Regent University School of Divinity
Center for the Great Commission
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” — Matthew 28:19
About the center
The Center for the Great Commission is a strategic initiative of Regent University’s School of Divinity. Its core conviction is that every believer is called to participate in Christ’s mandate to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19–20). Grounded in commitments to biblical fidelity, spiritual renewal, holistic formation, and missional leadership, the Center operates from a renewal-oriented, interdenominational identity.
The Center forms and mobilizes Holy Spirit‐empowered disciples, initially focusing on students in the School of Divinity’s Master of Arts in Evangelism and Missions, Master of Arts in Church Planting, and future Doctor of Missiology (D.Miss.) degrees, before expanding to serve all Regent students and beyond. Key institutional partners in its outreach vision include Operation Blessing and CBN International.
WHY THE CENTER MATTERS
The Center for the Great Commission is not an addition to Regent’s mission to equip Christian leaders to change the world — it is its fullest expression. It addresses the breadth of the Great Commission by treating discipleship and missional witness as the responsibility of every believer, not just clergy or ministry professionals, across every vocation and sphere of society.
The Center gives institutional form to Regent’s renewal identity by creating a dedicated formation and mobilization pathway. Thus, it highlights and reinforces every staff member’s role to minister to students and colleagues — embodying the Matthew 28 mandate to make disciples through their vocational callings. It also positions Regent as a strategic resourcing hub for churches, extending the university’s kingdom impact far beyond campus.
Invest in the Great Commission
Support Regent’s Center for the Great Commission and make an eternal impact.
Five Strategic Cornerstones
The Center addresses five distinct areas of need across the university and the broader church:
Research
Rigorous, peer-reviewed scholarship on vocation, marketplace mission, and global disciple-making, developing a cross-disciplinary research agenda that leverages the School of Divinity’s Journal for Renewal Theology
Faculty
Theological formation and interdisciplinary training that weaves a Great Commission identity into course design, mentorship, and classroom culture — beyond traditional ministry courses and into every discipline
Staff
Students
An accessible formation pathway for every Regent student through Great Commission training, experiential learning, and cohort-based discipleship, with access to non-credit resources and global evangelism leaders
Church
A strategic resourcing and partnership hub for churches worldwide, offering curriculum, consulting services, and a formal Church Partnership Council equipped with the latest methods of fulfilling the Great Commission
Meet the Director
Dr. Joseph Umidi serves as Executive Director for Regent’s Center for the Great Commission. He formerly served as the university’s Executive Vice President for Student Life, led the School of Divinity as Interim Dean, directed the school’s internship program, and served more than 35 years as a Full Professor of Ministry.
Get Involved
There are meaningful entry points for every constituency — and some opportunities are available now.
Students
Students are invited immediately to join a specific prayer strategy for the Center and the unreached peoples it will target. Beginning in Fall 2026, Regent students across all degree programs can apply to become Great Commission Fellow Team members, helping to fine-tune and fulfill a transformational, replicable discipleship process. Internships and mission mobilization trips will also be offered every semester.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty and staff can engage through theological formation experiences, interdisciplinary learning communities, and cohort-based training. All staff are also invited to join the Center’s prayer strategy. Staff formation includes missional onboarding and on-campus discipleship communities designed to help every team member embrace their vocational role as Great Commission stewards.
Churches and Ministry Partners
Churches and ministry partners can engage through the Church Partnership Council, church-facing curriculum, and consulting services. The Center is designed to serve as a partnership hub for churches at the local, regional, and global levels, providing resources and connecting them with the latest methods for Great Commission ministry.
Supporters and Donors
Supporters and donors can help subsidize the costs of student mission mobilization trips as well as the research and training materials made available to churches, agencies, and workers in the field. This is a tangible and immediate way for those outside the Regent community to invest in the Center’s global mission.