The Bible Institute and Learning Center (BILC) provides Biblical teaching through a foundational, systematic education program. The Bible Institute also provides a tutorial, enrichment and remedial program for any that need to improve or enhance basic educational skills.

HISTORY – THE REALITY OF A VISION

In November 1987, through the vision and motivation of Pastor Johnson, the Mount Pleasant Bible Institute and Learning Center became a reality. Pastor Clifford Johnson desired to develop a vehicle that would reach and mentally, emotionally, and spiritually equip the people of Mount Pleasant and the community.The objective of the Bible Institute and Learning Center is to further the education of the believer and to edify the believer by increased knowledge of the Bible through church educational resources.

Students who participate in the Bible Institute will receive an ETA (Evangelism Training Association) approval, as well as a diploma from the Mount Pleasant Bible Institute after the completion of the required courses. With these credentials the student, if desired, will be capable of instructing any ETA course he/she has already taken.

The Learning Center reaches out to the students on a tutorial, remedial, and/or enrichment basis. Instructors will center on the student’s particular abilities, needs, or areas of weakness and design a program to sharpen them. The Learning Center is able to meet the needs of all age groups.

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WHAT IS ETA?

The Evangelical Training Association was founded in 1930 by five Christian higher educational institutions. It is a member of seminaries, colleges, universities, institutes, and churches. ETA is committed to providing quality training resources to the church by equipping lay volunteers to serve Christ more effectively. Today, it has a membership of nearly 200 Christian institutions. Over two million persons have studied these courses which lead to church ministries award certificates. Courses are translated into several languages and are being taught throughout the world.

BIBLE INSTITUTE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

ACTS/MISSIONS – This course is a study of the book of Acts, showing the growth of the church, the work of the Holy Spirit, combined with the study of missions and missionary outreach.

BIBLICAL ENGLISH COMPOSITION – This course will help students develop their writing skills as they write about biblical events and characters.

BIBLE INTRODUCTION – This course is designed to build foundation for personal Bible study with an emphasis on the origin, authorship, and presentation of the Bible. It will also give the student the knowledge on how to answer critics of the Bible.

BIBLICAL SELF-CONFRONTATION – This course will teach you how to approach circumstances, relationships,. and situations of life from a biblical perspective and to experience victory and contentment in all of life’s trials, tests, and problems and to prepare you to counsel others biblically.

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS – This course is an introduction to examining evidence to substantiate the claims of Christianity…can it be proven?

CHRISTIAN ETHICS– This course examines critical questions such as abortion, euthanasia, bioethics, human sexuality, politics, war, capital punishment, race, the arts, and the environment from a biblical viewpoint.

CHRISTIAN LIFE – This course is designed as a foundation to equip the child of God to mature in their relationship with Christ, to walk by faith, and to be a witness to others.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC – This course introduces music as a part of worship to God using the guidelines of the word of God.

CHURCH HISTORY – A basic introduction to the subject of perspectives of church history covering four major periods from the Day of Pentecost to the Present: the Ancient Church, the Medieval Church, the Reformation Church, and the Modern Church. This course is designed to provide Christians with an overview of their spiritual heritage

DISCIPLESHIP – This course is a study of how the power of God will shape Christians to become disciples. Obedience, discipline, and submission to the commands of God will be stressed.

DOCTRINE – A study of salvation and inspiration of the scriptures and the church.

EVANGELISM – A must for every Christian. This course introduces effective techniques that win souls for Christ.

LEADERSHIP – This course explains the difference in leaders who are effective and those who are efficient and what this means to the local church. Explore the wide variety of areas with which volunteer and professional church leaders must contend today

NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY – This course is a skillful weaving of the New Testament books which centralizes around the theme of the person Jesus Christ.

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY I – This course is a study of the books of Genesis through Esther. Background information will be presented and mighty works of God among men will be examined.

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY II – A continuation study of the Old Testament surveying the books of Job through Malachi. Background information will be presented, and the mighty works of God among men will be examined.

PUBLIC SPEAKING – Designed to improve oral and grammar skills. This course will help those who speak in public.

TEACHING TECHNIQUES – This course will stress alternative teaching methods, which will show how to communicate Biblical truths and apply them not only to classroom situations, but also to life.

TRIUNE GOD – This course is a study of how God reveals Himself in three distinct persons. Through this study, God’s people will come to know God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE – This study gives insight into the personalities, problems, experiences, interests, and needs of people.

ROMANS – This course examines the epistle of Romans. Students will examine a detailed expository survey that helps them understand the main message and theme of this letter written by the Apostle Paul and how it applies to their life

SIGN LANGUAGE – This course is a study that gives insight into the world of the Deaf/deaf community. The course will examine the culture, language, problems, history, experiences, and needs (physical and spiritual) of the Deaf/deaf community and help those to understand why there is a gap between the hearing and Deaf people. Our witness can bridge that gap

SIGN LANGUAGE II – This course will cover classes involving Deaf culture, the history of sign language, the difference between American Sign Language, English Sign Language, and Pidgin, Deaf etiquette, laws, rules & tools, the need for an Interpreter, how to witness to a Deaf/deaf person, religious signs, communicating (through signs, gestures, notes, lip reading), misconceptions concerning the Deaf, CODA’s (child of Deaf adult), the call to Deaf Ministry, basic signs used in and around church, (alphabet, greetings, family members, salvation, royalty, etc.), signing songs, technique, finger spelling and numbers, the difference between Deaf and deaf, who makes up the Deaf/deaf community, why there’s a gap between hearing & Deaf people and how our witness can help bridge that gap.

UNDERSTANDING TEACHING – This course examines a biblical understanding of teaching through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, insight into God’s Word, sharp communication skills, and accurate interaction with students. This is a companion course to Teaching Techniques

LEARNING CENTER COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

GENERAL MATH – (Children and Adults) Students will have an opportunity to learn basic math skills and consumer math for everyday life.

READING – (Children and Adults) Students will receive instruction in basic reading for enjoyment and reading the Bible.

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

1. We believe in the scripture of the Old an New Testaments as verbally inspired of God and inerrant in the original writings and that they are of supreme authority in faith and life.
2. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and is true man.
4. We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is eternal separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and in case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word, and deed.
5. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the grounds of his shed blood.
6. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in his ascension into heaven, and in his present life there for us as high priest and advocate.
7. We believe in “that blessed hope,” the personal premillennial, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
8. We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are “born again” of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.
9. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost.