The Christian Lifestyle Magazine, Issue 12

EDUCATION
YOU WANT PRACTICAL
TRAINING?
African governing authorities.
Not every student can
Some seminaries focus
afford to spend three years
exclusively on the academic
on campus, or just want some
side of theological education
foundational knowledge
but at BISA we believe the
so we offer a year-long
pleasant fruit of theological
Gap Year programme (non-
studies is to be seen in the
accredited) looking at
spiritual life of God’s people
Christian foundations and
and in their service to others.
applying them practically.
Consequently, BISA faculty
For mature students in full
DO YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO OBEY
GOD, TO STUDY, AND INSPIRE
HEARTS AND MINDS WITH
and students gather weekly
in fellowship groups to pray
together and have upbuilding
interaction. Every semester
also has a full “Quiet Day,”
time employment we offer a
part-time Christian Leadership
Programme (CLP), taught at
several venues across Cape
Town during evening sessions;
when the normally busy
the CLP runs over three years
class schedule is dedicated
and is non-accredited.
OUR HISTORY
During the early 1900’s in South
Africa, there were no Bible Colleges
in the country and theological
education was only available through
the public universities. A handful
of ministers in Cape Town were
concerned about this and set about
addressing the need for independent
theological education. They were
determined to establish a college
where the doctrines of the Bible
would be taught.
In 1923, they founded the Bible
Institute of South Africa (BISA).
The campus was initially situated
in Mowbray, Cape Town and just
before World War II the Institute
moved to its present day home in
Kalk Bay, Cape Town, where the
campus buildings still bear the names
of our great patrons: Marsh, Douglas,
Daintree and Kingon. In April 2023
the Bible Institute of South Africa
will celebrate its centenary – quite a
milestone for any institution and one
for which we give God all honour and
praise!
BISA’s aim then, was the same as
today; to equip men and women for
work in missions, ministry and the
market place. Students come to us to
learn ‘To Know Christ and to Make
Him Known’.
Using the Bible as their handbook,
students from many nations have
been prepared in the Word and in
practice for effective witness to
people with differing worldviews in
every walk of life.
BISA is interdenominational
(as in not linked to any church
denomination) with students
admitted from churches around
the world. It is common to have up
to a dozen nations and languages
represented on campus.
WHY STUDY THEOLOGY?
Have you ever listened to a Church
Sermon or a Christian speaker on the
web and wondered to yourself ‘Is this
what the Bible really teaches?’
Theology is an important topic to
tackle because we need the ability
to identify authentic voices in an
age where so many teachers claim
to have authority on what is right or
wrong.
At the Bible Institute we
teach the Bible as God’s trustworthy
and authoritative Word; it is always
at the centre of our curriculum
and training. Our method of study
and teaching employs a historic,
protestant and reformational
interpretation of scripture. We
believe that the Bible is God’s Word
revealed to men. We therefore
accept the trustworthiness of its
historical record, the authority of its
teachings, and the truth of all Christ’s
utterances it contains.
WHY CHOOSE US?
The Bible Institute has a rich
history of training men and women
for the ministry, both in theory and
in practice. Over the years, many
students have been equipped for
ministry in pastoral ministry and
church planting, in missions, as child
and youth workers, as women’s
workers, as counsellors, as educators
and in the general market place.
Using the Bible as their handbook,
students from many nations have
been prepared in practical theology
for effective witness to people with
differing worldviews, in every walk
of life.
WHAT’S OUR GOAL FOR YOU?
Our concern is more than just
to impart knowledge; we want to
take that knowledge and use it in
the development of the skills and
character that students will need
to be effective in their lives and
ministries.
Our goal is to help each student
develop a Christian world-and-life
view. We want each student to think
creatively and critically about the
issues they face in life and work. We
don’t talk down from an ivory tower
of high ideals; rather our training
helps the student face gospel issues
head-on when confronted by views
that are not Biblical.
to devotional meditation
on Scripture and prayer.
Throughout their studies all
students are required to be
involved in a ministry in a local
church which is evaluated as
part of their course. Every
year each fellowship group
goes on a ministry outreach
with one of the lecturers to
put into practice what they
have been learning. Spiritual
growth is encouraged in each
student not only through
ministry activities but also by
encouraging students to stop
and seek the presence of the
Lord.
STAFF
BISA employs full time, part
time and adjunct lecturers, all
of whom focus on academic
and practical application in
their teaching. In our Winter
School courses, held in July,
we host visiting lecturers who
are experts in their field. The BISA faculty is supported
by a team of dedicated support staff, many of whom are
former students.
CHOOSING YOUR BEST COURSE
The college has several hundred students involved in a
selection of courses. Our flagship course is the Bachelor
of Theology which is taught both on campus in contact
mode as well as by distance learning/online mode. Both
these B.Th. degrees are fully accredited with the South
The BISA Winter School
offers two weeks of intersemester
tuition held annually
in July. Winter School is open
to church leaders and workers,
offering subjects taught by
international academics and
researchers in their specific
fields.
ACCREDITATION
The Bible Institute of South
Africa NPC is registered with
the Department of Higher
Education and Training until
31 December 2022 as a
private higher education
institution under the Act.
Registration certificate No.
2018/HE08/002.
IN CONCLUSION
We believe the Bible to be
the verbally inspired, infallible
and inerrant Word of God. It is
complete in its revelation, final
in its content and absolute in
its authority. Students will
study and practically engage with the Word of God and
learn to handle and communicate it competently.
If you have a desire to obey God, to study and to
inspire hearts and minds with His Truth please give
us a call on 021 788 4116 or visit our website at
https://bisa.org.za/.
52 THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE 53