South Pacific Bible College

Scroll down to view the latest news from Herman Alexander.

What is South Pacific Bible College?

This is a school operated by the brethren for the purpose of preparing and equipping workers among churches of Christ in the South Pacific region. It involves a two-year program of study with an optional third year apprenticeship. Accredited as a level-5 program by the New Zealand Qualifying Association, the school can offer an approved diploma to its graduates.

Where is South Pacific Bible College located?

It is located in Tauranga, New Zealand, about 125 miles southeast of Auckland (New Zealand's largest city). At the present, Tauranga (population approximately 100,000) has been identified as New Zealand's fastest growing city. A triangle region of Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga (on the North Island) consists of 40% of New Zealand's population.

Who attends South Pacific Bible College?

The school serves students from all across the South Pacific, including New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga. In addition, students have come(and are coming from) the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea, China, and Thailand.

What is the potential for South Pacific Bible College?

The school is housed in excellent facilities that are adequate for the present. Located, in one of the best sites in the South Pacific, the school has the capacity for 100 students at the present time (about four times its present enrollment).

What are the needs of South Pacific Bible College?

To prepare and equip kingdom workers in the South Pacific is the great need of our time, so far as this region is concerned. For the school to accomplish this task, it needs the financial support of the brethren. New Zealanders themselves have "stepped up to the plate" in providing much of what is needed. (However, there are only 700 members among the 21 churches of Christ in New Zealand.) It takes approximately US$12,000.00 per year to support a student in the school; obviously, when a student has a family, this amount can be doubled. The biggest financial need at the moment is student support. The more the student support, the more the students who can attend!

How can I help in the work at South Pacific Bible College?

Several suggestions can be made.

(1) Pray! Pray for the work of the school - its faculty, students, potential for service, and potential for growth.

(2) Sponsor a student for two years ($12,000.00 per year).

(3) Contribute to the partial support of a student (any amount that you can provide).

(4) Contribute to the South Pacific Christian Education Foundation. An endowment is being built to provide ongoing support for the school. (Contact Mike Austin, Box 8034, Cherrywood, Tauranga, New Zealand; telephone: [07] 576-1076.)

(5) Remember the school in your will.

For further information on getting support arranged for the school, please contact

Steve Raine, Director of Development, South Pacific Bible College, Box 8034, Cherrywood, Tauranga, New Zealand. You may e-mail Steve at: sraine@spbc.org.nz

August 2007

Hello!

Each morning when I open up my computer and connect with the internet, I note what the weather is like in Irving, TX. Wow! Has it ever been hot there – as well as other parts of the country. While temperatures there have been up to 104, they have seldom gone above 65 here in New Zealand.

Of course, this is the winter season down in the southern hemisphere. Personally, I like it!

THIRD QUARTER

This is the third quarter in the school year at South Pacific Bible College, where our present students are from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Thailand. Some of them will be finishing in December, and several others are already enrolled for the beginning of the 2008 school year.

During this quarter. I am teaching two major classes and am continuing to work with the Hamilton West congregation, some 65 miles from Tauranga. I am enjoying both experiences

AN INTERESTING ARRANGEMENT

The Maori population, New Zealand’s indigenous people (about 500,000) have a new king. Their queen died one year ago, and they were in mourning for the year. Recently, they celebrated the “inauguration” of her son as the new king.

S. P. B. C. DINNER IN THE DALLAS

A dinner on behalf of South Pacific Bible College is scheduled for the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Friday evening, October 5^th . We are hoping that you will put this on your calendar and make plans to attend this dinner. The first such dinner was held in late September last year, with a good response to it.

Although a definite venue has not been sorted out yet, the definite date, as indicated above, has been. We will be making information available soon as to the specific location.

DOLLAR CRUNCH

As indicated in our July report, the Kiwi (New Zealand!) dollar is considerably stronger this year, having reached the US$.81 mark (as previously reported) in July. Although it is not quite that high right now, it is still in the US$.70+ bracket (up 10 -12 cents above what it was last year), with no reduction in the price of things here (obviously). That means that we are getting much less in our exchange from American to New Zealand currency. Right now, we are paying the equivalent of US$4.25 for a gallon of gasoline. All of that makes it necessary to live just as frugally as possible.

