One Life

With 80% of Japanese pastors in their 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, Christ Bible Seminary opened in April 2005 with a mission to train up the next generation of leaders for the Japanese church with excellence in Biblical knowledge, excellence in practical ministry skill, and development of Christ-like character. We have a burden and passion for young people in Japan – that they might come to know the life-changing, joy-inspiring, and challenging Gospel of Jesus Christ.

To listen to two talks recently delivered by Dr. Bryan Chapell during his visit with Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya, Japan go to:

 http://cbijapan.org/fonts/chapell.htm

OUR MISSION –

3 Excellence Aims for CBS Students

The challenges of ministry in our society are holistic – affecting heart, mind, body and spirit. The touch the individual, the family, the workplace, the nation, and the church. We believe that to effectively minister to such a society, our students must have a holistic training that prepares their hearts, mind, body and spirit. We aim to train our students up in 3 areas of excellence….

Excellence in…

Biblical Knowledge – both those outside the church and inside the church have questions about the meaning of life, the purpose of work, the functioning of the family, and the reason for suffering. People in society long for have loving relationships, trusting friendships, and clear purpose for living. CBS students learn how to relate the foundational truths of the Scriptures to the needs of every-day people. The Bible is the unchanging, inerrant, infallible Word of God and it still speaks to society today through those who understand its meaning.

Ministry Skill

The phrase “practical” ministry skill is oxymoronic. It assumes that there is ministry or ministry skill that is NOT practical. Unfortunately it seems that in some churches the ministry of the pastor and leaders is not able to practically meet the needs of the people. The teaching is not understood, hearts are not reached, and everyday life and needs are not impacted. CBS students are trained to be skilled in ministry. The aim of this training is not to be able to preach or teach to show how much they know but to relate the Word and the ways of God to the everyday realities of life. Meeting the practical needs of both Christians and non-Christians – both felt and unfelt needs – with the power, grace, wisdom, and blessings of the Scripture is the main task of a servant of Jesus Christ.

Christ-like Character

Finally a core principle for CBS is that “doing flows from being.” CBS students are reminded again and again that no matter how much knowledge they have and no matter how skilled in ministry they are, the most important factor in their ministry being truly God-honoring is their own God-empowered personal holiness. Unless they know deeply and joyfully an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and are transformed and sanctified by Him and His Word their ministry will always be a pretty but empty shell. CBS students receive training that builds up not only their minds and the skills of their hands but also their hearts that they might become more and more like Jesus.

—

Here’s a picture from Dr. Chapell’s preaching class:

Here’s an article about our seminary and Dr. Chapell’s visit in the Japanese Christian Newspaper. It’s too big for the page, but if I don’t make it large enough you won’t be able to read it even if you know Japanese!