SHBI Radio Interview

This script written for a recent radio interview in Houston gives a good view into the spirit and mission of SHBI.

Questions

How did you come to be called "B."?
Tell us a little more about yourself.
Do you have a family of your own?
Are you an ordained minister?
What kind of work did you do in the mission field?
How long did you remain in Malawi?
I suppose Malawi became like home to you.
How long has the school (SHBI) been in existence and how did it begin?
How did the school evolve into a non-denominational, community ministry?
How many registrations are we talking about per school year?
How do you recruit these students?
You must attract quite a variety of students.
How can people from that many denominations and races study together in that kind of harmony?
Would you describe your doctrinal position as evangelical?
Yours is a small organization. I wonder how you can offer as much as you do.
I understand that your classes are offered tuition-free. How can you do that?
What about textbooks?
What kind of courses do you offer?
Do you offer a degree, and if so, what kind?
Are most of your students studying for a career in ministry?
Who teaches these courses?
When and where are your classes offered?
How can a person find out more, and how does one register for classes?
Your fall semester is about to open, isn't it?
I can imagine that the influence of this ministry could reach out a long way.
You mentioned distance learning. Can you tell us more about that?
How would a person enroll in a distance learning course?
Your logo shows the kneeling Christ with a towel and basin. What are you trying to communicate?
Do you have a sense that God is using your ministry to redeem individual lives?

Interviewer: Introduction and welcome. Our guest is G.B. "B." Shelburne, president of South Houston Bible Institute. Tell me, how did you come to be called "B."?

B.: Actually my name is G.B. Shelburne, III. Since there were three generations of "G.B.'s," we had a problem. They called me "B." to distinguish me from my dad.

Interviewer: Tell us a little more about yourself.

B.: I'm a Texan, born in Abilene in 1936. My Grandfather Shelburne was a lay preacher and church elder. My father was minister for 66 years. Mom and Dad were married 58 years. All four of their sons became ministers and their daughter became a teacher and social worker and cared for a lot of lives. The Lord has given me a gracious heritage.

Interviewer: Do you have a family of your own?

B.: Yes. Ruth and I celebrated our 47th year together in June. We have truly been blessed in our children. Can you believe that I learn from my children every time I am around them? (And I believe if it is well with your children, everything else is frosting on the cake). Our oldest son and his family are missionaries in Uganda. Our second son is in lay ministry in Lubbock, TX. Our daughter and family are actively serving the Lord in the Dallas Area.

Interviewer: Are you an ordained minister?

B.: Yes, I was ordained in 1956. I have a BA and a Masters in Bible from Abilene Christian University. My wife and I served churches in Abilene and in Phoenix before establishing a mission station in Malawi, Africa, in 1961. Our sons were born in Malawi and we also adopted our daughter during that time.

Interviewer: What kind of work did you do in the mission field?

B.: My main job was training Malawian church leaders. But I also worked to encourage local churches and helped to build and operate a primary school and a medical unit.

Interviewer: How long did you remain in Malawi?

B. We lived in Malawi 19 years. We moved to Houston in 1980 to begin work with South Houston Bible Institute. I have made several working visits back to Malawi. In fact I had a wonderful teaching trip to Uganda and Malawi this summer.

Interviewer: 19 years is a long time. I suppose Malawi became like home to you.

B.: Yes, it did. But my father, who was directing the Bible Institute at that time, wanted to retire, and the board asked me to return to the States and take up his work.

Interviewer: Let's talk about South Houston Bible Institute. You have what seems like a significant ministry in the Houston area. How long has the school been in existence and how did it begin?

B.: We will open our 58th school year this month, God willing. My father, G.B. Shelburne, Jr., founded the school at Kerrville, TX, in 1946. There was a need for better-trained workers within our immediate church network, and for many years the school concentrated on that. The school was relocated to Amarillo in 1953 and to South Houston in 1975.

Interviewer: How did the school evolve into a non-denominational, community ministry?

B.: The school had always been church-based. Somebody said our school was the best-kept secret in town. But in the late '80's we began to notice that we were attracting more students from the Christian community at large. That trend continued, and we formally incorporated as a Bible Institute in 1992, partly in order to serve the wider community. People are thrilled to discover quality Bible instruction that is tuition-free, and the word spreads.

Interviewer: How many registrations are we talking about per school year?

B.: We have been setting a new record almost every year. In our last school year we had 397 registrations for classes, not counting distance learning enrollments.

Interviewer: How do you recruit these students?

B.: One of our best ways is through ads on this station. Listeners who love the word are natural prospects for our school. But we also use a newsletter, mailings, public service announcements, newspaper ads, faxes, email, and particularly our web site at shbi.org.

Interviewer: You must attract quite a variety of students.

