Contact: Dr. Stephen Swisher, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 817-252-2737

NEWARK, Tx., Feb. 4 /Christian Newswire/ -- A historical collaboration has just occurred between the United Theological Seminary (UTS) and Kenneth Copeland Ministries (KCM), one of the world's largest faith-based ministries, to provide a practical, hands-on, biblically based doctor of ministry degree in preaching and media. The classes will be held at the KCM headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as UTS in Dayton, Ohio. The five-semester, 2 ½-year program will involve advanced preparation for the practice of ministry. Each class will be held to a maximum of 15 students to ensure the best possible experience and growth for each participant.

In this program, pastors and leaders from across denominational lines will gain practical experience in how to build and grow their ministries and positively impact their communities. Students will learn how to use social media, build and sustain local, national and international television ministry, create a ministry magazine from start to finish, and preach faith in a way that impacts the listener. In addition, a unique strength of this doctor of ministry program is its mentor-based approach. Mentors are involved with the students and are readily available to help the pastor or leader navigate through this educational adventure.

For nearly 140 years, United Theological Seminary has trained leaders for the Church of Jesus Christ. Originally an outgrowth of the United Brethren Church, the motion for its founding was made by Bishop Milton Wright, the father of Orville and Wilbur Wright who would later impact the world through their creation of the Wright airplane. In 1968, when the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with the Methodist Church, UTS became one of the 13 official United Methodist seminaries.

Over the past 43 years, Kenneth Copeland Ministries has become one of the foremost leaders in teaching the principles of faith to meet the needs of people worldwide--proclaiming from the top of the world to the bottom and all the way around that Jesus is Lord. Though primarily a media-based teaching ministry, KCM invests millions of dollars each year into helping people around the world. As part of its outreach, KCM provides financial support and other means of assistance to over 100 ministries and agencies in more than 120 countries on a regular basis, including churches, evangelistic outreaches, orphanages, youth programs, and rehabilitation centers.

KCM utilizes a variety of media to share the message of Jesus Christ, including television, the Internet, books, audio and video materials, and a monthly magazine. Through its television ministry, which extends across the United States and into over 70 nations around the world, KCM reaches a potential audience of 965 million people worldwide with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Its free monthly publication, the Believer's Voice of Victory magazine, has a circulation of more than 500,000. In addition, KCM regularly provides free resource materials to over 50,000 inmates to encourage them, answers more than a million letters each year, and responds to the spiritual needs of thousands of callers each month through its 24-hour prayer line.

The mentor for the program will be Dr. Stephen Swisher, who is a graduate of UTS and holds two doctorate degrees. Dr. Swisher has served as a senior pastor for over 15 years in churches ranging in size from 100 to over 6,000 members. He currently serves as a senior manager at KCM. Special guest instruction will be given by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, as well as other distinguished church and ministry leaders. The first class will begin August 2010.

You may apply for this program online by visiting www.kcm.org and clicking the UTS/KCM link or you can contact United Theological Seminary at 937-529-2275.