The Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism

M.Div. – International Church Planting (“2+2/3 IMB” and Reverse “2+2 IMB*”)

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This program involves approximately two years of study on campus (65 hours) and two or three years of church planting in an international missions setting.

The BGS and the International Mission Board cooperate together to guide students through the appointment process to become IMB missionaries and fulfill the final 23 hours of coursework while serving on the international mission field.

Vocational Objectives

  • Church planting
  • Ethnic ministry
  • International missions
  • Pastorate
  • Evangelism
Master of Divinity with a Concentration in International Church Planting (”2+2 IMB”)
Great Commission Ministries (9 hours)
30960 Intercultural Communication 3
32030 Introduction to Evangelism and Church Growth 3
World Religions elective (32900, 32977, 32980, or 33600) 3
On-Campus Hours Required before Deployment 65
(composed of 56 M.Div. core hours and 9 Great Commission Ministries hours) 65
International Church Planting
Concentration (23 hours)1
33410 Language Learning for Missionaries 3
33420 Cultural Acquisition for Missionaries 3
44945 Applied Ministry: BGS 2+2/3 Int’l2 2
Directed electives 15
International Church Planting Concentration 32
BGS M.Div. Core 56
Total Master of Divinity with a concentration in International Church Planting Requirements 88
• Elementary Hebrew (if required) +3
• Elementary Greek (if required) +3
• Written Communication (if required) +2

1These courses will be completed in various formats while under appointment by a missions agency and serving on the international mission field.
2 44945 Applied Ministry fulfills the core requirement for 44930 Applied Ministry.

*Master of Divinity With a Concentration in International Church Planting (Reverse “2+2 IMB”)

This program is the reverse of the above program. Students spend two years doing church planting in an international missions setting, followed by two years of class work on campus.

Specific coursework and timing are determined by the director of the 2+2/3 Program in the Billy Graham School. Students in this program must be fully accepted at Southern Seminary and must communicate with the director of the program prior to going into the field. 

International 2+2/3 Church Planting Manual

Additional Information