Where the Bible and Missions Are One

Situated on a hill overlooking the city of Waukesha, the impressive building of Ethnos360 Bible Institute (hereafter EBI) reflects the sun from its many windows. The ebb and flow of students during the day shows they become used to their “home away from home” in the hallways of the old building. 

Students from just about every state and from multiple countries around the world walk the hallways — missionary kids (MKs) add that extra spice to “normal” American culture: sucking tereré through the metal “straw,” adding hot sauce because American “hot” doesn’t compute to her palate, asking for more rice since that is the “food of foods.” 

But the main reason they are showing up here on the hilltop is to become immersed in the Word of God. And it’s not just that they are all planning to be foreign missionaries. Some return to their homes in the USA to work in their home churches; some take the knowledge they have to share with others at camps or schools. 

But, here, let me give place to Andrew Royer, the president of the school, for his perspective on EBI. 

Thoughts From Andrew Royer 

My wife, Sara, and I have the privilege of serving as missionary trainers at Ethnos360 Bible Institute (EBI). I serve as the president, and Sara invests in many areas including mentoring young ladies and caring for our staff. I never would have imagined the path the Lord used to prepare us for this role.  

After completing my Master of Divinity at Grace Theological Seminary, I pastored for nearly ten years. We loved the church and the work of ministry, but we just couldn’t shake something that burned in our hearts — that one third of the world has no access to knowing Jesus. I knew that if we stepped away, there would be a stack of resumés of qualified pastors who could take my place. The next decade of our lives was spent between New Tribes Mission Brazil’s Bible institute and EBI, teaching, meeting with students, grading papers and preparing lessons. I loved every moment of it. In the fall of 2021, the leadership team at EBI asked if I would consider reducing my teaching load to serve as president. Throughout our ministry, Sara and I have always said we have open hands before the Lord. Whatever He asks, we are all in.  

A Look Back 

In 1955, EBI, then known as New Tribes Bible Institute, was founded to give missionary candidates a solid biblical foundation, beginning a legacy of training men and women to take the gospel where it had never been heard. Through every decade since, God’s faithfulness has led and sustained EBI. The world has changed, yet the commitment to anchor students deeply in God’s Word and prepare them for cross-cultural ministry has remained steady. 

As EBI approached seventy years on this campus, it became clear that purposeful steps were needed to remain strong and effective in the work God has entrusted to us. We recognized that to serve the church faithfully in this modern era, the school needed to be repositioned for long-term strength and relevance. Two major steps emerged as essential. The first was pursuing and achieving accreditation. The second was revitalizing and expanding the campus so the school could continue to grow with stability and vision. 

And Today 

We recognized that in today’s culture, accreditation communicates that we are a college-level program with benchmark standards and outside accountability. About ten years ago, we made the decision to pursue accreditation with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).* Students benefit from a program with high standards, and Ethnos360, along with our Global Partners, benefits from attracting well-prepared missionary candidates. The accreditation process required thorough evaluation of every aspect of our program, curriculum and campus. Our teachers needed to hold master’s degrees from recognized seminaries, and our evaluation methods required adjustments to college-level standards. The accreditation benchmark is now complete, and the impact of that achievement is already being felt. Interest is rising, applications continue to increase and we are on track to be at full capacity this coming fall. 

The second strategic step was launching a capital campaign to update and strengthen our campus. Much of this progress has been possible because Christians across the country have chosen to stand with us. Through God’s kindness and the generosity of partners, three million of the five-million-dollar campaign goal has already been given. These gifts have made it possible to address long-standing campus needs, including elevators and windows that required replacement. They have allowed us to purchase additional apartments for interns so that more space can be reserved for students. The next major focus will be updating student housing for married couples, an important investment as we prepare for the future. 

The visible improvements across campus are encouraging, but what strengthens our hearts even more is seeing God’s people standing with us. Every contribution reflects a deliberate choice to invest in future ministry. That investment has strengthened the work and allowed us to remain focused on the task God has entrusted to us.

Other Voices on the Faculty 

There are other voices out there that need to be heard. Some of them are instructors. Here is what they had to say about EBI. 

Chris Darland is the Academic Dean for EBI.  

“We’ve served at the Bible school for 28 years now, and I think my favorite thing is seeing students connect those ‘random Bible stories’ they know to the bigger picture of the Bible. Those stories can seem kind of weird sometimes, but seeing them in context really makes sense for people! It gives me great [joy] to see more people becoming biblically literate and catching hold of God’s heart to reach the world with His Good News!”  

