“Bethany has a rich heritage, a spiritual DNA of faith, international fruitfulness, and a great future ahead”
—Loren Cunningham – Founder of Youth With A Mission

Hands-on Missions College

For many, there isn’t a clear path to becoming a missionary long term. They wrestle with their calling, wonder what the qualifications are, and worry if they can make it financially.

BGU missionary training programs make the journey easy by providing a clear path to a lifetime of impact overseas.

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Since 1948, Bethany Global University has trained 3,000+ Christian missionaries to take the church to where it is not. Our hands-on approach to education will help you become an effective missionary wherever God leads you.

We accomplish this in three ways:

Hands-on Traning: Undergraduates get hands-on work experience through practical training and local outreach while on campus and then spent 16 months overseas learning while doing missions during their global internship. Graduate students are required to be actively involved in some hands-on work regarding intercultural ministry.
Missions Focus: Fulfilling the great Great Commission by taking the church to where it is not is our chief aim. All faculty, staff, and students who attend here are focused on this one great endeavor.
A University & Agency Collaboration: BGU is part of the larger organization of Bethany International and partners with Bethany Gateways missions agency to bring the most up-to-date training back to the classroom. In collaboration with Bethany Gateways, BA students are commissioned and sent as full-time missionaries overseas while on their global internship.

Missions-minded Community

All the students, staff, and faculty at BGU are focused solely on missions.

Earn an Accredited Degree

BGU is an accredited missions college and offers a bachelor of arts (BA) degree with majors in Intercultural Ministry, Entrepreneurship, and Education.

Spend 16 Months Overseas

BGU will walk you through the process before, during, and after the mission field so you are fully equipped to make an impact overseas. (BA students only)

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“After my two years on campus and 16 month internship, I could be dropped anywhere in the world and know how to be an effective missionary”
—Rebecca, BGU Alumni

Free Resources

What To Know Before You Become Missionary Guide

How to Know if You Are Called to Missions

PDF Guide by Kerry Olson

The Plan: Discover Your Role In God’s Plan

Course by David Hasz

Missions 101 What to Know Before You Go

Course by Steve Eliason

Recent Blog Posts

15 Ways Missionaries Can Overcome Homesickness

Every missionary overseas will experience homesickness. While there is no cure to fill up the longing in your heart for familiarity, security, family, comfort, and purpose, there are ways to deal with homesickness. Many missionaries have learned that homesickness happens when you least expect it and can be triggered at the most random times by […]

Overcoming Parent Objections to Missions

You are called to missions. But your parents don’t seem to agree. They ask questions you don’t have the answers to. Having answers can offer clarity on a topic that seems daunting. Have no fear. We have interviewed the Executive Vice President and Provost of Bethany Global University, Dave Hasz, for some key answers to our […]

How to Become a Missionary

“A missionary is a disciple-maker who has to cross multiple cultural barriers in order to make the gospel known to a person who does not know Jesus.” – Steve Eliason, Missionary Preparation Coordinator with Bethany Gateways In the traditional sense, a missionary is someone who leaves their homeland and goes to a foreign country. In order […]

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Learn While Doing Missions Overseas

Through BGU’s Global Internship, you can earn your BA degree while making an impact for Christ in one of the 7 different countries below. We are also adding more countries every year as we grow.