Bible Institute Degree Programs

Faith Missionary Bible Institute; Covington, Louisiana offers religious non-secular Bible college degrees via nonresident study. We are exempt by the Louisiana Board of Regents and currently offer degrees from bachelor to doctorate levels.

Director

Dr. S. D. Smith, D. Min., Ed. D.
495 Red Barn Rd.
Gruetli-Laager, TN 37339

Board of Advisors

Richard Addison; Ordained Minister
Rt. 3, Box 39E
Memphis, MO 63555

Carl Roberts; Ordained Deacon
P.O. Box 988
Tracy City, TN 37387

Claud E. Smith; Trustee
Dunlap, TN 37327

Jimmy and Regina Wagner
50th Ave. South
Gruetli-Laager, TN 37339

Secretary and Registrar

Dr. Carolyn Borne/Smith, Ed. D.
495 Red Barn Rd.
Gruetli-Laager, TN 37339

STAFF & FACULTY

(Current staff and faculty are listed alphabetically by last name. This list is subject to change without notice between offical updates to our catalog handbook or website.)

  • Betty Bishop
  • Kacie Jones
  • Shannon Nolan
  • Beverly Rigsby
  • Dr. Carolyn S. Borne/Smith, Ed. D.
  • Dr. S. D. Smith, D. Min., Ed. D.
  • Frances Tate: Certified Librarian
  • Regina Wagner

THE BIBLE INSTITUE'S ROLE, SCOPE & MISSION STATEMENT

Faith Missionary Bible Institute recognizes the importance of the faith that you entrust to us. We strive to honor that trust. FMA&BI is an outreach ministry of Faith Missionary Church; which is a nondenominational, fundamental, full gospel, community church; established in the 1970's. Our role and goal is to provide legitimate and reasonably attainable degrees of quality and acceptance within the Christian community. FMA&BI degrees major in Bible, ministry and Christian education within a scope that is religious, church related and totally non-secular.

DEGREE PROGRAMS OFFERED

  • BBS- bachelor Bible studies
  • MBS- master Bible studies
  • DBS- doctor Bible studies
  • B Min- bachelor ministry
  • M Min- master ministry
  • D Min- doctor ministry
  • BRE- bachelor religious education
  • MRE- master religious education
  • DRE- doctor religious education

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

  1. Bachelor- (120 credits) equivalent to four years of full time study. Due to possible credit transfer, advanced standing and the nature of our assignments; it will normally not take four years to complete this degree with Faith Missionary Bible Institute.
  2. Master- (30 credits above the bachelor)
  3. Doctor- (60 credits above the master)

CURRICULUM DESCRIPTION

Our majors are: Bible, Ministry and Religious (Christian) Education. The base or core curriculum for all of our degree programs is Bible Survey: Old and New Testament from the King James Version of the Holy Bible. For ministry and education majors our curriculum involves a study of lesson subject outlines.

COURSES OFFERED

Old Testament Survey:

Our Old Testament survey courses are encompassing the entire 39 books as presented within the year 1611; King James Version of the Holy Bible. Text location and word search is an integral component of each per credit course of study as well as essay summary and personal application where indicated. Critical thinking projects conclude the study of these fundamental texts that serve as the basis of our understanding of the world's origin, the creation and fall of man, God's dealings with humanity and the world and the introduction of the Prophets and prophesy. (Due to the large volume of texts covered, the nature of our programs and that our courses follow somewhat a British style of study; it should serve to say that more than the 210 credits needed for bachelor to doctorate degrees could be pulled alone from a survey of the Old Testament; albeit, New Testament studies as well are required for any degree completion.)

New Testament Survey:

Our New Testament survey courses are encompassing the entire 27 books as presented within the year 1611; King James Version of the Holy Bible. Text location and word search is an integral component of each per credit course of study as well as essay summary and personal application where indicated. Critical thinking projects conclude the study of these fundamental texts that serve as the basis of our understanding of Christ and the early church, the Acts of the Apostles and their letters to the churches. The study concludes with Revelation; our final book of prophesy. (Due to the large volume of texts covered, the nature of our programs and that our courses follow somewhat a British style of study; it should serve to say that more than the 210 credits needed for bachelor to doctorate degrees could be pulled alone from a survey of the New Testament; albeit, Old Testament studies as well are required for any degree completion.)

