“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Artos Academy’s Diploma in Ministry Leadership equips both existing and emerging global leaders with the biblical literacy and practical skills needed to effectively minister to their diverse communities. Ministry leaders can learn where they serve with trusted mentors, practical subjects they can apply immediately, and recognised credentials at fair prices.
Designed by and for Global Ministry Leaders
- Locally mentored: Experienced leaders help learners to apply lessons right where God has placed them.
- Immediately useful: Practical subjects equip learners with skills they can apply straight away.
- Internationally credentialed: Options for recognised credentials are available to qualified learners.
- Contextually affordable: Prices are based on the region using trusted international benchmarks.
- Designed for accessibility: Courses are designed to be accessible in all regions, with low and no bandwidth options
Benefits for Individual Learners
- Convenient competency-based, self-paced courses
- Meet with a local mentor for guidance and accountability
- Choose from multiple pathways: accredited degree pathway for eligible learners (20 courses), non-accredited degree pathway (15 courses), or micro-credentials (5 courses)
- Just-in-time learning in practical subjects such as: Old Testament and New Testament, Applied Theology, Disciple-Making, Compassionate Care, Biblical Leadership, and Church Planting
Benefits for Organizational Partners
- Best-in-class contextualized curriculum delivered online or offline
- Courses delivered in major languages
- Provide your own mentors and cohorts
- Augment your current program offerings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Diploma is a fully online, competency-based training programme offered by Artos Academy that equips pastors and ministry leaders—especially in the Majority World—with the theological knowledge, practical skills, and character formation needed for effective, contextually relevant leadership.
The programme is delivered through competency-based, self-paced online courses with mentor support. Learners can choose a self-directed pathway and study with a self-selected mentor, or participate through an organisation that provides mentors and additional support. Although courses are self-paced, they typically run in 8-week cycles, and learning is demonstrated through projects and portfolios.
Competency-Based Theological Education (CBTE) is an educational model that focuses on learning outcomes and the demonstration of competencies rather than the traditional time-based education models. In CBTE, learners progress by showing they have mastered specific skills and knowledge needed for ministry leadership. This approach is highly flexible, allowing learners to move through the programme at their own pace, based on their ability to demonstrate these competencies.
There are three options:
- Accredited degree option: Learners complete 20 courses with a qualified mentor and earn an associate’s degree from Kairos University.
- Non-accredited degree option: Learners complete 15 courses and receive a diploma from Artos Academy.
- Micro-credential: Learners complete 5 courses and receive a certificate from Artos Academy.
All students begin by taking the first 5 courses one at a time. Each course must be completed within 8 weeks. Learners can apply for the accredited diploma option after completing five courses and meeting additional requirements. The average completion time is about two years.
There are no formal educational prerequisites, but we would expect a person to have at least a secondary school certificate in order to apply. Additionally, for a learner to by successful they should:
- Proof of internet access.
- Commit to paying per course (pay-as-you-go).
- Proof of a qualified mentor.
Learners pay by the course. Course rates are based on region using international benchmarks. The most any learner will pay is USD 250 per course, or USD 5,000 for 20 courses. Additional fees are charged for academic verification and accreditation. For information about your applicable tuition rate, please contact us at programs@odb.org.
Learners benefit from various levels of support:
- Personal, contextual, and academic mentors help with personal growth, ministry context application, and academic competency.
- Access to discussion forums, language support, and technical help desk.
- Additional guidance for selecting a mentor and building a portfolio for accreditation.
The programme is designed to be contextual and culturally relevant. Contextual mentors help learners apply biblical principles in their specific communities, and the curriculum includes cultural competencies. Courses are also available in multiple languages, with local mentors trained to understand and support diverse ministry environments.
While we don’t offer formal exemptions for past studies, any previous learning or ministry experience can help you progress more quickly through your courses. Because this is a competency-based programme, you’ll be able to demonstrate what you already know through your assignments and projects—helping you complete requirements more efficiently.