KANSAS CITY, Mo—Beginning in May 2025, Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College students will be able to complement their theological education with advanced business training through a new partnership with Cedarville University.
Through the partnership, students at Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College can earn credits toward Cedarville’s Master of Business Administration, further preparing students for administrative ministry roles and marketplace leadership.
“I am grateful to announce this new partnership between Cedarville University and Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College,” said President Jason Allen. “We have so much in common with Cedarville University, and I am excited that some of our students will now be able to pursue their MBA through them. In our ever-changing cultural context, being adequately equipped to be a light for Christ in the workforce is no small matter. This new partnership allows our students to do just that.”
Cedarville University President Thomas White shared, “When two rivers converge, their impact multiplies, creating a stronger current that reaches farther and deeper. In the same way, when two like-minded institutions come together, the effect is not merely additive but exponential. This partnership between Cedarville and Midwestern Seminary allows us to strengthen our shared mission—preparing students for Kingdom impact by equipping them with both theological and business acumen.”
White continued, “I look forward to seeing how God uses this collaboration to expand opportunities for students and to further His work in the world.”
Located in Cedarville, Ohio, Cedarville University is a Baptist institution with a mission “for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.” The university’s Plaster School of Business offers a fully online MBA with a biblical foundation, which Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College students will be able to pursue through the partnership beginning this summer.
Jason Duesing, provost and senior vice president of academic administration at Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College, shared the practical advantages of a Christ-centered business education for students preparing to serve the Church.
“Receiving a high-quality professional master’s degree like an MBA from a respected Christian institution like Cedarville University only enhances opportunities for ministry service for those aiming to serve in church administration or executive leadership, and for those seeking to serve in the marketplace with a Kingdom focus.”
The partnership affords unique advantages for the seminary and college level.
Midwestern Seminary students pursuing a Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, or Master of Theological Studies will have the opportunity to receive preferred admission to Cedarville’s online MBA program while enrolled at the seminary. Select M.Div. courses will satisfy elective requirements for the MBA, maximizing the flexibility and efficiency of both programs.
Spurgeon College students will have access to an accelerated pathway to an MBA. During their senior year, students will have the opportunity to enroll in up to two online MBA courses at Cedarville, which can apply as transfer credits toward the Bachelor of Arts in Business Leadership at Spurgeon College. In addition, Spurgeon College graduates with completed MBA credits at Cedarville will be eligible to complete Cedarville’s MBA with a tuition discount.
Samuel Bierig, dean of Spurgeon College and vice president of undergraduate studies at Midwestern Seminary, reflected on the value of this opportunity for Spurgeon College students. “This partnership portends an opportunity for our students to be prepared to serve the Lord wherever He sends them by being trained at two exceptional institutions,” Bieirg said. “In this partnership, both schools play to their strengths, and the students are the beneficiaries.”
Todd Chipman, dean of graduate studies at Midwestern Seminary, commended the value of Cedarville’s program to equip students for ministry in the church and beyond. “We are grateful to partner with Cedarville University so that our students can be further equipped through Cedarville’s exceptional MBA program,” Chipman said. “Through the advanced training students receive at Cedarville, our students will be equipped for the Kingdom and for the Church around the globe.”
As added benefits, Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College students enrolled in Cedarville’s MBA through the partnership will have Cedarville library access and an academic advisor at Cedarville to guide them in completing program goals. Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College students can also receive a 15% tuition discount on all Cedarville MBA courses taken through the partnership.
Cedarville’s President White reflected, “God has been exceedingly gracious to both Midwestern Seminary and Cedarville, blessing our efforts to train students who are committed to biblical truth and gospel proclamation. It is a privilege to partner with a like-minded institution that stands firm on the authority of Scripture.”
He went on to say, “Through this collaboration, we not only strengthen our shared mission but also create tangible opportunities for students—allowing them to pursue their God-given callings with greater efficiency and impact. I’m excited to see how this partnership will serve students as they prepare to lead, serve, and influence the world for Christ.”
To learn more about these opportunities, contact the Admissions Office at Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College at [email protected].
To apply to Midwestern Seminary or Spurgeon College, click here.
