News - November 2009

The new IBTI year started on September 18th and the college is again filled with a great group of students. There are 32 in all this year from 18 countries. It continues to be a privilege, for those of us on staff, to work together with these young people in training them for the work that God has for them to do in so many nations across the world. Some come from situations of ease and plenty, but with huge spiritual poverty. Others have had to suffer for their faith along with their fellow believers in circumstances where the gospel of Jesus Christ has to be proclaimed with care. But all of them are now here and working hard to take advantage of their time of study and preparation.

The course of study is very demanding indeed. On top of that, there have been a lot of changes in recent months for everyone to get used to. We thank God that we have been able to find new tutors to cover the teaching that John Wildrianne did. He had also worked hard towards the accreditation we now have in order to get visas for overseas students. However, this means we have to comply with many constraints of both time and paperwork and this has implications on staff and students alike. Here would be a good point to say Thank You once again to the tutors who give freely of their time and expertise to teach (no one on or off-site is paid, so we can keep the fees low), and are coping admirably with the extra bureaucracy
imposed on us. We’re all trying to keep positive about it!

We are at the end of a very wet and windy November. But on top of the rain we are feeling somewhat deluged by other matters. In particular we are finding that our finances are very low. The running costs of the college have gone up tremendously over the last months and we need to share this with all of you who support the work here.  Cost per student per week is £142 and that is as low as it is because we do not charge any tuition fees. Together we can ride the storm we are sure; but you may be able to give at this time in particular, so that the work here can flourish. As IBTI students leave the college to work all across the world (now in 110 nations), your financial contribution is an investment in building the Kingdom of God across the globe. We do better than most other Bible colleges with a high percentage of students who go into full-time ministry: we are not here for students just to gain head knowledge or have a bit of ‘time out’ to concentrate on their personal relationship with God. Both those things do happen here of course, but our main purpose is to equip and motivate for active Christian ministry. Some come on a reduced fee basis, enabling students to train from developing countries, but there is no pot of money for us to dip into to cover these expenses. We need a constant flow from the generosity of God’s people.

Above all these practical concerns, we ask that you continue to pray for us. We want IBTI to be run as the Holy Spirit wants: directed and functioning in response to God’s leading.