Thank you so much to the Shefa province WM ladies who came visiting at JBI today with garden produce, store goods and a generous cash offering for the school cafeteria. The students were so blessed by your generosity! May the Lord richly bless you!

The new school year at Joy Bible Institute started on February 9. We were very happy to welcome a new first year class and returning students to the JBI campus. The school theme this year is “Changed Into His Image”. Spiritual Emphasis was held during the second week with special speaker, Rev. Steve Slater, missionary to Fiji and president of the South Pacific Bible College (SPBC).

We would like to thank all the churches around Port Vila and the individuals who generously supported the student’s fundraising efforts for the 2008 mission trip to Torba Province. A group of 11 students left yesterday for the northern islands. They will spend several weeks visiting Gaua, Mota Lava, Mota and Vanua Lava. Please pray for their safety and God’s anointing as they travel and minister.

Following the JBI graduation activities, Rev. Aeron Morgan gave a three-day seminar for Pentecostal Pastor’s at JBI. Everyone was blessed by his sound Biblical teaching and Godly wisdom from many years of pastoral work in Great Britain and most recently in Australia. We look forward to his next visit to Vanuatu!

Three students walked the graduation line on November 2, 2008 at Evangel Temple, Tebakor, Port Vila. Andrick Fai of Paama and Job Dalili of Ambrym completed all their requirements to receive a diploma in Bible and Theological studies and Elvis Maltok of Malekula is finishing the same program. Rev. Aeron Morgan of Australia was the special graduation speaker. Many friends and family joined the graduates for this special service.

It is that time of the year again when we prepare to say good-bye to graduating JBI third year students. The day after final exams, the first and second year students and faculty wives cook and prepare a wonderful feast of foods: stews, curries, taros, sweet potatoes, salads, lap lap and roasted pig to serve to the graduates and their guests. A short program of songs, gift-giving and skits takes place during the mealtime.

The school also thanked Mrs. Margaret Nicholson for coming back for a month and cataloguing all of the library books. Rev. Aeron Morgan, our JBI graduation speaker was also present and warmly welcomed by Principal Edgell Iolopua.

Many thanks to Sister Margaret Nicholson who returned to Vanuatu for a month of very hard work and completed the Dewey Decimal System cataloging of our library. Thank you also to student helpers, Ronneth, Flora and Jill for assisting her. We now have 2970 books in the JBI library.

First row faculty: J. Gary Ellison, Lori Ellison, Robert Laumai, Principal Edgell Iolopua, Philip Naias, Kay Rudd, Joshua Beraki.

We are always grateful to all the churches and individuals who send garden produce, rice and money donations to the school cafeteria. The JBI cafeteria functions totally by donations. Thank you to the churches of North Efate who gave island kakae at the beginning of this school term. May God bless you for your generosity!

We were very happy to offer a two-week intensive course on Early Biblical History with Rev. Maurice Nicholson of Australia. The course was held from August 11-22 on the JBI campus. Thirty students, including five SIL Bible translators attended. Bro. Nicholson took the students through the first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis, explaining creation versus evolution, the fall of mankind, the origin of pagan religions, the flood, and the origin of different peoples and languages, among other important topics. The students thoroughly enjoyed the Bible teaching with some saying that, “every pastor in Vanuatu needs this course!”

We look forward to having Bro. Nicholson back next year to give another course. Non-JBI students are welcome to register for courses.

We are very grateful to Sister Margaret Nicholson for coming with her husband from Australia and working in the JBI library for the past two weeks. We are in the process of re-organizing our library and re-cataloguing each book according to the Dewey Decimal System. Sister Margaret spent long hours each day in the library sorting through hundreds of books and putting new numbers on them. What a blessing her efforts have been! Thank you Sister Margaret, for all your hard work!

The JBI students held a fundraiser on Saturday. Youth from around town came to the JBI campus for a day of soccer, volleyball and table tennis competitions. Lunch and baked goods were also for sale. The day was a great success and everyone had a lot of fun. The proceeds of this fundraiser will help finance a group of JBI students going on an evangelism trip to Torba province in November. The JBI students want to thank all the youth from various Vila churches and the Teacher’s College who came and made the day such a success. Thank you for supporting our trip to Torba!

It has been a busy week at Joy Bible Institute. The students have finished their mid-term exams and the teachers are busy grading them and organizing the last remaining weeks of the school term. Several students are needing financial assistance to enable them to pay off their school bills and this is a prayer concern for them. This afternoon though the students were out of class and back working on the foundation of the new campus guest house. This means a lot of hard physical labor and some fun along the way. Thank you for your prayers and continued support of JBI.

The second school term at JBI started with an intensive course on Bible Translation taught by SIL Vanuatu director, Ross and Lyndal Webb. We were very happy that the JBI students were able to take this very interesting and practical course. Vanuatu is a country of many languages and there is much to be done in recording and printing God’s Word in each one.

Tank yu tumas long olgeta jos mo ol membas we oli stap givhan long mifala blong bildemap nufala guest haos long JBI kampas. Wok emi gohed gud. Long evri saradei ol students mo sam pasta oli stap wokem nufala haos ia.

It’s official! The JBI Library was officially dedicated this afternoon. The school’s faculty, students and a few guests gathered to recognize the workers and pray God’s blessings on the churches and individuals who financially supported this project. The school choir sang “How Great Thou Art” right before the triple ribbon was cut by (right to left) JBI Principal Edgell Iolopua, Academic Dean J. Gary Ellison and Grounds Manager, Robert Laumai.

Everyone took a grand tour of the room, tried out the new chairs and study desks and browsed the bookshelves. The far side of the room has more desks and 3 study tables. We are now anxious for a librarian to come and re-catalogue the 2000 books!

We just finished our Spiritual Emphasis week at JBI but it will not be soon forgotten. Rev. Jerry Jacob, from Fiji, was the Tuesday morning chapel speaker. He shared so many practical truths about the types of hands needed to serve the Lord and His church. 

Then Tuesday through Friday night, Rev. Bryan Webb from Santo, spoke. He took us through Ephesians 6:10-20 each night bringing out a different aspect of the spiritual equipment needed for service; the sword of God’s Word, the shield of Faith, the breastplate of Righteousness, and the Power of the Holy Spirit. It was a wonderful week!

A new school year has started at Joy Bible Institute and we are very happy to welcome back old students and a new first year class. The new students (pictured) represent several islands including Gaua, Paama, Tanna, Ifira, and Efate.

Today Julie Atnelo and Ron Ayasali  flew to Fiji to pursue their B.A. degrees in Bible at the South Pacific Bible College of the Assemblies of God. After successfully completing the three year program at Joy Bible Institute and graduating in 2006, Julie and Ron have decided to further their studies. Miss Julie Atnelo is the daughter of Rev. Youen Atnelo, pastor of Evangel Temple Assembly of God church in Port Vila. Ron Ayasalis is a member of Sarabetu Church of Christ in Port Vila. We wish them God’s blessing as they study His Word at SPBC in Fiji!

Pictured left to right, Rev. Youen Atnelo, Ron Ayasali, Julie Atnelo, Roz Iolopua, Lori Ellison.

JBI graduation service is held at Evangel Temple Assembly of God Church, Tebakor, Port Vila.

  Please pray for the 2007 JBI graduates!