“I am so very thankful for the education I received at Heartland Seminary. I had the opportunity to pursue a degree from a more “prestigious” seminary, but chose Heartland instead, and continue to be grateful for that decision.

I greatly appreciated the emphasis on making theology practical. The courses involved academic rigor, but always with an emphasis on how it related to practical ministry and our personal spiritual walks. Theology and church history were never separated from spiritual formation or Christian witness, but integrated into them. Our professors were academically qualified ministry practitioners—both intellectually gifted and pastorally minded. What I gained from my time at Heartland was not merely theological content, but also personal character development and ministry competency.

The mentoring component was a vital part of the program. High quality mentors allowed students to grapple with concepts being taught in the classroom and process what it would look like to apply them in their own pursuit of God and day-to-day ministry.

An equally helpful aspect of the program were the student teaching opportunities integrated into each course. Every student researched a particular issue, for which they prepared both a paper and a presentation. This provided an opportunity for constructive feedback, ultimately allowing for growth in teaching skills and abilities. This is a profoundly helpful element offered at few other seminaries.

A huge blessing during my time with Heartland was the strong sense of connection I had with my primary professor. In my case, and in the case of other students, the development of a deep relationship built beyond the classroom that will last for a lifetime.

Not the least important benefit of Heartland though is its very reasonable tuition costs. Nevertheless, what I received for what I paid was priceless!

“I was halfway through an MDiv at a high-profile Reformed seminary.  My grades were great, and I had 100% of books and tuition covered by scholarships, but I was burning out because that seminary just didn’t fit my circumstances.  I was already working full time at a Christian non-profit, was part time revitalizing a legacy church, and I had a wife and 4 kids.  The classes were not practical for me—a person who already had 20 years of ministry experience—they were geared for people with little to no ministry experience.  I needed something more personalized, yet did not cheapen the academic rigor I needed in seminary.  At Heartland I received a custom-tailored learning experience that worked for my busy ministry career, family, and educational goals.  I switched to Heartland Seminary and never looked back and have since been recommended Heartland to future ministers as the best possible option for anyone seeking a seminary education.”

“As a husband, father of three active teenagers, and a co-vocational pastor, who was juggling the demands of ministry and family life while trying to find a theological education that would work with my busy schedule seemed nearly impossible—until I discovered Heartland Seminary.

Heartland offers a unique combination of academic rigor and practical application combined with flexibility and affordability that makes it the ideal choice for anyone pursuing ministry, whether at the beginning of the journey or deepening a calling already in progress.

Heartland understands the realities of life in ministry and provides a format that integrates smoothly into a hectic schedule.  Their courses are thoughtfully designed for people like me—who need the substance of in-depth theological training without compromising other God-given callings in life.  I particularly appreciate how appropriately oriented class assignments are for the tasks of everyday ministry.

Seminary should be an investment, not a financial burden.  Heartland makes this possible with incredibly affordable tuition rates, while still maintaining academic excellence, practical application and spiritual formation.  The goal is not just to develop better equipped pastors, but to also better equip pastors to follow Jesus.

If you’re a parent, a full-time worker, or already in ministry and find yourself wondering how you could possibly pursue a seminary education, Heartland Seminary is the answer.  It’s more than doable; it’s transformational.”

Classroom studies alone do not adequately prepare one for the challenges of real-life ministry.  There should, in fact, be 5 equally important components in the preparation; namely:

•       Academic Discipline
•       Spiritual Growth
•       Character Development
• ​      Practical Experience
•       Mentor Supervision

Traditional seminaries, whether on campus or online, are primarily designed to address the first of these components.  But academics are too often disconnected from application.  The spiritual growth and character development required for ministry are usually assumed, while the acquisition of many skills necessary to succeed in ministry are often deferred for later on-the-job experimentation.​

Heartland provides a first-class seminary education that is focused not merely on the acquisition of information, but more importantly, on how to apply what is learned to day-to-day ministry.  In addition, the Heartland program creates the opportunity for intentional character development and appropriate practical experience through a mentoring agreement set up with seasoned ministry professionals.​

I can tell you from first-hand experience that unless you are planning to pursue doctoral studies, or you have specific denominational ordination requirements, you will not find a theological training program that provides a more reasonably priced, more practical education.

Kent Mathews MDiv, PhD, ThD