History of the College

Praise Jesus Our Lord!

Our Lady of Guadalupe Bible College (GBC) began in 1994 as a ministry of Presentation Ministries, a canonically established association of the laity under the Archbishop of Cincinnati. The purpose of the College is to provide a Catholic understanding of God's revelation in an organic, systematic manner (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, 5). We do this so that the laity may be equipped to follow Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19) by permeating the secular culture with the gospel through their everyday lives. Students integrate the gospel into their daily activities in a way that brings Christ into the family, marketplace, and social arenas of our society (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, 899). With God's grace we can transform the culture of death into a new civilization of love.

Since its beginning, GBC has provided both classroom teachings and home study programs. The classroom courses are held at specific locations, mostly within the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Currently, examples of locations are our Ministry Center, parishes and homes in Cleveland and Cincinnati, and our Discipleship Center in Peebles, Ohio. As GBC grows, we hope to have classes in cities throughout the country.

Home study students have enrolled from California to Connecticut, from Canada to Florida. Our first graduation was May, 1998. Teachers also come from a wide geographical area, although most live in Ohio and Indiana.

As we would like to reach more people, we are beginning an outreach program to prisoners and a special program for people outside the USA and others with extenuating circumstances.

We are happy you are interested in GBC. The following material can help you determine if the Lord is calling you to enroll. Please read it prayerfully. We ask the Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Guadalupe to guide you in your decision.

Why Guadalupe Bible College?

Our college is named after Mary to honor her as our mother. Jesus on Calvary chose her to be the mother of all His disciples (Jn 19:26). Because the purpose of GBC is to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19), it is appropriate that we choose the mother of all Jesus' disciples as our patroness. Moreover, the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe shows Mary's solidarity with the poor. In this spirit, GBC does not charge its students a specific fee so we will be able to provide advanced education to all, irrespective of their financial situation.

Why A Catholic Bible College?

"The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord" (On Divine Revelation, Vatican II, 21).

Why A Bible College?

• "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ!" (St. Jerome)
• "All Scripture is inspired of God and is useful for teaching — for reproof, correction, and training in holiness so that the man of God may be fully competent and equipped for every good work" (2 Tm 3:16-17).
• "Faith comes through hearing, and hearing comes from the word of God" (Rm 10:17, our transl).
• Catholics have even more reason to study the Bible than do other Christians, for we accept the Magisterium of the Church, which provides us with an authoritative interpretation of Bible passages.

Why A Bible College?

Our college provides an opportunity for an organic, systematic understanding of God's revelation and its application to life and ministry. This will help us to integrate our faith into our everyday lives. Vatican II, Pope Paul VI, and Pope John Paul II have taught: "This split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives deserves to be counted among the most serious errors of our age" (Vatican II, The Church in the Modern World, 43 and The Missionary Activity of the Church, 21; Pope Paul VI, On Evangelization, 19; Pope John Paul II, The Lay Members of Christ's Faithful People, 59). Pope John Paul II teaches: "The situation today points to an ever increasing urgency for a doctrinal formation of the lay faithful, not simply in a better understanding which is natural to faith's dynamism but also in enabling them to 'give a reason for their hoping' in view of the world and its grave and complex problems. Therefore, a systematic approach to catechesis, geared to age and the diverse situations of life, is an absolute necessity" (Lay Members of Christ's Faithful People, 60). Pope John Paul II's teaching directed to priests can also apply to many of the laity: "Theological formation is both complex and demanding. It should lead the candidate for the priesthood to a complete and unified vision of the truths which God has revealed in Jesus Christ and of the Church's experience of faith. Hence the need both to know 'all' the Christian truths, without arbitrarily selecting among them, and to know them in an orderly fashion" (I Will Give You Shepherds, 54).

Is GBC Under The Authority Of The Catholic Church?

Presentation Ministries is a national network of small Christian communities and ministries of the word. Presentation Ministries is a canonically established association of the laity under the Archbishop of Cincinnati. Therefore, GBC, as a ministry within Presentation Ministries, is under the authority of