The Academy for GOD Launches ProDev Partnerships for 2024-2025 Academic Year
The Academy for GOD is excited to announce the launch of its Professional Development (ProDev) Program partnerships for the 2024-2025 academic year. Now in its second formal year, ProDev connects students' biblical education with real-world work experience, enabling them to graduate debt-free and confident in their career paths. Institute for GOD President and Academy Founder, Gregg Garner, a theologian and entrepreneur, has been developing this program iteratively since 2011. Together with The Institute staff, he is committed to breaking the stereotype that Bible college graduates struggle to find employment.
The Academy for GOD is excited to announce the launch of its Professional Development (ProDev) Program partnerships for the 2024-2025 academic year. Now in its second formal year, ProDev connects students' biblical education with real-world work experience, enabling them to graduate debt-free and confident in their career paths. Institute for GOD President and Academy Founder, Gregg Garner, a theologian and entrepreneur, has been developing this program iteratively since 2011. Together with The Institute staff, he is committed to breaking the stereotype that Bible college graduates struggle to find employment.
Aligned with the college’s mission to produce "spiritually mature, competent professionals for global impact," The Institute combines rigorous Scriptural study with practical work experience and extensive global internships for every on-campus student. Since 2011, this unique combination has resulted in a 100% job placement rate for graduates—14% higher than the national average.
How Does It Work?
Traditional on-campus students enrolled in The Institute’s undergraduate program are invited to participate in the ProDev program. Here’s how it works:
"This is my second year at the Academy for my Pro-Dev. This has been my favorite work environment that I have been apart of. My bosses and co-workers have given me feedback and encouragement throughout my time here. I love being able to grow in my ability to work with children and grow in my teaching skills." - Ms. Vavold
Preference-Based Placement: Students undergo a personalized matching assessment that seeks to align individual career goals with available experiences with Christian businesses and nonprofits committed to investing in the next generation of professionals in Nashville
Scholarship Support: ProDev Partners contribute to a scholarship fund that significantly reduces the cost of students’ biblical education, helping students to graduate debt-free while gaining professional experience in their field of interest.
Real-World Experience: Students commit to 15-25 hours a week of professional experience in fields as diverse as medicine, education, hospitality, construction, social services, and the arts.
Flexible Learning Opportunities: Students may switch ProDev placements each semester to explore different career paths or to stay in one role to build a specialized skill set toward a specific career goal.
Career-Ready Graduates: By the end of their undergraduate education, students will have earned a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies or Community Development, complemented by a resume rich with workplace experience, additional microcredentials, and a wealth of soft skills developed through mentorship and practical engagement.
ProDev is more than a scholarship program, it’s an opportunity for incredible personal growth. President Garner explains: “Students participating in the ProDev program will have the chance to determine if what they imagine they want to do is truly grounded in reality. In this way, students don’t find themselves realizing after earning their degree that it’s not what they want to pursue. Instead, they gain that insight before even completing their general education. This saves families money, it saves students time, and it significantly enhances their experience. Once a student identifies their passion, they become more eager to learn about it. By the time they reach their upper-division courses, they’ve already filtered out what they realized they didn’t want to pursue. Now, they’re driven to learn. When you combine someone driven to learn with opportunities for practical application, explosive growth follows. That’s what the Professional Development program offers.”
2024-2025 Partnerships
In the fall of 2024, The Institute is thrilled to provide professional opportunities to its students working in the following areas, alongside the college’s departments of assessment, admissions, A/V tech, and marketing:
CASE After School Program
Hopewell Family Care Integrative Clinic
Nyumba Food Services (Califarmia Food Truck)
Nyumbarista (Coffee Shop)
GOD Int’l Facilities & Maintenance
The Arts at Center Street (Music and Theatre)
MCH Nashville (Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Utilities, Geothermal and Solar)
Academy for GOD (Preschool-12th Grade)
A Collaborative Effort: ProDev at The Academy for GOD
Mr. C is a valued member of the Academy, respected by students and staff. As a second-year ProDev student, he significantly contributes to campus life as a recess supervisor and teaching assistant. He fosters a safe, enjoyable recess, encouraging inclusive play and providing support with conflicts and schoolwork.
The Academy for GOD has provided experiences in K-12 education to Institute students for over a decade in volunteer, internship, and staff capacities. The Professional Development program has allowed us to partner even more effectively with the Institute to provide students seeking future educational occupations with real-time experiences. During the 2024-2025 school year, our professional development students are fulfilling responsibilities related to lunch and recess monitoring, teaching assistance, administrative assistance, receptionist tasks, building cleaning, and traffic duties. Institute students are learning skills related to classroom management, conflict resolution according to God’s word, and assisting students on campus and via remote learning channels. As students spend consecutive years working with us, responsibilities increase to develop their capacities toward holding faculty and staff positions into the future. We are thankful to spend time investing in Institute students in a way that trains them into our future teachers and leaders in innovative Christian education.
Call to Action
For businesses and nonprofit organizations interested in joining this innovative program, or for students eager to enroll in a program that combines faith with practical experience and financial freedom, please visit the instituteforgod.edu or contact Laurie Kagay, the college’s VP of Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications (laurie@instituteforgod.edu).
About The Institute for GOD
The Institute for GOD is a Bible and Missions college in Nashville, TN, accredited with The Association for Biblical Higher Education. Their mission is to develop spiritually mature, competent professionals for global impact. Learn more about The Institute for GOD on their website or via their episode of The College Tour on Amazon Prime (Season 10, Episode 2).