On Saturday, May 7, 50 women graduated with their master’s degrees from Wheaton College’s School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership. Christine Caine, whose ministry Propel Women helped make earning the degrees possible, was herself one of the graduates, all of whom earned an M.A. in Evangelism and Leadership.
“Had such a fun time @WheatonCollege Graduate School Commencement today,” Caine tweeted Saturday. “Who would’ve thought I’d get my Master’s in Evangelism and Leadership at 55 years old? It’s never too late — I hope someone is inspired to step out and fulfill your dream.”
Had such a fun time @WheatonCollege Graduate School Commencement today. Who would’ve thought I’d get my Master’s in Evangelism and Leadership at 55 years old? It’s never too late — I hope someone is inspired to step out and fulfill your dream. pic.twitter.com/HttO3kuzzh
— Christine Caine (@ChristineCaine) May 7, 2022
Dr. Ed Stetzer, Executive Director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center and Editor-in-Chief of Outreach Magazine, is Dean of Wheaton’s School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership and also teaches in the M.A. in Evangelism and Leadership program. [Full disclosure: Ed Stetzer is general editor of ChurchLeaders.com.] He said, “Both Propel and Wheaton draw people from all over the evangelical spectrum, and we have the privilege to educate and encourage these women leaders to the roles they feel called.”
Propel Women and Wheaton Raise Up Female Leaders
Propel Women, which was co-founded in 2015 by Christine Caine and her husband, Nick Caine, is a “Christian ministry that comes alongside women as they develop their leadership and potential, helping them to go further and take on new challenges.” Part of the mission of Propel Women is to equip and train women, an area of need Christine Caine mentioned to Stetzer several years back.
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“Christine, Nick, and I were having dinner together in Southern California, probably five years ago,” said Stetzer. “Chris was expressing her concern about the theological education for leaders in the church, particularly for women leaders. We decided we should partner together to draw people into the Evangelism and Leadership degree at Wheaton College, which provides training that is theologically and biblically sound, and includes a strong focus on leadership. We knew that the program would be a benefit to the women who serve in a variety of roles, whether in church ministry, parachurch settings, or business.”
Because of this partnership, Propel volunteers, staff and ministry leaders who enroll in the M.A. in Evangelism and Leadership program with the intention of earning a degree get a discounted rate on their tuition. Propel cohorts (groups of 15 or more students) that enroll receive an even higher discount.
