How Will a Doctor of Ministry Equip Me to Love Others from Diverse Backgrounds?

Calvin Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree is designed with the student in mind, providing a personalized approach to education through innovative coursework and authentic contextual engagement. When Paul Verhoef found himself wanting to develop his engagement with university students from diverse backgrounds, he found the DMin program would integrate his chaplaincy experience into his learning.

Prepared for Study through Ministry

Paul Verhoef received his MDiv and ThM degrees at Calvin Seminary, and received a call to serve as the Christian Reformed Church’s chaplain at the University of Calgary. Paul has served in this role for over 20 years, seeking to faithfully serve as a Christian presence and witness in a public institution. As a chaplain, Paul has encountered the regular challenge and privilege of presenting the Gospel to students from all different backgrounds and walks of life, with different ethnicities, cultures, religious traditions, and questions about faith in Jesus Christ. 

With an already established ministry and academic training, why pursue a doctoral degree? Paul saw that the DMin degree was an extraordinarily practical, yet helpful tool to aid him to think through his work as a chaplain, experience formation in an intimate learning community, and use research to develop fresh, innovative ideas to make the University of Calgary community an even more loving and welcoming community.

Education as a Means for Discovery

Throughout his time as a DMin student, Paul has had opportunities to learn not only in traditional classroom contexts, but out of class contexts, as well. During a recent January Term (J-Term) class, he and a group of fellow students visited Parchman Prison Ministry in Mississippi, learning about how the power of the Gospel and a rigorous education can transform the lives of inmates in a maximum-security prison. Experiencing the Parchman Prison Ministry helped Paul reflect on how involvement in prison ministry can mightily impact local churches. 

In addition to experiential learning opportunities, Paul’s professors and cohort members have helped him reflect on his life’s work and calling in the context of a diverse community. A cohort of classmates from diverse backgrounds, sharing their experiences and lessons learned, has opened Paul to the needs for creative innovation in the church today, including his own context. While his dissertation topic is undecided at this time, he’s been encouraged to continue to think, reflect, and discover possible topics in the context of his cohort and professors. His current dissertation idea involves welcoming students from all backgrounds into the campus ministry community at the University of Calgary.

Prepared to Cultivate a Welcoming Community

Regardless of Paul’s final dissertation topic, the DMin program has prepared him to continue to cultivate a welcoming, loving community at the University of Calgary and the other places he ministers. His experiential and practical learning, combined with over 20 years of experience in ministry, has compelled him to think deeply about living out the love of God in the university’s student body and broader neighborhood. In a world where hostility is at an all-time high, Paul is seeking to provide a loving, welcoming environment to people coming from different religious, spiritual and identity backgrounds.

Paul’s story is only one example of how theory, practice, and experiential learning go hand in hand in the DMin program. We invite you to start a conversation with us about how a DMin program could provide you with experiential learning opportunities that propel you into new avenues of ministry.

How to Apply

If you’re interested in learning more about our Doctor of Ministry program, our Admissions Team is available to answer any questions you may have. To begin your application, visit our  website. We’re excited to hear from you!