B.A. Theology – Pastoral
Our Mission and Vision
The purpose of the Pastoral Department of West Africa Theological Seminary is to identify and adequately prepare biblically centre, and spiritually empowered servants of God with the needed pastoral hearts and skills to the church of God, working to conform the people to the image of Christ.
At West Africa Theological Seminary, the Pastoral Department concentrates primarily on preparing men and women who have a sense of call to serve in the office of the pastor in the local church, and as such, the department coordinates the teaching of a varieties of balanced Biblical, Theological and Ministry focus courses that is tailored towards the pastoral ministry, which provides the needed ground for a range of knowledge and skills that is needed for effective ministry in the local church.
It is in the light of the society’s dire need of servant leadership that will stir the heart of the church in the direction of God that the Pastoral Department of West Africa Theological Seminary open its arms to receive students who have a sense of call to lead the church of God in the right direction as shepherds does to the sheep under their care.
Facilitation of Pastoral Courses
Courses in this department are designed to help students engage as well as employ theology in a variety of Christian ministries; and these includes the following:
- Courses that centred on preaching which helps students to interpret and communicate the Bible in ways that brings about transformation, whether in a life worship service, or at a Bible study. The courses includes, Expository preaching; Major & Minor Prophets; Spiritual Life formation; Pastoral Counselling;
- Courses in Pastoral Theology which helps students to employ and engage theology in a way that leads the church from its inception through evangelism and church planting to that of expression through worship and oversight. The courses includes, Church planting & Growth; Principles of Evangelism; Church Administration; Pastoral Theology;
- Courses that looked at critical societal issues which helps students respond theologically to contemporary issues beclouding the society. The courses includes, Church & Society;
It is our belief that, having completed the course requirements for a Bachelor of Arts program here at West Africa Theological Seminary, graduates of the Pastoral Department should be able to do the following:
Explain the purpose, mission, and scope of the Church from biblical, historical and missiological perspectives.
- Preach effective biblical and transformative sermons.
- Conduct a meaningful worship service.
- Perform the duties of the pastor and engage in personal evangelism.
- Guide the local church in a mission program.
- Design Bible study materials and devotionals for spiritual development of the church
- Engage in pastoral ministry by providing leadership for the church in social engagement and community development.
Required Courses
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Annual Missions Convention
This is conducted in September of every year where we invite a speaker to talk about missions. It is a three-day event, and we hear the experiences and testimonies of our sprinboarders and the news they bring from their field. Missionaries from other agencies and churches are also invited to share their mission involvement with the community. At the end of this event, many hearts receive God’s call to be missionaries.
Springboard program
Springboard is an annual event when we deploy students to various missions fields to gain field experience. In doing this, we collaborate with different churches, para churches, and mission agencies locally and abroad. The funds are raised by the WATS community and the students whom we call springboarders. We collect offerings for eight-month during the chapel services which covers the feedings of the springboarders for the two months they would be in the field while the springboarders raise their flight ticket or bus fare to and fro the field. The department writes a letter of appeal that the springboarders use to raise the funds from their churches, friends, and family. Through this short-term mission experience, some who participated in the activity have become full-time missionaries like me. I decided to become a full-time missionary after I went on springboard missions in 1999 because of the enormous riped harvest and the mission field’s needs. Springboard equally attracted some missionaries to study at WATS due to their interaction with WATS springboarders.
Monthly Mission Chapel
The department handles the chapel service every third Wednesday. It is called missions chapel because we use the opportunity to sensitize the community for missions, share missions news, mobilize the community for missions, and pray for missionaries. We equally use it to enlighten the community about the department and the prospect for those who major in missions.
Research
In the World Christianity, Theological Education and Scholarship, Andrew Walls avers that ‘the pursuit of the scholarly life is a Christian vocation within God’s mission to the world.” (Walls 2011, 236) Our department emphasizes and engages in quality academic writing, publication, research, seminars, etc.
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- We have successfully aided five faculty members in writing some articles presented at a conference waiting for publication.
- We have represented WATS in Transform: A Journalof Biblical, Theological, and Practical Studies through our membership as Editors and published an article with the journal in February.
- WATS is now a member of a renowned journal body (Africa Humanity Research Development Circle) domiciled in UNN through our department.
Lay Institute
Lay church workers, untrained pastors, and missionaries in the field without theological education are equipped with the skills, tools, and knowledge to do the ministry work. Most of these people do not have the essential qualification to enroll in theological training. Thus, we provide this avenue to equip them to serve God better. This training has introduced many people to WATS, while some migrated to WATS full-time program.
Mission
The missions department aims to produce holistic, God-fearing, mission-minded, and academically balanced students.
Pastor Olajide Moye
Head of Department
E-mail: jidemoye@wats.edu.ng
mobile; +234 703 964 4915