Rio Grande Bible Institute

RGBI MISSIONS PROGRAM Rio Grande Bible Institute www.riogrande.edu /Rev. 03/02/2015 Background Information The Rio Grande Bible Institute was founded in 1946 by Rev. M.C. Ehlert, a Baptist pastor and evangelist, who had come to the Rio Grande Valley in 1937 to do tent evangelism. He saw a great need to train Hispanic believers and new converts because there was very little Bible training available for them. Mr. Ehlert's vision led to the purchase of 40 acres of land in Edinburg, Texas, the heart of the lower Rio Grande Valley. The first buildings were erected and classes began in the spring of 1947. The school was unique in that it was bilingual, offering three years of comprehensive Bible training in either English or Spanish. In 1955, the English Bible Institute was discontinued and the Missionary Language School was begun in its place. Later the Bible Institute program was lengthened to four years, and more recently the one- and two-year programs were made available to college graduates. In 1999 the school was accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), but it was not until 2008 that the State of Texas recognized the accreditation, giving their certificate of authorization for Rio Grande Bible College to grant the Bachelor in Biblical Studies degree. We are also a member school of the Independent Fundamental Churches of America International. Our institution now offers a Bachelor of Biblical Studies with a minimum of 135 credit hours needed for graduation. All of our classes are given in Spanish. Four areas of emphasis are offered in this program; Pastoral Studies, Christian Education, Missions and Bible. We plan to offer graduate studies beginning in the fall of 2015 through a partnership with Piedmont International University in Winston- Salem, NC. We are so blessed as an organization to be involved in the rapid growth of the Latin America church. Our heart is to train leaders who are biblically solid and who can serve the Lord through church planting and missions in a wide variety of cross cultural settings. The most recent enrollments in the Bible College have shown unprecedented numbers of students, up substantially from previous semesters. The organization’s distinctive s are academic, spiritual and personal development and are emphasized in each area of the students training. We seek to develop our students far beyond the academics of the classroom. We require each student be involved in extra-curricular service/learning consisting of eight hours of ministry outside of their on-campus studies. Students must be involved each semester that they are in attendance and complete a summer practicum as well. Over the years, God has blessed RGBI with a forty-nine-acre campus and expanded the ministry beyond its perimeters. God has added the ministry of broadcasting through Radio Esperanza with one AM and two FM transmitters. Through the Internet, Radio Esperanza can be heard all around the world, touching lives with God’s Word. In 1993, Bibleville, a non-denominational Bible Conference Center near Alamo, Texas, became the latest addition to the growing RGBI family. There “Winter Texans” host Bible conferences and music concerts during the winter months, and have become important prayer and ministry partners to RGBI staff and students. An ongoing reality is that most of our enrolling students cannot afford to pay the actual cost of their education. To address this reality, Rio Grande Bible Institute, right from its inception, decided that its members would be asked to depend completely on the Lord to meet their personal financial needs. The majority of our approximately 100 staff do not receive a salary but seek ministry partners who will support them financially. Each volunteer plays an important role also with his or her labor. For this reason our Bible College ministry can continue to offer a complete education for our students at a fraction of the cost that they would have to pay if they attended any other USA-based college offering a similar type of degree. /Rev. 03/02/2015 WELCOME! WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE SUMMER TEAM PROGRAM? The purpose of the Summer Team Program is to cause a lifelong spiritual change toward missions in each team member and to have their church involved in the ongoing ministry of the Rio Grande Bible Institute. Each group will help in significant projects on campus and get a look at the varied ministries of RGBI and her alumni. The goals are to involve everyone in the work of missions, to take the Gospel to another culture, and to sense the rewards of serving God. Just before Jesus left this earth, He told His disciples, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) In view of the present situation in Mexico we recommend involvement with a ministry on the USA side of the border. This being the Rio Grande Valley our population and culture is predominately Hispanic. Along with the work on campus each team is encouraged to engage in ministry in the evenings with an area church or ministry. “Missions” is still God’s plan to reach the entire world for Christ. God does not call all of us to leave our jobs and go to the foreign field, but He has given to each of us a commission and He wants each of us to reach beyond our “Jerusalem.” The Missions Team Coordinators will provide leadership to church teams that want to come to the RGBI campus to work on needed projects. Due to housing and personnel restrictions teams should be about 20 single members plus sponsors, or 45 members total in the case of family teams with children. /Rev. 03/02/2015 A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE! Your missions’ trip can be a life changing experience for your church. God can use it to expand your horizons and help you to become global Christians. This will happen as you expose yourself to how God is working in a culture other than your own. You will meet people who think differently than you, have other values, speak a different language, but are loved by God just as much as you and have the same spiritual needs as you. A very effective way to remember the experiences that you will have is to begin writing a journal. In it you can write down your reactions to the experiences that you have along the trip, recording how you see God at work. Top Priority The most important aspect of your preparation is spiritual. Is your heart right with God? Are your relationships open with your leader, your family, and your fellow workers, or are there resentments and hurt feelings? Be much in prayer for your trip and for the people you will be helping. Missionary work is not for wimps. It will be hot . Your “comfort zone” may be challenged. BUT this experience could change your life. God can use you in ways you never dreamed. Be prepared for war, spiritual battle that is. Satan will do what he can to stop you from having an effective trip. There is no reason to fear if you come prepared. Please see Ephesians 6:10-20 and II Corinthians 10:4,5. Costs Lodging: If you use housing provided on campus there will be a charge of $7.50 per person per day. In the case of families the cost is $15.00 per room. You will need to furnish your own bedding, towels, toiletries, etc. You are expected to leave your rooms, the kitchen area, and the bathrooms clean when you leave. Food: Kitchen facilities will be available. You will need to provide your own cook and do your own purchasing of food. Many groups choose to “eat out” once or twice during the week. If you are here during the school year you may eat in the dining room with our students at the same rate our staff pays. This must be arranged with the coordinator prior to arrival. Proof of Citizenship: If there are members of the group who are not U.S. citizens they need to bring their passports. This is very important! Each person in the group should have proof of U.S. citizenship. A Birth Certificate, voter’s registration card, or Passport provides this information. A driver’s license is not sufficient. Check www.dhs.gov for latest requirements. Rio Grande Bible Institute does not sanction trips into Mexico at this time. We are very close to the border, however, and with the present situation in Mexico the security measures have been heightened. All travelers leaving the Valley must pass through a Border Patrol checkpoint and we wish to save you any potential problems. /Rev. 03/02/2015 TIPS FOR THE WORK GROUP EXPERIENCE DRESS: you will be working hard and will want to wear work clothes that you will not mind getting dirty. Good shoes are a must. It is recommended that you have a pair of tie up shoes (tennis or runners) or work boots. During the summer the temperature will be hot. Hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, sweatbands, gloves etc. are almost mandatory. Most youth group members wear cut-offs and T-shirts. Shorts are acceptable as long as they are not short shorts. Because of the culture of Latin America, which you will be introduced to, we ask that the following dress code be observed. a. Long shorts may be worn for most occasions other than church.

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