Tigerville, SC – North Greenville University (NGU) and the Hispanic Bible Institute (IBH) recently announced a partnership to provide a quality theological education within the Hispanic context, with the primary purpose of forming Christian leaders to serve Hispanic Baptist churches.
At the Upstate IBH graduation ceremony held on Saturday, August 11 at Edwards Road Baptist in Greenville, Dr. J.A. Delgado, director of the Institute, announced that the organization which was founded in 2008 in cooperation with Taylors First Baptist Church (TFBC) will now partner with NGU.
“Thank you for your support North Greenville University, and we hope to work with you for many years,” said Delgado at the ceremony.
Bethany Baptist Church along with TFBC, the Baptist Convention of South Carolina, the Fraternity of Hispanic Baptist Churches, and the Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio, TX, have worked with the Upstate IBH to award 55 first and second certificates in biblical and ministerial studies.
“In our ten-year history, including today, we have received students from ten churches and have awarded 55 certificates,” said Delgado. “Some of the graduates are serving as pastors and leaders abroad; in Mexico and in South Carolina. To God be the glory.”
NGU President Dr. Gene C. Fant, Jr. and NGU Provost Dr. Nathan Finn awarded the certificates to the graduates.
“North Greenville University has always sought to serve the Upstate’s churches in every way possible, and we are excited about this opportunity to partner with these important churches through the cultivation of effective and educated leaders,” said President Fant. “We look forward to many years of work with the Institute and the cultivation of further strategic alliances with other organizations.”
NGU’s Director of Academic Engagement and Outreach Dr. Jill Rayburn says the association not only provides training in theology and ministry leadership for Hispanic church leaders in our region, it also gives the IBH students a seamless pathway into NGU’s Christian Ministries programs.
“Our goal is to go out into our community and break down barriers that may have blocked students from further education in the past,” said Rayburn. “These IBH classes offered on our Greer campus give the Hispanic church leaders an excellent foundation in Biblical studies and ministry setting them up for success in our NGU Christian Ministries Online/Blended programs at the Tim Brashier Campus in Greer.”
NGU’s goal is to see many of IBH certificate graduates become graduates of its Christian ministries programs – whether it is certificates, a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees.
