It's hard to do certain kinds of missions and ministry while simultaneously doing seminary. Yet, having a MDiv can open up future opportunities. The courses also deepen your understanding of God's Word and ways to serve Him. What to do?
Well, there are online options. Many schools and churches want hands-on experience in ministry-related fields, though. That requires some kind of hybrid. Then again, some churches might accept an online MDiv if you have references proving your hands-on service. Maybe your church will be that reference. Then, the cohort model even uses your church for part of what a seminary would do.
Before getting a degree or certification, be sure to ask your church, those in your area, and others where you might move to what they would require or find acceptable. Far as simply learning, you can always just listen to the free lectures.
Here's some options ranked mostly by flexibility:
1. MABTS offers their programs online. Their financial aid is aimed at debt-free education. I like that they require evangelism. You're doing the Great Commission and getting educated at the same time. If you want Biblical Counseling, they also offer inexpensive courses through INS to get ACBC certification. They also have a college. I'd rather you go to a secular one to share with the lost, though.
(Disclosure: I did apply to MABTS once but was rejected. They had a great
community in a city that's mostly lost people. Great reputation among
local churches, too. I applied for those reasons more than the degree
itself.)
2. NOBTS has a 100% online program. The service you're doing might count for the hands-on experience they require. NOBTS also does regular evangelism in New Orleans either in general or if you're in one of those classes. They have people doing the Great Commission and getting educated at the same time.
3. Okanagan is 100% online with a mixed approach: uses courses from BiblicalTraining.org's Institute program to give you knowledge at low cost; your local church assesses you on hands-on stuff; paid mentors for people who don't have them. They're multidenominational. If you use them, pick doctrinally-sound courses and mentors. You can also download the lectures using BiblicalTraining's app. Good for when you have no Internet.
4. Hybrid programs that let you take most courses online. Examples include RTS Orlando and Covenant. A RTS rep suggested timing the classes that are in-person so you do them before or after periods of mission and ministry. IIRC, he said theirs last 90 days at a time. You do online for everything else. The RTS app lets you download lectures for offline viewing or to listen to in areas without Internet. Covenant's lectures are downloadable, too. Hybrids with careful timing seems helpful in some situations.
5. The Master's Seminary is more restrictive on this than most schools. It does have options, though. We felt they deserve a chance in this section since they put a lot of free courses on YouTube.
6. BibleMesh who have both degree pathways and certification tracks. Certification partners include Pioneers, Christar, and ThirdMill. I can't speak to the quality since I haven't taken their courses. I did think Pioneer's classes were good choices for missionary certification. I also liked the low, monthly pricing which was similar to Okanagan. That was all from a quick review in 2021, though.
(Back to free materials, learn the Gospel w/ proof it's true, or learn how to share it.)