Sunset International Bible Institute
Encyclopedia
Sunset International Bible Institute is a Churches of Christ-affiliated institution of higher education in Lubbock, Texas
. It was established in 1962 by Cline Rex Paden
(1919–2007), a native of Hunt County
, upon his return to Lubbock from an extended missionary trip to Italy
. Originally called the Latin American Bible School, Sunset started with six students being trained as Spanish
-speaking preachers.
In 1963, the elders of the Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock accepted oversight of the school and briefly renamed it the West Texas Bible School. In 1964, the name was changed to the Sunset School of Preaching, with instruction in English
and Spanish. The number of students reached 175 in 1969, and Sunset Church added the East Wing and basement to its facilities to accommodate the Bible institute.
program was instituted for college-aged students. Later in the decade, the school graduated its first women. A program for the deaf began in 1977 under the direction of Hollis Maynard. In addition to Spanish instruction, departments were established for teaching in Slavic
and Chinese
languages.
In 1978, the 1,000th student graduated from Sunset. New instructors joined the faculty, including Cline Paden's brother, Gerald Paden, and Norman Gipson (1918–2007).
By 1980, student enrollment had topped three hundred annually, but reductions in federal military benefits thereafter reduced enrollment. New faces on the faculty included the future director, Truitt Adair. In addition, a new library and office addition was built with funds raised by alumni.
In 1984, the school purchased the "Pink House" for the training of missionaries in the heart of Mexico City
. The following year, Sunset students participated in the first annual student trips into Mexico City.
Paden retired in 1993, and Adair became the new executive director. Paden remained in the capacity of "chancellor". In 1995, the name was again changed—to Sunset International Bible Institute—to reflect its worldwide scope. A 1998 reorganization structured the school into three divisions: Residential Studies, External Studies, and International Studies.
Adventures In Missions had its largest class to date in 1993, with eighty-four students. By 1995 there were eighty-seven women enrolled in various programs. By 1996, the library had 14,000 volumes. The school's 2,000th graduate was recognized in 1997.
In 2000, Sunset started its Evening School program and saw total enrollment at international branch schools surpass that of the Lubbock campus.
In 2001, the school unveiled a new logo. In 2002, Sunset celebrated its 40th anniversary with the opening of its first remote classroom location in Fall River
, Massachusetts
. The Fall River branch campus is known as the Sunset International Bible Institute Northeast (SIBI N/E). SIBI N/E's website is http://www.sibine.com. There were fifty-five graduates at the residential school in Lubbock.
The institution launched a three-year, 12-million-dollar campaign in 2005 to help achieve the vision of preaching the Gospel to the world. The campaign concluded in 2008 raising over 13-million dollars.
In 2007, Sunset established the Sunset International Bible Institute Northwest (SIBI N/W); an interactive satellite-school in Puyallup
, Washington, near Seattle
. The new branch, which opened in August 2007 with five students, offers live instruction and communication with faculty and students at the residential branch in Lubbock. The Puyallup branch school is overseen by the elders of the Puyallup Church of Christ with Dr. Ken Wilson serving as the director of the Northwest branch. SIBI N/W's website is http://www.sibinw.org
In 2009, Sunset began to offer Texas-state approved Bachelor of Biblical Studies (BBS) degrees. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, according to the provisions of the Texas Education Code, sub-chapter G, chapter 61, title 3, section 7.5 (g). This authorizes the institute to legally grant religious degrees under the laws of the State of Texas. On May 23, 2009, the 78th class graduated with the newly instituted BBS degrees. Alumni of the Sunset International Bible Institute may receive a BBS degree by applying for the degree along with some leveling work.
In 2009, Sunset began to offer a Master of Biblical Studies (MBS) Degree Program. The program began with nine graduates in their first intensive week in April 2009. The MBS Degree Program is a 36-hour program, that includes a 6-hour thesis project. The program requires time on the residential campus, in Lubbock for two intensive weeks. The program also allows for twelve transferable credits to the program.
Vice President for Advancement is Chris Swinford.
Vice President of Ministry Training
Vice President of Finance is Brad Pruitt
SIBI N/W Director is Ken Wilson
(1955–2008), Church of Christ minister; Cleveland Browns
player in 1977
33.562952°N 101.895726°W
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. It was established in 1962 by Cline Rex Paden
Cline Paden
Cline Rex Paden was a prominent Churches of Christ evangelist and missionary who, in 1962, founded what became the Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock, Texas...
(1919–2007), a native of Hunt County
Hunt County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 76,596 people, 28,742 households, and 20,521 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile . There were 32,490 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile...
