Sunset International Bible Institute Partners with WBS

Tim Yaeger
Birmingham, Alabama
Chief Information Officer

In 1971, beneath the radiant California sun glimmering on the ocean waves, inside an office frozen in the 1960s with its wooden desk and retro flair, an idea was about to spark a revolution. Here sat a young missionary, his eyes alight with ambition, across from an elder seasoned in the trenches of mission work. The room, a sanctuary of decades-spanning church labor, brimmed with the energy of impending change. The elder, with a lifetime of stories etched into his lines, leaned forward, igniting the air with four simple words: “I have an idea.”

This idea, a brainchild of Jimmie Lovell, found an ally in Truitt Adair (missionary to Nigeria), who would become the president and then chancellor of Sunset International Bible Institute (SIBI). Before the term “World Bible School” would even be coined by Lovell in 1973, he envisioned Nigerian newspaper ads as seeds of this grand vision. Adair heeded the call, and thousands of responses flooded in from Nigeria, heralding the birth of what we know today as World Bible School.

These four words have since woven two ministries together, SIBI and WBS, into a tapestry of shared mission and purpose. Their collaboration has been a testament to the power of partnership in faith, a synergy that has propelled the Gospel into countless lives. The legacy of those initial Nigerian newspaper ads has blossomed, with many WBS Students continuing their journey at SIBI schools, some of which are now helmed by those very converts from the 1970s.

Innovation hasn’t paused; the new WBS Online platform and the distribution of over 17,000 SIBI Solar Players packed with WBS courses illustrate evolving strategies to spread the Word. Following this tradition of innovation, another pivotal “I have an idea” moment two years ago led to the launch of an effort to train more preachers: SIBI’s 10,000 Voices initiative. In partnership, SIBI has provided Introductory ministry training courses for WBS Students who have completed the Master Series. These courses are now available on WBS Online. The purpose is to channel quality WBS Students into further ministry training with SIBI.

From a single idea over 50 years ago, 40 million people have been touched. With a forward gaze and a commitment to unity, the hope is to embrace hundreds of millions more in the next half-century. The journey from a quiet office overlooking the sea to a global movement has been a testament to the power of collaboration and faith where God receives the glory for His providential hand.

“Sunset Ministry Studies” are now available!

The “Sunset Ministry Studies” are available to all Students who have completed the “WBS Master Series.” Students can access these courses on our website, WBS App and WBS Lite app. Study Helpers can browse the courses by logging into the website.