The Living Hope Ministries Bible School

Living Hope Bible School

Foundation for Ministry Course

Why a Living Hope Bible School?

The goal of these studies is to provide a biblical foundation for Christian ministry and living.

Living Hope has experience of working with and serving pastors and church leaders in some cities, but primarily rural areas, since October 1994. Many of these pastors are genuine servants of God, but with little education or academic background. However, a live visit from a Living Hope worker, regular teaching by telephone, notes and video messages - plus Zoom calls where possible, mean that we can monitor progress in the lives of our students.

The teaching is sensitive to cultural issues so that our students can see their backgrounds are respected. but also thoroughly biblically based. We value highly our friends in the different countries we serve and will involve them in assessing the progress of students.

Through our study programme and regular supervision. we are able to challenge religious extremism and to encourage our pastors to observe good ministerial practice.

Several friends from strong academic backgrounds are backing these studies, and a combination of their support and the hands-on contact over 25 years gives a certificate awarded a good degree of credibility, to validate the authenticity of those who achieve it.

Course & Guidelines

In addition to prescribed notes for each module, we have a monthly Bible study and prayer programme. Students are encouraged to give time to these programmes.

Each month there will be a Zoom meeting to assess how your studies are going. You will also be assigned a personal tutor to meet with once a month in your locality.

There is no charge for this course of studies, but materials are available for students at their own expense through email or by downloading from the Living Hope website. A diploma certificate will be offered to those deemed to have studied and confirmed the essentials of the Christian faith as taught.

LHM Bible School Board

Principals: Apostle Richard and Elaine Brunton
Roy Pitcher PhD.
Matthew Wright PhD
Steve Brunton MA
Rev Barnaby Monterio

Module 1: An Overview of the Bible

This involves a brief look at each of the 66 books in the Bible. We will also study Isaiah.

The resources for this module are the overview of the Bible notes and the Living Hope YouTube channel, where there is a short summary of each Bible book.

Module 2: Key Doctrines

The character of God, worship, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, eschatology (including death and last things) and Hermeneutics. We shall also study the letters to the Corinthians, Ephesians, Peter's two letters, Jude and 1 John.

The main resource is the booklet headed 7 Things, and then there are notes for each of the Bible books mentioned above.

Module 3: The Pastors' Handbook

The handbook provides basic teaching on how to handle important subjects that pastors face. These include church membership, Communion, Baptism, home visiting, prayer for the sick and prayer for deliverance. There is also guidance regarding the dedication of children, marriage and funerals and how to prepare someone to be ordained for ministry. We will also study the Ten Commandments.

The handbook is available and notes on the Ten Commandments are online.

Module 4: Leadership

We will look at ministries in the Church, and qualities required in a Christian leader - including studies of leaders handling depression. We shall also look at 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus.

Resources for you to study are online.

Module 5: Evangelism & Church History

We shall also study Matthew's Gospel and Acts.

The notes for these topics will be found online.

We believe in:

the one true God who lives eternally in three persons—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
the love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world
the divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct
the dignity of all people, made male and female in God's image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement
the incarnation of God's eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ - born of the virgin Mary, truly divine and truly human, yet without sin
the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God
the bodily resurrection of Christ, the first fruit of our resurrection; His ascension to the Father, and His reign and mediation as the only Saviour of the world
the justification of sinners solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ
the ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who leads us to repentance, unites us with Christ through new birth, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness
the Church, the body of Christ both local and universal, the priesthood of all believers - given life by the Spirit and endowed with the Spirit's gifts to worship God and proclaim the gospel, promoting justice and love
the personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to fulfil the purposes of God, who will raise all people to judgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and new earth.

Basis of Faith

Please also read our Core Beliefs, Core Values, and Satement of Faith.