Arts & Humanities

Master of Arts in Christian Ministries

The Master of Arts in Christian Ministries is a postgraduate programme offered by Daystar University through the School of Arts and Social Sciences. The programme provides advanced training for Christian ministry practitioners, equipping them with theological knowledge, ministry skills, and leadership competence for effective service in church and parachurch contexts.

The programme combines biblical and theological foundations with practical ministry skills, preparing graduates for leadership roles in churches, Christian organisations, and community ministries. Students develop competence in biblical interpretation, pastoral care, Christian education, ministry leadership, and cross-cultural ministry.

Core areas of study include biblical interpretation, Christian theology, pastoral ministry, Christian education, church leadership and management, cross-cultural ministry, research methods in ministry, and contemporary issues in African Christianity. The programme integrates academic rigour with practical application.

Daystar University is Kenya's premier Christian university, established in 1964 with a strong tradition of training Christian leaders for Africa. The university's Christian mission and philosophy provide a supportive environment for ministry training, with faculty experienced in both academic theology and practical ministry.

The programme is designed for both recent graduates and experienced ministry practitioners seeking advanced training. Students benefit from Daystar's extensive network of church and parachurch organisations across Africa, providing opportunities for practical ministry experience and professional development.

Graduates are prepared for careers as pastors, ministry directors, Christian education coordinators, parachurch organisation leaders, missionaries, and ministry trainers serving in churches, Christian organisations, and community-based programmes across Africa and beyond.

Skills Required

Biblical Interpretation and Exegesis
Christian Theology
Pastoral Ministry Practice
Christian Education Design
Church Leadership and Management
Cross-Cultural Ministry
Pastoral Care and Counselling
Preaching and Communication
Research Methods in Ministry
Ministry Programme Development

Key Subjects

Biblical Interpretation
Christian Theology
Pastoral Ministry
Christian Education
Church Leadership and Management
Cross-Cultural Ministry
Research Methods in Ministry
Contemporary Issues in African Christianity
Pastoral Care and Counselling
Preaching and Communication

Certifications

Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA) Accreditation
Kenya Association of Christian Counsellors Membership

Specializations

Pastoral Ministry

Focuses on the practice of pastoral ministry including preaching, pastoral care, church administration, and congregational leadership.

Christian Education

Examines the design and implementation of Christian education programmes for churches, schools, and parachurch organisations.

Cross-Cultural Ministry

Covers ministry across cultural boundaries, including missions, intercultural communication, and contextualisation of Christian faith.

Church Leadership

Focuses on leadership and management principles for church and ministry contexts, including strategic planning, governance, and team development.

Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Examines ministry approaches for youth and young adults in church and campus contexts, including discipleship and mentoring.

Christian Counselling

Covers pastoral counselling skills for addressing emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges in ministry contexts.

Biblical Studies

Focuses on advanced biblical interpretation including exegesis, hermeneutics, and biblical languages for ministry application.

African Christianity

Examines the development and expression of Christianity in Africa, including African theology, inculturation, and contemporary church trends.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 249,800
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Biblical Interpretation
Christian Theology
Pastoral Ministry
Christian Education
Church Leadership and Management
Cross-Cultural Ministry
Research Methods in Ministry
Contemporary Issues in African Christianity
Pastoral Care and Counselling
Preaching and Communication

Modules

10 in the programme

Biblical Interpretation and Exegesis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines principles and methods of biblical interpretation including hermeneutics, exegesis, and application of Scripture to contemporary ministry contexts.
Christian Theology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers systematic theology including doctrines of God, Christ, Holy Spirit, salvation, church, and last things, with application to ministry practice.
Pastoral Ministry Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines the practice of pastoral ministry including preaching, pastoral care, church administration, and congregational leadership.
Christian Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers principles of Christian education including curriculum design, teaching methods, and programme development for churches and parachurch organisations.
Church Leadership and Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines leadership and management principles for church and ministry contexts, including strategic planning, governance, team building, and financial management.
Cross-Cultural Ministry
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers ministry across cultural boundaries including missions, intercultural communication, and contextualisation of Christian faith in diverse cultural settings.
Contemporary Issues in African Christianity
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines contemporary challenges and trends in African Christianity including urbanisation, Pentecostalism, prosperity gospel, and religious pluralism.
Research Methods in Ministry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methodologies for conducting original research in Christian ministry and related fields.
Pastoral Care and Counselling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Develops pastoral counselling skills for addressing emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges in ministry contexts.
Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a Christian ministry topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Pastoral Ministry
Focuses on the practice of pastoral ministry including preaching, pastoral care, church administration, and congregational leadership.
Christian Education
Examines the design and implementation of Christian education programmes for churches, schools, and parachurch organisations.
Cross-Cultural Ministry
Covers ministry across cultural boundaries, including missions, intercultural communication, and contextualisation of Christian faith.
Church Leadership
Focuses on leadership and management principles for church and ministry contexts, including strategic planning, governance, and team development.
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Examines ministry approaches for youth and young adults in church and campus contexts, including discipleship and mentoring.
Christian Counselling
Covers pastoral counselling skills for addressing emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges in ministry contexts.
Biblical Studies
Focuses on advanced biblical interpretation including exegesis, hermeneutics, and biblical languages for ministry application.
African Christianity
Examines the development and expression of Christianity in Africa, including African theology, inculturation, and contemporary church trends.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on biblical interpretation, Christian theology, or pastoral ministry at Daystar University's Nairobi campus. Students engage in exegetical exercises working with biblical texts, discuss case studies of ministry challenges, and participate in group projects designing ministry programmes. The programme includes practical ministry assignments where students serve in churches or parachurch organisations. Chapel services and campus spiritual life activities complement academic learning. Those in the research phase conduct field research on ministry practices and work on their thesis under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offered at Daystar University, Kenya's premier Christian university with over 60 years of training Christian leaders for Africa.
Comprehensive curriculum covering biblical, theological, and practical ministry dimensions, preparing graduates for diverse ministry roles.
Interdenominational environment exposing students to diverse Christian traditions and ministry approaches.
Strong network of church and parachurch organisations across Africa provides practical ministry opportunities and career pathways.