Dave Fields is one of the instructors. 

“I am an EBI graduate (Class of ’95) who is privileged to be able to teach here now. My wife, Kim, and I met here and were deeply impacted by God’s Word during our studies. Learning about our identity in Christ at such a formative age set us on a stable path for growth and ministry to others. We still say to each other that the two years at Bible School were probably the most important two years of our lives.  

“Now 30+ years later we are still building upon that foundation, and God has given us the honor of being involved in the lives of hundreds of students who come through the doors of EBI year after year. Kim and I have one passion for each son or daughter of God who comes to EBI — to see them understand from God’s Word who they are and how they can live that out. What a joy!  

“If you need a push to think about EBI, consider this your invitation. Come join us!”* 

Here are perspectives from two additional instructors. 

“My name is Matt Zowada, and I’m the Communications Director and a Bible teacher at EBI. Teaching God’s Word has forced me to process God’s Word personally. Philippians has radically challenged me to find joy in every circumstance in life, and Galatians has encouraged me to view God as my Father and recognize the position I have before Him through the work of Jesus.  

“One major thing I see in our students is a heart of service, … and it has been an honor to see our students follow Christ’s example. Our students come to EBI for two major reasons. First, they want to know God through His Word. Secondly, they want to be prepared for life and missions. EBI exists for these realities.”  

“My name is Joel Megli, and I am involved in discipleship at [EBI]. I divide my time between one-on-one meetings with students and teaching. We’ve only been here just over a year and half. We’re starting to see the bridges, barriers and gaps in [students’] understanding of Scripture (as well as our own). We’ve loved being part of the Waukesha team. We’ve grown in our ability to contribute. We’re growing as disciplers.  

“We were involved in the Southeast Asia Mainland field until some health issues changed our direction. We believe in what we do as an organization, and so [we] wanted to find a way that we could continue to help.  

“The fact that students have made it to campus shows God is already at work. Studying the Word of God is the significant reason most of them have come in the first place. So, it’s fun to join God in the work that He’s already begun in them.  

“The great privilege of being a Bible teacher is you get to teach things that, if your students understand them, will change their lives. I see students grappling with concepts that are bringing purity, relationship, love, faith, vision, purpose, hope and excitement. Many are considering missions. Some are considering state-side ministries.  

“Our goal is to be the first step of preparation for being a missionary. So, our focus is to present the Scriptures as they are: the function of God’s mission in the world. That’s valuable not just for people who want to be missionaries but for people who want to understand the Scriptures and to contribute to the Church, whether formally or otherwise.” 

A Word (or Two) From the Students’ Perspective 

Now, the following are testimonies from students’ perspectives. 

“My name is Isaac Allison. I am an EBI graduate (Class of 2024). I now serve in a church in Wisconsin called Mercy Hill. I am the youth director, and I started [serving in this ministry] right after [graduating from] EBI. My time [there] was formative and beneficial for my future. I think fondly of my time at EBI in so many more ways than [simply] studying the Bible.  

“EBI was also a place I was able to grow in how to live as a Christian in this world. I learned the importance of community, and I grew in my understanding of how to be a husband and how to serve in full-time ministry. This is because at EBI you are not just another student. Teachers met with me all the time and discipled me. My wife and I had meals with the teachers. We shared burdens. We prayed a lot with others.  

“That is something I have implemented in my ministry — doing life with the youth. They come over for meals and see how I am, not only as their pastor but as a husband and a father. EBI equipped me for a life serving Jesus. This life is brief. And what we do for eternity is all that matters. EBI gave me a greater perspective on that.” 

You see? I told you that not all the students end up as cross-cultural missionaries! Now, let me introduce you to Urim Lee, an EBI alumnus (Class of 2024), whom I was privileged to meet after he graduated.  

“My name is Urim Lee, and I am from South Korea. My family lived in the States for a total of five years as my parents completed missionary training with Ethnos360. I have a younger sister, Wooa, and we grew up in Asia Pacific as MKs for six years before I moved to the USA to attend EBI in the fall of 2022.  

Why did you choose EBI? 

