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Biblical Institute for Islamic Studies (BIIS) was founded by Dr. Anees Zaka and approved by the board of elders of Church Without Walls (CWW) in September 1994.
BIIS was founded as an educational institution of CWW and its worldwide missions work. BIIS is governed by an independent board made up of Bible believing elders in the Church of Christ.
The purpose of BIIS is to educate and train Bible believing Christians in-depth in Islamic, Christian, and missiological studies (ICMS).
The educational character of BIIS is based on four great theological convictions. First, the Christian Faith, on the basis of the Holy Scriptures, is true as the final revelation of God. Second, the Christian Faith requires scholarly exposition and defense by knowledgeable people. Third, the Christian Faith is founded upon Biblical and historical systems of doctrine, as set forth in the Word of God and the Reformed Historical Creeds.
Fourth, Islam should be studied and evaluated in the light of the Holy Scriptures and history, and Muslims must hear the good news of the Gospel. Therefore, on the basis of these theological convictions, the courses offered at BIIS are taught from a pre-suppositional point of view.
BIIS’ philosophy of education is that all the courses offered are to be applied to doing ministry among Muslims in different settings. So, teaching at BIIS is not just a “theory.”
Rather, it is an applied theory that will lead students to develop a “real ministry” in some shape, or form among Muslims.
BIIS has been blessed not only with a strong and godly visiting faculty who have encouraged their students to reach out to Muslims, but also the students themselves were, and continue to be, mature Christians who ordinarily have full time jobs, and have full time ministries in the Church of Christ.
BIIS is accredited by American University of Biblical Studies (AUBS), by the action of its board on July 20, 2002, and became its extension in the Philadelphia area. “The American University of Biblical Studies is chartered in the state of Georgia and operates under exempt status. [AUBS] is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and listed in the U.S. Department of Education Directory of Post secondary Institutions as well as the MacMillian ‘Blue Book’ of Colleges.” (AUBS Catalog 2001-03, pg. 16). Also, AUBS, as well as Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (GPTS), are “charter members[s] of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (A.R.T.S.), a private associated of Reformed Seminaries.” (GPTS Academic Catalog, 2001-03, pg. 22).
BIIS agree with GPTS and AUBS in that, in order to have complete academic freedom; we should operate under the Lord of the Church without any outside influences. Therefore, BIIS is not accredited by any secular agency. However, we are “committed to operate on academic standards equal to higher than those set by accrediting agencies” (GPTS Academic Catalog, 2001-03, pg. 21).
Before students can earn B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from BIIS, we encourage them to have similar degrees from an accredited school in the USA, or another part of the world if it possible, because BIIS is a specialized school for studying the Christian and Islamic thought-forms and world-view. Hence, this kind of study demands that students be knowledgeable in other academic disciplines to be able to benefits from their studies at BIIS. Students must also master all the courses mentioned in BIIS’ handbook.
BIIS should never be an end unto itself. BIIS is effective only when it steps out into the street and engages the culture with the Gospel. The vision of BIIS is to produce faithful missionaries, evangelists, scholars, and preachers who will comfort, confront, and challenge Muslims with the truth-claims of the Gospel of the living Christ.
BIIS stands ready to serve the Church of Christ around the globe by teaching and training future leaders to make Jesus known to Muslims everywhere. BIIS is willing to come to your church upon your invitation.
“. . .Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5).
In alphabetical order
Dr. Paul Bellino
Dr. Eddie Bhawanie, Director of ACA
Dr. Carl F. Ellis, Jr.
Professor, Sandy Fleming, Academic Dean of BIIS
Dr. Louis Klauder
Dr. Thomas MacInter, President of AUBS
Dr. Bruce McDowell
Dr. Wilber Richardson, President of the Board
Professor, Dan Smiley
Dr. Ben Wilkerson, Chancellor of AUBS
Dr. Anees Zaka, President of BIIS
(and many others available upon request)
[pages 2-4, (BIIS) Handbook]
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