The Bible Seminary
Life, Leadership, Legacy
The Bible Seminary
EIN: 27-2190032
Mission
The Bible Seminary exists to glorify God by training Christian believers in a context of biblical community in all 66 books of the Bible so that they can serve the local church and fulfill the Great Commission by the power of God's Spirit.
Ruling year
2010
President
Dr. K. Lynn Lewis
Provost
Dr. Scott Stripling
Main address
23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd STE H120-930
Katy, TX 77494-3109 USA
EIN
27-2190032
Higher education
Adult education
Christianity
Population served
Adults
NTEE code
Higher Education Institutions (B40)
Christian (X20)
Adult, Continuing Education (B60)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Affiliations
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Bible Seminary aims to improve biblical literacy and understanding of all 66 books of the Bible for both laity and ministry leaders, and provide Bible-based, Christ-centered, experiential leadership training for ministry professionals.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Bible Certificate
The Bible Certificate (BC) program is the perfect place to start ministry training. During the Certificate journey, students gain a perspective of the Bible as a whole, its place in culture and history, and its relevance for life today. The Bible Certificate Program offers maximum flexibility for students and partnering host organizations, also known as Remote Instructional Locations (RIL). Students gain a strong foundation for leading and teaching persons of all ages, as well as being prepared for more effective Christian leadership at home, family, church, community, and even career. Lastly, students engage in a vibrant community with highly skilled instructors and passionate co-learners and gain confidence for serving in ministry and ministry leadership.
Vocational Ministry Certificate
The Vocational Ministry (VM) certificate program offers vital, graduate-level education beneficial for anyone serving or who wants to serve in Bible-based, Christ-centered ministry leadership. The curriculum includes foundational studies in key subject areas in conjunction with mentored instruction through common educational experiences shared among all TBS degree programs. Fundamental skills and topics studied include hermeneutics, church history and theology, ministry leadership, public speaking/teaching, and spiritual formation, as well as a survey of all 66 books of the Bible and in-depth studies of numerous biblical books. Students earn 3-hour, graded credit by attending and participating in course sessions, turning in all regular assignments, and taking the final exam. By participating at this level, students can retain the option to apply their credit hours toward a graduate degree program should they desire to do so.
Dual Degree Completion
The Dual Degree Completion (DDC) program allows students with an Associate’s degree, coursework toward an unfinished undergraduate degree, and life experiences that may count toward college credit to enroll in The Bible Seminary on a degree track resulting in both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Students who successfully complete this program will have earned a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies (BACS), and either a companion Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Divinity (M Div) degree. The Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies is customized for each student to incorporate previous college coursework (such as a 60-credit hour Associate degree), prior learning assessments, additional college studies, and TBS core graduate courses that can serve as dual bachelor/master credits.
Master of Divinity
The Bible Seminary's Master of Divinity (MDiv) program includes 28 courses (84-credit hours) designed to teach all 66 books of the Bible over a 3-year course of study. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will receive a Master of Divinity degree. The program is available for FULL-TIME students (registered for 9 or more credit hours per semester), PART-TIME students, and auditors.
Master of Arts in Biblical History and Archaeology
A 60-credit hour program that offers students opportunities to study under recognized leaders in archaeology and related fields. Students will strategically and comprehensively study all 66 books of the Bible; learn basic historical, theological, and practical knowledge critical for serving in professional ministry leadership; and experientially explore basic archaeological history, theories, and methodologies.
Master of Arts in Biblical Languages and Culture
A 54-credit hour program that offers students opportunities to strategically and comprehensively study all 66 books of the Bible; learn basic historical, theological, and practical knowledge critical for serving in professional ministry leadership; and experientially explore and practice ministry skills related to in-depth knowledge of biblical languages and culture.
Master of Arts in Biblical Studies
A 60-credit hour program that offers students opportunities to strategically and comprehensively study all 66 books of the Bible; learn basic historical, theological, and practical knowledge critical for serving in professional ministry leadership; and experientially explore and practice a broad range of ministry skills. In addition to the general degree option, the following four concentrations are available: 1) Biblical Leadership (MABS BL), 2) Christian Education (MABS CE), 3) Media Production (MABS MP), and 4) Missions (MABS M).
Master of Arts in Church History and Theology
A 48-credit hour program that offers students opportunities to strategically and comprehensively study all 66 books of the Bible; learn basic historical, theological, and practical knowledge critical for serving in professional ministry leadership; and experientially explore and practice ministry skills related to in-depth knowledge of church history and theology.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of people who graduate from college with no student loan debt
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The Bible eminary aims to graduate all students free of any seminary debt. These numbers correspond to the total number of graduates of all programs each year who graduated debt-free (currently 100%).
Number of students enrolled
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of students enrolled in all programs during the academic year referenced (2021-22 equals year 2021 in the table)
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Train at least 5000 persons who each reach at least 200 persons during their ministry to together positively impact 1 million souls who love and serve Jesus Christ as Lord.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Offer comprehensive, strategic educational opportunities to study all 66 books of the Bible ranging from single events to entire degree programs in association with ministry partners who want to offer next-level education in their locations to their communities.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Bible Seminary has legal approval, organizational administration, and educational programming available at the main campus in Katy, Texas and at an increasing number of regional ministry locations (primarily churches and schools).
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The Bible Seminary officially formed in 2010, graduated the first Bible Certificate students in 2011 and the first graduate degree students in 2015, redesigned the certificate and graduate degree programs in 2017 and 2018, has hired administrators and staff and developed key relationships with numerous regional ministry leaders and educational professionals, and now has a full sweep of educational opportunities and people available to carry out the mission. The seminary has successfully completed several steps toward accreditation and is highly engaged in that process, as well as continuing to increase funding and student enrollment.
