Heartland Baptist Bible College

Bible College Is a Safe Environment

Another good reason to consider Bible college is that you will be immersed in a safe environment.

When I think of safe environments, I think of clean-rooms where everything is white and germ-free. Or, I think of an overprotective mom who has wrapped her child in bubble wrap so he won’t get any bumps or bruises.

No, Bible college is not exactly that… but it’s close.

Most Bible college students are entering college right out of high school. It is their first time away from home. It is their first taste of “freedom.”

For a parent, giving a child any freedom is terrifying. “What will my child do? Will he make the right choice? Will she follow what we taught her to do?”

Scary thought.

Now, imagine if she was in a situation where everything she had been taught her whole life was being turned on its head. Imagine, for instance, that your child goes to a secular university as a biology major. All her life, all she has known is the Bible and creation. Now, she is immersed in a hostile, Bible-hating environment. She is taught every day and by everyone that creation is a myth and evolution is true science. In essence, she is taught that everything she has ever known is wrong. Her whole world is intensely attacked. From the classroom to the dorm room, from the textbook to the internet chatter—everything is against her.

Safe environment? Hardly. No matter how strong she is, she has to be at least a little bit affected by it all, right?

Now imagine a boy who has been taught that the Bible is God’s Word and that it is absolute truth. Perhaps he does not know all the depths of theology or perhaps he is not able to defend every point of Christianity, but he has a solid grasp of basic Bible doctrines. He has always been taught to use the King James Bible and serve in a local, Independent Baptist church. While he may not completely understand all the reasons, he knows that is what he believes. Imagine, now, that he goes to Bible college. At Bible college, instead of everything he has ever believed being turned on its head, it is reinforced! Rather than hearing all the objections to his core beliefs, he is receiving systematic reasons as to why, in fact, he should believe that way.

Bible college reinforces

Bible college is a safe environment because it reinforces rather than breaks down everything a child has learned in a godly home and in church. At a good Bible college (one recommended by your pastor), the student receives encouragement to follow the Bible. Any prospective student should be wary of any institution that will cause doubts about whether the Bible is God’s Word.

Will a child fail at life if he does not attend Bible college? Of course not. But Bible college can only help reinforce what has always been taught at home and in the home church.

Bible college in general is safer

Not only is Bible college a safe place for a person’s beliefs, but life in general is safer. I do not necessarily mean that driving conditions are safer or the weather is milder; rather, I mean that living in a structured environment with rules similar to home will help in this transition time of life.

For many students, their first time away from home is when they attend college. Should we automatically assume that they are grown up and can make godly decisions all the time? I don’t even assume that about myself now!

Bible college is regulated, scheduled, strict, and clean

Bible college provides a safe environment because it is regulated, scheduled, strict, and clean. Students are required to sign in and out rather than just given complete freedom to come and go as they please. Having a curfew and lights out rather than allowing an open free-for-all until late into the night. Students are monitored on their ministry involvement, class attendance, workload, academic excellence, church attendance, chapel attendance, and more.

“That’s so strict!” you might think.

Safety always has boundaries and limits. Freedom is never the absence of limitations. Rather, it is an understanding and compliance to those boundaries.

A Bible college student will have much more freedom than he had in high school, no doubt; especially if he is away from home for the first time. However, without unlimited freedom, Bible college is a safer environment than almost any other environment in the world.

Bible college provides a safe environment for all areas of life

Parents, are you worried about what will happen to your child after graduation? Are you battling the internal conflict of wanting them to grow up… but not wanting them to grow up? Are you concerned that no place will be as safe as home? Are you worried they will not be taught well? Or that they will not find good friends? Or that everything they have ever known will be undermined?

Bible college is the safest place you could put them, most likely. As much as humanly possible, Bible college provides a safe environment for teaching, for socializing, and for all areas of life.

