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able to travel to Romania by the beginning of
October. Everyone at TBCI made me feel very
welcome, and I quickly felt like part of the
college family. The classes are all very practical
for working in any kind of church ministry
and for a solid foundation in the Bible. The
teachers give their own spiritual insight and
experiences from their own ministries so
that the students have real life examples. The
insight the teachers give is highly beneficial
as it is directly applicable for life and ministry
here in Europe.

Having a Baptist Bible college here in Europe is a
huge asset to missionaries. The close proximity
to each country in Europe allows for travel back
to each field to assist in ministries. The college
tries to be flexible with students, knowing that
the students are needed at their home churches.

This benefit is vital as most churches in Europe
do not have staff outside the pastor’s family.

Another benefit to having a college in Europe is
the similar cultures throughout the continent.

Though each country is very different, there
are similarities between the countries. A child
who has grown up on the mission field would
experience less culture shock in a college in
Europe than in the United States. Also, the
students are primarily from Europe which
allows for connectivity on a common cultural
ground. Another positive aspect about having
a college here in Europe is in connection to the
size of the college. Due to the fact that there
are fewer Christians in Europe, the college is
naturally much smaller than colleges in the
United States. The small size of the college gives
a more family-like atmosphere where everyone
needs to work together, and one does not feel
lost in the crowd.

I hope the perspective from my vantage point
has been helpful in understanding this aspect of
the life of a Missionary Kid (MK). I have been
greatly blessed by the ministry of TBCI. As an
MK, I would highly recommend anyone in
Europe to prayerfully consider European Bible
colleges for their children. TBCI has provided
an opportunity for missionaries to send their
children to college while still remaining close
to their field locations. W
This college was originally begun by Dr. Carl Herbster, Dr. Ron White, and BIMI missionary Ed
Hembree as the “Independent Baptist College of Romania” in 2000. Courses were prepared and
taught in Romanian, primarily for Romanian nationals. In 2010, Brother Hembree left Romania
to become the Europe Director for Baptist International Missions, Inc. After this, the college
transitioned to English-speaking and came under the leadership of West Coast Baptist College
in Lancaster, California. BIMI missionary Tim Tyler is now the on-field director of the college
which is now named “The Baptist College International.” Students from anywhere in Europe may
attend and their degrees are granted by West Coast Baptist College.

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