Coming so close to the end of year festivities, we were very pleased with the turn out at this, our final event of 2009. Patrick Boyns and Steve Whitehead travelled to Bristol for the afternoon event which began with a short time of praise followed by a presentation on the school's development and new Distance Learning Programme. There were a good number of questions asked and some healthy interest expressed.

Following tea, teaching sessions were conducted on Biblical Genres and Early Development of the Text of the Old Testament. We are thankful for the congregation who supplied all with food and refreshments, and for the tremendous interest and support in these new developments.

Last weekend's Taster Day at Kirkcaldy was a hit! All who came were treated to four teaching sessions and a presentation of the school's new Distance Learning Programme.

Patrick Boyns and Mark Hill travelled to Kirkcaldy to conduct the day's events and presented sessions on: Visionary Leadership; King David; The Fruit of the Spirit and Early Development of the Text of the Old Testament. The sessions were designed to encourage others to consider pursuing more serious Bible study and often raised more questions than provided answers.

The congregation kept all well supplied with food and refreshments throughout the day. Mark and Patrick stayed over and taught a Bible class and preached on the Sunday morning before heading back south. It is hoped that we will be able to conduct more events like this north of the border in 2010.

Look out for our new postcard adverts! The Publicity Group recently commissioned Aubrey Boyns to design a postcard around the theme 'Mission is possible' and this is what he has come up with - we are delighted! With an increased emphasis on mission, the idea is to promote the opportunities the school offers to help prepare workers for service, according to the abilities God has given us. The flip side of the card simply points others to our web site where there are details of our Extension and Distance Learning Programmes.

At a recent meeting of the school governors it was decided to focus attention on the development of the Distance Learning and Extension Programmes. The need for a much more flexible access to the curriculum is seen as a priority, as well as being necessary to sustain a residential programme in the medium to long term. To this end a new strategy paper, A Bible School For Our Time, has been compiled to help move things forward as development continues.

"The world is in as much need of salvation as ever. People are living and dying without ever hearing the simple message of the cross of Jesus. Paul wrote to Roman believers asking “how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?” One might be tempted to ask: “and how will they be sent unless they are first prepared? And where will they become prepared if there is no provision for training?”

The people of God have always needed servants who will devote themselves more fully to the mission of God, according to the abilities and opportunities he provides. They need shepherds and teachers, those who will feed them with the Word that is able to build them up and keep them from harm. The need to teach others “who will be able to teach others as well” is as vital now as it ever has been. But without adequate training there would be no workers prepared to take the message of Christ into an increasingly hostile world. And without thorough grounding in the Word it would only be a matter of time before essential truths of Scripture were lost or forgotten amidst ever-increasing moves towards secularism.

Training God’s people for mission may take many approaches. Traditional full-time classroom-based training has its place, as do more contemporary methods involving distance and part-time learning. Apprenticeship and In-Service Education and Training might also play an important part as seen perhaps in a number of New Testament examples. Whatever methods may be employed, training is essential and must be part of the planning of any mission-minded people - to train those who have been won to Christ to win others also. Rufus Anderson, the 19th century mission strategist who was particularly concerned with the self-propagation of local mission work, wrote: “Without education, it is not possible for mission churches to be in any proper sense self-governed; nor, without it, will they be self-supported, and much less self-propagating.” The importance of education and training among the people of Christ has long been recognised as essential to healthy growth."

The paper continues where the initial strategy document left off, with a further analysis of statistics relating to student numbers and the proportion of those coming from the U.K. It briefly reviews recent developments before addressing the issues of vision and curriculum relevance. Access to the curriculum is a major consideration and the rationale behind the focus on flexible provision.

If any with a particular interest in the development of the school would like to see a copy of this paper, please get in touch with us.

If attendance is anything to go by, then our second Study Weekend held at East Kilbride on 12th and 13th June was equally as successful as the first one, just three weeks before. Those able to return for the second weekend did so, along with a number of others joining us for the first time. We mostly kept to the same format, providing an intensive period of learning over a relatively short amount of time. We continued with the second half of our module on ‘The History & Development of Biblical Texts’ (GEN01).

Classes began on Friday evening with a review quiz followed by an introduction to the text of the New Testament. On the Saturday we looked at the manuscripts and ancient versions bearing witness to the text before considering some of the processes of textual reconstruction. Students spent a total of just over nine hours in class over the weekend, being more than adequately catered for by the ladies of the local congregation who did an admirable job (once again).

One of our students, Nick Wilson from Hyvot's Bank gave a class presentation on the Lindisfarne Gospels - a splendid Vulgate manuscript copied on the Holy Island and arguably the finest example of Anglo Saxon/Celtic art known to exist.

We look forward to conducting Study Weekends on a regular basis throughout the U.K. These may be based on any one of our modules. If you are interested in hosting one in your area - please do get in touch.

Our first Study Weekend, held at East Kilbride in Scotland, was very well attended and seemed to be well received. Unlike a ‘typical’ study day, the weekend provided an intense period of learning covering the first half of our module on ‘The History & Development of Biblical Texts’ (GEN01). Classes began on Friday evening and concluded on the Saturday with students being ‘in class’ for a total of nine hours over the weekend.

The weekend covered approximately half of the module and included an introduction to textual transmission along with a study of the development of the Old Testament text. The second half of the module will be covered at the next study weekend to be held from 12th to 13th June at the same location. Here students will look at the development of the New Testament text and begin to examine the processes of textual reconstruction from the evidences available.

Whilst a number of those who attended the first study weekend are simply wanting to take part in the class sessions, several are planning to undertake the assignments which include an in-class presentation and essay to be submitted at a later date. The module counts towards internal certificates for which a number of students are working. All are welcome to attend the next study weekend - even if you missed the first. For more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

The first of the two East Kilbride study weekends to be held over the next couple of months is only just over a fortnight away. The dates are: 22nd to 23rd May 2009. All are welcome to attend and a booking form is available here.

The study weekends also form a part of our module on The History & Development of Biblical Texts (GEN01), though any may attend without completing the additional assignments. Those enrolled on our module-point credit programme will need to attend both study weekends and complete all assignments as given.

This first weekend will begin with an introduction to the subject of Textual Transmission, set in the context of God's revelation to mankind. We will move on to examine the documents of the Old Testament text, including the manuscripts and ancient versions with special attention to the contents and significance of the 'Dead Sea Scrolls'. Finally, we will consider the implications of our findings for life and mission in the 21st century.

For more details look here, or contact either Jon Galloway on 01355 247798 or Patrick Boyns on 01733 223331.