About the Author

Ryan Rench serves as the youth director and associate pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Temecula, CA, under his father’s leadership, Pastor W. M. Rench. Ryan’s family moved to Temecula in 1987 to plant the church where Ryan was reared and is now on staff. He earned his Master’s Degree in Ministry from Heartland Baptist Bible College in 2010. Ryan Rench married his wife, Jamie, in 2008, and they have three children: Abe, Charlotte, and Gwen. Ryan blogs at RyanRench.com and has published several books, including, A Case For Bible College and One Youth Pastor’s Toolbox, available from Calvary Baptist Publications.

How Do I Prepare for a Lifetime of Serving?

The opportunity to specifically focus on ministry training for four years in a Bible college setting has proven to be invaluable to many individuals in ministry; we believe those whom God leads to prepare for ministry in a Bible college setting will yield eternal fruit from the investment! If God is leading someone toward ministry, it is nearly always most efficient and effective to train in a “resident program” where students are physically in the classroom to receive focused and intense training from those who have proven themselves faithful in ministry. This type of classroom training, paired with active involvement in local church ministry, has proven invaluable to many who are currently serving in ministry. However, beyond college-type training, an individual’s ability to develop in ministry leadership can be significantly enhanced with strong internship opportunities (especially during the summertime, without the added pressures of the academic load). The opportunity to serve alongside experienced pastors and ministry workers during the summertime can add a practical element to ministry training that really can’t be duplicated in any other way. Heartland Baptist Bible College has a great desire to see individuals involved in profitable summer ministry positions that will challenge and equip them personally, spiritually, and practically to be servant leaders.

Heartland is excited to implement our first “MINISTRY TRAINING INTERNSHIP” program this summer. Two men were selected to be involved in this program based upon their character and integrity, as well as a high standard of academic excellence. Steve Whitaker served in combat as a marine prior to attending Heartland; he originally graduated from the undergraduate program at Heartland in 2014 and, after serving at his church in Texas for several years, returned last year to pursue his Master of Ministry degree in the seminary. Matt Hill came from rural Missouri and will be entering his senior year in August as a mission’s major (with a focus on India); he has also served for several years as a resident advisor in the residence halls on campus. This summer Steve is serving under Bro. Nathan Heckle, the Dean of Students here at Heartland, and will “shadow” him both at Heartland and Southwest Baptist Church for the entire summer. Matt will do the same with the Administration.

The desire is to expose these men to as many facets of ministry in a day-to-day setting as possible–from the seemingly mundane side of paperwork, to the unpredictable aspect of adapting to severe weather; from structured office time, to adapting to the long hours needed during special meetings, from dealing with the easy decisions of life, to processing the more complicated aspect of biblically dealing with difficult situations that may significantly affect individuals whom we are trying to help. Our desire is for these men to see real-life ministry in a real-time way as they apply what they have learned in the classroom in a practical setting. Some of the responsibilities and opportunities of this internship that we have already implemented are

Rotating the interns to various departments within the college—to maximize their exposure to different responsibilities of ministry.

Scheduling them to preach in churches around the region—to be both a blessing to those pastors and churches, as well as develop their ability to minister to the saints through the preaching of the Word.

Ministering alongside Heartland staff members not only at Heartland but also in ministry positions at Southwest Baptist Church—this allows them to not only see the college ministry setting, but also be intricately involved in the ministry at SWBC.

Teaching in adult Bible classes at SWBC—this allows them the opportunity not just to learn how to minister to kids (bus, Sunday School, junior church) but also to develop in their ability to help adults grow in Christ.

Accompany staff on preaching trips—both for the interaction with the staff during the trip itself, but also to learn how to adapt to different situations that arise in each unique church.

Participating in “sharpening time” with the Administrative Team member—rather than just passively allow them to observe everything, we want to actively “reprove, rebuke, and exhort” as needed, in an effort to help them to keep them engaged and constantly thinking and growing as they develop a ‘ministry mindset’.

A secondary purpose of the internship program this summer is that we are diligently taking time to create a solid resource to share with churches who desire to improve and add value to their own summer internship program. We are documenting and developing a program designed to expose interns to day-to-day ministry in an intentional, effective, and profitable way to help them grow and develop as ministry leaders. We look forward to using what we learn this summer, and in future years, to be a help to many local churches in the future. Please pray for these interns and the men they are serving alongside this summer. We are so thankful to be involved in training and mentoring coming generations of “servant leaders.”

