Since 1994, teaching the saints.
Bethel School of Biblical Studies was founded to arm men and women with the truth of God’s Word, to edify the Body of Christ, and to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the story of how a school, planted by God, has grown across three decades.
A school is born.
Presiding Bishop Sydney A. Dunn announced the birth of BIBS at Bethel’s National Youth Congress of 1993. The initial team included Bishop Dr M. Simmonds as Principal, alongside Bishop Lance Dinnall, Elder Oscar McLean and Elder Easton Laird, with Sister Marcia Arnett as the first secretary. Bishop Dr Colin Cawley and Pastor Melvin McGann from Canada were present at the launch and helped set up the school; Dr Cawley remains a pillar in the life of BIBS to this day.
The first academic term commenced in September 1994 with a cohort of 27 students. In those early days BIBS’ home was Bethel’s headquarters at Kelvin Way, with lessons running from Friday evening through to Sunday. The first cohort graduated in 1996.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
1 Corinthians 3:6 · KJV
Lengthen thy cords, strengthen thy stakes.
The new millennium brought new leadership. Bishop Simmonds passed the baton to Dr Mavis Taylor, who served as Dean of Studies from 2000. A teacher par excellence, Bishop Simmonds gave all to ensure BIBS’ birth and growth, and we honour God for his life.
At the graduation of 1999, Bishop Gerald Edmund gave a significant prophecy, instructing BIBS to “lengthen its cords and strengthen its stakes” (Isaiah 54:2). That word marked the beginning of phenomenal growth. BIBS expanded its borders to welcome students from other Apostolic organisations, Christian denominations and diverse faith backgrounds, while prayer, fasting and retreats deepened the spiritual life of the College.
Recognised, and reaching further.
In 2008 BIBS received accreditation for its courses via NOCN (UK), now the AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group. That October, over 40 students graduated with recognised certificates, and BIBS – under the umbrella of Parkersburg Bible College (USA) – awarded its first PhD to Presiding Bishop Sydney Alexander Dunn. We remain thankful for Bishop Dr Joe Nelson, President of Parkersburg, who helped Dr Taylor write the degree programme.
In 2009 BIBS moved from the Bethel Convention Centre to Bethel Hall. Dr Taylor launched the BIBS Degree programme in 2010 in partnership with Parkersburg, and in 2011 BIBS became a Recognised Centre for AIM Qualifications, introducing the Foundation Course for new converts and those wishing to study at a more moderate pace.
Planted, and grown organically.
At the 2012 graduation, Bishop Martin Simmonds and Pastor Mavis Taylor were each awarded a PhD, and several teachers received Bachelor of Theology degrees, strengthening the academic base. The first student to be awarded the BTh was Pastor Dean Wright in 2016. In 2015, BIBS’ patriarch, Elder Easton Laird, retired after 21 years of faithful service.
BIBS has been served by many gifted and anointed teachers from within Bethel and beyond. Notably, many BIBS students have grown organically into BIBS teachers – among them Evangelist Audrey Beckford, Minister Deborah Myers, Pastor Denson Lewin and Elder Nicholas Myers – as has much of the dedicated administrative team.
The Word of God grew and multiplied.
BIBS entered a new season in 2020. COVID-19 seemed like a hindrance, but “the Word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:24). The pandemic propelled BIBS into new areas, reaching souls who could not travel to Birmingham each month. The shift to an online programme was the realisation of Bishop Simmonds’ long-held dream that BIBS would one day offer distance learning.
Following God’s leading, Dr Taylor transitioned from her role as Dean of Studies in 2022. Like her predecessor, she remains an ardent advocate, advisor and supporter of the school. The story, by God’s grace, is to be continued.
