Emerging Leader Program
The Emerging Leader Program exists to activate the next generation of Christian leaders.
Earn a Master of Arts degree in Global Leadership from Wheaton College with this 3-year program from SpringHill.
Hands on work experience creates the best learning opportunities while providing real-life growth, not possible in traditional classrooms.
Grow your leadership skills through spiritual mentoring, living in community, and impacting the world through hands-on ministry opportunities.
Today, Christian student leaders desire to grow in their faith and skills in order to lead in professional ministry environments. SpringHill has a unique history of identifying and developing young leaders through relational mentoring, formal training, and hands-on ministry experience.
By providing a Masters of Arts (MA) learning experience within the SpringHill ministry model, the Emerging Leader Program provides college graduates with the opportunity to build practical leadership skills while growing deeper in their faith. The acquired confidence and new abilities that this program provides will prepare these new leaders to impact the world and the next generation with the love of Jesus.
Academic. Spiritual. Practical.
The program encompasses 3 pillars. Each of the pillars is designed to form young people into godly, mature leaders. When the pillars are integrated, the program will holistically form young leaders, growing them in their faith and leadership skills for God’s Kingdom.
Academics
- Complete an MA in Global Leadership class work, showcasing a desire to learn, grow, and engage in the materials at the highest level
- Complete homework and studies alongside the demands of other program work and requirements
- Travel with classmates to respective class locations
- Integrate classroom studies into the practical work experience
Spiritual formation
- Receive weekly mentorship from a SH staff person; bible studies, book studies, personal life coaching
- Participate in monthly spiritual direction appointments
- Live selflessly in community with other program participants
- Receive weekly mentorship from a SH staff person; bible studies, book studies, personal life coaching
Practical experience
- Recruiting—Engage in recruiting summer leaders to serve at all SpringHill locations, including college campus visits, interviewing, and social media campaigns.
- Guest Service—Participate in retreat planning, communicate with guest groups, organize housing and activity schedule, and serve on-site guests.
- Programing—Assist in the creation of creative programming for SpringHill events both in the summer season and winter season.
- Activities—Learn how to safely and effectively operate all SpringHill activities; in order to facilitate meaningful experiences for guest groups and/or campers.
- Summer Site leader—Serve as the summer Site Leader at SpringHill overnight or Day Camp locations. Build missional community for your respective team prior to the summer months, lead them in the summer, and evaluate them for improvement. Ensure a Gospel-centered, transformative experience at your campsite for both campers, leaders, and allies.
Schedule
This is a year round program, with each program year beginning and ending in August. MA classes begin September 1, 2021.
Fall semester
August - December
Spring semester
January - April
Summer semester
May - August
(Serve as Camp Center Directors at our Overnight and Day Camp locations.)
Location
The program will be based in Grand Rapids, MI. Hands-on work and learn experiences will primarily take place in Grand Rapids and at the Evart, MI camp center location. Academic work will be done both online and in person at Wheaton College and/or in Grand Rapids.
Housing
The Emerging Leader community should reside in the Grand Rapids area. Students are responsible for their own housing arrangements.
MA Credit
The Emerging Leader Program offers a 3-year MA degree in Global Leadership from Wheaton College.
Credit hours are earned by program year, totaling 36 credit hours.
Teaching Format
- Intensive: Students complete reading and writing prior to 4-8 days of in-person time with the professor. Finish with final projects.
- Hybrid: Online sessions, followed by 2-4 days of in-person time with the professor, finish with online sessions.
- Online: All sessions online.
Program tuition + cost
Each student will receive a $25,000 stipend per year, which includes 2 weeks vacation and 2 weeks of holidays.
The student is responsible for:
- ELP tuition costs: $10,000/year
- Housing