Record enrollment numbers at Bangkok school

Founded in 1971, Bangkok Bible Seminary (BBS) in Thailand is part of a network comprised of several leading Thailand seminaries. Through their extension program and courses on Youth, Holistic Child Development and Church and Society, BBS is helping to prepare both lay and full-time leaders not only to preach and teach but also to better lead and equip the churches to build bridges and serve the needs of their own communities.

The newly revised Bachelor of Theology and Master of Divinity curriculum will help students to be better trained to face the needs of the Thai churches. 2008 has seen record numbers of Thai Christians from a range of countries applying to study in the extension courses. BBS has also seen the number of regular students increase, a good indicator that BBS is providing what is needed in the churches.

The school says their greatest challenge this coming year will be the infrastructure and facilities required for a school with expanding numbers. The school has opportunities to expand the BTh section to the outskirts of Bangkok by developing land they have there. They also hope to develop more courses to be given in English to help Thais break out of their language barrier and expand the current city campus by building a purpose-built library and resource center to serve Bangkok.

Master of Divinity graduate Jaruwan Rasameeluangawn has been serving the Lord with the Hospital Christian Fellowship (HCF) ministry in Thailand for the past three years. As the HCF expands, she is helping to establish a center in Kohn Kaen province. Jaruwan says the cross-cultural training she received at the seminary has been particularly helpful to her in her future vision and her present work where she serves people from many different backgrounds.