Certificate Programs

Fruitland’s certificate programs are designed to equip students for their call into the ministry both accessibly and affordably.

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“The highest calling on the earth is to be a pastor…serving churches for over 50 years has been the greatest experience, and I would love to see others experience the joy of serving as a pastor.”

– Steven Scoggins, Professor of New Testament, Church History

Designed for busy people...

Fruitland Baptist Bible College has always been a school who caters to those who are busy, and Fruitland's certificate programs is are exception!

Accessible

These courses are offered fully online with the exception of one in person class.

Affordable

Each course costs $100, making the total $200 for the entire certificate program.

Attainable

Composed of only sixteen and twenty total weeks, earning theses certificates is a quick way to obtain what you need to answer your call to ministry.

Ministry Essentials

The Ministry Essentials Certificate program allows students to gain practical ministry education, Bible knowledge, and spiritual growth through an online, residency, and person-to-person experience without the necessity of moving their family to another location.

Ministry Essentials - Course Topics

  1. Could You Be the Pastor a Small Church is Praying For?
  2. How to Write a Good Sermon in a Short Amount of Time.
  3. How to Preach Two or Three Sermons a Week.
  4. The Importance of Being Both a Pastor and a Preacher.
  5. Pastors Need Good People Skills.
  6. Principles That Help a Church Become Healthy.
  7. Pastoral Care in Hospital Visits, Caring for the Dying, and Funerals.
  8. Pastoral Care in Weddings, Premarital Counseling, and Pastoral Counseling.
  9. How to Survive Being a Single Staff Pastor.
  10. Helping Churches Make Needed Changes.
  1. Discipleship / Michael Horton & Brian Upshaw
  2. Senior Ministry / J.D. Grant
  3. Evangelism / Randall Wood
  4. Youth Ministry / Dave Marshall
  5. Music Ministry / Kenny Lamm
  6. Revitalization / Terry Long
  7. Pastoral Counseling / Dennis Thurman
  8. Hot Social Issues / Scott Thompson
  9. Effective Programs / Steve Briggs
  10. Developing Vision / David Horton

Leadership Essentials

The Leadership Essentials Certificate program allows a student to be shaped by the Biblical picture of leadership in order to become the most effective leader for their church or ministry area.

Leadership Essentials - Course Topics

  1. The Foundation of Biblical Leadership is Servant Leadership.
  2. Biblical Leaders Are Known for Their Character Qualities (Courage & Wisdom).
  3. A Survey of Leadership Qualities in 2 Timothy 2:22-26.
  4. Biblical Leaders Lead from the Pulpit, in the Programs of the Church, and Through Their Relationships with Their Members.
  5. How does the Bible encounter leadership development?
  6. For Biblical Leaders, Challenges are an Opportunity to Grow and Adapt.
  7. A Study of Jesus’ Leadership in Luke 10.
  8. Identifying Leaders: How do we identify, develop, and deploy new leaders?
  1. Biblical Leaders are Committed to Transparency and Integrity in Their Lives and in Their Churches.
  2. Biblical Leaders Face Unique Challenges in Time Management.
  3. Biblical Leaders Need to Be Constantly Growing and Adapting in the Way They Do Ministry.
  4. Biblical Leaders Lead Their Staff and Volunteers Well.
  5. Biblical Leaders are Realistic and Hopeful in the Face of Discouragement and Depression that Arises in Ministry.
  6. Biblical Leaders Take Full Advantage of Their Church’s Strengths and Opportunities.
  7. Biblical Leaders Instill in Their Church a Mission Mindset.
  8. Biblical Leaders Aim at Finishing Well in Their Ministries.

“Prior to the course, I had struggled to see a way forward with intentional leadership development. [Leadership Essentials] is a significant answer to that dilemma!”

– Dr. Randall Wood, Current Leadership Essentials Student

Worldview Essentials

In the modern and postmodern context, truth is reduced to construct, critical thinking is reduced to critical theory, and objective knowledge is replaced with perspective and worldview. In order to understand the Christian Worldview and practice effective pastoral ministry, Biblical Truth is essential. The Worldview Essentials courses are designed to help servants of Christ lead their churches and families in establishing a Christian Worldview on Biblical truth in the polarized battle of worldviews which are based on human constructs and prospectives.

Worldview Essentials - Courses

Coming Fall 2025

The Worldview Essentials certificates are hybrid classes which combine traditional in-person classroom teaching and remote learning. The hybrid classes are comprised of 10 week courses involving one 4-hour face-to-face session on a Saturday morning supplemented by online components throughout the course. Students will earn a certificate for:

  • The Origin of Politics 101
  • The Origin of Politics 102
  • Philosophy and Christ 201
  • Philosophy and Christ 202
  • The Wisdom of God and the Wisdom of the World 301
  • The Wisdom of God and the Wisdom of the World 302
  • Worship of the Creation versus Worship of the Creator 401
  • Worship of the Creation versus Worship of the Creator 402

Answer your call to the ministry.

Apply Here