 “I chose EBI because not only have my parents frequently shared their unforgettable time of transformation and growth at Bible school, but I also have always had a deep interest and desire to study God’s Word in depth. I grew up constantly learning about the God my parents served — the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — but I wanted to meet and experience God on a personal level. I wanted to really cement my faith as my own and not just the faith of my parents or the result of my upbringing as an MK. It has always been my prayer to prioritize and value the knowledge and wisdom of the Word above anything else, and a wholly Bible-devoted education for two years really appealed to me. Discovering God’s will for my life of service to Him in the future was also another reason I decided to attend the Institute.” 

What was the best part of EBI? 

 “As much as the two-year, intensive course of studying the Bible from Genesis to Revelation would be a no-brainer, I would also arguably say that the best part of EBI was the continual learning that happened outside the classrooms. I got to be poured into consistently by the faculty and staff members through their testimony of how God has worked in their lives. Interactions with other students, some of them now my life-time friends, have also positively influenced me and sharpened me to conformity to the image of Christ.” 

 What was your favorite class and why? 

 “The class that had the most personal, lasting impact for me was the Galatians class taught by Matt Zowada. The ‘Not I, but Christ’ emphasis was like God’s wake-up call to me to stop relying on my own performance but instead to depend fully on the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to magnify Christ within me. I have even gone back to the class recordings and listened to them again, and it has definitely been a huge blessing to me since.” 

 How did God use EBI in your life? 

 “God used EBI in my life to deepen my relationship with Him, both in knowledge and wisdom of His Person and work revealed throughout Scripture. EBI instilled a sense of urgency and responsibility to share the gospel with others and to fulfill Jesus’ command to baptize and disciple for His name’s sake (Matthew 28:18-20). I was able to grow relationally and experience the beauty of the fellowship we as believers get to enjoy through the tight-knit community on campus. My two years at EBI were groundbreaking in understanding myself better as His child and further affirmed my love toward Him, to serve Him and participate in His redemptive plan that will stretch ‘… to the uttermost parts of the earth.’” 

 Did your life plan change because of EBI? 

 “I did not have much of a life plan to begin with before attending EBI, so I was simply taking the first clear step of going to EBI and seeing where the Lord would lead. While I did have a vague plan of transferring to another Christian college or university after EBI, the Lord unexpectedly guided me toward spending a gap year back in Asia Pacific … after graduating EBI. God graciously opened up many opportunities back in Asia Pacific for active ministry involvement and practical application of what I learned from EBI right in the cross-cultural ministry context. Leading youth group and preaching a few times at our local church was such a privilege, sparking a desire and passion within me to expand God’s Church through teaching His Word, especially to the younger generation. Now I am studying for a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies at College of the Ozarks, and I am prayerfully considering going on to a theological seminary afterwards.” 

 What did you learn about God while there? What did you learn about yourself? 

 “Of all the things I learned, God’s character and attributes really stood out to me consistently throughout my studies at EBI. I learned that I truly am in dire need of His grace and mercy daily, not just once at salvation.” 

 How did discipleship/mentorship influence you? Did it make you a discipler/mentor? 

 “I was able to pursue discipleship actively from one of my teachers, Matt Zowada, by meeting once a week to talk about the things God had been teaching us or just chatting about life in general.  

“Learning did not just end in the classrooms, but even in the mundane routines of life, I was able to grow in casual interactions. Engaging in the big and small conversations has cultivated the desire to be a mentor myself, and I have had wonderful chances to pour into some of the men here at College of the Ozarks as well.” 

What advice would you give to a prospective student? 

 “My biggest piece of advice would be to make the most out of your time at EBI. Two years go by much faster than you think, and looking back, I honestly regret the moments where I forfeited opportunities to serve and make an impact on others. I would say the bulk of the EBI experience is the vibrant community of brothers and sisters in Christ. Above all, always strive to keep in mind the worth of what you are studying: the living, breathed-out Word of God.” 

Perspective from a Returning Graduate 

Some students are given the opportunity to continue at EBI as interns, helping to fill some of the gaps. Courtney Marx is one such. 

“My name is Courtney Marx (Class of 2024), and I am currently serving at EBI as an intern in the Advancement department. 

“Why did I choose EBI? After hearing about unreached people groups, my heart continued to grow toward wanting to bring the gospel to those who have never heard it before. I couldn’t get over the fact that there were people around the world who had never heard about Jesus and never would unless someone went, learned their language and culture, and presented the gospel to them. I knew after I heard that, that’s what I wanted to give my life to.  

