MINISTRY//What makes 316NOW special? The family

A longtime Chinese friend has told us three characteristics that make 316NOW’s online Bible institute an extraordinary blessing to the Church in China. Since she has taken classes with all of our teachers, she can speak with authority.

We are dividing her comments among three Ministry Blog posts (September 21-October 5). Last Monday’s installment focused on our teachings. The first installment described our professors. This post highlights the family that our Bible institute cultivates among our students.

316NOW’s Bible institute offers students a spiritual home, a faith-based family. Accurately teaching God’s Word is of primary importance to the institute. But creating an environment where students and faculty love and support each other is also a top priority.

316NOW’s Bible institute is far from the only online school where Chinese Christians can study God’s Word. But your Bible institute classrooms are also homes. You offer in-person instruction, not just pre-recorded lessons. You treat your study groups as a welcoming place for Christian brothers and sisters to come together.

In your classrooms, Christians from across China study together, pray together, have their deepest questions answered, and share their hopes and sorrows. 316NOW’s personal approach to teaching demonstrates grace; it doesn’t only teach about grace. Professors remember their students’ prayer requests and they follow up on those requests. They make themselves available for personal counseling.

316NOW provides much more than 25 online courses per week. It provides 25 spiritual homes for your students.

What you can do: 316NOW’s Bible institute does want to create a family relationship among everyone that studies with us. Please pray that our professors continue to teach and show the love they have found in Jesus.