More about the college

Hey guys!

In this post I want to tell you about what caught my eye at Belfast Bible College and why

I chose it.

                How I found out about BBC is quite simple. I decided one day to search “Irish Bible Colleges” on google. The BBC’s website was the first one I came across (or at least the first one that made me take more than a glance at). I looked at it and a few days later I applied. On the surface it looks very spontaneous and maybe a little too quick to be making such a big decision on my part. However, I’m the type of person that likes to make plans and know all the details before I make a decision about something so before having even searched for an Irish Bible college I had been praying about finding a Bible college to go to and I had been getting advice from people.  At the same time, though, it was a very spontaneous thing for me to do.

I think I was able to act spontaneously like I did because in my mind I didn’t really consider that going to Ireland for bible school was a possibility. To some extent I did, I guess, because I actually applied, but I never thought I would get past the application process. Belfast Bible College seemed like my dream college, but like a dream, I figured I would just wake up and it would all disappear and I would go back to living in the real world.

                I say Belfast Bible College is my dream college because of where it’s located and what they have to offer. For the longest time I've always wanted to go to Ireland. I know someday that I will go there. Because it was a Bible college I knew that I had to be careful about what I chose. As much as I want to go to Ireland, if the Bible college doesn't seem right for me then I’m not going to go to it. But BBC definitely seems right for me!

                For instance, the classes that they offer are what I am looking for in a Bible college that I decide to go to. That is, foundational studies in the Christian faith. Some of the classes are Discipleship, Interpreting and Communicating the Bible, and The Biblical Story (as stated on their website:“The aim of this module is to introduce and overview the content, key themes, history and background of the Bible.”).  

Another thing I really like about their school is that I can be hands-on in my learning. Every week I’ll have the opportunity to be involved in different types of ministry (evangelism, youth ministry, etc.). I love this aspect because before finding out about Belfast Bible College I was torn between wanting to go to a Bible college or on a mission trip and I felt like if I chose one or the other I would be missing out on something. At BBC I’ll have the opportunity to learn and serve like I would on a mission trip.

In addition to the classes and weekly ministry opportunities, the community that is created at the college is great! They have small groups and prayer groups that meet regularly, there’s diversity in culture (students come from all over the world!), and because it’s a smaller school (around 200 students) there’s more interaction between the staff and students. All of these things I think will make up a great atmosphere for learning and spiritual growth for me.

                 I looked up Belfast Bible College on Google maps and it looks like is is located on the outskirts of Belfast surrounded by a golf course. Belfast is the capital and largest city in Northern Ireland, so it will be nice to be somewhat removed from the main urban area of Belfast.

(The country girl may leave the country, but she’s still a country girl at heart!)

Of course I plan on thoroughly exploring the city, but it will be nice to live in a quiet place.

                The campus consists of the Library, Computer Suite (where they have a Skype room so I can see and talk to people back home!), Worship Centre (where they have chapel once a week and where some of the classes are held), Glenborn House (staff offices and some classrooms), Kitchen and Dining Room, Riverside House (the student housing I’ll be staying in), and Wellesley House (another student housing).

Just writing about the college is making me more excited about it!

If you are interested in finding even more about the school you can check out their website.

With Christ's love,

Karey

My Ireland plans

Ireland. Belfast Bible College. September 2013. 9 months. $24,000. A once in a lifetime experience.

These are a few of the facts about what I’m doing this fall. I know that most of you don’t know all the details about my plans for this fall, and some of you may not know anything at all. So I want to begin this blog by telling you more details of my plan that hopefully will answer a lot of questions you may have!

                To start off with, my name is Karey Stivers.

 I live in the countryside of Idaho where a lot of the time the weather is not what the weatherman said it would be, it’s a 45 minute drive to the nearest city, and a starlit night sky makes you feel really, really small. I am passionate about Jesus, art in any form, and life in general. I feel like I've been living longer than my twenty years, but at the same time I feel like I still have so much life to live! I grew up in a Christian family and was homeschooled Pre-K through 12^th grade.  I’m an introvert by nature, but as I grow older I am choosing to be more of a people person, an adventurer and a risk-taker.

                Speaking of being more of an adventurer and a risk-taker…Last spring I decided that I was going to apply for a small bible college called Belfast Bible College in Belfast, Ireland. At the end of last month I was accepted to their one year foundational course in Theology that will go from September 2013 to June 2014. (I plan on posting more about the college later, but it looks like a really good school!)

                As the way of the world goes, pretty much nothing is free and costs something. It’s going to cost around $24,000 for me to go to Belfast Bible College (BBC). About half of that money is for living costs that I need to have to get a student visa and the other half will be for the cost of tuition, room and board, and a plane ticket. $24,000 is just an estimated amount and there most likely will be other expenses that I will have, but for the purpose of having a firm number to tell people, that’s what I’m giving. I’m also going to have to have all the money by the beginning of July so I have enough time to get my student visa. So that gives me 20 weeks to raise $24,000.

When people ask me how much it’ll cost for me to go to Ireland I hesitate before answering and I know what kind of response I’m going to get…Yes, it’s a lot of money. Before going through this, I thought that $10,000 was a lot of money. So multiplying that by almost 2 and half seems almost an unreal and unreachable amount. Almost.

I am 99.9% convinced that if God wants me to go to Ireland, I will go. I don’t know how, but it will happen. It doesn't matter if it’s $2400 or $24,000 or even $24,000,000 that I will need, He will get me there if that is His will. To be honest, I say 99.9% percent because at times I still wrestle with doubt. However, I do have to say that 99.9% is a lot more conviction than I had when I first applied to BBC. I was maybe 50% convinced at that point. (That’s something I’m going to post about later too – the stretching of my faith.)

Because I’m convinced that it’s up to God whether or not I go to Ireland, what I ask from you above anything else is that you pray for me! Please ask God, that if it be His will, to provide all the money that I will need before July.

At this point I don’t have a whole lot of fundraisers planned (although, I will in the near future!), but if you “like” my fundraising page on Facebook I’ll be posting ways that you can help support me and fundraisers that I’ll be putting on and telling you about when I post something on this blog!

With Christ's love,

Karey