Ministry Courses: Christian Education Courses:

Our ministry and Christian education courses present pulpit sermon outlines or Bible lesson outlines. The study involves a breakdown and analysis of these lesson plans presented and a summary by the student with personal application where indicated. The courses are completed when the student demonstrates the ability to duplicate the skill required by preparing similar outlines of the student's own design.

MODULES

Credits may be awarded, transferred or earned based upon modules. Modules will indicate the course of study as in the example below.

  • Module I (freshman) = 30 credit hrs. Old / New Testament Survey
  • Module II (sophomore) = 30 credit hrs. Old / New Testament Survey
  • Module III (junior) = 30 credit hrs. Old / New Testament Survey
  • Module IV (bachelor) = 30 credit hrs. Old / New Testament Survey
  • Module V (master) = 30 credit hrs. Old / New Testament Survey
  • Module VI (graduate) = 30 credit hrs. Old / New Testament Survey
  • Module VII (doctor) = 30 credit hrs. Old / New Testament Survey

NATURE OF STUDIES

Faith Missionary Bible Institute is a completely nonresident correspondence Bible study program. No college classes are offered on any U.S. or foreign campuses. However; we will issue a certificate or Recognition of a Satellite Library or Study Site for those who request it. Also; a similar certificate can be issued to Approved Proctors for students who want to legitimately refer to a structured attendance as they describe how they earned their degree. No such certificate will be misrepresented to imply that FMA&BI is physically operating or conducting business in any particular domicile or facility and FMA&BI will not be responsible for any fees charged by third parties. The certificate will only document that the student selected a recognized site for study. An example would be a local public library with a librarian who would document your visits or the library of a church where the minister serves as your proctor.

FREE BIBLE LESSONS

We will gladly give a free Bible lesson to anyone who requests it. We do not charge for the Gospel. We cannot afford postage to put individuals on a monthly mailing list to receive ongoing free Bible lessons but for a donation covering printing and mailing we would give more than the one free lesson described. However; the formation of a degree program and the confirmation of degrees is a service that deserves tuition. People usually do not appreciate something if it costs them nothing.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

Faith Missionary Bible Institute is open to all individuals of good moral character. We are happy to instruct and train non-secular, religious church related classes and courses to all interested individuals regardless of: Race, Color, Church Denominational Background, Gender, Ethnic Origin, Nationality, Cultural Profile, Class or Economic Status. Every student is admitted to the same educational programs, rights, privileges and honors in conformity to the Civil Rights Acts of 1964. We would accept foreign students at the same tuition or program fees as American students except where higher postage rates would increase fees only relative to postage fees. Foreign tuition should be paid by international money orders payable in U.S. dollars.

DOCTRINE STATEMENT

While FMA&BI is totally committed to nondiscrimination; we are without apology equally and totally Christian in our world view. We believe in toleration; not toleration which implies that, all roads do not lead to God. Jesus Christ said, in John 14:6 " I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV) " We exercise toleration in the context that we do not want our views forced upon the masses. This ideology of accepting the rights of non-Christians to be non-Christian protects our right to be Christian. The commission to the church was and is to evangelize not to proselytize. That having been said; our primary doctrine, belief and reason for teaching is our faith in the authority and authenticity of the Holy Bible. If the Holy Bible is the authentic Word of God, then it has authority and its instructions are to be followed. Our reliance upon the King James Version of the Holy Bible is based upon two reasons. First; is the fact that it is a translation and not a paraphrase. Secondly; while it has archaic words, it was translated during a time when the English language was at its epitome. Today's language has digressed and is littered with jargon and vulgar slang. The beauty and purity to be found within the pages of the King James Version of the Holy Bible is well worth dealing with all of the Thee's and Thou's; though archaic they may be.

GRADING SYSTEM

  • A= 90% - 100%
  • B= 80% - 89%
  • C= 70% - 79%
  • D= 60% - 69%
  • F= 59% or less

PREREQUISITES

  1. High School Diploma or a GED
  2. minimal age to begin a program is 18
  3. bachelor prior to master
  4. master prior to doctorate

OPEN ENROLLMENT & COMPLETION OF DEGREE PROGRAMS

A perspective student may call, write or email and request an enrollment application and a resume/portfolio instruction sheet at any time. There is an open enrollment and a student may begin studies at any time during the academic school year. As well; the courses are self paced and may be completed according to the student's schedule.