CONTINUING GRATITUDE

Rosann and I continue to express our gratitude to those of you who provide our support in this effort. If we might paraphrase Paul: “Not that we seek the gift itself, but we seek for the profit (fruit) which increases to your account” (Philippians 4:17)

Shalom!

Herman ,

Herman C. Alexander,

halex727@aol.com

JULY 2007 Report

Greetings from Down Under!

As I send out this report, I am now back in New Zealand, where it is “winter time.” That means that we have cool mornings (35 – 45) and mild days (55 – 65). My
kind of weather! Just as it has been in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, so some parts of New Zealand have had an exceptional amount of rain, but not here in Tauranga.

TEACHING IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA

The month of June was spent in Vienna, Austria, teaching a course, “Development of Christianity,” in The International University. This school features a university program (including Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees) in the English language, “in the heart of Europe” (as it is billed). Students come from some 70 different countries to pursue degrees primarily in Business, Business Management, or Diplomatic Studies.

Although it is not a “Christian college,” it is administered by a faithful Christian president, Wil Goodheer (whom I knew when we were both students at what was then Harding College). Four courses in Bible are required in the Bachelor’s degree program, one of them being “Development of Christianity.”

I consider the opportunity to teach “Development of Christianity” one of the most challenging mission experiences that I have had. This course looks briefly at the historical background in the coming of Jesus; then it works through the Gospels and the first several chapters of Acts. The student is being introduced every school day for a month to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and the church of the New Testament.

To me, the big challenge was to work daily with 16 students from 11 different countries (with almost as many religious [non-religious] backgrounds). They were from Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Bosnia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Philippines, Kenya, Nigeria, and one from the U.S. Over half of the students stated the first day that they had never studied the Bible in any way before – and that is no surprise, since they included Moslems, agnostics, and, at best, “nominal Christian” backgrounds. I sought to develop their friendship, and, although we had some very lively discussions (especially about the resurrection of Jesus Christ), I think that we enjoyed a congenial relationship. (I look forward to going back into this “den of lions” again!)

BACK TO NEW ZEALAND

Rosann and I enjoyed being together for two weeks of the time that I was teaching in Vienna. She had arranged for a condominium in Sopron, Hungary (about 40 miles from Vienna), as a part of our fiftieth wedding anniversary plans, where we stayed for a week (commuting by train on the “teaching days” to and from Vienna). I continued on in Vienna for the next two weeks after she returned to our home in Irving.

Upon concluding the teaching assignment in Vienna, I also returned to Irving for a few days. There were many personal things that needed to be taken care of in that period, due to my being away so much of the time.

Then it was time to head back to New Zealand. During this third quarter at South Pacific Bible College, I will be teaching two courses: Hebrews (at the school facilities) and New Testament Theology (as an extension course at Rotorua). In addition, I will be working as much as possible with the Hamilton West congregation (65 miles from Tauranga).

CONTINUING CONCERN FOR CAMBODIA

As reported in the May newsletter, I was deeply impressed with the possibilities in Cambodia (after being there in April). Lord willing, I will continue to work on materials that the Cambodian brethren in Dallas, TX can translate for use in equipping some very capable young Cambodian brethren in the Kampong Cham area.

METROPLEX DINNER FOR SOUTH PACIFIC BIBLE COLLEGE

THE CRUNCH

The American dollar has decreased in value, and that has especially affected our activities here in New Zealand. When I came over for the first quarter in 2006, the exchange rate between the New Zealand dollar and the American dollar was US$.62 to NZ$1.00; now it is US$.81 to NZ$1.00. In practical terms, that means that last year we were getting a little over NZ$150.00 for US$100.00, whereas now the amount is NZ$120.00 (some NZ$30.00 less on every one hundred American dollars).

CONTINUING GRATITUDE

Rosann and I both continue to be grateful to all of you who make possible our personal support as well as the travel/work funds. Paraphrasing Paul (Phil. 1:3, 5), “We thank our God in all our remembrance of you . . . in view of your participation in the gospel.” Thank you for your fellowship in this work!

Shalom!

Herman C. Alexander,

Herman C. Alexander

halex727@aol.com

October 2006 - Report

We are now in the fourth quarter of the school year at South Pacific Bible College. The
year has gone by so fast! This quarter will bring the school year to an end, with graduation on December 10.

