Christmas Offering FAQs
1. How did College Park learn about Zarephath Bible Institute (ZBI)?
This is the Bible College that Nate Irwin, our Pastor of Global Outreach, taught at for twelve years and was the principal of for eight years. The current principal is a Pakistani named Naz who grew up near Nate in Pakistan and was a teacher at ZBI when Nate was serving as principal.
2. How will be Christmas Offering money be spent?
Christmas Offering contributions will fund the construction of campus buildings, which include classroom space, library, administrative offices, dorms, and faculty residences.
3. Is it safe to build a Bible Institute in Pakistan?
Do you remember what we often say about unreached peoples? They are unreached for a reason! It is the hard parts of the world that have yet to be penetrated with the Gospel. There is risk involved. But the school has operated for 28 years without incident, and the ZBI board is convinced that as they continue to move judiciously, the risk of attack is minimal. The school will be built in phases so as not to create too big a splash all at once.
4. How much freedom of religion is in Pakistan?
Pakistan’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion. There are churches and schools in many places in Pakistan. Christians have the right to own land and build buildings.
5. Aren’t Christians persecuted?
Not by the government. There is social pressure and discrimination and, at times, outright persecution. Christians have to learn to deal carefully and with love with the surrounding majority Muslim population.
6. Who runs the school?
Zeraphath Bible Institute is currently operated by a consortium of five mission agencies that have a combination of missionaries and national representatives on the board.
7. Who owns the property?
A trust was established by the board in 1995, and the property is in the name of this trust.
8. Will there be any element of holistic ministry of humanitarian assistance?
This is a good question and one that the ZBI board is working through. While the focus of ZBI is clearly on training leaders for ministry, there could be some real positives to using part of the Christmas Offering and a portion of the land to provide some sort of service to the community. Options include a school, a clinic, or a computer training center. Any of these would go a long ways towards inclining the heart of the local community to the school and reducing any potential opposition.
9. Will this be a new Strategic Partner?
We’re not sure at this point. Taking teams to Pakistan for Vision Trips is a challenge, though not impossible. The main thing they need, in addition to finances, is prayer. If enough interest develops, we may form a prayer team for Pakistan and ZBI.
10. Other than giving to the Christmas Offering, how can I stay involved?
You could become part of the potential prayer team for ZBI, or sign up to get monthly prayer requests by contacting Jeff at . You could also continue to give to the operational expenses of ZBI (zbiedu.com). If you have an interest in visiting ZBI, you could possibly go on a future Vision Trip to Pakistan. Learn more at yourchurch.com/christmasoffering or contact Nate Irwin () if you are interested in any of these options.