A UK-based Bible College for Chinese Christians has recognized the pressing need to train more pastoral ministers for the rising Chinese churches across Europe, from where the missionaries for Europeans can be founded.

Chinese Overseas Christian Mission (COCM) Bible College has just kicked-off the new academic year on the week Sept. 5-8. On top of the Europe Pastoral Work Diploma Course that was started in 1998, Certificate of Christian Ministry C, Diploma of Christian Ministry, Bachelor of Ministry that have been offering since 2003, a part-time Extension Christian Ministry Course is being introduced to London Christians by COCM from its main Milton Keynes Campus this year.

In partnership with the London Chinese Methodist Church, the course is based on the curriculum of the COCM Bible College’s one-year Certificate of Christian Ministry Course, but will be taught on a part-time basis over two years. Students are required to complete ten core subjects in two years. On completion, students will be awarded a Certificate of Christian Ministry by COCM Bible College.

The aim of the course is to help believers in Chinese churches to grow in their spiritual lives as well as increase their ability to serve God. It is a course targeting spiritual growth and church ministries.

In London, the enrollment for the new extension course is reported to be very actively, according to Dr. Jason Lim, president of the COCM Bible College. 15 students have been successfully enrolled and several dozens are also in preparation. Most of them come from London or the neighboring cities. The Course is expected to be introduced in other neighboring cities as well once the foundation is set up well in London.

According to COCM Bible College, Chinese churches in Europe suffer from a severe shortage of Christian workers. In the past eight years, more than forty graduates have been called to serve God in various Chinese churches in Europe. COCM Bible College is one of the few but important training schools for Chinese Christian workers in Europe.

COCM Bible College received continuous support by many Chinese churches. At the beginning of this year, COCM Bible College was invited by four Chinese churches in Paris to lead so-called "Theology Sunday" where they share the vision of the Bible College. It is considered an effective way to promote the vision and to recruit students from all over Europe.

Founded in 1950, COCM is the oldest and largest inter-denominational Chinese mission organization in Europe with the objectives of bringing the gospel to the Chinese scattered over Europe through pioneering evangelism, church planting, training and literature work.