For more than 135 years, Bethlehem Baptist Church has been committed to training and sending its people into the ministry of God’s Word as pastors, missionaries, Christian workers and countless church, community and business leaders of all kinds.

During the 1980s and 90s we expressed that commitment through developing a lay institute and training center, an apprenticeship program for ministerial candidates and a nurture program for missionary candidates. In 1998, these programs were upgraded into The Bethlehem Institute. Since then, thousands of men, women and young adults have taken classes or seminars in our lay leadership development program.

The Bethlehem Institute has graduated ten classes from its seminary level program. While some of these men are pursuing further education elsewhere, many of our graduates are now serving as pastors, church planters, missionaries, college or seminary professors, and para-church workers on university campuses and in the inner city. Several of our graduates have gone on to Ph.D. programs at Cambridge, Durham, Oxford, St. Andrews, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Harvard, Boston University, and Wheaton.

The Bethlehem Institute has also graduated three classes of college freshman from the INSIGHT program. Most of these students are going on for further education as they prepare to impact the world for Christ.

In 2009, The Bethlehem Institute began its transition into what is now Bethlehem College and Seminary. The lay leadership development program is still known as The Bethlehem Institute, but the seminary level program, and the college-level INSIGHT program have become Bethlehem College and Seminary. In August of 2009 we matriculated our first cohort for the newly launched Master of Divinity Program. The Bethlehem College and Seminary Press was also launched in 2009, publishing God-Centered curriculum for adults to facilitate substantial biblical and theological training in the local church.

In the fall of 2010 we began the Christian Worldview and the Biblical and Theological Studies Programs, offering associate and bachelor degrees as well as a Degree Completion Program. Beginning this fall, we now offer a modular Worship Leader Graduate Certificate as well.