Bob Jones Memorial Bible College started as a Bible institute of two full-time teachers with 17 men and women students from five churches. Because potential students were young adults with secular jobs or ministry responsibilities during the day, the institute met in the evening from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. on T/Th/F. The missionary-teachers asked Dr. Stewart Custer of Bob Jones University if they could use his lecture notes for their classes. He wisely said that their teaching would mean more to them if they developed their own notes. Thus began BJMBC’s system of teachers preparing a syllabus of 70–200 pages for each class instead of requiring students to buy expensive textbooks.

BJMBC provides study programs of 96–128 credits in both academic and practical subjects. Scripture makes us think deeply about truth and applies it to all of life. Jesus’ training of the Twelve also reflects this combination of developing understanding and real-world ministry. Therefore, we use various assessment tools: not only quizzes and tests but also research projects, class presentations, case studies, and role-play scenarios. Ministering to the Special Groups class is half lectures and half field trips to a prison, hospital, rehab center, nursing home, orphanage, etc. Our “Personal Evangelism and Discipleship” class requires reports of witnessing and discipling others.

Our study programs try to balance the ideal with the most essential. One degree requires two years of Greek, and another degree does not. All Bible degree students study these core classes: Bible Doctrines, Survey of Bible Books, Preparing and Delivering God’s Word, Biblical Philosophy of Music, Biblical Separation, Christian Family, Apologetics, Religions and Worldviews, Counseling, Ethics, Hermeneutics and Methods of Bible Study, Biblical Theology, Prayer, Evangelism and Discipleship, Practical Christian Growth, Christian Womanhood or Male Leadership, and Christian Service (ladies) or Church Shepherding (men). Some other classes are Song Leading, Church History, Christian Literature, Bible History and Geography, Church Planting, Youth Ministry, Children’s Ministry, and Missions.

BJMBC’s mission is “Training Christlike Servants for the Great Commission.” Our goal is to help students become Christlike and servant-hearted, which is why I wish every student’s attendance could be in-person and even lived in the dorms. Seeing their lives and having them observe their teachers’ lives is essential to mentoring. But since the COVID pandemic, we still have distance-learning students who join classes online. Every student is paired with another student as a “Spiritual Accountability Partner” for a weekly talk about prescribed topics. Every student is also assigned a “faculty friend” as a mentor. A key to fulfilling our mission is having a humble, spiritual faculty and staff.

Training our students includes cultivating consistent spiritual disciplines and requiring active involvement in a fundamental church. Students must submit a “Weekly Practicum Report” about their personal devotions, prayer life, witnessing, church attendance, ministry at church, and spiritual growth. Chapel also helps to keep hearts right with God.

We have found it helpful as well to limit the number of music ministry majors to 40% of the degree students. Having Bible majors as the majority of the student body helps maintain a spiritual atmosphere. Furthermore, we require that 40% of the coursework studied by a music ministry major consist of Bible classes.

During its 40-year history, BJMBC has added graduate programs, music ministry degrees, and certificate programs for laypeople. About 20 years ago, we started taking our graduate seminary classes out to groups of provincial pastors in the form of five-day, 28-hour modules. Many pastors who could never leave their families and churches to study at BJMBC in Manila have now graduated with a Master of Ministry degree. BJMBC graduates are spread throughout the Philippines, planting churches, pastoring, serving on church staffs, leading church music programs, and teaching in Christian schools and other Bible institutes.

For example, BJMBC graduates Deny Hallarsis and Blu Bagaipo were church planting and pastoring churches but are also now training pastors and young people called to full-time ministry. Both are far from Metro Manila, ministering in difficult places, training others to reach those areas, and teaching in their native language. I also think of those who have gone out from BJMBC to evangelize, disciple, plant churches, pastor, and teach in Bangladesh, China, Greece, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. I am blessed as well to mentor and serve alongside BJMBC graduates Jay, Aldrin, and Samantha in the church where I pastor.

To set up a training program or institution, you need the trust of pastors to send students your way. To gain their trust, you must pray, persevere spiritually, and personally build relationships. You will need the wisdom and willingness to adapt your training logistics to the circumstances of those who want training. BJMBC needed to start as an evening school for commuting students. Since then, circumstances have changed, and BJMBC now meets from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (T/Th/F) and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Wednesdays). Training requires much work and confidence in God’s call, but you will multiply yourself if you persevere in walking with God.