Pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Kairos University

In 2024, I will start my journey in the Doctor of Ministry program at Kairos University. This program will better equip me to encourage the local church, effectively empower leaders, and develop the theological and practical framework for a life of faithful presence and downward mobility. To make affording this journey possible, I am hoping for the willingness of others to invest in my educational journey. You can learn more about this endeavor and my story at jeffmclain.com.

THE COST OF LEARNING

The Doctor of Ministry program at Kairos University will take three years to complete and a total cost of $10,800, which includes tuition and all associated costs.

THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PROGRAM

At Kairos University, the Doctor of Ministry program is centered around a praxis model of theological reflection that stresses the continual interaction and integration of the biblical, theological, and cultural disciplines in ministry. Kairos University is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

THE CHALLENGES OF AFFORDING EDUCATION

In addition to the costs of raising three daughters, my health has brought about some recent and additional complications and financial challenges. After being accepted into this program, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, which has caused me to develop new rhythms of living and to face increased medical costs.

I HAVE LIVED A LIFE OF SOJOURN

As a doctoral student, my faith is seeking an understanding of what it means to lead a quiet life at a slower pace, embracing simplicity and faith amidst a chaotic world and a church driven by excess.

However, my path to this point has been anything but quiet or conventional. I grew up inspired by Jesus, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the California Raisins, and The Clash. In my late teens and twenties, I embarked on a quest for meaning and adventure, immersing myself in concert promotions, activism, spiritual sojourns, and hitchhiking. These adventures had me crisscrossing the country several times and left me with a treasure trove of stories and encounters with God. God used those adventures and the investment of an unpretentious local pastor to bring me back to Jesus, Jesus’ cause, and Jesus’ church.

This doctoral journey is just the next step of my spiritual pilgrimage to love and live more like Jesus.

DIFFERENCE-MAKING WHERE I LIVE, WORK, WORSHIP, AND PLAY.

Over the past decade, I have focused on difference-making work. Full-time, I work among those suffering from homelessness and poverty as the Director of Pastoral Ministries at Water Street Mission in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I also serve as the pastoral leader at River Corner Church, a growing church community of everyday people who gather to worship God, follow Jesus, and journey through life together. Additionally, my blog, Lead a Quiet Life on Patheos, explores what it means to live at a slower pace and to discover a simple life and faith that embraces downward mobility in a chaotic world and church that is obsessed with excess. I also offer my insights and perspectives through my website, the Discovering God Podcast, the River Corner Church Podcast, and the Revive Initiative.

Katie and I have been happily married for over seventeen years. We are nestled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where we are raising three wonder-filled daughters and a handful of beloved pets. I nurture a passion for baseball, boardwalks, beaches, bays, and books, but nothing tops the joy of spending quality time with my family. We can often be found exploring the outdoors or open roads together.

A COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING

As an individual who is committed to lifelong learning, I am enrolled as a Doctor of Ministry student at Kairos University. Prior, I graduated with both a Master’s of Arts in Theology and Ministry and a Master’s of Arts in Global Leadership, at Fuller Seminary. I also have completed a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and an Associate's in Christian Ministry and Leadership from City Vision University. My academic pursuits also include the accomplishment of several other academic and professional classes, programs, and learning communities.

CONNECTING FOR CONVERSATION

If you are interested in engaging in conversation, please do not hesitate to contact me via email. You can also connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or my website.

YOUR INVESTMENT WILL HELP ME MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Thank you for considering my request for financial support for my doctorate journey. I believe this program will provide me with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively encourage the local church, empower leaders, and develop a theological and practical framework for a life of faithful presence and downward mobility. Through this program, and your investment, I will be better equipped to make a significant positive impact in the communities I serve. Your generosity will have a lasting impact in helping me achieve my educational goals and continue making a difference in the places I live, work, worship, and play. I look forward to the possibility of partnering with you on this journey and informing you on how this is bettering me as a leader, pastor, pastoral theologian, and follower of Jesus. By December 2028, I want to graduate with a Doctor of Ministry degree, debt-free, with a publishable dissertation, a 3.5 GPA, and liberated for what is next.