, upon his return to Lubbock from an extended missionary trip to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Originally called the Latin American Bible School, Sunset started with six students being trained as Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
-speaking preachers.
In 1963, the elders of the Sunset Church of Christ in Lubbock accepted oversight of the school and briefly renamed it the West Texas Bible School. In 1964, the name was changed to the Sunset School of Preaching, with instruction in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Spanish. The number of students reached 175 in 1969, and Sunset Church added the East Wing and basement to its facilities to accommodate the Bible institute.
1970s and 1980s
During the 1970s, Sunset launched correspondence courses through its extension department. In 1973, the Adventures In MissionsAdventures In Missions (Texas)
Adventures In Missions is a Christian apprentice missions program for college-age young people. The program is a part of Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock, Texas...
program was instituted for college-aged students. Later in the decade, the school graduated its first women. A program for the deaf began in 1977 under the direction of Hollis Maynard. In addition to Spanish instruction, departments were established for teaching in Slavic
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
and Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
languages.
In 1978, the 1,000th student graduated from Sunset. New instructors joined the faculty, including Cline Paden's brother, Gerald Paden, and Norman Gipson (1918–2007).
By 1980, student enrollment had topped three hundred annually, but reductions in federal military benefits thereafter reduced enrollment. New faces on the faculty included the future director, Truitt Adair. In addition, a new library and office addition was built with funds raised by alumni.
In 1984, the school purchased the "Pink House" for the training of missionaries in the heart of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. The following year, Sunset students participated in the first annual student trips into Mexico City.
Sunset in the 1990s and beyond
In 1990, Sunset launched an Extension School and began to translate courses into several languages. In 1992, Sunset launched its Small Church Growth Workshop and a video studio.Paden retired in 1993, and Adair became the new executive director. Paden remained in the capacity of "chancellor". In 1995, the name was again changed—to Sunset International Bible Institute—to reflect its worldwide scope. A 1998 reorganization structured the school into three divisions: Residential Studies, External Studies, and International Studies.
Adventures In Missions had its largest class to date in 1993, with eighty-four students. By 1995 there were eighty-seven women enrolled in various programs. By 1996, the library had 14,000 volumes. The school's 2,000th graduate was recognized in 1997.
In 2000, Sunset started its Evening School program and saw total enrollment at international branch schools surpass that of the Lubbock campus.
In 2001, the school unveiled a new logo. In 2002, Sunset celebrated its 40th anniversary with the opening of its first remote classroom location in Fall River
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The Fall River branch campus is known as the Sunset International Bible Institute Northeast (SIBI N/E). SIBI N/E's website is http://www.sibine.com. There were fifty-five graduates at the residential school in Lubbock.
The institution launched a three-year, 12-million-dollar campaign in 2005 to help achieve the vision of preaching the Gospel to the world. The campaign concluded in 2008 raising over 13-million dollars.
In 2007, Sunset established the Sunset International Bible Institute Northwest (SIBI N/W); an interactive satellite-school in Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
, Washington, near Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. The new branch, which opened in August 2007 with five students, offers live instruction and communication with faculty and students at the residential branch in Lubbock. The Puyallup branch school is overseen by the elders of the Puyallup Church of Christ with Dr. Ken Wilson serving as the director of the Northwest branch. SIBI N/W's website is http://www.sibinw.org
In 2009, Sunset began to offer Texas-state approved Bachelor of Biblical Studies (BBS) degrees. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, according to the provisions of the Texas Education Code, sub-chapter G, chapter 61, title 3, section 7.5 (g). This authorizes the institute to legally grant religious degrees under the laws of the State of Texas. On May 23, 2009, the 78th class graduated with the newly instituted BBS degrees. Alumni of the Sunset International Bible Institute may receive a BBS degree by applying for the degree along with some leveling work.
In 2009, Sunset began to offer a Master of Biblical Studies (MBS) Degree Program. The program began with nine graduates in their first intensive week in April 2009. The MBS Degree Program is a 36-hour program, that includes a 6-hour thesis project. The program requires time on the residential campus, in Lubbock for two intensive weeks. The program also allows for twelve transferable credits to the program.
Administrators
Sunset's President is Truitt Ellis Adair.Vice President for Advancement is Chris Swinford.
Vice President of Ministry Training
Vice President of Finance is Brad Pruitt
SIBI N/W Director is Ken Wilson
Notable alumni
Billie Wayne LemonsBillie Wayne Lemons
Billie Wayne Lemons was a Church of Christ minister from Lubbock, Texas, who played football for the NFL Cleveland Browns in 1977, when the team won six and lost eight games....
(1955–2008), Church of Christ minister; Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
player in 1977
School Information
33.562952°N 101.895726°W