Graduate School of Theology
Welcome
LCU’s Graduate School of Theology offers an accessible, affordable degree for graduate students to pursue rigorous ministry and academic preparation for their kingdom callings. Our faculty’s superb academic training, coupled with extensive ministry experience, ensures students receive a high-quality, practical, ministry education. All our graduates are better equipped to serve in current positions or well-prepared to enter new ministries. Some even pursue additional graduate or doctoral study.
We gladly welcome applicants from any Christian tradition. We have a special desire to equip and encourage those from churches of Christ and other Restoration Movement congregations.
God is at work within every human heart, in every village and great city, and on every continent. And we are invited to participate in what God is doing. Perhaps an LCU Graduate School Theology master of arts in Christian Ministry degree will enrich your calling.
If you want to learn more, please give us a call. We welcome the chance to get to know you.
We invite you to partner with us — joining in God’s work, together.
Brandon L. Fredenburg, PhD
Chair of Academic Affairs and Professor of Biblical Studies
The Graduate School of Theology
Designed for students who come to our graduate programs without an undergraduate degree in a related discipline (or 18 undergraduate semester hours in biblical studies), the M.A. degree in Christian Ministry gives students a good foundation in biblical studies and preparation for success in ministry.
Lubbock Christian University’s Graduate School of Theology has designed a Graduate Certificate in Children’s Ministry with second-career ministers in mind. This five course, 15 credit hour certificate program keeps your ministry environment front-and-center. Through project-based learning, theological reflection, peer interaction, and instructor mentoring
Check out LCU's job postings resource for ministry positions. It includes postings and resources for those seeking to hire ministers.
Dr. Jeff Cary is a 1995 graduate of LCU. He holds a Ph.D. in Theology from Baylor University. Jeff returned to LCU in 2006 to teach in the Bible Department. His primary areas of teaching are Christian history and theology. Jeff, his wife Amy, and their three children worship with the Idalou Church of Christ where Jeff serves as the preaching minister and as an elder.
Brandon L. Fredenburg is a professor of Biblical Studies and assistant dean for the Alfred and Patricia Smith College of Biblical Studies His current primary responsibility is to lead the Bible department faculty toward accreditation of three graduate programs by the Association of Theological Schools. Realizing a decades-long dream, Brandon will complete a two-year Certification in Spiritual Direction program through SMU's Perkins School of Theology in December 2015. He and his family are active members at Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock and he serves as secretary for the Carpenter's Church board of directors.
Jesse C. Long, Jr., holds degrees from David Lipscomb University (B.A.), Alabama Christian School of Religion (M.A.), Georgia State University (M.Ed.), and Drew University (M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D.). Jesse enjoys teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in Old Testament and biblical archaeology at LCU and in area churches. His research interests are in Hebrew narrative and archaeology. Jesse authored the College Press NIV Commentary on 1 & 2 Kings.
Michael Martin is an associate professor of New Testament. He enjoys teaching graduate and undergraduate courses on various books of the New Testament and on Christian history and theology. His published work has focused on the Gospels according to Mark and John, Paul, and Hebrews, and has included text-critical, literary-critical, rhetorical-critical, philological, and historical studies. His current interest is in the rhetorical design and artistry of early Christian hymns, prayers, stories, sermons, and poems. Dr. Martin and his son, J.H., enjoy playing games, watching sports and movies, swimming, and music.
Mark hails from Mt. Juliet, TN, and is married to the Mississippian Arlene, who substitutes for the Frenship School System. We have six children (David, Kelly, Zach, Laruen, Brian, and Luke). 3 of these currently attend LCU (Kelly, Zach, and Luke). We have 3 grandchildren: Jase, Rebel, and Atley. We currently are attending the Broadway Church of Christ. Mark loves movies, jogging, and lifting weights. His area of specialty is the Old Testament, particularly, its culture, and the wisdom literature. He loves helping students to research and write better. Mark has authored four books with prestigious presses and numerous articles in top ranked journals. He is the Chair of the Hebrew Bible section for the Southwest Conference on Religious Studies, which meets every March in Irving, TX. He has been invited to speak next year at the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament conference in Stellenbosch, South Africa, on the book of Job.
Charles is Professor of New Testament. He serves as Chair of the Biblical Studies Department and Graduate Biblical Studies. Currently, Charles teaches Preaching and New Testament text classes on both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Every fall he teaches all the incoming Biblical Studies majors in the Freshman Class as they study Introduction to the Old Testament. In addition to these responsibilities, he is the Adult Education Minister for the South Plains Church of Christ where he also serves as an elder.
Charles attended Abilene Christian University where he graduated with his B.S.Ed. in 1964.
While preaching in Louisiana he attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where he received the M.Th. (1972) and the Th.D. (1978). He came to LCU in the fall of 1975 and is in his 41st year of service. Charles preached for four churches before arriving in Lubbock where he has now preached for three churches. He has served as an elder in two churches. Also, he has presented studies of church leadership in several congregations.
Charles and his wife, Carolyn, have been married for 53 years. They have two married children, Chuck (ACU '86) and Carrie (LCU '88), who have given them 6 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Shannon joined the faculty at LCU in 2016 after fifteen years in church ministry, specializing in children and family ministry. Shannon earned her Doctor of Ministry degree from ACU, emphasizing spiritual formation. Her project-thesis explored the role of the children’s minister in the discipleship of children. She actively coaches church leaders on issues concerning the leadership of children and family ministries. Currently, her research and publications has focused on the intergenerational worship with children and the inclusion of women in public leadership of the church. Shannon has taught workshops and led church consultations on a variety of topics, including: training and equipping children's ministers, hiring children’s ministers, developing a vision of children and family ministry, contemplative practices with children, teacher training, and congregational leadership. Shannon is an associate with Hope Network Ministries, an organization dedicated to mentoring leaders and guiding churches.
Mark joined LCU\'s faculty in 2013. From 2009-2013, while completing a dissertation for a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Southern Methodist University, he worked as an adjunct instructor in the Religion and Philosophy Department at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. He completed his B.A. in Biblical Studies in 2002 and his M.Div. in 2005 from Abilene Christian University.
Research and teaching interests include systematic theology, analytic theology, philosophical theology, historical theology, divine providence, the metaphysics of free will, the theology of Luis de Molina, the theology of Augustine, the theology of Thomas Aquinas.
Dr. Barry Stephens received his B.A. in Biblical Studies from Freed-Hardeman University, and holds the M.Div. from Harding School of Theology, where he also earned his Doctor of Ministry degree. He also holds the Graduate Certification in Conflict Management from the Institute for Conflict Management at Lipscomb University. Barry has served as the Senior Minister for the Monterey Church of Christ in Lubbock since 2000, and as an Adjunct Professor of Preaching and Ministry in LCU\'s College of Biblical Studies since 2000. He previously preached for churches in Louisiana and Kentucky. He has spoken on leadership on numerous seminar, retreat, and lecture programs in several states, and in Kenya, Germany, England, Mexico, and Venezuela; and has served as a consultant for several churches. He and his wife Debbie have been married for 41 years, and have three grown children, and four grandchildren.