Rotating the interns to various departments within the college—to maximize their exposure to different responsibilities of ministry.

Scheduling them to preach in churches around the region—to be both a blessing to those pastors and churches, as well as develop their ability to minister to the saints through the preaching of the Word.

Ministering alongside Heartland staff members not only at Heartland but also in ministry positions at Southwest Baptist Church—this allows them to not only see the college ministry setting, but also be intricately involved in the ministry at SWBC.

Teaching in adult Bible classes at SWBC—this allows them the opportunity not just to learn how to minister to kids (bus, Sunday School, junior church) but also to develop in their ability to help adults grow in Christ.

Accompany staff on preaching trips—both for the interaction with the staff during the trip itself, but also to learn how to adapt to different situations that arise in each unique church.

Participating in “sharpening time” with the Administrative Team member—rather than just passively allow them to observe everything, we want to actively “reprove, rebuke, and exhort” as needed, in an effort to help them to keep them engaged and constantly thinking and growing as they develop a ‘ministry mindset’.

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From Faces to Family

Why Heartland? That’s a good question and one that has many answers. It’s a question I was asking myself on March 18, 2015, during College Days at Heartland Baptist Bible College. It was a Wednesday night, and I was sitting in the balcony. That night was my first service at Southwest Baptist Church. I was a senior in high school, trying to figure out God’s will for my life. I flew out by myself from Virginia for College Days, and I had been in Oklahoma City less than six hours. Now, you’ve got to understand, my home town could fit on the ground floor of this auditorium, so, sitting up there in the balcony that night, I was nervous.

Everything was so new to me. I still remember that first service. I remember the congregational singing and listening to the voices ring in the building. It was incredible. Bro. Mast had the choir sing “Jesus Saves.” Pastor Gaddis preached an awesome message. I remember thinking: “This is amazing.”

The church was bigger than anywhere I had been in a long time. I remember looking out over the ground floor and just seeing people, and more people. It was like a sea of faces. I didn’t know anybody. God brought me to Heartland that fall and I became a member of Southwest Baptist Church. I began watching the members of Southwest, and I learned much about ministry. Many of those faces became mentors. I would like to introduce you to a few of them and share some of the lessons I learned.

One of my mentors from freshmen year is the Director of Primary Church, Bro. Zack Hudson. Since this ministry involves working with first and second graders, half of the time he preaches and the other half he tries to make them sit still. That year, I learned the importance of patience and faithfulness from Bro. Zack because much of the seed he sows won’t bear fruit until several years down the road. But someone has to lay a foundation. I learned the importance of faithfulness — even when there may be little fruit to show, and you wonder if the kids are even listening.

I joined bus my Sophomore year and got to know Brian Moseley. Brian Moseley is the bookstore manager at Heartland, but he is also the captain of Bus 6. While we were on the route, Bro. Moseley would always run to the door so the bus wouldn’t be late coming to church. When I offered to give him a break and be the runner, he said no. He wanted the parents of the bus kids to see a consistent face every Sunday. I learned the importance of consistency — even in the little things that no one may ever see.

I love the consistency between Southwest and Heartland because they are unified and connected with each other. A student hears about ministry at Heartland, and then they see it at Southwest. On Tuesday, a student may listen to Greg Smith teach Children’s Ministries. On Sunday, you can watch him preach in Super Church. Seth Bailey, the youth pastor, teaches youth classes at Heartland. David Pirkle, the outreach director, teaches Personal Evangelism. The teachers live what they teach, and the students get to see that at Southwest. Southwest lives what Heartland teaches.

Junior year, God put Kevin Culver in my life. Kevin Culver is the church mechanic and has been my boss for a couple of years. I remember one cold winter day, over a year ago, Bro. Kevin had a lot to do that day, and I could tell he was a little stressed. A man came by and started working on his car outside the shop and he needed help. A little while later, I saw Bro. Kevin, outside in the cold, helping him. I learned that day that ministry is not a to-do list, the ministry is people. I think lessons like that are the most powerful when they are lived; not just taught.

