December 2010
VISION TO MISSION
VISION CHALLENGE: At the foot of the cross, filled by the heavenly manna Of the first church, it is written ‘they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching’ and that this continued with one accord. Here is the first example of believers gathered together to systematically understand and apply the word of God in their lives. At the Apostle’s school of theology, the Holy Spirit revealed and exposed the wonders and mysteries in the word and in brilliant design of purpose, compiled the old and new testaments to what we call the Bible today. No effort has been spared in the Bible to underline the importance of studying the word to the extent where Jesus quietly rebuked Martha to choose the important as Mary did.
seminaries have evolved over the centuries. Since t h e 4 t h c e n t u r y, f o r m a l seminary education was evident in the training of the clergy. With the advent of the Catholics, seminaries became live-in institutes for training of priests. However as opposition grew to the doctrines of the Roman Catholics, division within the institutes by doctrine was evident from the time of the reformers. And this distinction continues today.
Bible college education is a vital tool in today’s world. Theological insight is relevant to full time ministers as well others. It equips the believer through an organized and systematic study of the Bible from historical, contextual and Since the first century d o c t r i n a l p e r s p e c t i v e s , church, bible colleges and among others. The leading
bible seminaries include the Dallas Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute and others. The Vision Challenge for this month of December 2010, is to partner and uphold such institutes in the Lord. At the foot of the cross, we realize our state and claim our access to eternity. And as we make our pilgrim’s progress in this world, the study of the word of God fills us with heavenly manna, strengthening the spirit and weakening the flesh. And may the good Lord bless these institutes as they work tirelessly to proclaim the word!
DECEMBER 2010
MISSION CHALLENGE: BBTI - JAMTARA
Kurian in 1987. Since then the institute has trained 12 batches and has expanded to include the Edwards English School and Youth camp facilities including the Grace Homeo Clinic.
It is with pleasure that we present the Mission challenge for the month of December 2010, where we report of the Bengal Bible Training Institute (BBTI), located in Jharkand, India
It was in the year 1999, that as part of a mission tour Bro. Santhosh Thomas, who at the time was studying at the Asian Christian Academy - Hosur, came to Jamtara for the first time. In the year 2000, the Lord led him to join the ministry there. After the death of Bro. Shenoy in 2004, the responsibilities of the institute have been taken over by Bro. Santhosh Thomas who serves as the Joint Secretary along with fellow brother - D. Guha.
BBTI was established with the vision to provide for the evangelistic needs of Jharkhand and Bengal, equipping young men to serve the Lord Jesus in the commission to preach and teach the gospel. Over 75 native evangelists trained at BBTI now serve the Lord in various parts of North India. And as a result, the fruits of the labor are evident from the numerous assemblies and outreach assemblies.
Bro. Santhosh's wife, Rinu who was raised in Muscat, Oman also plays an important role in the ministry among the sisters in Jamtara. She has a burden to establish a Sister's training Institute in Jamtara and plans BBTI is a ministry modeled along a re u n d e r w a y f o r t h i s t o Elisha’s school of prophets by become a reality. the river Jordan. The institute brings together men bound by a The Mission challenge for this common vision, willing to work month is to pray and partner together and next to each other in this great ministry of BBTI. as in the days when Nehemiah Let us uphold the brothers and built the walls. sisters along with their families who work tirelessly in teaching BBTI is a purely faith based the word and equipping the ministry dependent on the Lord. future missionaries of North No charge is levied upon its India. students for tuition, food or boarding. The institute’s great P r a y e r s a n d s u p p o r t a r e vision is to see that every town requested for the printing and in Bengal and Jharkand have distribution of tracts and a n a s s e m b l y w h e r e t h e booklets in Bengali, Santhali children of God can come and Hindi as well as for the together and to serve as a Sister's Training Institute for the platform for ministries. assembly's sisters to equip them for the Lord's work BBTI was established by the late which would be the first such George Kurian, Late A. D. institute in North India. Shenoy and Brother Samuel
BBTI Jamtara welcomes believers who are interested in visiting Jamtara and other North Indian mission fields. For more information, Bro. Santhosh Thomas can be reached at : sanbbti@hotmail.com, + 91- 9431130895, +91- 933439308
We thank you for your support throughout the past year. If you would like to receive all the previous issues of V2M 2010, please do let us know and we will send you all the issues as a single Adobe PDF document. Write into us at : vision2missionministry@gmail.com