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Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies (BICS)

“For the past thirty-five years the focus of BICS has been to assist emerging adults in the acquisition of wisdom through lifelong learning and ordered living. At the heart of the BICS mission are the twin turbines of growth in the Lord—the promises of God and His indwelling Holy Spirit. At the surface, BICS operates essentially within an educational model, but beneath the waterline there is the propulsion of discipleship within community.

Statistically, large numbers of evangelical youth are leaving the church after high school; some estimates are as high as 80%. While driven by the models and systems of cultural success, these young people will likely be lost for leadership in the church. Can we afford to lose this generation as our culture undergoes powerful philosophical changes under our feet?

Behind the information technology that powers the teenage experience are people created in the image of God. BICS wants to challenge those young hearts to find significance in the person of Christ rather than the power of self. To do that, we think, is to engage them in real-time relationships, the mentoring model of the New Testament.

Thus, we not only teach but train in basic disciplines of wisdom-based living. We invest in a dynamic community experience. We travel together. We have fun together. We pray together. We wrestle through problems. And we are conscious that our efforts, to be effective, must be informed by principled thinking. To that end we try to be vigilant in our submission to the Word of God, written and incarnate, across the spectrum of life together.

While BICS is not a church, it is also more than a school. Between those two paradigms the Institute seeks to address the basic needs of young people. As they emerge into adult life, BICS points them to the principles of wisdom-based living, to reinforce, not replace, the impulses of the Christian home and the community of faith.

BICS integrates with the life of Hope Church in Lenox, a significant model of worship and service. The Church welcomes our students, offers them venues for ministry involvement and assessment, allows them the use of the facilities, “adopts” them into their families, and benefits them through the pastoral staff who teach at BICS.

Many students are taking a “gap year” after high school graduation. For the maturing believer it makes sense to spend nine months immersed in spiritual formation, developing a biblical worldview – with a 14-day Bible lands travel experience as the capstone of learning!”

Web: www.berkshireinstitute.org
E-Mail: admissions@berkshireinstitute.org
Phone: 413-637-4673

Ministry Training Institute (MTI)

“The Ministry Training Institute is a 3.5 year, 60 credit cohort-based theological education program for training church leaders in any area. Pastors, church planters, missionaries, elders, Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and more. Our desire is to raise up Christian leaders who make wise decisions for themselves, their families, and their ministries to strengthen Gospel impact and further the Mission of God.

The Body of Christ has already been commanded, commissioned, and sent by Christ to make disciples and is energized by His Spirit to advance His kingdom. MTI does not believe the church has a mission, but God’s mission has a church. We seek to participate in the equipping of individuals to join in His work! MTI is provided in partnership with Berkshire Christian and Advent Christian General Conference.”

Web: www.mtiprogram.com
E-Mail: mti@acgc.us 

Berkshire Christian

“As churches grew and new denominations were founded the need for the education of clergy was seen. Many liberal arts colleges and Bible colleges were founded with a primary mission of training pastors and missionaries. Among them was Ransom Bible Institute, founded in 1897 by Advent Christians, in Boston, Massachusetts. Soon the school moved to Roxbury and then to Brookline. The name was changed in 1918 to New England School of Theology. In 1958 the college moved to the Berkshire hills in western Massachusetts and was then known as Berkshire Christian College until 1987.

During the 1980s, many Bible colleges faced declining student enrollments and financial resources. In 1987, Berkshire Christian found it necessary to sell its campus. After this, Berkshire was no longer licensed or accredited. While our operations as a “brick and mortar” campus ceased in 1987, our calling to equip men and women for ministry did not.

Berkshire Christian now offers to assist individuals preparing for ministry, providing them with the financial support they need to answer God’s call and serve their communities with excellence.”

Web: BerkshireChristian.org
Phone: 508-731-6331