Brethren Bible Institute

Dear prayer-parnters, I have great pleasure in presenting the information below on the Bbipta.Com website. Many of our friends and well-wishers have been telling us that they are not getting regular and enough information about this ministry. I must accept that this is very true. It was more of a reluctance to give much publicity and less of slothfulness. Of course, it is essential, one should admit, that we publish news occasionally to elicit prayer and support from you all.

It is only human to get involved in what is perceived as an immediate need or challenge. Thus an occasional reminder would not be out of place. Hence this write-up. We are also confident that this kind of information will help interested brethren to give for the Lord with greater insight and discernment. With that in mind we have tried to incorporate a variety of articles, that give you more or less a comprehensive picture of the ministries and needs at BBI.

The coming of the Lord is imminent. At the same time, doors to the gospel are closing. Thus it is essential that we all do our best before it is too late. Your involvement in BBI can play a significant role in reaching the perishing millions of our motherland with the message of life while it is still possible.

Please do take a few moments to read through this article and decide what you can do to support this vital ministry. With Warm Greetings, Yours in Christ, K. A. Philip, President, BBI Trust

Warm greetings. Once again the Lord has graciously allowed us to reach you all with a short report showing how the Lord in His supreme love and faithfulness has guided us in running the institute to complete its 15th year of activity. Of course the main factor which leads us to success is the prayers and liberal support of you all. We thank the Lord for all His mercies. The bright memory of late Messers T.K. Samuel, T.M. George, T.K. George, etc. encourages us to go forward with more determination and hope for the future.

Trustees: The Institute is being governed and administered by a registered Trust with 11 members. The Trust meet three or four times a year and review the activities. All the Trust members whole heartedly support the institute as a team.

Faculty: From the very beginning Dr. O.M. Samuel had been wielding the wheels of the institution as principal, with the full co-operation of efficient and highly qualified and well accepted teaching faculty whose names and other details are furnished separately.

Home call of Mr. E.K. George
The institution has to suffer a great loss due to the Home call of Mr. E.K.George, a senior faculty member during the academic year. From the very beginning he was handling several subjects. His friendly manners and pleasing nature with inborn humour always had been an encouragement to the students.
It is worth to note that the migration of Dr. Oommen Philip, a faculty member to canada during the academic year is another loss to the institute. Hope he will be able to help the institute as a visiting faculty in future. We praise God for Bro. S. Dani Ezekiel, the grand son of late Mr. Y. Ezekiel, who has been added to the faculty list.

Students: Now there are 27 students in two batches (1st year 12 and 3rd year 15). Of them several are from other states, representing different linguistic groups and cultural backgrounds. Most of the students have a call for full-time ministry. They are being thoroughly trained in sound theology giving emphasis to the inerrancy and infallibility of the scriptures. Special attention is given in practical training. Open air meetings are arranged on the evenings of Saturday and Sunday. They go for tract distribution to surrounding areas. Camps also are arranged in selected places according to the availability of funds and other facilities which also help them in practical training. Students are given freedom to visit neighbouring assemblies under supervision.

Library: We have a good library which contains thousands of quality books. Most of the books are donated by the faculty and other well-wishers. It has to be improved much. We would be thankful if books are donated by the prayer partners.

Finance: Since no fee is charged from students for studies and boarding expenses, the whole expenses have to be met from the voluntary gifts received from believers. By the grace of God no shortage of money has caused so far. Now, the cost of food materials and other articles are shooting up every day, so to speak, a corresponding enhancement on the receipt side also is necessary. Trust that the Lord of Elijah will provide for our needs at the proper time.

New venue:The institute was functioning so far in the buildings of Gospel Hall Pathanamthitta in the heart of the town. Due to limited space only two batches of students were admitted for the 3 year degree course. Now the Lord has enabled us to purchase a plot of one acre and 30 cents in Elanthoor, Pariyaram, 7 kms away from the present site on the wayside of Pathanamthitta-Kozhenchery road via Pariyaram. Since the owner of the land is one of the Brethren, the plot was given for a reasonable cost of Rs 17 lakhs. At least rupees sixty lakhs is required for the construction works of the buildings. We look to the Lord for all the needs. On completion of the buildings 45 students can be accommodated to run three classes at a time. Hope the prayer partners will contribute liberally for the purpose.