Against it

Programme is relatively expensive at approximately KES 564,000 total for a private university.
Only one institution offers this specific programme in Kenya, limiting choice.
Career opportunities are primarily within church and Christian organisation contexts, which may have varying levels of remuneration.
The programme requires evidence of devotion to Christ, which may exclude non-Christian applicants seeking academic study of Christianity.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public171k to 221k

171k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

Private191k to 250k

191k at Africa International University250k at Daystar University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 220.5K, Daystar 249.8K, AIU 191K verified. Maseno unverified.

Funding options include HELB postgraduate loans for Kenyan students, Daystar University financial aid for demonstrated need, and sponsorship from churches and Christian organisations supporting staff development.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Daystar University Financial Aid
Church and Ministry Sponsorship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Daystar University Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Daystar University students demonstrating academic merit and financial need.
Church and Ministry Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
Ministry practitioners sponsored by their churches or Christian organisations for professional development.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Applicants must demonstrate evidence of devotion to Christ and sufficient mastery of English language. International students must achieve TOEFL score of 500 or equivalent. The programme requires a minimum of 2 years and maximum of 3 years for completion.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, exegetical assignments, ministry project reports, seminar presentations, and practical assignments conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering course content, including essay questions, biblical analysis, and ministry application scenarios.
Practical Ministry Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Assessment of practical ministry skills through supervised ministry assignments, preaching evaluations, and field reports.
Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a Christian ministry topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region. The programme is offered by Daystar University, a chartered Christian university in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa
Professional accreditation
Pan-African accreditation agency for theological education programmes. Accreditation enhances recognition across African theological institutions.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Pastor
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides spiritual leadership, preaching, pastoral care, and administrative oversight in a local church congregation.
Ministry Director
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Directs a ministry department or parachurch organisation, overseeing programmes, staff, budgets, and strategic initiatives.
Christian Education Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000
Coordinates Christian education programmes including Sunday school, discipleship training, and leadership development in churches or organisations.
Parachurch Organisation Leader
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Leads a parachurch organisation serving in areas such as student ministry, community development, or missions.
Missionary
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 180,000
Serves in cross-cultural ministry contexts, sharing the Christian faith and engaging in community development and church planting.
University Lecturer
Low demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches theology, ministry, or biblical studies at Bible colleges, seminaries, and universities.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as pastors, ministry directors, Christian education coordinators, and parachurch organisation leaders in churches and Christian organisations across Africa.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Logos Bible Software
SoftwarePrimary
Digital Bible study platform providing original language tools, commentaries, and exegetical resources for sermon preparation and biblical research.
BibleWorks
SoftwarePrimary
Bible analysis software for original language study, text comparison, and exegetical research in ministry preparation.
Google Workspace
Software
Productivity suite for ministry planning, communication, collaboration, and document preparation.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for research projects in ministry, analysing survey data and programme evaluations.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

A master's degree in Christian ministries is only for those preparing to become senior pastors.
The programme prepares graduates for diverse ministry roles including Christian education, cross-cultural ministry, parachurch leadership, and ministry training.
Christian ministries is not a serious academic discipline.
The programme involves rigorous biblical scholarship, theological analysis, social science research methods, and practical ministry skills development.
You don't need postgraduate training for church ministry.
Increasing complexity of ministry contexts in Africa, including urbanisation, pluralism, and social challenges, requires advanced training for effective ministry leadership.
The programme is only for those in full-time church employment.
The programme serves both full-time ministry practitioners and lay leaders serving in voluntary or bi-vocational ministry roles.
Christian ministries training is denomination-specific.
Daystar University is interdenominational, and the programme prepares graduates for ministry across various Christian traditions and denominational contexts.
The programme has limited career prospects outside the church.
Graduates work in parachurch organisations, NGOs, educational institutions, and community development programmes where Christian ministry skills are valued.