ITB

Baptist Theological Institute

Knowing the need for training national pastors and leaders for the ministry, we began the Baptist Theological Institute in 1999. It was a challenge finding courses and books in French, but through translating materials and help from other missionaries in France and Canada, we have been able to work on the curriculum as we go. It took a number of years to teach these courses because of sickness and the instability of the country. But with the help of other missionaries on the field at the time and help from national pastors, we were able to graduate our first students in 2005.

We praise God for this first graduating class of 5 full-time students and one student who completed 2 years! Each one has been involved in ministry. Our goal is to help these students reach the lost for Christ and see new churches born.

1st graduating class 2005 sm

After the graduation, another group of 5 students began classes. These five men have completed three years of study in the classroom. (Three men received their 1st year study with other missionaries.) They are now in their 4^th year, which is an apprenticeship with their home church and pastor. Over the next year, Steve and Emmanuel will follow their progress. This practical training will be a great benefit to them in their ministry. By the grace of God, we are planning another graduation May 2009.

In September 2008 we began the third class of 10 students who are taking the first year program. It is exciting to see their desire to study God’s Word.

Thank you for your part in this ministry of training men and women to serve the Lord in full-time ministry.

Business Center

The Center of ITB has been created for a special purpose and under special circumstances. The overall purpose is to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31). Our prayer is that through this business, the Bible Institute ministry will be able to continue training men and women according to 2 Tim 2.2, as well as to be a lighthouse and outreach to the lost.

The idea of this business center begun when we considered how ITB (Institut Théologique Baptiste) could become self sufficient. The Bible Institute is currently funded by gifts of friends and churches in the United States. In order for the Bible Institute to function without the missionaries’ presence one day, a way was needed for it to be financially self-supporting.

A photocopy center was the original idea, since there are a number of colleges in the area where students needs papers typed and copies run off. In 2006, a missions team came from Arlington Baptist Church in Baltimore, Md. headed up by their pastor, Ryan Dupee. Knowing our desire for business center, the church took up an offering for us. That gift along with other gifts that had been given, enabled us to purchase for our first photocopy machine.

It was also in 2006 that we met Joanne Sopt in Paris and talked about this and other projects. At that time, Joanne was working for an auditing firm in the Paris office. In January 2008, she made the decision to join the King’s in their endeavor to start-up a business center. She left EY in April 2008 with the desire to join the King’s in the late summer. Computers were needed for the project and in June 2008, Brad Schweibold, a friend of Kings approached them with a desire to help out with their ministry. He had the vision of starting a cyber café in addition to the photocopy center and donated seven monitors with one central computer to that cause. Joanne, Brad and DJ (Brad’s son) came together in September 2008 to install the computers in San Pedro, Ivory Coast. (See "Events" for September 08.)

Throughout the beginning stages of this project, the Lord manifested Himself by bringing several individuals together from different parts of the world in His perfect timing.

The business will provide the following services: Internet, copying, international phone calls, and a Christian library. All of the proceeds will be use to first fund the expenses of the business center, with the ultimate goal of funding all of the expenses of the Bible Institute. The success of this project so far has been due to the Lord, and our hope is that any trial or triumph in the future will be seen as coming from above.