Jiangxi Bible School Develops from A Small Class

Jiangxi Bible School
Jiangxi Bible School (photo: Zion Story (wechat account))
By Grace ZhiSeptember 5th, 2016

Jiangxi Bible School enrolled its first batch of seminary students who were going to study  for a three year course as a junior college in September 2015. 

Before this exciting moment, it actually originated from a small advanced class for pastoral staff in the spring of 1992 and went through ups and downs in the following decades.

Students needed to take a class for one year. In April 1993, it was renamed as the "Christian Bible College of Jiangxi", running in extremely tough conditions. 

It is said that in the early days, the school taught classes in a small attic that could only hold 24 students which was a part of the Zhidao Church of Nanchang. The teachers were from the provincial CCC&TSPM and the donated books from the pastoral staff formed a library. The donations on the last Sunday of each month were used to support the school, as well as the provincial "lianghui".

It trained 98 graduates of four sessions until the summer of 1996.

Having purchased a three-storey house in 1996, the school had its first building and full-time set of teachers. With the social and church development handled, the school needed to change the system under better conditions with a bigger faculty.

Two years later, it moved to a factory and began to admit students for 2-year degrees and graduates who wish to pursue advanced studies. It moved to another factory again in 1999. 

After joint efforts from the staff, supporters and students, in 2001, it eventually purchased a hill covering 21 mu to build its own teaching and comprehensive buildings which were completed in 2003. This ended their history of moving four times because of unfixed buildings. 

One year later, students were allowed to practice in the school's church which was completed in October --- Grace Church, which connected the teachings regarding the practices in the church. 

It was officially included in the national theological education system, approved by the State Bureau of Religious Affairs and got the name "Jiangxi Bible School". In 2012, the celebration of the 20th anniversary of founding was held.

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