First, students who simply couldn t afford to attend an accredited private Bible college will now have that choice. Many will be attracted simply by the opportunity to attend one year of Bible college before heading to a university. These Biblically grounded professionals usually become strong workers in the church as elders, deacons, youth sponsors and the like. And often those intending to stay for one year become drawn to preaching, ministry or missions and end up as graduates. By eliminating the need for student debt, graduates would be freed to move into bold, new works like starting new churches or opening new foreign mission fields.
Financial difficulties constitute the number one reason for ministers leaving the ministry.
Allowing students to begin their ministry without debt gives them the freedom to stay in the ministry for the long term. The combined effect of these new opportunities can release a tremendous wave of debt-free preachers, ministers and missionaries ready to serve in the harvest. If we are to focus clearly upon our task of training leaders for the church in this present millennium, then we can not ignore the substantial impact of student debt. Financial considerations constitute one of the most common underlying reasons for leaving the ministry. As we send students out trained for ministry, but saddled with substantial college debt payments, we can not ignore its effects.