I can still remember reading the item in our quarterly alumni paper.

“I attended Bible college in 1994 and 1995…Five years ago I was convicted of a serious crime and sentenced to seven years in prison. I was recently paroled…I realize that the [alumni magazine] usually contains success stories, but I am struggling with life and my walk with the Lord. My time at Bible college was the best year of my life and I would love to get in touch with old friends. I need much prayer.”

On the one hand, I was disappointed that someone left our school and obviously had major struggles in their Christian walk. Yet the fact that this former student was so honest with fellow alumni and that this student’s experience on our campus had been such a special time also created a sense of pride.

Many of the men and women who attend Bible college leave with pleasant memories, lifelong friendships and a better understanding of God and His word. Yet many also struggle to readjust to life in a world where they are not surrounded by other Christians as they go to about their daily tasks.

Real-world challenges
One struggle for those men and women who attended four years of Bible college and earned a degree is reconnecting to the “real world” issues and challenges facing non-believers. Having been intensely immersed in biblical and theological studies, working alongside people who don’t care to discuss theological or philosophical issues sometimes leaves Bible college grads wondering how to relate.

At the same time, one of the benefits of a pluralistic culture is that people are open to hearing about a person’s faith. Jamie, who attended a Canadian Bible college and then proceeded to attend two secular colleges in North Carolina says, “I found that, with few exceptions, people are not hostile toward an informed and educated Christian who can discuss issues; who does not come with memorized doctrines, but thoughtfully engage with the world.”

Likewise, after working for a couple of years around his hometown in central British Columbia, Dan found that “since leaving Bible college, I’ve never been shy about telling people where I went to college or that I’m a Christian. It’s never really caused me any problems.”

Now in the final stages of RCMP training, Dan notes, “Sure, there are a lot of jokes about me being the ‘man of the cloth’ or the ‘troop pastor,’ but no one finds it hard to work with me or be my friend, and I don’t find it hard either.”

Finding friendships
Another challenge to students leaving Bible college is the social context. Having formed deep friendships with other believers—peers, faculty, and brothers and sisters in a local church congregation—former students often find the quality of Christian fellowship in the “real world” disappointing. In contrast to the safe, nurturing environment of a Bible college where students can talk with dorm friends until the early hours of the morning, and a prayer requests are given immediate attention in chapel, it can be a struggle to practice what seemed like basic spiritual disciplines just weeks or months before. As one student expresses, “When you’ve worked a 12 hour day and you’re tired, you have to find time to meet Jesus.”

Many former Bible college students describe the connection to a small group of Christian friends as a significant factor in helping them transition to living out their faith in the workplace. These friends provided both accountability and encouragement.

Rae-Ann graduated from Bible college with a cynical attitude toward other Christians. She left her family in Arizona and taught English for a year overseas, but the experience only further jaded her perspective. Yet while wrestling with anger and her struggles with Christians, she developed deep friendships with two young women who encouraged her to continue asking faith questions and kept her accountable.

After returning to Arizona, Rae-Ann grudgingly attended church with her parents. A leader’s invitation to participate in the worship team provided Rae-Ann with a community of friends that allowed her to share her feelings and struggles with openness and prayer.

Three years after she was ready to walk away from her faith, Rae-Ann now works at a Christ-centred treatment centre for persons struggling with anorexia and bulimia. She says, “My job is to keep them safe, encourage them, listen to them, reflect Christ and [offer] spiritual guidance when needed.” These are many of the same things she and other students needed after Bible college.

Preparation for ministry
While struggles exist for students as they leave Bible college, many also find their time at Bible college to be a wonderfully positive, faith-affirming experience. They come away with attitudes and skills that will serve them very well in the workplace.

Andrew graduated from a four-year program at a Canadian Bible college before returning home to the U.S. to work in the computer software industry. His experience at Bible college challenged and solidified his core beliefs, he says, helping him to build a strong foundation for his working world.

Shawn graduated from a two-year program before attending a Canadian university. Later he joined a sports ministry based in Washington. While he grew up in a Christian home and felt he knew a lot about his faith, Shawn says, “My first year of Bible college was a year of discovering how much I had to learn. My Bible knowledge, desire to grow spiritually, and compassion for the lost grew in a big way during my time at Bible college.

“It was a spiritual high point in my life and I often look back to those days when I am in a spiritual drought. Many times this has helped me focus and get back to where I need to be with the Lord.”

Undoubtedly, each student’s experience at a Bible college will be unique. Some current and former students suggest that Bible colleges are a “bubble” where students are isolated from much of the “real world.” Increasingly, it would seem that Christian post-secondary institutions can also function as greenhouses, developing individuals with deep roots in their faith who are ready to serve God and stand strong amid the winds and storms of life, wherever they are planted.

Steven C. Ibbotson teaches at Prairie Bible College in Three Hills Alberta