News

Tim's First Year

Tue, 08/11/2020 - 1:32pm

As I come to the end of the first school year in which I have served as president of SIBI, I am reflecting on some of the things that have impacted me during this time, and yet I can’t help pondering upon what has impacted all of our lives this year. To be sure, my year was interesting, but whose wasn’t? In common, we face a pandemic; social injustice; bigoted hatred and murder; political and religious polarization; wage decline, and job loss. Perhaps you are tired of hearing about such things. Perhaps you think we haven’t yet heard enough. It is in such moments that I need reminding that as impactful as such circumstances might be, our God is above all our circumstances, and we do well to also remember His ongoing work in and through us.

Starting Another Year of Ministry Training in a New Way

Wed, 08/05/2020 - 4:11pm

SIBI will begin classes on August 10th but in a modified way. We encourage you to watch this video from SIBI's president, Tim Burow, who gives the rationale for where our upcoming classes are meeting.

A Queen’s Request

Thu, 07/30/2020 - 4:52pm

Since her beloved Gerald went to be with the Lord in 2015, there has been one thing on Mrs. Bobbie’s heart--a queen’s request if you will--and that was to join him. Like Paul, her thoughts were For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. (Philippians 1:21–23)

Mission Heroes & Solar Players

Thu, 07/16/2020 - 4:16pm

Emmanuel Essien with one of the men who was baptized after listening to the lessons on the solar player. In Nigeria, the name C.A.O. Essien is as legendary and familiar to our brethren as Alexander Campbell is to those who know about the Restoration Movement in the United States. Essien requested a Bible correspondence course from a church in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1950 and began to preach the Gospel he had learned.

July 2020 Maria in El Savador

Wed, 07/01/2020 - 12:00am

Maria a 103 year old continues to faithfully serve in El Savador Maria Esperanza Perez, our faithful sister in El Salvador, she is currently 103 years old. She started her walk with God 45 years ago; she obeyed the gospel in baptism in the city of Apaneca, which is on the East side of the country. Since then she has been very faithful in her commitment to the Lord.

Solar Update: Preaching the Gospel During a Global Pandemic

Tue, 05/12/2020 - 10:27am

Family in Zimbabwe listening to the Solar Player for Worship

When we began the large distribution of Solar Players in 2014, Zimbabwe was one of the first recipient nations. Our partner school, Mutare School of Preaching and its director Nhamo Marunga, led the way in helping us to put over 900 Solar Players into the hands of the right people in one of the most receptive nations in our world. After six years, most of those Solar Players are still preaching and teaching the gospel. Recently brother Marunga said this:

“When the Solar Player project started, we did not know that a global pandemic would come. We have used the Solar Players in evangelism, Bible classes, preacher training, leadership workshops, prisons, and hospitals, far and wide. In Zimbabwe, we were not spared from the pandemic and lock downs. Families are now able to listen to the songs, Bible lessons, sermons, and Bible readings from their Solar Players. What a blessing.”

May 2020 Partner School Gets A Building

Fri, 05/01/2020 - 12:00am

Partner School in India gets a Building

Indian Christians’ school of Biblical studies is a Non-profit Satyānvēṣaṇa Kēndraṁ (Truth searching Center). It is a Bible Teaching and training Ministry with the encouragement and involvement of Christians who has the basic objectives of training men and women to be well guided by the systematic instructions of all the scriptures and to discover the ministry giftedness with a purpose of helping to plant, to grow strong churches, to equip and produce Spiritual Leaders to make known the wisdom of God. We welcome students of all faiths, who are interested to learn more of God's Word, the Bible, to Live for the Creator’s glory. We offer two levels of degree courses using the training curriculum developed by Sunset International Bible Institute- Associate of Arts in Bible, and Bachelor of Arts in Bible degree courses.

April 2020 DiscipleTrips Story

Wed, 04/01/2020 - 12:00am

Bob Gruner on a DiscipleTrips On a recent DiscipleTrip to Guatemala, Bob Gruner and the rest of the DiscipleTrip team worked at an orphanage in Guatemala City. In this image, Bob is handing out bags of rice to these beautiful children, however, these children are not orphans. This orphanage is not only involved with helping orphans, but they also help the children and families of their neighborhood. Three times a year the orphanage opens its doors to the children of the community to come and enjoy their facilities and to receive gifts. For two days the DisipleTrip team worked with this orphanage to distribute food, clothing, and toys to the local children. What an amazing experience to see children become excited about receiving food, something we may too often take for granted. Acts 20:35 reminds us of what Jesus said, “It is truly more blessed to give than to receive”.

SIBI Statement Concerning COVID-19

Sat, 03/21/2020 - 10:12am

Sunset International Bible Institute (SIBI) would like to inform the public that one of its students has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The student is a part of our Adventures in Missions (AIM) department (a ministry which trains college age men and women to serve alongside experienced missionaries as apprentices). This is a ministry supported by Churches of Christ. On Saturday evening, March 14th we hosted the graduation of the AIM class of 2020 at the Family Life Center of the Sunset Church of Christ.

March 2020 From Brazil to Mozambique

Sun, 03/01/2020 - 12:00am

Minister in Brazil

Brother Mauro Francisco is an evangelist in Curitiba, Brazil. He is a sought after speaker and is a national consultant for leadership development in Brazil. Mauro understood the benefits of providing Solar players in Portuguese, not only in Brazil but also in Mozambique. He had traveled to Mozambique to encourage and educate the brethren there and to share the good news of Christ with those in the Portuguese speaking African nation. He knows how large the task of evangelizing Mozambique is and knows that the Solar player can help to reach areas where he may not ever be able to go.

Much of Mozambique was without electricity and many do not read well enough to understand the Bible in print. The Bible and Bible teaching on the Solar player removes these barriers and enables people to hear God’s Word. After a cyclone devastated the country in the Spring of 2019, much of the nation was without electricity and many were reaching out to God to help them in their distress. This has created a growing need for the Solar players. Rebuilding continues. It’s our hope that Solar players can be a big part of seeking and saving the lost as the people of Mozambique try to put their homes, businesses and lives back together. Brother Mauro hopes to return and be part of this process.