Overview of the Marketplace Minister Certificate
This vocational certificate is an internal programme of Auckland Park Theological Seminary (ATS) designed to facilitate access to, mobility and progression for students who do not meet the minimum admission requirements to enter Higher Education (as per Council of Higher Education, 2016. Policies on the recognition of prior learning, credit accumulation transfer, and assessment in higher education). This is done with the help of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for access.
Further study opportunities
On successful completion of this certificate, a student will be granted access to any of the following accredited academic programmes presented by Auckland Park Theological Seminary:
Why study the Marketplace Minister Certificate?
Watch the video below for reasons why you should consider studying this certificate, and how it will prepare you to become a marketplace minister…
Benefits of studying this certificate
- The academic door can be opened for students, who for whatever reason did not complete their matric successfully. This certificate provides a second opportunity.
- The certificate will develop the student’s cognitive ability and critical thinking skills.
- Entering tertiary education is beneficial, as brain development is stimulated and the formation of new neural pathways is accelerated, not to mention the development of self-discipline and the capacity for concentration.
- The development of people and leadership skills.
- This certificate will help students to become mature Christians who can navigate today’s world that is against the truth of the Bible and against Jesus Christ.
- This certificate prepares you to become a marketplace minister. A marketplace minister, for example, could be like Paul, who worked as a tentmaker (a trade), providing employment for others (an entrepreneur) while also ministering in the marketplace. We believe that every Christian is called, not necessarily to full-time ministry, but definitely to be a minister in the marketplace.
Duration
ATS enrols new students bi-annual, in January and in June for this certificate.
This certificate can be completed in 12 months.
An estimate 600 study hours are needed - the equivalent of between 2 to 3 study hours per day.
Assessment
Modules include self-test questions, self-reflection exercises, social learning tasks, and tasks for learning by doing. These assessments will help the student learn the work and identify where they still have growth areas.
At the end of every module the student will write an online examination to assess whether the student has successfully achieved the outcome of the module. If a student fails the examination, they may apply to write the Second Opportunity Examination.
Study fees for the Marketplace Minister Certificate (2025)
1st semester registration (January)
- Learning how to Learn
- Module 1: Spiritual growth - Prayer
- Module 2: Old Testament
- Module 3: Spiritual growth - How to study the Bible
- Module 4: New Testament
The deposit fee for the 1st semester is R1470.00 (35%) and is payable on the date of registration.
The remaining amount needs to be paid in 3 equal monthly installments.
The total cost for the 1st semester is R4,200.
2nd semester registration (June)
- Module 5: Entrepreneurial Awakening
- Module 6: Preaching & liturgy
- Module 7: Spiritual growth - Live by the Spirit
- Module 8: Christian faith and life (Dogmatics)
- Module 9: Christian Ethics
The deposit fee for the 2nd semester is R1837.00 (35%) and is payable on the date of registration.
The remaining amount needs to be paid in 3 equal monthly installments.
The total cost for the 2nd semester is R5,250.
Unlike other institutions, Auckland Park Theological Seminary does NOT charge extra fees for your initial Application, Registration every semester or Examinations.
100% of the prescribed study materials are included in the module fees and provided to the student at the start of the semester.
A handling and dispatching fee for study material is payable if you do not collect your material from ATS. Estimated R200.
Content and Outcomes of the Marketplace Minister Certificate
The certificate consists of 10 modules. The modules and their individual outcomes are as follows:
Learning how to Learn
This online micro-module includes 4 videos (30 minutes total):
- explain invaluable learning techniques,
- look at how the brain works during learning,
- how to deal with procrastination, and
- best practices in helping students master subject outcomes.
Module 1: Spiritual growth - Prayer
This practical module will assist you in improving your prayer life, your relationship with God and daily living. The content is built around a theological journey with the Lord’s Prayer as guide.
By the end of this module you will know:
- Why you must pray.
- What prayer is - the different kinds of prayers.
- What the things are that improve or frustrate your prayers.
- Prayer is about life and that life and prayer cannot be segregated as two different matters.
- When God has become our Father, there is a mass of truth that can change our entire lives.
- That model prayer introduces us to God’s cause and its victory in this world. His business must triumph in our lives and in this world.
- The will of God is important and essential for all aspects of life;
- In Jesus Christ, God has provided for our total needs… Nothing was omitted.
