Abilene Christian University offers a number of undergraduate and graduate degrees in missions. These degree plans can be accessed at our academics page. The Halbert Institute for Missions (HIM) partners with the academic programs to provide co-curricular training in missions. This training involves assessment of missionary candidates, the formation and development of teams, as well as site-specific training. HIM also researches opportunities around the world and consults with churches regarding their missions programs.

HIM staff includes the director, Dr. Sonny Guild and five missions coordinators. The coordinators collaborate in missionary and team preparation, yet each brings unique focus and skills. The missions coordinators are:

• ASIA: Larry Henderson
  
• AFRICA: Pending
  
• EUROPE: Yann Opsitch 
• LATIN AMERICA & SOUTH PACIFIC: Dr. Gary L. Green
  
• NORTH AMERICA: Dr. Kent Smith
  

Dr. Chris Flanders, missions faculty for the Graduate School of Theology also contributes significantly to the work of HIM. 

HIM provides opportunities for students to be involved in summer internships and longer apprenticeships around the world. The WorldWide Witness (WWW) program is directed by Dr. Gary Green. During the first six years of its existence, WWW has sent over 350 students to 30 locations around the globe.

Each summer HIM offers a Summer Seminar in Missions, which includes Missions Focus. During Summer Seminar missions courses can be taken for either academic or continuing education credit. Separate from Summer Seminar is Missions Focus, which is an event that brings focus to a specific need related to missions. During 2006 Dr. Larrie Gardner of Wycliffe Bible Translators was our resource person, leading a very practical discussion of missionary care. In 2007 Dr. Bruce Smith, former medical missionary in Central America currently working as a public health physician in the San Bernardino County, will address "The Challenge of AIDS and the Church’s Response."  In 2008 Dr. Tom Wymore led a workshop on "Empowered Coaching" which was beneficial to all involved in missions and ministry.

While ACU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, HIM works with missionaries and teams independently of their pursuing academic degrees. Missionaries can receive HIM co-curricular training and attend missions courses through a continuing education program. HIM provides quality service to missionaries as they prepare, while they are on the field, and when they return. This full range of missionary care is critical to the vitality of the missionary and the effectiveness of the mission effort.

See also the essay A Short History of Missions at ACU, 1968 - 2004.