My testimony would not be complete without mentioning my adopted mother, Anna Williams. She has shown me what a godly wife and mother looks like. Almost every Sunday during my time here, she has prepared a home-cooked meal for a bunch of hungry college guys. I have learned what it means to love sacrificially. Their family has become a home away from home. The kids will run up and give me a hug when they see me. I’m nobody special–this is just one example of the love that Southwest has for the students that God brings to them.

Southwest loves the students of Heartland. I am so grateful for the investment of Southwest Baptist Church in my life. They have been a wonderful example. I can honestly tell you that it has changed my life. I love this church. I feel like Paul when he wrote in Hebrews 11:32, at the end of the hall of faith: “And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson…” Time fails me today to tell of the Wright family, and the Owen family; the Painters, the Lees, the Logues, and the Trimbles. I could literally go on and on. There are so many examples I’m leaving out. Four years ago, from the balcony, I saw faces — now…I see a family.

The Structure of Life at Bible College Builds Discipline

In my estimation, the world is given to the disciplined.

Perhaps that is a secular statement to make, but it seems to bear true, right? Think of any position of power and you know it is run with discipline.

The military is built on discipline. Strong businesses thrive on discipline, whether the personal discipline of each employee or discipline built into the structure of the company (i.e. policies and procedures.) Any professional in a field knows that talent alone will not make a person rise to the top. The topmost spot belongs to the one who has disciplined himself to work hard enough to get there.

While we are not after the “top spot” in Christianity, we can definitely learn a lesson from the world when it comes to discipline. If, in every area of life, the world knows that a lot of hard work pays off, why would we think any less of our lives as Christians?

In the Bible, nothing about following Christ talks about it being easy. Words like daily, cross, persecution, labor, steadfast, early and more are used to describe one’s walk with God and relationship with Him.

Is following God easy? No way! It is simple, but it is not easy.

Following God is simple in that we are to simply know what He says in His Word and then obey Him. That is simple. Know and obey His Word.

The hard part is not in understanding what to do, but in doing it! Actually obeying takes, like, discipline! Ugh! (…note the sarcasm!)

Do you know what Bible college helped do for many young men and ladies who came through it? It helped them build discipline in their lives. It helped them learn about priorities, time management, energy management, sleep deprivation, and focus.

The structure, the non-stop pace, the imposing schedule, the mandatory involvement in so much and the new thought processes force each student to stop and think about life in a whole new way. No more happy-go-lucky high school. This is real life.

Bible college is a good place to learn discipline. If boot camp helps prepare a soldier for battle through strict discipline, Bible college helps prepare the student for the discipline needed for life. Is the intense schedule of boot camp kept up through a soldier’s entire career? No. Same with Bible college. It is short, intensive training time on purpose.

I have yet to endure a week or month like I endured in college and graduate school. My four years on campus, especially, were the most grueling, sleep-deprived years of my life. (Although my wife, having birthed and nurtured a child, begs to differ!)

Strangely, they were some of the most enjoyed years of my life, too. What I remember of them, that is.

Bible college is intensely structured and requires each student to be rigidly disciplined — for his own good!

You might read that and think, “No way! I’m out of here! I don’t want anything to do with that!”

Before running away, consider what is at stake. God has called us to be radical followers of Him. Even the world knows that anything worth having is worth working for. Even the world knows that the way to the top requires a lot of hard work, and it is not going to come easy.

Are you going to say that God’s way is too hard? That He requires too much? That you are not tough enough to handle learning some self-discipline?

Bible college is not the military. It is actually boot camp. In some respects, it takes more self-discipline than boot camp. In other respects, it is not nearly as rigid.

Bible college demands discipline, but disciplined and structured environments are not automatically “un-fun.” Discipline doesn’t mean boring. That is not the point of what I am saying.

The point of this…was simply to say that the structure of Bible college helps to develop discipline in students, and discipline is always helpful. Consider attending Bible college and you will have to consider the discipline aspect, as well.