As chair of the Bible and Church Ministries Department, Brian Trainer loves being in ministry. With more than 20 years’ experience as a pastor, church planter, college professor, and frequent traveler in the United States and overseas, he is passionate about encouraging young people to give themselves completely to Christ and to make God-honoring choices in the crucial years of young adulthood. He summarizes his goal for the department: "To be involved in Christian ministry is an utmost privilege, a solemn responsibility, a divine stewardship, and an extreme joy. Our desire is to train individuals who understand and appreciate the opportunity of being vocationally involved in handling the Word of God."

 Why are we here? Are we just the product of random chance, a spark of the divine, or the creation of a personal God? What about suffering and evil? Answers to the tough issues of life don’t come easily. In today’s confused world, it’s important to know what we believe and why. Maranatha’s Bible department teaches a biblical worldview to help students understand, interpret, and apply biblical truth to all of life—from the origin of the universe to the development of Christian character and convictions.

You’ll interact with godly Bible faculty who believe and teach the Bible as the verbally inspired, inerrant Word of God. They’re also committed to the centrality of the local church as the focus of God’s plan for the church age. With seven Bible majors, six minors, and two concentrations to choose from, you’ll be equipped for God-honoring service in the local church and effective witness for Christ.

Interested in continuing your Bible education? Read about Maranatha's 3+3 program--get a Bible degree and your MDiv in only 6 years! More information

---

Alumni Focus

Troy Budreau, a 2007 Maranatha graduate, and his wife Cherie established Faith Baptist Church of Northern Macomb County in Michigan in the fall of 2008. Volunteers made 34,000 phone calls and information was sent to 2,400 people before the church opened. Five families from Faith Baptist Church of Warren have joined the Budreaus in establishing this church.

Maranatha Grads Involved in Ministry

Alumni surveys indicate that 92% of Maranatha graduates are actively involved in their local church and 72% teach Sunday School. Alumni serve in 42 different mission fields and 50% of the graduates are involved in full-time Christian service. Senior biblical studies majors take the Bible Knowledge Test from the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and a Values Test. In the last few years, students have averaged in the mid-70th percentile on the ABHE test. 

---

The Bible Department also oversees the Biblical Studies Core, a core of Bible classes, required of all students at Maranatha.

Bible Department Objectives

1. To inculcate students with a basic knowledge of the Bible and Christian doctrine.
2. To equip students with interpretive skills for lifelong ministry and personal spiritual growth.
3. To instill within students the values of Baptist fundamentalism.
4. To formulate within students the desire for and competency in evangelism/missions.
5. To equip students with leadership skills necessary for local church and/or lay ministry.
6. To develop within students the skills necessary for public/private communication of spiritual truth.
7. To instill a value for the work of the ministry through developing an understanding and appreciation of the various opportunities and challenges common to the Lord's work.