BLI: School of Ministry

09/17/2023

We were saddened to learn of the death of Charles Williamson a few days ago. The Rev. Williamson was in ministry for 75 years! He served as the president of Biblical Life Institute from 2002-2005. You can read his obituary below.

Rev. Charles Filmore Williamson, 91, of Blairsville, PA passed away on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, in Indiana Regional Medical Center, Indiana, PA. The son of Millard F. and Carmellia Strauble Williamson, he was born on April 26, 1932, in Sheffield, Warren Co., PA. He was a graduate of Sheffield....

10/04/2021

Walking Boldly into the Future – Introducing Kairos University We are excited to announce the launch of Kairos University in partnership with Sioux Falls Seminary, Taylor Seminary, Evangelical Seminary, and Houston Graduate School of Theology. As a first-of-its-kind global network with students fr...

10/04/2021

Walking Boldly into the Future - Introducing Kairos University

We are excited to announce the launch of Kairos University in partnership with Sioux Falls Seminary, Taylor Seminary, Evangelical Seminary, and Houston Graduate School of Theology. As a first-of-its-kind global network with students from 30 countries spread out across six continents, Kairos University is creating fresh expressions of affordable, accessible, relevant, and faithful theological education.

The vision for Kairos University came to life in 2014 when the Kairos Project was first introduced. In spring 2020, we had the opportunity to become a legacy partner in Kairos and collaborate with other like-minded schools to leverage Kairos to offer affordable, accessible, relevant, and faithful theological education around the world. The launch of Kairos University is the next step in that vision. We are excited to walk boldly into this future with our partners.

Kairos University views theological education as a system of interconnected and interdependent parts. Through its global network, nearly 50 different partner organizations are working together to steward followers of Jesus who flourish in their vocations for the sake of the world.

As a global network of theological education, Kairos University provides a unique opportunity for students to enroll from anywhere in the world. Students deepen their roots in their local contexts by working with mentors and crafting an educational journey that encourages face-to-face interaction in their communities. In addition to being accessible from anywhere, the educational experience provided by Kairos University is intimate and personal. All around the world, students, mentors, professors, and partners within Kairos University are seeing God move in exciting ways every day.

Over the next few months as we boldly step into the future, more exciting developments will be shared. To learn more about this venture or ask questions, please email Greg Henson ([email protected]) or Gary Bailey ([email protected]).

07/07/2020

This year's Day of Giving will actually be a Week of Giving. You can donate to BLI: School of Ministry during those days. A minimum donation of $20 is required for matching funds to be applicable.

You can donate by:

1. Write a check (dated between July 13 and July 17payable to
Biblical Life Institute and mail it to:
BLI, 927 Freeport Road, Freeport Pa 16229 or
Day of Giving, PO Box 895 Kittanning PA 16201

2. You can go to https://servingtheheart.org/day-of-giving/make-a-donation.html, fill out the form, and make sure to choose BLI: School of Ministry for your donation.

No cash donations will be accepted.

05/20/2020

JESUS: His Claim to Be God-Part III -

The acts of worship toward Jesus that we have looked at the last two months are certainly not limited to the book of Matthew. In Mark 5 we see the man with the unclean spirit. This man was wild and self-destructive, yet in the presence of Jesus, he came and worshipped. The demon rebelled against [.....

05/15/2020

05/06/2020

Devotional Thought:

"But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" – Amos 5:24

Righteous people fulfill God’s commands and work for the wholeness and justice of their community.” – Jessica Nicholas, God Loves Justice: A User-Friendly Guide to Biblical Justice and Righteousness

The image of a rolling river or a never failing-stream is powerful. It reminds me of something unstoppable. The water will eventually transform everything around it over time. Look at a canyon with a river at its bottom and you can see the transformative power of moving water over time Justice and righteousness work in much the same way. It may take a while but they will shape the world around them and create something deep and beautiful. That is what God does in me and through me. He shapes me over time into something deep and beautiful. I then partner with him to do the same in the world around me.

In what ways am I working for the wholeness and justice of my community? Am I pursuing justice and righteousness in my own life? How does my attitude about justice affect how I live in the world and love others? How will I partner with him to make something deep and beautiful today?

Prayer: God, let justice roll on like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream. Set the broken right and make what is dead new and whole again. Shape me in terms of righteousness and justice. Help me to see where I can partner with you to bring justice and wholeness to my community and to the world. Amen.

05/05/2020

Devotional Thought:

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. "Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
– John 8:12

"Then Jesus told his disciples, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
– Mathew 16:24

"And by this, we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him"
– 1 John 2:3-4

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
– John 10:27

"As we follow him, we are also formed by him."
– Dallas Willard

Am I following Jesus? I mean really following Jesus. The kind of following that has me carrying my cross daily, keeping his commandments, giving sacrificially, faithfully using my gifts, making disciples, and so on. If not, what else am I being formed by?
Jesus asks me to follow him. In the following, I will be formed by him. He explains what following him will look like all through the Gospels. How closely does my life match what Jesus told me a faithful follower would like?

It is important to take a hard look at oneself regularly to determine if they are on the right course. If I'm not on the right path, then I need to course correct. If I am not fully participating in what it means to follow Jesus then I am not being fully formed into Christlikeness.

So then, am I following Jesus and being formed by him?

05/01/2020

Devotional Thought:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones."
– Proverbs 3:5-8

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does, in fact, please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
― Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

I woke up at 3:00 am this morning. I'm not entirely sure why, but as soon as my eyes popped open, my mind began to race as I considered all the uncertainties of life that are before me. I began to get caught up in worry, which is pretty rare for me. I don't typically get overly concerned about much. I'm pretty good at taking things in stride most of the time. However, I still have my moments of worry and doubt.

As I was worrying, I began to pray. I was reminded of these verses in Proverbs, as God tends to do when I find myself in these types of situations. I was reminded that I can't control the future. I don't always know exactly where the next step will lead, but I can trust the one that will direct my path and will never leave me alone to face the unknown as I walk it.

04/30/2020

Devotional Thought:

"Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction."
–Psalm 1

"The only opportunity you will ever have to live by faith is in the circumstances you are provided this very day: this house you live in, this family you find yourself in, this job you have been given, the weather conditions that prevail at the …moment.”
― Eugene Peterson

As I reflect on Psalm 1 this morning, I am reminded that I have been planted in a specific location today. Today I have a number of things on my agenda to accomplish. There is work to do and there is time with my family at home. There is also a stay at home order because of Covid-19, which means home and work overlap.

Today, home is where I have been planted. So then, how will I walk where I have been planted. Will I walk in righteousness or wickedness? Will I be like a tree planted by a stream that bears fruit or will I be like chaff blown away by the wind?

Prayer: God, I want to walk in righteousness, not wickedness. I want to be the fruitful tree, not the chaff. Grant me the wisdom to see the difference and the desire and strength to walk in righteousness where you have planted me today. May I bear the fruit that you have called me to produce. Amen.