Bible, Missions & Ministry

🧭 Compass Roadmap

ACU’s Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry
Home/ ACU Compass/ Compass Roadmaps/ Bible, Missions & Ministry Roadmap

ACU’s Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry

Main Content

Compass Roadmap | Bible, Missions & Ministry


Begin Your Journey		First Year
Pursue Community		Second Year
Pursue Hospitality		Third Year
Pursue Calling		Fourth Year
Pursue Wisdom
Grow Intellectually
  • Meet the faculty during Wildcat Week
  • Develop research skills in Cornerstone
  • Explore the life of Jesus and the New Testament church in BIBL 101 and 102
  • Attend presentations by fellow Bible and ministry majors at ACU's URCI Festival


  • Hone your skills and perspectives as a reader of the Scriptures in BIBL 320: Introduction to Biblical Interpretation
  • Explore the message of the Old Testament in BIBL 211
  • Learn more about the Learn more about the Graduate School of Theology at an interest meeting
  • Consider interesting ideas from major thinkers at an event hosted by ACU's Center for the Study of Ancient Religious Texts (CSART)

  • Engage in a faculty-mentored research or creative project
  • Participate in an information literacy workshop
  • Integrate your knowledge of the Bible and Ministry in BIBM 439: Teaching and Learning for Spiritual Formation
  • Become a participating member of the Theta Alpha Kappa Honors Society

  • Present at the URCI Festival or other conference
  • Explore the wisdom and traditions of the church in a theology course like BIBT 379: The Church or BIBT 491: Theology
  • Make a plan for your continued intellectual growth after graduation, which will support both your ministry and your spiritual life
Grow Spiritually
  • Participate in chapel, including departmental chapel each month
  • Experience Candlelight Devo during Wildcat Week
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Engage in practices of meal fellowship, testimony and breath prayer
  • Develop spiritual friendships with other members of the department

  • Participate in chapel, including departmental chapel each month
  • Volunteer in the Abilene community
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Learn about service opportunities at the Local Missions Fair
  • Engage in practices of intercessory prayer, pilgrimage and journaling
  • Participate in chapel, including departmental chapel each month
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Gain hands-on ministry experience on a Global Service Trip
  • Engage in practices of silence, spiritual listening and examen
  • Participate in chapel, including departmental chapel each month
  • Engage in a local church
  • Experience Candlelight Sendoff
  • Engage in practices of friendship, relinquishment and developing a rule of life
  • Engage in practices of friendship, relinquishment and developing a rule of life
Grow Personally
  • Take StrengthsFinder assessment
  • Become involved in the ACU community by joining a student organization
  • Identify a potential faculty, staff or older student mentor in the College of Biblical Studies
  • Grow as a leader through ACU LEADS: Emerging Leaders

  • Care for your whole person by taking advantage of recreation opportunities on campus (SRWC, intramurals, etc)
  • Actively engage in a student organization
  • Invest in a local ministry or nonprofit

  • Develop your leadership skills while serving in a leadership role on campus
  • Lead in a church ministry or local service organization
  • Articulate sense of vocation or write spiritual autobiography

  • Mentor a younger student in the College of Biblical Studies
  • Lead a student club or organization
  • Identify a minister outside of ACU who might serve as a professional mentor
  • Develop your leadership skills through ACU LEADS: Elected Leaders
Grow Culturally
  • Attend events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
  • Learn about the Carl Spain Center and its mission and attend an event
  • Explore opportunities at a Study Abroad interest meeting
  • Discover missions opportunities at a World Wide Witness interest meeting
  • Attend events hosted by the International Students Association (ISA)
  • Study Abroad for a semester in Oxford, Leipzig, or Montevideo
  • Attend events hosted by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action
  • Participate in a World Wide Witness summer internship
  • Reflect on an intercultural experience
  • Apply to Fulbright, AmeriCorps, or other international service opportunities
  • Lead an OMA, ISA or Carl Spain Center event
  • Reflect on the biblical and theological importance of intercultural competence
Grow Professionally
  • Explore career possibilities by completing PathwayU
  • Begin connecting with potential employers by activating your Handshake profile
  • Learn new creative possibilities through Creative U
  • Explore different ministries at the Profiles of Ministry lunches
  • Develop a résumé and participate in a mock interview through ACU's Career Development Center
  • Get a summer job–preferably ministry related
  • Begin discussing your vocational plans with faculty members

  • Interview at the DBMM internship interview day
  • Complete the pre-internship course, BIBM 391, and your official internship
  • Research graduate programs that interest you
  • Create a LinkedIn profile
  • Identify faculty members who could write recommendations
  • Finalize a résumé
  • Secure letters of recommendation
  • Apply for jobs and/or graduate school
  • Work with job placement team in the College of Biblical Studies
  • Finish the internship course sequence with the Capstone course, BIBM 491: Ministry in Context
  • Attend a professional conference in your area of ministry

Five Areas of Growth

  • Grow Intellectually – Sharpen your mind through critical thinking, problem solving and engaging in original research or creative projects. Build knowledge in your field and develop relevant skills through innovative and experiential assignments and activities.
  • Grow Spiritually – Grow in likeness of Christ, as the Spirit leads both individuals and communities into deeper love of God and others. Cultivate Christian community, hospitality, vocation and wisdom through reflective participation in community practices such as worship, study and service. 
  • Grow Personally – Mature as a whole person through mentorship, peer-to-peer relationships and cultivating habits that produce wellness. Discover your strengths, become a productive team member and grow as a leader.
  • Grow Culturally – Deepen intercultural knowledge and the ability to communicate with and relate to people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and geographic areas. Foster a greater respect and empathy for all peoples through building dynamic and mutually rewarding relationships in local and global contexts. 
  • Grow Professionally – Prepare for a meaningful career by exploring options, participating in career development activities, gaining relevant experiences and making purposeful connections that launch your professional life.

Integrated Spiritual Formation Themes

NOTE: Transfer students and those that surpass traditional semester cadences can progress to the next phase when appropriate for their needs.

Year 1 – Pursue Community

Connecting students to cruciform relationships with peers and adults on campus and in Abilene through compelling opportunities to invest in a variety of Christian organizations, both discovering and experiencing the distinctive nature of Christian community.

Year 2 – Pursue Hospitality

Engaging students in encounters with diverse peoples, ideas and cultures through both local and global opportunities to extend and receive hospitality and to serve others in Christ’s name.

Year 3 – Pursue Calling

Advancing students’ understanding of vocation in a manner that integrates each student’s particular identity, career goals and vision for life with the broad calling for Christians to participate in the ongoing mission of God revealed in the pattern of Christ’s life and death.

Year 4 – Pursue Wisdom

Launching students into cruciform and purposeful living beyond the university by equipping them with tools for and experiences seeking Christian wisdom as they prepare to transition into a new season of life and career.