The Global South is the home of the world's poor. Poverty and oppression are facts of life. Many in rural areas face daily
struggles–diminishing water for farming, children orphaned to HIV/AIDS, war uprooting people from their homelands.

The Global South is also rapidly urbanizing as many search for a better life in teeming cities. In the United States, inner city areas are often characterized by crime, poverty, and broken families. Children are drawn into gangs, and teenagers become drug dealers as a means to put food on the table and shoes on their feet.

At Fuller we firmly believe that it is our calling to bring the whole gospel of development, justice and the good news of Jesus Christ to the the poor in God's broken world. The poor and the lost deserve the best biblical and professional ministry and this requires professional equipping. Fuller's School of Intercultural Studies offers this type of program in a seminary setting. The International Development and Urban Studies emphasis equips students to carry out holistic Christian mission anywhere in the world.

Our faculty–many having spent years in relief, development, and inner city work–will prepare you to bring the love of Christ to the least of these in tangible ways. You will gain an understanding of the issues, learn what is needed to bring about holistic change, and see how God is calling you to work in these problem-laden areas.

How will you help bring transformative hope to the poor and marginalized of our world?

Jean Gill (MAGL 2006)
When Jean Gill first came to Fuller in 1996 "for just a year" after her 17th year of ministry in Japan, she never dreamed that she would graduate from Fuller 10 years later with a degree that did not yet exist--nor could she have anticipated that her vision for equipping Christian leaders across the globe would ripen right in Pasadena. read more  

Joe Harbison (PhD 2000)
Joe Harbison, Asia area director for the Seattle-based relief and development organization World Concern, is in Sri Lanka assessing the humanitarian needs of the devastated region. He e-mailed this journal entry to his colleagues in Seattle, who passed it along to The Seattle Times. Harbison has lived in Thailand for 20 years, directing relief and development aid in Asia and Africa. read more  

Andy Matheson (MA Intercultural Studies 2001)
Andy Matheson works as international director of Oasis, a worldwide ministry to urban poor founded and based in London. He completed the majority of his master's degree at Fuller while on a one-year sabbatical. He recently shared about his ministry with E-News. read more