IBC is unique in its commitment to seeing students graduate debt free. This is especially important for the many students who continue on in Native ministry since their ministry opportunities often fail to pay a minimum living wage. IBC functions as a faith mission, with most faculty and staff raising missionary support, and primary funding for the general operation of the school coming from donations and grants. This keeps tuition costs low, which is vital for prospective students, many of whom come from a financially disadvantaged background.

Financials

Indian Bible College just finished its thirteenth year in a row “in the black”! We are incredibly grateful for the provision of God through the generosity of His people and the faithful stewardship of the IBC staff.

IBC is all about changed lives, not just filled heads, and the means to achieving this is found in the valiant efforts of the staff and faculty who serve by teaching, discipling, and fulfilling other supporting roles necessary to keep the school operating. The value of this “people power” is reflected in the financials– most of the school’s expenses are personnel related, and in order to keep tuition costs low enough for students to graduate debt free, these expenses are underwritten by the missionary support raised by most of the school’s paid staff. Cash donations to staff missionary support accounts provide nearly half of IBC’s total contribution revenue. And during the 2023-2024 school year, more than $100,000 was gifted to the school in the form of donated classroom instruction provided by pastors (some retired, some not), teachers, and others with a plethora of professional experience, background and wisdom that they invested into IBC students.

Volunteers

Over the years, volunteers have helped shape everything from our campus to our curriculum and have been an integral part of graduating all of our students debt-free.

Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, maintenance volunteers helped with a variety of facilities upkeep and maintenance projects. 86 volunteers donated almost 2,000 hours of service in this area—a value of almost $50,000!
Volunteers in IBC's lunch program provided meals for students and staff on Tuesdays and Thursdays after chapel. 17 different teams ranging from 1-10 people prepared and shared meals with the IBC campus community during the school year.
Student discipleship volunteers include Life Coaches, adjunct instructors, and chapel speakers. Life Coaches donated over 100 hours to come alongside freshman students in weekly coaching sessions this year.

Learn more at indianbible.org/volunteer.

Accreditation

Accreditation became a desired pursuit of IBC administration (particularly John Greenfield) in the 1980s. In 1992 a relationship began with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), an affiliation that was replaced a decade later with our current partnership with the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). Over the decades MANY people contributed to elevating the standards of IBC’s academic excellence that prepared the school for accreditation. After 30 years of pursuit, Indian Bible College finally achieved applicant status with ABHE in 2014, followed by candidate status in 2017, and initial accreditation in 2021. Accreditation comes with a number of benefits...

✔ Provides students with guaranteed recognition of class credits with the other 160 schools in the ABHE family
✔ Increases the likelihood of transferability to state and public schools
✔ Has gained graduates additional access to graduate education (about half of recent bachelor’s graduates are considering or actively pursuing master’s degrees)
✔ Provides access to Pell Grant and tribal scholarship funds, which provide additional tuition revenue that allows us to compensate Native staff as they raise support
✔ Gives IBC a voice in biblical higher education

Spain

In July, third-year student Johanna and I were special guests at a Christian camp called L’Arcada in the valley of Sant Miguel de Campmajor in the Girona province of Spain. For two weeks, we were the “chiefs” for Indios Camp. In the mornings, Johanna led “Navajo Time”, where she taught the children how to weave little rugs. Afterwards I would teach the kids to be “good hunters” at archery. Every night we had a “Pow Wow” where we taught the kids different phrases in Navajo and Apache, told them stories, or just spent time having fun with them. I love that it took us flying halfway across the world to sleep in a tepee, but I also love that many of the kids took the time to stop and talk with us. They would practice saying hello to us in Navajo and Apache, and ask us questions about our cultures. A big takeaway for me was seeing the Lord work through the counselors and leaders, which reminded me of my time at Broken Arrow Bible Ranch. I was reminded of the Lord’s omnipresence and moved by His love for all. We continue to pray for L’Arcada in their growing pains and the need for more leaders as well as more helping hands in and out of the camp season. (Cecilia Lewis, IBC graduate staff)

Mexico

I had the privilege of heading south of the border for an eleven-day whirlwind trip this summer with IBC students Kyon and Aaron, as well as veteran missionary Mike Hendricks and several other men from the States. The purpose of our trip was to survey the options for future IBC involvement in ministry to indigenous migrant workers. Most of the workers are young indigenous men who come from villages far from the fields within which they work, harvesting crops primarily for the United States. We partnered with several local Mexican churches, working with the pastors and usually a group from the church. The migrant workers came from all over Mexico. Most spoke Spanish as a second language. We were sponsored by Global Recordings Network which provided tracts, scripture portions, a Christian film for viewing, and a business card with information on the 5 Fish app which contains the gospel in hundreds of indigenous languages. The opportunities are vast! (Martha Gushee, IBC staff)

France

Natives 2 France is an annual missions trip that challenges Native believers to experience a different culture, embrace and use our own culture for the gospel, and communicate truth cross-culturally. Many historical barriers currently prevent the gospel from reaching the hearts of the French people. During our time in France we observed the Louvre filled with art, fine dining at every street corner, and cathedrals filled with opulence, as well as the homeless, refugees, and the French peoples’ own spiritual condition overlooked for the sake of their image. How do we as believers reach such a people? We use what catches their attention. Native American culture and history fascinate and intrigue the French. One day of our trip I sat and talked with a homeless man. I mentioned I was Native American and he immediately asked what I believed. Native identity provoked his soul to search for spiritual connection. During our time in France we held many presentations featuring our cultures. Through these presentations we were given the opportunity to tell others how God has transformed us. The French believers were the main ministers—we empowered them by building relationships and opening spiritual eyes, so they in turn can lead other French people to Jesus. Our trip was foreseen by the enemy, as a medicine man (shaman) had been in the same community we visited a week prior. It is imperative that we understand the importance of Native leaders in missions. If Native believers don’t go to the mission field, the enemy will. Billy Graham called Native Americans a sleeping giant of spiritual awakening. Natives 2 France is at the front lines praying this ideal can be achieved through God’s work in our lives. (Josiah Butler, IBC student)