MEETING IN DALLAS - FORT WORTH AREA
The Dallas - Fort Worth meeting on behalf of South Pacific Bible College, announced in our previous reports, was conducted on Friday evening and Saturday morning, September 22 -23. Steve Raine, Director of Development, was in charge of the meeting. He had worked hard on behalf of the meeting, thinking that he had 50 -55 who might be there. As it turned out, there were 77 present for the Friday evening get-together! Response to the event was positive, the suggestion being made in the Saturday morning discussions that a similar effort should be on the agenda for next year (2007).

The Friday evening schedule, including a dinner, featured some of the personalities involved in the early beginnings of the school. Terry Brown, now preaching in Abilene, was one of the first teachers when the school started. Charles Speer, Academic Dean at Sunset Bible Institute in Lubbock, taught in the school in the mid-1980s. Both Chris Miller and Steve Raine, some of the first students in the 1980s, shared their experiences in and their assessments of the school.

Several different individuals and congregations involved in - and interested in - the South Pacific work were present for the meeting. Personally, Rosann and I were pleased that 19 of the number are involved in our personal support and are very interested in the development of the work in this region.

After the meetings on Friday and Saturday, Rosann and I were at Mesquite (TX) on Sunday. The Mesquite congregation, a major supporter in our work, had asked me to speak on the general theme of evangelism. We enjoyed being with them and do appreciate so very much their fellowship in this work.

I had one full week to "catch up" on personal affairs - and still did not get everything done in that regard that was on the "to-do" list. During that time, we had the opportunity to meet with several who are providing support for our work. Rosann and I were at the Walnut Hill church (our overseeing congregation) on Sunday, October 1. On Tuesday (October 3), I returned to New Zealand to be ready for the fourth quarter at the school.

FOURTH QUARTER
The fourth quarter began on Monday, October 9, and will continue through the first week of December. I am teaching here (South Pacific Bible College) through November 10. Then I will go to Fiji on November 13 for three weeks of teaching in the school in Suva. (Mike Austin, Principal of S.P.B.C., is there at the present time, teaching a course in Homiletics.) South Pacific Bible College has graduated about 20 Fijians over the years, and they are now active in carrying on the work in their own country. They are equipping others by means of this school (conducted on a part-time basis) in Suva.

HAMILTON
We continue to work as much as we can with the Hamilton West congregation. At the present, there are about 10 members, and our attendance on Sunday morning is 15 -20. We have plans for a "Super Saturday" on November 4, an effort to reach into homes in the immediate area of our meeting place (a primary school). We will be letterboxing the area with some 3,000 brochures that are now being prepared. ("Letterboxing": In New Zealand, it is permissible to put fliers, brochures, [or other materials that we might call "third class mail" in the States] in the "letterbox" [Kiwi for "mail box"> in front of each residence.)

CONTINUED GRATITUDE
Rosann and I are continually grateful to all of you for your fellowship and support in the work in this "down under" part of the world. "Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen" (Rom. 15:33).

Shalom!
Herman C. Alexander,
halex727@aol.com

September 2006 - Report

The third quarter of South Pacific Bible College is about to enter the last week of classes, to be followed by the week of tests and exams. After a few days break the fourth and final quarter will begin.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR
September is a "transition month" between the Southern Hemisphere Winter and the beginning of the Spring season. Already, days are gradually getting a little warmer - and a little longer. (Daylight Saving Time will begin the first Sunday in October.) Everyone who has ever been to New Zealand is enthralled with its beauty; the Spring season puts everything on the top shelf!

HAMILTON
We are planning a special effort in Hamilton in late October. Our plans are to canvas the neighborhood with a view to enrolling as many children as possible in Sunday morning Bible classes. Although there is only a "handful" in the congregation, it is thought that we should try to reach out to as many as possible.

A group of young adults from the Otumoetai congregation will be helping us in this effort. They will be with us in the canvassing effort; then that will be followed by a "Super Saturday," a program that they will provide in the special effort to reach the children in the neighborhood. We are hoping that this effort will lead us to several with whom we will be able to work on a continuing basis. And it is further hoped that this kind of effort will open doors to parents as well.

We had 18 present at Hamilton West this past Sunday (September 3), our "record" since beginning with this work some time back. Please pray for this congregation.

