Our Work
The vision of CBI is ambitious. Remarkable things have happened over our first twenty years, and we look forward to more remarkable things in the years ahead. While we have a relatively small team, we have a great God, and Yumiko and I are happy to play our parts in what He is doing here.
So what exactly is it that we do?
Yumiko
Yumiko is active both within CBI and without. Within she acts as an advisor on language and culture; she helps in translating materials; and she plays piano for ceremonies such as Commencement and Convocation.
But Yumiko’s primary ministry is through music. She has found numerous ways to employ her gifts.
She plays piano for most worship services at Nisshin Christ Church. This church, planted by MTW missionaries, is just to the east of Nagoya, in the city of Nisshin. Five college and university campuses are within a short walk of the church, and the church maintains an active outreach to university students. CBI was originally located on the second floor of this church, and the new pastor is a graduate of Christ Bible Seminary.
Yumiko has also been involved in vocal ministries as well. She has sung with a classical choir, sung with a team for earthquake victims in southern Japan, helped in many capacities with with a large gospel choir, and accompanied a boys choir. All of this was done in cooperation with Tom and Theresa Wilson, fellow MTW missionaries. Sadly the Wilsons had to return to the U.S., and choral activities ended.
These choirs were evangelistic but not, in most cases, in the sense you might think. They were comprised of both Christians and non-Christians. Through the music, the unbelieving members learned about Christ, and there were Bible studies for those who wanted to go deeper. Yumiko helped with those. She also provided home-baked goodies for rehearsals and invited choir members home for meals.
In addition to all of this, she keeps me grounded. She helps me keep life in balance, reminds me that I need to sleep occasionally, and serves up tasty and nutritious food.
Craig
In the old days, I wore many, many hats at Christ Bible Institute. I've served on the executive leadership team, as interim president of Christ Bible Seminary, as webmaster, as school photographer, as database guy, as graphic designer, as handyman, and in many other roles. I also taught courses in many different departments. But as our team has grown, I've pared my collection of headgear down to the essentials. These days I focus mostly on Christ Bible Seminary.
My two primary roles are as academic dean and associate professor of New Testament. I teach most of the New Testament courses as well as other subjects on occasion. As academic dean, I am responsible for devising and revising the curricula of Christ Bible Seminary, scheduling courses, interacting with faculty, setting policies and standards, creating the catalog, the faculty handbook, and the student handbook, addressing academic issues, and advising the president.
My third big role is as the seminary librarian. I’ve been responsible for organizing and maintaining the library. This is a big task for which I had insufficient time and training, but help is on the way. In very recent years, two women with MLIS degrees have offered to help. One moved our catalog online, and the other hopes to stay on long term. I will gratefully hand over my librarian hat if that comes to pass.
It is my joy and a high privilege to think through how best to prepare a new generation of pastors, church planters, and Christian workers for the task of gospel ministry to reach Japan for Christ. I love teaching students the treasures of God's word and seeing the light go on behind their eyes as they grasp ageless truths.