Module 2: Old Testament
At the end of this module you will be able to:
- debate the issue of the authority and inspiration of the Old Testament
- describe the attitude of Jesus and Paul towards the Old Testament
- explain the purpose and meaning of the term “revelation”
- identify the main historical eras in Israel’s history before the exile
- explain the structure and significance of Genesis 1-11
- describe the succession of world powers which dominated Palestine from the exile to New Testament times
- identify the problems involved in history writing and its purpose
- explain the connection between your story and the Biblical story
- describe characteristics and development of wisdom texts
- explain the role and function of the prophet
- explain the structure and various literary types of the Book of Psalms
- explain Brueggemann’s understanding of the psalms as psalms of orientation, disorientation, and new orientation.
Module 3: Spiritual growth - How to study the Bible
At the end of this module you will know:
- what the Bible is and its purpose
- how to read the Bible
- what principles to implement when interpreting the Bible
- what mistakes to avoid when interpreting the Bible
- what types of writings are contained in the Bible
- what rules to apply in interpreting three NT types of Scripture: parables, narrative and instruction.
Module 4: New Testament
At the end of this module you will know:
- what the term “gospel” means
- what the content of Matthew’s gospel is
- who Mark was and what he includes in his gospel
- who the author of Luke’s gospel was, and why and when he wrote it
- who wrote the Acts of the Apostles, why did he write it, and when?
- who the author of the Gospel of John was, and why and when he wrote it
- what the unique characteristics are of John’s gospel
- what the background and purpose was of the three epistles of John
- the purpose, content and characteristics of the book of Revelations
- when, why and what with regard to the epistles of Paul
Module 5: Entrepreneurial Awakening
This module (consisting of 5 videos) is fundamentally within a Christian world view and is directed towards groups. It makes use real-life examples to highlight learning insights.
We believe that this “less common” approach to entrepreneurship opens up fresh insights. [As a student you will work on your own and not in a group – unless you can convince one or to family members to join you.]
This module will help you to:
- develop a practical understanding of what an entrepreneur is
- stimulate you to start thinking and acting entrepreneurial
- teaching you how to identify new opportunities
- demonstrate how to convert opportunities into action plans
- highlight learning insights through real-life examples
- challenge you to believe in your ability to make a difference
- introduce you to “big thinking” (birds-eye view of situations)
- with skills to organise information into big thinking.
Module 6: Preaching & liturgy
At the end of this module you will understand, and be able to:
- receive a message from God
- develop a sermon
- deliver a sermon
- explain the historical background of the development of liturgy
- understand the basic principles that form the framework of Pentecostal liturgy
- discuss two liturgical elements: prayer and singing
Module 7: Spiritual growth - Live by the Spirit
After studying this module, you will be able to:
• Discuss the misconceptions that hinder our understanding of the Holy Spirit
• Explain the hermeneutic key that will guide our understanding of the Holy Spirit
• Give examples of the Holy Spirit and His work in the Old Testament
• Discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus
• Explore the meaning of Jesus being introduced, as the Baptiser in the Holy Spirit
• Discuss the wonderful meaning of the working of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life
• Explain the implications and importance of the imperative to “live by the Spirit”
• Discuss the magnificent promises Jesus made about the baptism with the Holy Spirit
• Explain what the Baptism of the Holy Spirit entail and what speaking in tongues mean.
Module 8: Christian faith and life (Dogmatics)
Dogmatics is all about doctrinal matters as found in the Bible. There are many topics to discuss, but in this module a selection of only a few topics are chosen.
At the end of this module you will be able to:
- understand the difference between a basis and a bonus in theology
- discuss the characteristics and consequences of a Christ-centred theology?
- name the main events in the progressive revelation of God.
- understand that God’s revelation as a shift from the outer and visible to the inner and spiritual.
- discuss what is meant by knowing God?
- explain the purpose of salvation.
- write explanatory notes on assurance of salvation.
- discuss the contents of the covenant between God and man?
- discuss what is meant by the fulfilment of the Law.
- give a short history of the development of the covenant between God and man.
Module 9: Christian Ethics
Included in this module are:
- Marriage as a unity of two
- The husband’s position
- The wife’s position
- Marital potholes
- Relationships
- The I-I relationship
- I-You relationship
- I-IT relationship
- Forgiveness