B.: Yes. And that's one of the best things about the school nowadays. Our students include men, women, young and old, many nationalities, races and cultures, and many denominations. These people are drawn together by their common love for Christ and the word, and an amazing love and support grows between them. Someone has said what is happening among our students is what the church should be.

Interviewer: That sounds wonderful. But how can people from that many denominations and races study together in that kind of harmony?

B.: I have three answers for that. One is that the cross of Christ can bridge across racial and cultural barriers when nothing else can. If you can believe it, we had an Arab woman in our church who used to remind us, "Pray for Israel." Only Christ could make that happen. Christ becomes more important than our human differences. It's a joy to experience that in our classes.

The second secret of unity is putting central things at the center. Each denomination has some particular belief that it emphasizes above other beliefs. There are as many different emphases as there are denominations, and that makes unity difficult. The Corinthians were divided because they were emphasizing various leaders or teachings. Paul told them, "I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." However important some other doctrine or belief may be, they all get their meaning from the atonement and Lordship of Jesus. We must start there and work outward.

The New Testament also teaches that there are certain fundamental, uniting doctrines that we have to unite on (Ephesians 4), and then there are secondary, more controversial areas of belief where we must be tolerant of each other (Romans 14). I am more and more convinced that most churches have not understood these Bible teachings about unity. In fact, I am planning a course on the subject. My own background is in Churches of Christ, and we have not been known for unity. But the movement started out as a unity movement before it lost touch with that ideal. I want us to return to it.

My father used to say to me, "The kingdom of God is wider than just the small circle who hold the same opinions we do." He taught me that everyone Biblically born again is a child of God, and he would add with a chuckle, "whether I like it or not." We are not saved by our theories about the end times, or our view on spiritual gifts, or knowing how to balance the sovereignty of God versus the free will of man. These are important questions but they are not fundamental.

Jesus prayed that his people might be one so that the world might believe. Our unnecessary divisions devastate the work of the gospel. Of course the third secret of unity is simply the fruit of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That's the nature of Jesus. When we are like this, people want unity and it comes easily. When we are controlled by the old fleshly nature, even if we have perfect doctrinal agreement, we will still find a way to divide.

One thing our students always find is that they are treated with great love and respect whatever their convictions may be. One of our students was asked by a friend why she studied at SHBI. Her answer was, "I find the Spirit of Christ there." I pray every day that God will bind Satan and drive him far from our classes and fill them with the redemptive Holy Spirit.

Interviewer: Would you describe your doctrinal position as evangelical?

B.: Definitely. While we believe in freedom to differ on secondary matters, we solidly believe in the divinity of Christ, his blood atonement on the cross, the Trinity, the inspiration of the scriptures, and salvation by grace through faith.

Interviewer: Yours is a small organization. I wonder how you can offer as much as you do.

B.: There are two reasons. One is volunteerism. People love what we are doing and want to be a part. Volunteers operate our library, accounting, website, grading, records, distance learning, and help a lot with clerical work. Even our adjunct teachers donate their services. Secondly, we are closely affiliated with New Beginnings Church in Clear Lake. The church highly values our outreach and provides our office space and other support.

Interviewer: I understand that your classes are offered tuition-free. How can you do that?

B.: That was part of my father's dream when he founded the school. He wanted to make quality Bible instruction available to many people who could not afford tuition. We are funded by congregations and individuals who share that dream. We also have an endowment fund that helps. And we have lots of faithful volunteers on staff. When people hear that our classes are free, some wonder if this is a way of promoting some cultic doctrine. They are surprised when they learn that our teaching is solidly Biblical.

Interviewer: What about textbooks?

B.: In many of our courses we simply use the Bible and provide additional handouts. Where textbooks are required, we do ask students to cover that cost. Our program is struggling financially because of the economy and market conditions. So this year we are introducing a $20 per course materials fee to cover the cost of materials we hand out.

Interviewer: Tell me more about your curriculum. What kind of courses do you offer?

B.: We have a three-year rotation of courses. Over that period we cover the entire Bible text. We also offer many courses in ministry, including communications, shepherding, counseling, and a new course this fall on ministry and technology. We also offer courses in personal Christian living, such as The Christian Family, The Christian Woman, The Christian Man. A favorite course this fall is the Christian Growth Course, which is about overcoming specific areas of weakness. [Monday evenings 8:20]

Interviewer: Do you offer a degree, and if so, what kind?

B.: Since we are not a college but only a Bible Institute, we do not offer a degree. We do offer a three-year completion certificate and also we offer individual course certificates on request. Our academics are serious and respectable. A student may request a transcript of his work. Though our courses are not generally transferable, some Christian universities will offer our graduates a substantial number of credit hours toward a ministry degree. Or with many schools, students can use knowledge gained in our classes to "CLEP" out of college courses.

