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BICA is a two-year Bible school to train preachers and church leaders with additional vocational training provided along with tools so preachers can be totally self-supporting. Low Cost -- Food, housing, clothing, etc. according to local standards. Approximately $220 per month for single students and $320 per month for married students. History -- The first class started in February 1998 and graduated in December 1999 in El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras, CA. A sister school in Guatemala City, Guatemala, opened in January 2004. Activities – Students attend class 7:30 am – 3:30 pm, Monday – Friday. On the weekends, they get very practical work. Saturdays are filled with door knocking and training others to do Bible studies in area churches (II Tim 2:2). Sundays provide opportunity for preaching and song leading. Every year the schools conduct ten one-week campaigns. Upon graduation, each student will have had 600 – 700 home Bible studies. Yearly, the campaigns, along with the weekend work, produce 600-800 baptisms. Each student comes recommended by his home congregation. Staff – George W. Hall – Director, limited teaching, fundraiser, coordinator of special group missions (i.e., medical missions and campaign workers.) * Samuel Vasquez - Director, Honduras, in charge of day-to-day operations, teaching. He has an assistant. * Roberto Alvarez – Director, Guatemala, in charge of day-to-day operations, teaching. He has an assistant. * Classroom teachers – A unique approach has been taken in this area. The school has no resident “on campus” full time teachers. For example, in the first two years, 33 different teachers taught. They eat and sleep at the school facilities. One subject is taught each week; therefore, only one teacher is needed at any one time. For example, a preacher will teach Mark for one week, then he will return to his home and another teacher will come to teach another class. Only their expenses are paid. Facilities – The Institute is housed in a modest home. There is one classroom, bedrooms (one for guest instructors and others for single students), and a kitchen/dining room. Married students live in rented homes. Vocational Training after Graduation -- Dependency upon the U.S. dollar has caused multiple problems. Dependency kills dignity, faith, vision, sacrifice, etc. When preacher support and buildings are funded from the U.S.A., a “welfare situation” is produced. Typically, the preacher is paid three times the average salary. He becomes the “pastor” who is not accountable to the local church. The church is weak - never mature. Our concept is to “teach them to fish, not to provide fish”. Upon graduation, vocational training is provided to those who need a trade. Graduates are NOT placed on U.S. support. Contact Information: George Hall For Monthly Newsletter 279 Mae Loop and Financial Report: Kingsland, TX 78639 www.bica.info 915-388-000 Tel/FAX BICA Honduras: APDO 14, El Progreso, Yoro, Honduras, CA Phone/FAX: 011-504-647-6975 (Overseen by the Belton Church of Christ, Belton, TX) BICA Guatemala: APDO 73, Correo Central, Guatemala City, Guatemala, CA (Overseen by the Fairmont Park Church of Christ, Midland, TX) Contacts BICA (Honduras) BICA (Guatemala) P.O. Box 788 Fairmont Park Church of Christ Belton, TX 76513 3813 N. Midland Dr. 254-939-1816 (Leave messages only) Midland, TX 79707-3530 Mickey Blanks, Missions Elder Jim McKay (432) 682-0253 254-939-0584 (home) Kyle Peck (432) 520-2025 Ted McKissick, (254) 939-6818 kpeck@cox.net Deacon – Missions Co-Chairman tmckissick@rocketmail.com Clifton Peters (254) 939-0739 cliftonpeters@aol.com |
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