Thrive+: A Ministry Wives Certificate Program

Mission Statement

Thrive+: A Ministry Wives Certificate prepares missionary wives and fulfills the requirements to serve with the International Mission Board.

Description of Program

Thrive+ is an additional program students may enroll in upon completion of the Thrive certificate. Thrive+ is approved to satisfy the theological education requirement for spouses serving overseas. Thrive+ classes merge biblical instruction and practical application in an academic, discipleship setting with faculty wives and fellow students. Thrive+ students learn how to walk with God, proclaim His truth, and fulfill His mission wherever God will call them to serve. It is our desire that our ministry wives not only survive in ministry, but that they THRIVE. To learn more about Thrive, please visit www.prepareher.com/thrive.

Certificate Requirements

This certificate is offered as an academic program through Leavell College. To complete Thrive+: A Ministry Wives Certificate, each student must complete the 4 required courses, each of which is worth one credit hour in addition to the 8 required courses for the Thrive certificate. Since these are offered in 8-week terms, on a rotating schedule, a student will be able to complete two courses per semester and the entire 4 credit hour certificate in 1 year. Once a student has completed all 4 courses, she is eligible to graduate during the December or May graduation ceremony and will receive her certificate.

Types of Courses

Thrive+ classes will be offered every eight weeks during the semester in two distinct formats:

1. On-campus classes: These classes are offered on Tuesday nights from 6:30-8:30 pm on the New Orleans campus. Childcare is provided for children 6 weeks - 8 years old in the Early Learning Center on campus.

2. Online classes: These classes will run simultaneously with the on-campus classes, but are offered in a NOLA2U Flex/online format for (a) wives already serving in ministries not local to the New Orleans area and/or married to online students, (b) student wives in our extension centers, or (c) on-campus students who are unable to attend on Tuesday nights due to work, church, or family conflicts. Online students can login and join the teacher live on Tuesday nights or watch the class recording anytime over the next week. This provides flexibility for our online ministry wives.

Enrollment

Thrive+ classes are offered through Leavell College for academic credit and can be transferred as electives into other degree programs. Therefore, each ministry wife student must enroll by (1) filling out a Thrive application, (2) submitting a copy of her high school diploma or an official copy of college transcript, (3) submitting a background check, and (4) meeting Louisiana immunization requirements (for on-campus students only).

Course Schedule

In addition, all classes will follow the same nightly schedule, with a designated fellowship time for all the ladies from the different classes to mingle and visit during the bathroom break:

• 6:30 pm- Classes begin

• 7:20-7:40- Bathroom and coffee break

• 8:30- Classes dismiss

Thrive+ Course Descriptions

Old Testament Survey LCMW 1109 - In this course, students will survey the books of the Old Testament, including their author, genre, main theme, geographical information, historical context, and pertinent theological content.

New Testament Survey LCMW 1110 - In this course, students will survey the books of the New Testament, including their author, genre, main theme, geographical information, historical context, and pertinent theological content.

Biblical Theology of Womanhood LCMW 1111 - In this course, students will gain an amplified and comprehensive knowledge of biblical womanhood from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical principles found in Scripture will be applied to life relationships in the home, church, and world.

Christian Ministry and Missions LCMW 1112 - In this course, students are introduced to the biblical and theological foundations of Christian Missions, with a specific focus on the Great Commission. Students will be encouraged to be involved in Christian ministries and missions both locally, nationally, and internationally.

To serve with the IMB, Missionary Apprentice spouses must have at least 12 hours of formal biblical/theological education. Those hours may come through undergraduate, graduate, or Seminary Wives programs. Those hours must include: Old Testament (3 hrs), New Testament (3 hrs), Systematic Theology (3 hrs), and a ministry-related elective (3 hrs). The eight  Thrive and the four Thrive+ classes meet these requirements.

Course Requirements

Each Thrive+ course will have the same requirements, so that there is consistency in structure throughout the certificate. Each course will have 1 textbooks and the students will be required to attend and participate in class, write a 1-page book summary, and write a 3-5 page reflection paper.

Final grades will be calculated using this breakdown:

• 30% attendance and participation

• 30% book summary

• 40% reflection paper

The same grading rubric will be used in each class for the book summary. The grade for the book summary will be comprised of the following components, with points being deducted for issues with grammar, formatting, incomplete work, or tardiness:

• 25% completion of reading

• 25% summary of book

• 25% weaknesses of book

• 25% strengths of book

The same grading rubric will be used in every class for the reflection paper. The grade for the reflection paper will be comprised of the following components, with points being deducted for issues with grammar, formatting, incomplete work, or tardiness:

• 33% summary of topics covered in class

• 33% personal reflection of class

• 33% takeaways from the class including 3-5 practical ways it will be applied

Tuition & Fees

* These courses are provided free of charge for our residential students, because of two very generous endowments honoring Ann Allen & Mary French. It is their desire that wives be trained for ministry alongside their student-husbands with little to no cost.

** This course fee is reduced for members of an SBC church. (The Southern Baptist Cooperative Program offsets the cost of tuition for members of an SBC church.) If the student is a member of a non-SBC church, the fee is $300 per on-campus/$385 per online class.

*** This course fee includes an $85 technology fee for the online class.