he Lord has given us a strategic opportunity to help in the establishment of Christ Bible Institute. CBI, located near the city of Nagoya, includes

• Christ Bible Seminary (CBS)
• Christ Bible Center (CBC)
• Christ Bible Institute Press (CBIP)

The church in Japan currently faces a shortage of pastors, and that shortage is expected to grow. Most of Japan’s pastors are nearing retirement, and there are few young leaders to take up their batons. If churches are to multiply, as many are praying and laboring to see happen, a fresh generation of leaders is needed—not only for the existing churches but for new churches yet to be planted.

Yet options for graduate-level pastoral training in Japan are few, especially outside the Tokyo area. Some promising young leaders travel to school in the Tokyo area, but fewer return from the big city. For these reasons, pastors in the Nagoya area have long dreamed of a regional seminary, attuned to the needs of the churches there. From their desire was born the vision for Christ Bible Institute.

Yumiko and I like the educational model behind CBI. The curriculum is designed to help students apply biblical and theological insights to practical matters of church ministry and cultural engagement. Michael Oh, the seminary’s president, recently presented the model at a meeting of seminary deans in Phoenix, Arizona, and their reactions were enthusiastic. “This is how seminary education should be done,” declared one. “You must do this,” insisted another.

Craig teaches at Christ Bible Seminary and serves as its academic dean, librarian, photographer, graphic designer, and in all sorts of other roles. Yumiko employs her gifts of music, language, and hospitality at Christ Bible Institute and elsewhere in the area.

• Learn about Asian Access.
• Learn about how you can support us.
• Visit the FONTS Web site, dedicated to supporting CBI.
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