Pastors graduate with bachelor’s degree from Bible college

THE PNG Bible College at Pabarabuk near Mt Hagen graduated 32 pastors with bachelor degrees and diplomas in theology last week.
Reverend Wane Ninjipa, chairman of the college’s governing council and PNG Bible Church (PNGBC) Inc, said 24 men graduated with bachelor degrees while eight spouses of graduating students graduated with diplomas.
Ninjipa said it was the 34th graduation of the college known as the Pacific Bible College (formerly Highlands Bible College).
He said after Independence in 1975, the PNGBC saw the need to set up an English Bible school to train pastors to minister to English-speaking, multi-cultural, multi-racial congregations in the new emerging urban centres of PNG.
Ninjipa said the vision led to establishment of the Highlands Bible College at Pabarabuk mission station in 1982.
“We started with only one student from Haniak in East Sepik and since then, Highlands Bible College has trained many preachers who are serving in our country and a few overseas,” he said.
“The name ‘Highlands Bible College’ was changed in 1996 to ‘Pacific Bible College’ after a restructure in the courses offered, in an attempt to raise the standard of the college.
“This was in line with the vision the church had to reach PNG and the Pacific.
“Pacific Bible College graduated three international students from Philippines and currently has three international students, one from West Papua and two from the Solomon Islands.” Ninjipa said Pacific Bible College offered bachelor of theology degrees with plans to increase this.
He said all lecturers were nationals but lately they had engaged online teachers.
“The college teaches Wesleyan Armenian doctrine of heart holiness,” Ninjipa said.
“It leads students to know and experience God in saving and sanctifying power to go out and make their faith known to others.
“We have seven lecturers today but need more international input to train our preachers to go out to face the challenges.
“Pacific Bible College is a faith-based organisation with limited resources and training facilities to fully realise our calling.
“As the board chairman, I want to make an open invitation for organisations or individuals to support the college in cash or kind to build teachers’ houses, dining hall, married students’ accommodation, a 30-seater bus for student evangelism and support lecturers’ salaries.”