Vision and Mission
Our vision and Mission at Maranatha is to train men and women who are called for full-time Gospel ministry. That certainly is a noble but difficult task. Men and women who come to Maranatha should be saved and be called of God.
They must be willing to take up their cross and follow him. And they must be willing to pay the cost of being a disciple. They need to bear the reproaches of Christ and need to be willing to work hard for the Lord. If those who come to us have heard that call of God and are willing to count the cost of discipleship, we at MBBCS have a commitment and a vision to train them with all the resources that we have.
We have a team of partners and co-laborers who share the vision and burden to accomplish this task. The vision is not ours alone, it is a collective vision and burden. It is the God-given vision of all those who partner with us for God’s glory in India. Our vision is in the context of India and its neighboring countries, the most unreached 10-40 window of the world. Much of India’s vast ocean of people have never heard the name of Jesus.
We have a vision, the vision of a vast harvest field, and the need for many more laborers to bring in the harvest. 2 Timothy 2:2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Rev P.J Mathai (founder and president of MBBCS), first felt the call of God after he got saved during an evangelistic meeting in 1967. He went to Bible college in India and Seminary in the US. After Rev P.J Mathai, came back to India from Tacoma Washington, after studying at Northwest Baptist Seminary, he felt led by the Lord and encouraged by his wife kung to start a Bible college that would impart quality training to students to become effective leaders and win souls for Christ.
With a vision to train future pastors and leaders to reach such a vast multitude of humanity destined for eternal condemnation, the idea itself was overwhelming. However, with much prayer and the leading of the Lord, Maranatha Baptist Bible College was founded in the summer of 1998 with 15 students. This was a huge step of faith for him and his family.
“We had no assurance of full support or the manpower to start a college, but the Lord has graciously provided for every single need of the Bible College.” (Rev P.J Mathai)
There were many obstacles and resistances along the way, from getting the school registered under the Indian government to the resistance of the non-believer landlord and neighbors against the establishment of the Bible College.
However, in due time the Lord removed each and every obstacle to establish His school, it is indeed a miracle that the school is in existence today. In the first few years, the students and faculty were housed in rented buildings, but the student body soon outgrew the facilities. Through much prayer and sacrificial giving of a few churches and individuals who support us, we were able to purchase property and build new facilities for the Bible College. The Lord provided us a beautiful campus of our own, so wonderful, and we are so grateful for it. Today, we have over 190 students from different states of India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal studying to become pastors, evangelists, and Christian leaders. Over 200 students have graduated and many of them are faithfully serving in their communities, in various parts of South Asia.
Under the leadership of P.J. Mathai, the ultimate goal at Maranatha Baptist Bible College is to train many laborers to bring in the harvest.