When does the school year begin and end?
For the 2010-2011 school year, GCBI will begin Orientation on Tuesday, August 31st. The Student Bible Experience (read further down!) will be held September 6-16. Fall semester classes will begin on September 21st, 2010 and end on December 17th, 2010. Spring semester classes will begin on January 18th and end on May 12th. The Israel Experience will be held May 19th – 31st. The students’ graduation ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 5th.
What is the Student Bible Experience?
As part of our orientation process, the students and on-site ministry directors read through the Bible in 10 days. I know, I know! “What? Read the entire Bible in eight days?!” Our goal in this project is two-fold: first, we want every student to get a sense of the big picture of God’s story; second, we want to create an opportunity for students to dive right in and work together to accomplish a rather large goal. We read through the Bible chronologically, following a strict daily reading schedule. Students and ministry directors read aloud, taking turns and sharing the “burden”. The reading schedule provides for many stretch breaks, meal times, and intentional family time as well! Many students come into the program having the standard Bible stories under their belts, but have never experienced the full story of God in this way. We want to create a unique and challenging experience for our students, to get whet their appetites for the intense study of God’s Word that is to come!
Am I allowed to work?
Yes. We all know that bills still need to get paid. While we don’t allow students to hold full-time jobs, we’ve incorporated about 15-20 hours into the program weekly for students to work. We are excited about the opportunities that the students will have to build relationships within their working environments. Students will be encouraged to use their jobs as real life ministry experiences. Ministry happens everywhere and working environments are as real as it gets. There will be specific guidelines and expectations for choosing a part-time job, so that students are able to earn necessary finances without a detrimental effect on their participation in the program.
Internship? What internship?
Your on-site ministry directors will help you set up the two month, summer internship that will best suit your giftedness and passion. Throughout the year at GCBI, you will be observing and serving in various ministries. These experiences will allow you to make a wide range of connections that will be helpful in setting up a future internship for you. By the end of your spring semester, your internship should be in place for you to begin upon graduating from GCBI. Students in the past have worked at summer camps, been a part of discipleship training programs in Nicaragua, and worked with children in local ministries. The options are limitless – and each student will be expected to choose an internship based on his or her personal gifts and calling.
What do I do over the holidays?
Students will have 3-5 days off from classes during the Thanksgiving holiday. Students will be traveling home for the Christmas holiday – there is a month-long break worked into the program. If students are unable to go home, they will be allowed to stay in the dorm or in a host home for the holiday season. There is also a week-long spring break worked into the program, dates vary each year.
What about dating?
This program is a rather intense one. We want your focus to be on learning the word of God, serving others and being discipled in order to disciple others. For this reason, dating is not permitted among students while they are attending GCBI. A full dating policy is available in our Student Handbook. We encourage students to form healthy platonic relationships with one another and within the community. The discipleship nature of the program creates a healthy level of accountability among students and with the ministry directors.
How does graduation work?
After the students have successfully completed their fall and spring semesters, they will be given a certificate for completing GCBI. The local church with which we partner will hold a commencement ceremony in place of a Sunday night service. Family members are encouraged to attend, along with the church body.
Do I earn college credit at GCBI?
The educational standards of the program are such that many Christian Colleges and Universities are willing to accept much of our coursework as applicable credits for their programs. Though the program is not accredited, we will work with you in order to get any necessary paperwork to any future programs or schools you may be applying to.