BBIEF: We thank the Lord for the brothers and their families in New York who have instituted a fund for helping the graduating students working in the field. The donors very promptly send their contributions sufficiently early every time, so that the amount can be distributed from here regularly. 37 former students are being helped at present from this fund. We pray that the Lord may bless each of the donors according to His riches in Heaven.

It is worth mentioning here that all of these workers are toiling hard in their respective fields and several new assemblies have been established. Progress in their work puts additional responsibilities on the prayer partners since the need for places of worship for workers especially as the North and Northeast are there. Let us pray for these needs also.

On behalf of the Trust members, Faculty, Students and Office staff may I take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all prayer partners. Please continue to pray for this institute and its various needs since we know that we will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward (Col. 3: 24). May His name be glorified. [MT George, Secretary]

A prayer meeting of some of the responsible elderly people in Pathanamthitta and surroundings started in early forties. The noted ones among them being KK Varghese (Mylapra), TK Samuel (Elanthoor), KT Thomas (Mylapra), Thomachan Akkarekunneth, and Yohannachan of Nannuvakkadu. Gradually the numbers increased, and TM George (Nannuvakkadu), PT Abraham (Elanthoor), and others joined the team. Many of them were burdened about an outreach, and soon an evangelistic ministry focused upon Pathanamthitta started in a rented room. TM George, then a young man in the prime of his youth, took great initiative in steering this ministry.

Several young people were attracted to this ministry, and they included KV Koshy & KA Philip (Mylapra), AP George & AK Thomas (Omalloor), Sam T. Sam (Elanthoor), etc. Those were days of great revival, and ministry teams worked not only in Kerala but also in manny places in Tamil Nadu. As the work progressed, brother TM George was given charge as Secretary of this ministry, and this proved to be the next turning-point in the ministry. He took initiative, and soon a spacious building was erected on the plot that was previously acquired for conducting yearly conventions. Meanwhile in the neighbouring asemblies there was great enthusiasm about these ministry outreaches, and many of them became involved in motivating and helping this ministry. Some of these being AO Thomas (Kottarakkara), AA Chacko (Cherianad), Thomas A Itty (Kumbanad). Brothers VT Mathai, KK Chacko (Areeparambu), Mammen Kurian (Kallisseri), MS Liddle etc also actively participated in these ministries. All the while, the brethren behind these ministries desired to have some program for systematic training in doctrines and Bible. They started praying for a College where our young men could be taught the fundamentals of New Testament truths. Brother TM George took the greatest interest in this, so that BBI can truely be called his baby. Of course, his colleagures gave him all possible support in this venture.

By the end of the eighties it became clear that time was ripe to start a Bible Institute. When the concerned brethren consulted others, they received great encouragement. Dr. OM Samuel was one of the first to give his consent to help in this ministry.

Brethren Bible Institute was finally inaugurated in 1989 by the late ME Cherian. A large number of brethren came from all corners of Kerala, and even from outside, to bless and facilitate this venture. What started as a sapling in 89 has become a grown-up tree with branches spread in all directions.

The Bible assumes that we are life-long learners. It pleased God to give us His revelation in the form of the written Word. This presupposes that God's people would be a ' reading people,' that is, an educated lot. We need to have the attitude of Apostle Paul who said "that I may know Him" (Phil. 3:10). In fact, the more we learn, the more capable we become to learn. The Proverbs teach, "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning." (Proverbs 9:9 NASV). The times we live in need men and women of wisdom and learning.

Since 1998, through the Distance Education Programme, BBI has been making it possible for brethren around the world to realise the rich benefits of Christian higher education. Learners from anywhere in the world can pursue their studies either through ordinary post or through Internet. Presently 80 candidates are enrolled in our P.G. Programmes. 34 have joined for M.B.S., 25 for M.Div., and 21 for M.Th. BBI faculty members prepare study materials for each subject. Further, the assignments and examinations we give to the students will help them to be thorough with the subject they are studying.

All courses are offered only in English medium. Prospectus and application forms can be had from the Registrar by paying rupees 50 by M.O. Those from abroad need to send rupees 150 by crossed demand draft in favour of "Brethren Bible Institute," Pathanamthitta. Prospectus and Application forms can be down loaded from our web site <www.bbipta.com>. [Dr. K.C. Johnson, Academic Dean]

The rising number of students, the need for additional resources, inflation, and the need to expand, all need regular financial support. Believers from around the world are encouraged to support this ministry in cash and in kind.