“A hard thing for me — not having grown up in the church — was realizing how much I didn’t know about God’s Word. It felt a bit overwhelming at the beginning, but I was encouraged by the teachers, staff and other students who helped me along the way to understand my identity in Christ.  

“I think the best part of EBI was the friends I made during my time here! It was so amazing to have friends who grew up all over the world! My friends here taught me so much, helped me grow close to God and encouraged me to pursue missions even though it wasn’t something I grew up knowing anything about.  

“Metanarrative was my favorite class because it was amazing to me to see so clearly all the ways the Bible was connected. We studied different themes you can see throughout the Bible, and it made me fall in love with God’s Word. 

“EBI was so foundational in my faith in ways I didn’t even [expect]. It gave me a solid foundation in my understanding of the Word while providing so many ways to continue to grow my heart for missions and the unreached. I came in wanting to do missions, and by seeing God’s heart for all people throughout Scripture and getting to go on some short-term trips, the Lord just continued to grow my desire to want to serve Him overseas among the unreached. 

“I came to understand God’s love and grace towards me in a way I didn’t understand before coming here. I came to understand that I really can depend on the Lord for all things, that He is a good Father who will continuously provide for me and that His ways are better than anything I can plan.  

“When I think about the discipleship and mentoring process at EBI, I know that I had amazing women pouring into my life throughout Bible school. I was challenged, corrected and overall so encouraged to walk deeply with the Lord, leaving behind the ways of this world to pursue God wholeheartedly. Having amazing women in my life like them gave me the desire to be that for others.” 

Perspective from a Recent Graduate 

Here are another young man’s responses to my inquiries. 

“My name is Isaiah Whitman. I was born in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, while my parents were serving on staff at Ethnos360 Bible Institute. When I was four years old, we moved to Paraguay to serve as cross-cultural missionaries. Seven years later, we moved back to the United States. Shortly before graduating high school, I made the decision to enroll at Ethnos360 Bible Institute.”  

Why did you choose EBI? 

“Growing up, I was surrounded by people (including my parents) who had gone through the Ethnos360 Bible training program. Many of them told me that their time at EBI was the best two years of their life. Their experiences excited me. I believed that my relationship with God was the most important aspect of my life and that a proper understanding of biblical truth was not simply helpful but absolutely necessary. I had very little knowledge of what I wanted to do with my life. However, I knew that no matter what I found myself doing later down the road, whether that was working a construction job in the United States or flying around the globe to serve as a missionary, I would never regret having spent two years of my life studying the Word of God under sound teaching alongside fellow brothers and sisters in Christ with the same ambition.” 

What was the best part of EBI? 

“I think that the best part of EBI was the community. There is something so special about living life with the same group of people for two years. The friendships that were built here at Bible school will always have a special place in my mind and heart. There were a few teachers and deans who reached out to me during a very hard season of life; their genuine care and concern impacted me greatly. I will certainly be leaving a piece of my heart here in Waukesha, Wisconsin, when I leave.” 

And your favorite class? 

“One of my favorite classes was Family Relationships. I loved learning about God’s design for singleness, marriage, parenting, etc. There are so many destructive lies surrounding the concept of family. It was so refreshing to have my mind renewed with truth.”  

What would you tell me if I were a prospective student? 

“My advice to a prospective student is this: Don’t forget to enjoy your time at Bible school; it is very special. Make sure that you are resting. Enjoy the relationships. Enjoy the teaching. Enjoy the beautiful campus. Enjoy God’s Word. And most importantly, enjoy your relationship with God.” 

Closing Thoughts 

Those are some powerful statements, allowing us to see into the hearts of those impacted by EBI. Is this a place you see yourself going? Or maybe you have a friend or someone in your family who is seeking spiritual growth in their lives. If attending classes in Wisconsin is not feasible, maybe you’d consider enrolling in our online Bible institute. Take advantage of these opportunities as soon as you can. 

Let me take a quote from Andrew Royer: “We look ahead with quiet confidence that God will continue to call and shape men and women through His Word by His Spirit and send them out for eternal impact into places that need it most.” EBI is equipping believers to take His Word where it is needed most. Alumni are making eternal impact in the USA and overseas. But it is learning from God’s Word and being discipled by Christian mentors that is doing the real equipping; EBI is simply a vessel. 

So, the question comes: Are you ready to take that step and begin an in-depth study of God’s Word? Are you ready to see what God can do with your life?