Through her ministry organisation World Mandate Ministries, Elaine Roberts has spent the past 23 years preaching the gospel and equipping students for ministry through Every Nation Bible School UK. Now, a season of rapid expansion has created many new opportunities.
“Sometimes it’s only when we stop and think about what we’re doing that we recognise the enormity of the scale of the work the Lord has called us to,” says Elaine Roberts.
She and Selina Forde – the Associate Principal and Principal respectively of Every Nations Bible School UK (formerly Ministry Equipping School) – are reflecting on a season of significant expansion at their 23-year-old college.
Elaine explains that ENBS UK has spent the past few years growing its offering from one original course to 16 – all the while maintaining its vision of providing theological training twinned with practical application, enabling believers from all nations to serve in their God-given giftings and ministries.
“We’ve added several courses in the past year in particular,” she says.
“We now have a Practical Apologetics course, where students put what they learn into practice by going out and encountering people of the different faiths they’ve been taught about,” says Elaine.
“The cutting edge part of this course is that it’s not just getting facts into their heads but allowing them to experience how it works in reality.”
And the college has also branched into new territory with the launch of ENBS Youth. Where historically ENBS has been a college for adults, it ran its first kids’ summer school last August to deliver a fun-packed curriculum to prepare and empower children and young people to defend their faith.
EXPANSION
It’s an area they now plan to expand.
“Children are the church of today so we’d like to create more resources for them,” says Selina.
“We’d like to look at discipleship.
“We’ve also got accommodation which can support parents with children, so we’re looking at including a children’s element in our adult courses.”
Elaine and Selina have plenty more ideas for 2024, too. They have ambitious plans to establish six more courses this academic year, including diplomas in Christian leadership, chaplaincy, and courses in theology and practical Christian worship, plus ‘Equipped for Life’ online courses.
One they are especially excited about is Pathway to Accredited Public Ministry – a pioneering non-denominational course for people called to public ministry which will offer an accredited academic qualification and an optional pathway to ordination.
“God showed us there was a gap for believers outside the denominational structures who are called to be ordained,” explains Elaine.
“Ordination for public ministry is becoming increasingly important for those ministering in the public arena. It’s a validating element that influences whether someone will work with you because these days people often want to know if you’re ‘kosher’.”
The course, adds Selina, will combine academic and practical teaching, and prepare students to undertake everything from evangelism, chaplaincy and mentoring to weddings, funerals and youth ministry.
“By the time people finish they will have a wide toolkit to enable them to be who God has called them to be,” she says.
Elaine and Selina are excited about their expanding range of courses – and the fact their current selection has been rated “excellent” by accrediting body NCFE.
For more information, visit enbs.co.uk, call 01604 759039 or email info@enbs.co.uk