The Bible Seminary is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) [15935 Forest Road, Forest, VA 24551; Telephone: (434) 525-9539; e-mail: [email protected]] having been awarded Accredited Status as a Category III institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission on October 26, 2020. This status is effective for a period of five years. TRACS is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDOE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings/Town halls,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded,
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2021 info
19.61
Months of cash in 2021 info
7.1
Fringe rate in 2021 info
29%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
The Bible Seminary
Revenue & expensesFiscal Year: Jun 01 - May 31
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
The Bible Seminary
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jun 01 - May 31
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jun 01 - May 31
SOURCE: IRS Form 990
This snapshot of The Bible Seminary’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $68,234 | $72,805 | $27,119 | $8,226 | $14,676 |
| As % of expenses | 12.6% | 10.8% | 3.5% | 0.9% | 1.8% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | $58,331 | $65,710 | $21,007 | $3,697 | $10,722 |
| As % of expenses | 10.6% | 9.6% | 2.7% | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $611,129 | $741,406 | $798,062 | $876,030 | $906,816 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | -5.9% | 21.3% | 7.6% | 9.8% | 3.5% |
| Program services revenue | 11.8% | 16.8% | 13.7% | 17.7% | 13.1% |
| Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Investment income | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | -0.1% |
| Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 12.6% |
| All other grants and contributions | 88.2% | 83.1% | 86.3% | 82.2% | 74.4% |
| Other revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $541,647 | $675,201 | $774,963 | $867,804 | $836,285 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | -11.9% | 24.7% | 14.8% | 12.0% | -3.6% |
| Personnel | 69.4% | 71.0% | 70.4% | 72.5% | 72.4% |
| Professional fees | 7.6% | 6.9% | 6.0% | 6.5% | 7.0% |
| Occupancy | 10.7% | 9.1% | 8.1% | 7.7% | 9.0% |
| Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Pass-through | 1.1% | 1.3% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| All other expenses | 11.3% | 11.7% | 15.0% | 13.3% | 11.5% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $551,550 | $682,296 | $781,075 | $872,333 | $840,239 |
| One month of savings | $45,137 | $56,267 | $64,580 | $72,317 | $69,690 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed asset additions | $0 | $0 | $13,984 | $5,246 | $0 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $596,687 | $738,563 | $859,639 | $949,896 | $909,929 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 8.4 | 8.1 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 7.1 |
| Months of cash and investments | 8.4 | 8.1 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 7.1 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 8.4 | 8.0 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 6.9 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $378,422 | $455,306 | $437,359 | $502,158 | $496,613 |
| Investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Receivables | $1,283 | $5,945 | $805 | $15,315 | $33,215 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $62,570 | $62,570 | $68,560 | $73,805 | $75,282 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 79.1% | 90.5% | 79.8% | 80.3% | 84.0% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 0.6% | 4.4% | 0.3% | 12.5% | 4.7% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $390,969 | $456,679 | $477,686 | $481,383 | $492,105 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $10,621 | $4,021 | $0 | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $10,621 | $4,021 | $0 | $0 | $55,855 |
| Total net assets | $401,590 | $460,700 | $477,686 | $481,383 | $547,960 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
President
Dr. K. Lynn Lewis
A creative, seasoned entrepreneur with a diverse professional background in business, education, and ministry. President of The Bible Seminary, Founder and Executive Director of Nehemiah Press, Founder and Executive Producer of Shiloh Network News, Founder and President of the media communications company InspireUSA, Inc. (registered trademark Celebrating the Best of America®), and former pastor and non-profit executive, including leadership in a K-12 private Christian school, a university foundation, a pregnancy care center, a counseling center, and others. An ordained minister, author, producer, and publisher of articles, books, magazines, musicals, songs, videos, and websites.
Provost
Scott Stripling
A native Texan with decades of experience serving as a pastor, principal, superintendent, professor, Development Director, teacher, coach, archaeologist, and more, Dr. Stripling serves as Provost of The Bible Seminary and is also the current Director of Excavations at Shiloh. He served as Field Supervisor of the Tall el-Hammam Excavation Project in Jordan (2005-10), Director of the Khirbet el-Maqatir project (2010-16), and Supervisor of the Jerusalem Temple Mount Salvage Project. The Former Department Chair of Humanities at Wharton County Junior College, he has taught at several colleges and seminaries, worked as Director of Development at The IDEA Academy, helped co-found and serve as Principal of Covenant Christian Academy, and served as teacher and/or coach at several secondary schools. He is author of numerous articles and books, as well as a popular preacher and speaker in documentaries, podcasts, radio, television shows, and videos.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
The Bible Seminary
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
The Bible Seminary
Board of directorsas of 02/24/2023
Board of directors data
Mr. Adam Peters
Air Liquide Group
Term: 2020 - 2026
Julia Dean
Julia Dean Law
Term: 2020 - 2026
George Armistead
Retired from Unocal/Chevron
Robert Button
Retired from Amoco, BP, and Glori Energy
Harry Chapman
Chapman Schewe
Mickey Ellis
Confessing Movement
Stan Goss
The Mastery Group
Pat Ryan
A Future and a Hope Ministries
Ben Bash
Former Grace Fellowship Administrative Pastor
Cindy Hayley
4 Winks Photography
Doug Johnson
Retired from Phillips 66
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
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