About SCBI
Southern Cross Bible Institute is based in Toowoomba QLD and has been established to help meet the need for Christian training in Australian churches. While it should be the desire of every church to win the lost and mature those in Christ, often we lack enough adequately equipped men to preach, teach, or serve in other leadership roles. Without sufficient training the church is not able to grow in depth and strength and lacks effectiveness in reaching people for Christ.
In today’s world, small churches often lack the resources to provide for the salary of a full-time evangelist or minister for the church. Because of this, we press men into service who feel inadequate for the task. SCBI is here to help equip these Christian workers.
We recognise that traditional training methods in Bible colleges and seminaries may not be most appropriate for everyone who wants to serve the Lord’s church today for some of the following reasons:
- The cost of a residential Bible college or seminary
- Time constraints
- Family constraints
- Many are already established in a career or full-time study
SCBI will attempt to meet the need for Christian training by:
- Offering classes at convenient times and places.
- Offering classes at the "institute level" courses. Each SCBI subject will entail 15 hours of lectures and another 15 hours of outside work (reading, writing, or a project.)
- Providing online mentoring and study.
- Basing all classes on the Bible, with a mix of academic and practical studies.
SCBI Director
Jim Newman serves as the director of Southern Cross Bible Institute. Jim earned his B.A. in Bible at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky U.S.A. and his M.A. in New Testament and intercultural studies at Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee USA. He has also studied at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas USA and Hope International University in Fullerton, California, USA.
Jim has held ministries in Ohio and Kentucky U.S.A. and spent twelve years as a missionary and church planter in Grenada, West Indies.
In addition to his work with SCBI, Jim serves as evangelist with the Eastern Downs Church of Christ near Toowoomba QLD.
Jim believes the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God and is eager to help others learn to understand and apply the Scriptures.