ADVANCED STANDING

A resume or portfolio will be evaluated and a substantial amount of credit may be awarded for previous study; either personal or formal, as well as ministerial or educational activities; however, no honorary degrees will be awarded and no student will be awarded any degree without completion of academic studies with Faith Missionary Bible Institute. When a resume, portfolio or transfer credits on an official transcript from another reputable educational institution warrants advanced standing; a degree completion packet will be produced and forwarded to the student that will enable the student to complete all necessary assignments and earn an official degree from Faith Missionary Bible Institute. Applicants with an advanced amount of credits may apply for a multiple degree completion program.

TUITION AND FEES

All degree programs are total package fee programs with no per credit hour costs, no application fees, no credit for portfolio assessment or transfer credit fees, and no document fees. There is; however, no cost reduction or discount of fees for advanced standing. Postage and shipping fees are included for U.S. postage. Foreign shipping will be charged the precise cost to the school for postage and shipping. There is no fee for the original documents awarded such as the degree and first transcript. There will be a reasonable fee for printing and shipping of additional transcripts or replacement diplomas. The fee scale is as follows:

DEGREE PROGRAMS FEES COMPLETE

  • BBS- bachelor Bible studies= $770
  • B Min- bachelor ministry= $770
  • BRE- bachelor religious education= $770
  • MBS- master Bible studies=$880
  • M Min- master ministry=$880
  • MRE- master religious education=$880
  • DBS- doctor Bible studies=$990
  • D Min- doctor ministry=$990
  • DRE- doctor religious education=$990

There will be a deduction or discount in cost per degree with enrollment in a combination multiple degree completion package as follows:

  • bachelor/master= $1400
  • master/doctor= $1500
  • bachelor/master/doctor= $2000

These discounts apply only when enrolling in combination multiple degree completion programs. These discounts do not apply when former graduates re-enroll for second or third degrees. FMA&BI by nature of our non-secular church related degree programs does not qualify to participate in any Government Student Aid/Financing of tuition. FMA&BI does assure assistance to all students in that there are no promissory notes to sign, no interest charged, and no demanding payment schedules. You may pay in installments if the production of multiple course modules is indicated. Should you receive a complete degree completion packet just after enrollment; you may pay any balance just prior to the award of your degree.

Apply by completing and mailing us the appropriate form: Application Forms.

STATEMENT OF LIMITED LIABILITY

The staff, faculty and membership of Faith Missionary Church Academy and Bible Institute shall be responsible for no other actions than those of our own as individuals and officers when acting in the direct operation of the said afore named institutions. We make no other claims than those listed within the pages of this catalog and student handbook or our official web site. FMA&BI shall not be responsible for the claims, actions either of commission or omission of prospective students, graduate students or degree recipients who act independently and irresponsibly without the direction or approval of Faith Missionary Church, Academy or Bible Institute.

REFUND POLICY

The degree packets and fees are complete. There is no additional book or curriculum fee. A student may pay as little as $75 tuition per degree sought upon acceptance; to receive initial lesson assignments. Our fees are so low that it is not unreasonable to suggest that the student will be able to submit a second tuition in full by the time his or her assignments are completed and the degree is to be awarded. If an individual enrolls in any program within Faith Missionary Bible Institute and changes his or her mind about enrollment; before receiving materials, all funds collected will gladly be refunded in full. If an individual enrolls in any program within Faith Missionary Bible Institute and changes his or her mind about enrollment; having received materials, all funds collected will gladly be refunded minus a $75 per degree supply, postage and handling fee. If services are rendered in their entirety and a degree has been awarded; the school should not be expected to refund fees after a degree has been conferred. If a student withdraws; if no services were rendered, funds paid in advance for future services will gladly be refunded in their entirety if requested for refund within a six month time period. If partial services were rendered; the equivalent partial payment will be refunded. Fees paid and not requested for refund within a six month time period after enrollment will be considered forfeited.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

All those who graduate from Faith Missionary Bible Institute who would like to become a member of our Alumni Association, may request an application from our General Executive Offices. There are currently no fees involved in Alumni Association membership.