic courses serve as a stimulus and guide in helping the student develop proficiency within a cross-cultural or ethnic setting. Academic mentors for the course work will be assigned through NBS to ensure an appropriate level of academic study is attained and to challenge the students concerning the practical application of the study material.
The field mentor will help the student integrate the study program with practical ministry. The mentor provides support and guidance that enables the inexperienced cross-cultural worker to serve in an environment that challenges but doesn’t overwhelm, and prepares without assuming prior competency. Field ministry should take about 30% of the student’s time.
The student will also need to make plans and raise funds for a short term missions trip through FEBI (or alternative mission agency).
Year one - Semester two
During the second semester the student will participate in the four month live-in cohort Trax program at the Gateway center in Langley. The student will study essential topics for effectiveness in missions as well as experience cross-cultural evangelistic outreaches. An important aspect of this intense cohort time is to experience the difficulties of living with others who are of a different cultural background and to work through elements of teamwork. A major concern is to provide adequate preparation for the short term missions endeavor. The field ministry placement will also continue at 8-10 hours a week.
Year one - Semester three and Year two - Semester one
As soon as possible after the Gateway cohort training has been completed, the student will embark upon an 3-4 month short term missions trip. They will be assigned to a national who will act as a "cultural confidante" (passive mentor). A supervisor will also be required but the primary commitment will be with the cultural confidante who will assist the student in language and culture learning, ministry adjustments and general living experiences in that setting. The student will take the lead in this relationship with the confidante available as the "expert" to provide whatever information and experiences the student requests. Through this interaction the student will develop a perspective concerning ministry potential as well as become more aware of those areas in which further training is required.
Course study will take up 50% percent of the student’s work time, but a large part of the study will be related to exploring the context within which the student is now living. 30% of the time will be focused on language learning and 20% on practical service. Upon completion of the Gateway final project the student will be able to increase their involvement in practical service.
The student will return to Canada early in August in order to be involved in a one week debriefing period at Gateway.
Year two - Semester two through to completion of MACS
Upon successful completion of the diploma level and acceptance into the MACS program at ACTS, the student will complete the program in Canada within a cross-cultural mentored ministry setting similar to the first semester of the certificate program. This could be the same ministry setting or a different, more demanding, context. This will need to take into account the student’s developmental needs as well as the relationship with the home church, ethnic setting and mentor. The percentage of the time spent in ministry will depend on the course load of each semester.