Bethlehem Bible College

Country: Israel/Palestine
Advance #12017A DONATE NOW
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Project Information

Training Arabic-speaking Christian leaders to serve and strengthen their church and community in the Holy Land and around the world.

Describe the need affecting community

Bethlehem Bible College was founded so that promising Christian leaders could study in-country, rather than leaving the country for education and not returning. The college gives young leaders rigorous theological training within the Holy Land, helping to decrease “brain drain,” which diminishes future Christian leadership in the church and broader society. Bethlehem Bible College encourages the church’s continuing presence in both Palestine and Israel by empowering the Christians who have been the forerunners of the Christian faith for centuries. This is an urgent need due to the rapid decline of the Christian community over several decades from 9% to 1%. Palestinian Christians continue to leave the Holy Land as a result of the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the physical and economic hardships that it creates. The college works alongside other Christian organizations to strengthen and revitalize the Christian community and serve as a respected bridge with the Muslim majority. The college has an online education program reaching the under-served population of Arabic-speaking Christians around the world (nearly 30 nations), including those from Muslim backgrounds. This program offers high-quality theological education through a secure and accessible method of learning. The program also serves as a secure vehicle for sincere Muslim seekers desiring to learn more about Christianity.

How will this Advance project help to address the need?

Bethlehem Bible College is a flourishing college with approximately 200 students and a team of highly qualified local faculty and staff who train well-educated Christian leaders to serve the Palestinian community. As a nondenominational institution, the college can cross the boundaries of denomination, lending a voice within the whole church. Its graduates, who now serve churches of many denominations throughout the Holy Land, are impacting the church in a tremendous way. The college is the only institution of its kind in the West Bank and Israel that trains Palestinians in the Arabic language for a BA in Biblical Studies and Christian Education, an MA in Theology in the Public Square, a Certificate and MA in Peace and Justice, as well as diploma programs in Tour Guiding and Hebrew Language.

Describe the primary goal of the project

Bethlehem Bible College is a flourishing college with approximately 200 students and a team of highly qualified local faculty and staff who train well-educated Christian leaders to serve the Palestinian community. As a nondenominational institution, the college can cross the boundaries of denomination, lending a voice within the whole church. Its graduates, who now serve churches of many denominations throughout the Holy Land, are impacting the church in a tremendous way. The college is the only institution of its kind in the West Bank and Israel that trains Palestinians in the Arabic language for a BA in Biblical Studies and Christian Education, an MA in Theology in the Public Square, a Certificate and MA in Peace and Justice, as well as diploma programs in Tour Guiding and Hebrew Language.

Describe the change you would like to see in the community as a result of this Advance project

We want Jesus to be honored by producing well-educated, informed, critically thinking Christian leaders. We want our students and graduates to value God’s word, seek unity among the Body of Christ, and be wise in theological, ethical and social spheres. We want to develop and empower peacemakers within the context of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. We desire to see indigenous Christians empowered to remain in the Land and not succumb to the pressures to emigrate, so the historical church is strengthened and grows where it was first planted. In every way we want Bethlehem Bible College, our faculty, staff, and students to be respected as a witness for Christ in whatever domain they serve. We want the name of Christ to be to be honored, even among a Muslim majority country, and his people to be a reflection of his love and concern for all humanity.

Contact Information

Marianne Smith
msmith@bethbcusa.org
www.bethbc.edu

Middle East Israel