Alex and Erin are one of the couples we’ve had to say good-bye to after December’s graduation. We got to know Alex when he started coming to our open house coffee night and we’ve enjoyed spending the last year getting to know them both. The following is a short interview with Alex about his time here at NTBI. We hope it will give you a glimps of his past two years here.
What made me come to NTBI?
I heard Brad Buser speak at a youth conference about 6 months after I had graduated high school. I was planning on going into youth ministry (just because that seemed like what everyone did who was going into full time ministry as a pastor or what not). I was attending the local community college for Gen. Ed. stuff just to get it out of the way cheap. Well I heard Brad speak and was shocked that there were even people out there who had yet to hear the gospel, especially 2,500 languages! I decided that I could go to NTBI to see what it was all about and if I didn’t want to be a missionary I would have two years of Bible debt free. Quite a few people thought it was a bad idea because it wasn’t an accredited college but like I said, two years of Bible and I’m debt free when I’m done. If I wanted to do something else, it wouldn’t be a problem.
Have your plans changed since you first attended NTBI? How?
Yes! My wife and I are planning on continuing the training with NTM to become missionaries! I also got married! That changes plans of course… (for the good to say the least).
What is the most memorable thing you learned in class?
This is a tough one… I think the overarching ideas taught in every class are the basic hermeneutical principles may be the most memorable. This wasn’t the most life changing thing I learned but may be one of the most important. Hermeneutical skills taught at NTBI are helping me to continue to study the Bible in an effective way.
To put my finger on one most memorable thing I learned in the life changing arena is difficult. I’ll have to say Rom. 6:11 “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” It wasn’t just the fact that we read this verse but how we were able to discuss it with so many people to finally grasp the concept. This was true of any topic. One of my favorite things about NTBI is how small it was. I could talk one on one with teachers, deans, and any staff.
How did you two meet?
Well we met and New Tribes Bible Institute! Apart We started to hang out with some other people and I became interested in her because of her character (she’s really cute too). Nothing super romantic… Just thought she was a great girl so I spent more time with her and eventually asked her out.
What are you’re future plans?
Right now we are in Keizer, OR taking a year off between NTBI and the NTM Missionary Training Center. Our plan is just to take some time out of training to grow as a couple because we were just married in August! In January 2012 we plan to attend the MTC. We’re not really sure where God would have us in all the different roles in NTM. We hope by going through MTC that we will gain a greater understanding of what we are naturally inclined to and where in the world we may end up. Both of those things are in the air. We know that we want to be involved in reaching the unreached with the gospel. We’re just not sure what or where that will be.
How would you sum up you’re 2 years?
The most profitable two years I have had in my life. I don’t have that many years to compare but it set the bar pretty high. It was a great environment to be able to study God’s word. I had a great time with my roommates and classmates. The work load was very manageable which left time for work or building relationships. Outside of class there were so many great opportunities to spend time with staff and students. NTBI far exceeded my expectations.
We are so glad that God brought them into our lives and look forward to seeing where He takes them in the future.
Josh and Mandi Brower Using Technology to Expand the Reach of the Gospel 
teaching started on Wednesday he heard the first lesson in complete. Morgan thought he looked teary as Mike began explaining that this was a big talk and it was for them, for all the people here, for the ones who chew betel nut and the ones who don’t, for the ones who smoke and the ones who don’t. We have these lessons recorded and they are on 4 hand crank mp3 players. The young man came to our house Wednesday night after hearing the lesson again in a hut where the people in our village gathered. He said, “I just wish my dad could have heard this talk.” His dad died in 2007. Already, the weight of this message is being understood by this young man.