EXTENSION COURSE
South Pacific Bible College seeks to serve the churches in this area of the world in an effective manner. Obviously, the main thrust is the work done as full-time students come to study at the school's facilities in Tauranga. However, the school seeks to go out to the churches - by means of extension courses.

I am presently teaching one of these extension courses in the church at Rotorua. This congregation has 25-30 members, and nine of them are taking this class (Pastoral Epistles), six for credit, and three by audit. The most of them are relatively young in the faith, and they are quite enthusiastic about studying the biblical text. (This is to me a most enjoyable experience!) Rotorua, about 65,000, is the "thermal wonder" of New Zealand, attracting several thousand tourists each year. Other extension courses are planned in the future.

DALLAS-FORT WORTH MEETING
We urge you to keep the meeting on behalf of South Pacific Bible College and the work in the South Pacific in your plans. The Friday evening meeting will feature a meal together (free of charge to those coming), followed by an overview of the work at South Pacific Bible College. There will then be a preview of plans for the future. Steve Raine, Director of Development, is in charge of the meeting.

The data on the meeting are as follows:
Place: Embassy Suites Hotel
4650 West Airport Freeway,
Irving, TX 75062-5825
Tel.: (972) 790-0093
Date: September 22
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 P.M.
(There will also be a follow-up meeting on Saturday morning, 7:00 - 11:30 A.M.)
We urge everyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who has an interest in the South Pacific work to be at this meeting. We hope to see you there!

THANKS!
Rosann and I wish to thank you for your continued support in this work. We are very grateful for your fellowship, and we wish always to be responsible stewards with what you have entrusted to us as we engage in this work.

Shalom!
Herman C. Alexander
Halex727@aol.com

August 2006 - Report

I am writing to thank you for the support that you brethren gave to our work/travel funds this year, a contribution ($2000.00) that has been of great help in our work here. These funds are used to help in the travel and in the efforts that are being made here - teaching in South Pacific Bible College, working with the church oat Hamilton, efforts with other congregations (such as the one at Napier a few days back, included in the August Report).

As we look to 2007, it will be necessary to secure similar funds to carry us through the year. The personal support is in good shape, but the work/travel funds will have to be replenished periodically. Last year, when consideration was given to my work, I was asked to check back with you about the middle of this year (2006) in regard to ongoing needs. In view of that suggestion, I would like at this time to request your help again in this regard - for the upcoming year. (Funds can be sent to Elders, Walnut Hill Church of Christ, 10550 Marsh Lane, Dallas, TX 75229).

As you have been noticing in our reports, a special interest meeting on behalf of South Pacific Bible College is being scheduled in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, September 22-23. The meeting will provide information about the school, its present status, and its possibilities for the future.

The coming together of brethren interested in the South Pacific will take place at the Embassy Suites Hotel / DFW Airport South, 4650 West Airport Freeway, Irving (972) 790-0093. The Friday evening event will begin at 7pm and will conclude about 9:30pm. Saturday's activities will begin with a breakfast at 7:30, followed by the meeting, 8:30-11:00am. It would be wonderful if some of you could "squeeze" this into your schedule and be there with us.

My plans are to come in at the end of this quarter - leave here (New Zealand) on September 21 - and be there for the meeting. Then there are a few personal matters that I must take care of, after which I will head back about the fourth of October to teach in the fourth quarter of the school term.

I am very grateful to the Somers Avenue church for your encouragement and support in this work, and I trust that you will be able to help us again in our work in 2007.

Yours in Him,

Herman C. Alexander,
Halex727@aol.com

July 2006 - Report

Greetings again from the "land down under!" It is winter time here, and although there have been some very "wintry days" with rain (and snow all across the South Island!), it is absolutely gorgeous at the present time. We are having some very clear weather with temperatures running from 40 or so in the morning to 50-55 in the afternoons. (My kind of weather!)

HAMILTON
I have resumed my work with the little group at Hamilton. The brethren there meet in a primary school on Sunday mornings. Other meetings are in their homes. Since there were only 6 of them that were meeting earlier in the year, the services were basically a 10:00 A.M. worship period on Sunday morning. We are now making plans to enlarge our work and at least get a Sunday morning Bible school program going.

The work has been blessed with the addition of a family who came originally from Zimbabwe. They have been in New Zealand for four years, but they moved to Hamilton only a few weeks back. They are the Tonderai Mukusha family, formerly of Harrare, Zimbabwe. Tonderai, the husband/father, is studying law at the Waikato University in Hamilton and is considering a focus on family law. (His father was a preacher among the churches of Christ in Zimbabwe, but was killed in an accident in 1979.)