Interviewer: Are most of your students studying for a career in ministry?

B.: A number are. But the majority are people in lay ministry, or just Christians who want to grow strong in the word for the sake of their families or their personal lives. Lots of people look at the times we are living in, and the things that may be coming, and they want to get serious about Jesus. SHBI is a good place to do that. Other people are trying to rebuild their lives, or to find help for a difficult situation. Once a student told me, "Taking this course is my last hope of preserving my marriage." Some couples take courses together. The root causes of most problems are spiritual and the answers are spiritual.

Interviewer: Who teaches these courses?

B.: We are a very small school. I am the only full-time teacher. But eight adjunct teachers will be helping with our courses this semester. They include Stephen Carman, a training consultant, who will do the course on Ministry and Technology. And Ruth Shelburne (my wife) and Kristine Reeves, an area minister's wife, who will team-teach The Christian Woman, Susan Wright, who helps parents answer their children's questions, teaches a great course in Beginnings and Origins, based in Genesis. Dr. Lynn Mitchell, Resident Scholar in Religion at the University of Houston (you've often seen him on TV), teaches Christian Evidences, and Harold Key, retired minister, teaches Communications. Mike McAlister, minister from Friendswood, teaching, teaches The Christian Man. And Dennis Ritchie, a lay minister with a powerful teaching gift, will expound the Teachings of Jesus.

Interviewer: When and where are your classes offered?

B.: Our classes meet in the evening when most people are off work. We try hard to make our system user-friendly. One of the best features is that each course only meets once a week. So it is possible to devote one night a week and take up to three courses. Our offices are located near Ellington Field but the actual classes are held in various extension locations around the South, Central and West Houston. Local churches invite us to offer courses in their facilities. The busiest location is our SE Extension, hosted by the Berean Christian Church, east of I-45 and north of Edgebrook. Information on locations is included in material we send out to inquirers.

Interviewer: How can a person find out more, and how does one register for classes?

B.: Look on our website at shbi.org. Or call us at 281-990-8899, that's 281-990-8899, and ask for information. One can register from our website, or request a form by phone, or simply come to the first class.

Interviewer: Your fall semester is about to open, isn't it?

B.: Yes, classes open the week of August 25.

Interviewer: I can imagine that the influence of this ministry could reach out a long way.

B.: Yes. I picture it as ripples that keep moving outward. Our students affect others who affect others. We have alumni in the mission fields and in ministries and congregations all over this country. Some students first met their spouse in our classes, and those strong marriage partnerships are an influence for Christ. Our teaching materials are being used in many places around the world. And this is now being intensified by our distance learning program. As we sow seed here, only God knows how far it reaches.

Interviewer: You mentioned distance learning. Can you tell us more about that?

B.: Our distance learning program is for people who can't make it to our regular classes. It is one of the newest and most exciting developments in our program. Since it operates via email or postal mail, distance is not a factor. We have distance learning students in various parts of the world. Some courses by nature require classroom participation. But many do not. We have been working hard to reformat our courses for distance learning, and now about 28 courses are available in distance format.

Interviewer: How would a person enroll in a distance learning course?

B.: If you have internet access, you can go to our website at www.shbi.org and click on Distance Learning. You can see a list of courses and enroll from there. Or a person can call our offices at 281-990-8899. If one does not have internet access, we can supply courses via CD or mail. By the way, our course materials are also available for use in the educational programs of churches.
And people can ask us to send a free self-study discipleship course called Making Jesus Lord of My Life.

Interviewer: Your logo shows the kneeling Christ with a towel and basin. What are you trying to communicate?

We believe the servant spirit that led Christ to the cross is the heart of the gospel. Our world is self-destructing from pride and selfishness. Churches and families are too. Jesus calls us to deny self, take up the redemptive cross and do what he did.

Interviewer: Do you have a sense that God is using your ministry to redeem individual lives?

B.: Yes. I don't think people come to us accidentally. One year we rented a billboard on I-45. A student told us how he went to a store to buy something and the store sent him on to another store. It happened to be right next to our billboard, and this person happened to be looking for a Bible school.

Another story we still haven't figured out. A man called me. He said he was returning my call. He said he had seen our number on his caller ID. But we didn't know him and no one, as far as we know, had called him from our offices. But the man wanted to come to our classes. All of us will be used by God as much as we will let him.

Our world is desperate. I just pray that all of us will be used for his glory and for the reclaiming of as many souls as possible.

Interviewer: I can agree with that. Before we close, give us once more your contact information.

B.: Our phone is 281-990-8899, and our web address is shbi.org. I appreciate your ministry at this station. Thanks very much for having me on the program.