Dear Friends and Supporters,

Thank you for your support of the JBC ministry again this year. Christmas is that time of year where we are reminded, as we are at the cross as well, of the love of God, the humility of Christ, and the subversive nature of the Gospel.

When we look for the wise, the powerful and the great we look at prize winners, presidents, leaders of industry, and outstanding artists. Christmas tells us that true wisdom, real power, authentic greatness is found lying in a manger – the Christ-child born to an ordinary family. This is the word made flesh, God incarnate, Emmanuel. It is in knowing this child as he grows that the world can find the wisdom, the power and the glory of God.
 
We have been committed again this year to equipping and inspiring men and women for Bible teaching ministries so that though – ‘Jews demand signs and Greeks looks for wisdom’  – our students ‘will preach Christ and him crucified’.
 
A tale of two years:
 
It has been a tough year – as for so many of us. Many staff and students have had COVID, many have lost loved ones, one staff member lost her husband. Two of us were held at gun point, the logistics and expense of new protocols have taken their toll, funds are harder to come by, and we have had to postpone graduation to 2022.
 
We have also had a great year.  We write this on the last day in the office. We have persevered to the end. We have grown through the trials, which were not simply painful, but also refining. We have been able to teach face to face for the whole year. We have 76 students who will be commissioned next year when we can meet again. We are in the process of expanding our facilities at Auckland Park. We now have section 18A status. We held a great missions’ week and women’s conference. We are starting a new campus in the Alex Township in 2022, with wonderful local church support. We have rejoiced in the birth of three babies to staff working at college, and anticipate three more before Easter!
 
We are a tired team, but a team filled with gratitude for the goodness of God. We have known, Emmanuel – God with us. We pray that you, along with us, may know His joy and His peace in whatever your circumstances this Christmas.
 
We still have places and bursaries available for people to study at JBC in 2022. Please let anyone know who may be interested.

Happy Christmas,
 
The JBC Staff Team