The two families that have been "holding on" in Hamilton are Terry and Lynn Hooper and Andrew and Lek Taylor. The Hoopers bring their little granddaughter. We are happy to report that the Taylors are now the proud parents of a beautiful daughter, who has joined their son, Chris, five years old. With the addition of the Mukusha family, we now have at least five children with whom we can begin the Sunday morning Bible classes.

TEACHING

During this third quarter, I am teaching in the school (South Pacific Bible College), working with the Hamilton brethren, and teaching a 30-hour extension class at the Rotorua church. I hope to be out and among the churches as much as possible.

SOUTH PACIFIC INTEREST MEETING

As was mentioned in the June Report, a meeting (hopefully, national in scope) is scheduled for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, September 22-23. The design of this meeting is to bring together those committed to the work in the South Pacific for information and strategy purposes. The meeting is being arranged by Steve Raine, Director of Development of South Pacific Bible College. (Lord willing, I plan to be there.)

Specific data on the meeting:
Location: Embassy Suites Hotel, 4650 West Airport Freeway, Irving, TX 75062- 5825; (972)790-0093.
Date and Time: Friday evening, September 22, 7:00-10:00 P.M.; Saturday morning, September 23, 7:00-11:30 A.M.

The Friday evening meeting will involve a meal, a time given to information on the work in this area, and an opportunity for fellowship. The Saturday morning meeting will focus on long term plans for the work, including its support.

Wonderful opportunities are before us in the South Pacific. There is the need to re-develop a vision - a broad vision -- for the work and strategize on how that vision can best be implemented. A number of those who are already committed to being at the meeting have been involved in the work here one way or the other for several years. We need to broaden the network of information and support for this work!

I am urging you to be at the meeting. We need you! Would you also bring your husband/wife to the meeting? Would you invite others whom you know could be interested in this work to be at the meeting? We need you!

FAMILY
Rosann and I were able to move into our new house in Irving earlier this month. Obviously, there is yet much to do in and around the house, but that goes with moving, doesn't it? (We had originally hoped that Rosann could be here for some of the third quarter of the school term, but the move has knocked that in the head for the time being.)

Our children and grandchildren are well and busy. Three granddaughters will be attending Harding University in the coming school year; one will be attending a junior college. The others are still in junior and senior high school. We are so thrilled that all eight of our grandchildren are members of the church!

Again, thanks to all of you for your support and for your encouragement in this work. Remember the work (and us) in your prayers!

Sincerely,
Herman C. Alexander
halex727@aol.com

June 2006 - Report

During the most of the second quarter at South Pacific Bible College, I have been in the States. Two of our granddaughters graduated from high school, and, along with Rosann, we took both of them on a "graduation trip."

Another factor has involved our house situation. Serious water damage to the floor of our condominium in April resulted from a backup of the water system of the condominium complex. Our downstairs floor was ruined as a result, and we had to have it replaced. In the meantime, we were waiting for the completion of a new house that was being built. Now that we have closed on that, we are now in the process of moving as this report goes out. Fortunately, the move is just a little over a mile from where we have lived for the past twenty-three years. (Note our new address: 915 East Union Bower Road, Irving, TX 75061.) As soon as the moving process is completed, I will be returning to New Zealand for the second quarter at South Pacific Bible College.

One major concern during this time in the States has been to encourage interest in the South Pacific region. I have sought to find a potential team for Hamilton (featured in last month's report). Although we have not "nailed down" a team, we have some couples who are willing to think about the venture.

Obviously, the good and welfare of South Pacific Bible College has been another "major concern." We need to enlarge the network of information and support in the States for South Pacific Bible College.

To that end I wish to devote the rest of this report. I am asking each one of you to mark September 22 (Friday night) and plan for a major event on behalf of South Pacific Bible College (and the work in general in the South Pacific) in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This will involve a dinner and a presentation of the work, opportunities, and needs in the South Pacific. I am urging you to come. I am also urging you to bring others with you.

Steve Raine, Director of Development at S.P.B.C., will be in charge of this meeting. He and I will both come from Tauranga on September 21 for this event. (The venue will be presented in next month's report.)