Beeson recognizes that all Christian ministers need to experience and be educated in cross-cultural ministry. Our CCMP gives students the opportunity to reside and minister in a culture different from their own while being supervised by on-site mentors.

Cross-cultural ministry is no longer exceptional but normative for Christian ministers. Communities across the United States are increasingly multicultural, and opportunities for mission involvement internationally are rapidly expanding. Competent ministry leaders in the 21st century must be prepared to cross cultural boundaries in the course of (and for the sake of) sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is an objective of the cross-cultural ministry requirement that CCMP trips might begin such preparation for some students and advance the preparation of others.

Students may apply for Global Center travel grants in order to help them complete their CCMP. For ministry practicum travel in North America, maximum funding per student is 50% of his or her expenses, up to $350 for most locations. For ministry practicum travel to CCMP destinations in Africa, Asia, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, South Asia or Europe, the maximum funding available per student is up to $1,000. The number of students able to receive travel grant funds for their CCMP is limited to a certain number per academic year. After that number is met, additional students who apply for CCMP will be ineligible for travel grant assistance. Early registration is strongly encouraged.

In their SMP, students receive training for vocational ministry capacities through courses in ministry practice and educational experiences within supervised ministry settings. The two practicum courses must be taken in sequence, beginning in a fall semester and concluding in the spring semester. A student may begin the SMP sequence upon completion of DVHD 605 – Pastoral Theology. The practicum seeks to advance the growth of students toward spiritual maturity, vocational clarification and ministry competence.

Students will engage in supervised ministry for no less than 12 hours per week for 35 weeks. While most students will complete the SMP in a local church setting, the Director of Contextual Learning may give approval to other ministry sites. The ministry site must provide a student with ample opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the performance of ministry duties for which he or she is receiving training in other courses in the MDiv curriculum. These include but are not limited to preaching and teaching the Scriptures, providing pastoral care and counsel, planning and leading ministries of worship, discipleship, evangelism, missions and various facets of ministry administration.

Over the course of the practicum, students will meet weekly with their mentors, who serve as a model, teacher, facilitator, coach and friend to students. Students will be able to report on their experiences, reflect on what God is teaching them and hear feedback from their mentors. Students also meet weekly for classroom instruction during the fall and spring semesters, receiving instruction on different areas of ministry practice and other associated topics.