During the past few years our student ministry has seen tremendous spiritual growth, and as a result of this many of our student have surrendered to full time ministry. Many of them, as well as others have desired to go just a little deeper; that it quite frankly hard to do in a service of 150 students. With this in mind we created the Refuge Bible Institute. The Institute started in May of 2007, and our first class had 18 students who attended.

The institute is set up much like a Bible college, although not college level classes, and it will be designed with passion, education, and application as its goals. There will be weekly class sessions that will be required, there will also be homework, tests and papers. I know you are probably thinking, “homework, tests, papers are you kidding?”. I want to assure you this will not seem like any class you have ever sat in during school. We simply must find out if you are learning and if what we are talking about is reaching your heart.

Many of you are going to be going to Bible colleges or taking Bible classes in college. The institute will prepare you in order that you will not walk into those situations blindly. It will also give you insight and training into God’s Word, that quite frankly your peers will not get. For those who home-school this may be counted as credit as your parents see fit. I don’t want you to think that this is only for students who are going to Bible college or full-time ministry. This is for any student who desires to gain greater insight into God’s Word.

This year’s course is only available to students who will be freshmen or above as of Fall '10. And let me make one thing very clear, this is a serious endeavor, if you are not willing to work and study then the institute is not for you. But what a better way to spend part of your summer than in serious study of the things of God.

This summer’s study is entitled “The Cross of Christ: A Study of the Greatest Event in Human History”. It will begin June 9th and will meet every Tuesday throughout the summer. The cost of the class is $30 and registration has begun.