Historical View
1946 - 2023
77 SUCCESSFUL YEARS OF MINISTRY
Bethel Bible Institute can give God praise for its thousands of students who have completed their studies and are now serving around the world as evangelists, missionaries, teachers, pastors, counselors and great helpers in various areas of Christian service.
1946 - 2023
1946 - mid 80's
1946 BBI'S INCEPTION
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Many people who felt they had a call on their lives suddenly realized that because of family responsibilities, job situations, and various other commitments, they were not able to attend a resident Bible School for training. Believing that God deserves and requires trained workers to do His will, the vision of Bethel Bible Institute was born in the hearts of our founders the late Bishop Roderick R. Caesar, Sr. and wife, Rev. Gertrude M. Caesar. Their desire was to provide a place of study where people could receive a standardized code of study of the Word of God.The Bethel Bible Institute first began with only a few students. The first graduating class consisted of approximately ten or twelve studen
ts, with Dr. Roderick R. Caesar and his wife Rev. Gertrude Caesar, as instructors. As the student enrollment grew, so did the faculty. Dr. Caesar actively served as the President of the Bethel Bible Institute until he retired in the mid-eighties with Godly pride, when his son Rev. Roderick R. Caesar, Jr. (now Bishop) assumed the role as President.
1946-1978
GERTRUDE CAESAR
SERVED IN MULTIPLE POSITIONS UNTIL 1978
Rev. Gertrude Caesar served as the Institute’s first Dean, Registrar, and Bursar, as well as one of its most beloved teachers. She served the Bible school diligently until the Lord took her home. Sister Caesar is best remembered for her unique ability to remember each of her students’ names.
1946-1978
Mid 80s - Present
Mid-80s
PASSING THE TORCH
Dr. Caesar actively served as the President of the Bethel Bible Institute until he retired in the mid-eighties with Godly pride, when his son Rev. Roderick R. Caesar, Jr. (now Bishop) assumed the role as President.1991
1991 BBI'S INCORPORATION
BEGINNING OF OVERSEAS OUTREACH
During Rev. Caesar’s tenure as President, on December 26, 1991, the Bible School became incorporated, and opened its doors to begin to outreach overseas. Dr. Caesar was instrumental in establishing schools in Trinidad and India.
Bishop Roderick R. Caesar, II's tenure continues as Bethel Bible Institute embarks on a new era and Bible education goes virtual.
1991
1978 - Present
OFFICE OF THE DEAN
HIGHLY-QUALIFIED DEAN'S
CONTRIBUTE TO BBI'S SUCCESS
Dr. Lillian Campbell-Ferguson took over the reigns after Rev. Gertrude Caesar and served as Dean for five years. Dr. Edna Leader, who served for thirteen and a half years, succeeded her. Dr. Leader was succeeded by Rev. Brenda Collier who proceeded to endeavor new challenges. Presently, Rev. Crystal Baines serves as Academic Dean; and Pastor Beverly Caesar Sherrod serves as Executive Dean.
2020 - Present
VIRTUAL CLASSES
CURRENTLY BBI IS TRAINING PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE
The Bethel Bible Institute continues to offer its regularly scheduled courses, during its seventy-fifth and seventy-sixth years of operation. Students attend courses via Zoom and systematically study the word of God. No, the pandemic hasn't stopped God's word. We expect that more students will graduate following these unprecedented years in 2020 and continuing into 2023.
Classes remain vibrant and are open to students all around the globe. We thank God for His faithfulness in continuing our tradition that began seventy-six years ago when the Bethel Bible Institute opened its doors to a systematic study of the Scriptures to those seeking to qualify for Christian Service.
2020 - Present