IBEI - Italy

The "Istituto Biblico Evangelico" (or the English equivalent, Italian Bible Institute) was founded in 1959 near La Spezia by missionaries of the Greater Europe Mission. The founders were motivated by a strong desire to offer Italian evangelical churches a tool that would facilitate the preparation of believers to serve in the churches and to reach out with the Gospel.
In 1961, it was relocated in a villa of Montesacro (Rome), and in February 1981, an old country house was purchased and restructured. This country house, that became the new home of the Institute, is located on the outskirts of Rome, near Borgata Finocchio. Here the students enjoy the calm Roman countryside, yet are connected to the city and to its evangelical churches. In 1983 the association I.B.E.I. (Istituto Biblico Evangelico Italiano – Italian Evangelical Bible Institute) came to life. This association is constituted by believers, who elects a council that appoints the executive committee.

Besides the Residential School, during the eighties, the Correspondence School was born, a program which has developed into today's Online Part-time Distance Learning program. In the same decade the Extension Schools were born. The idea for this innovative educational program was sparked by the desire of many believers to study the Bible. IBEI thus launched a pilot program of weekend intensives in Sesto S. Giovanni (Milan), and a series of Extension Schools have since begun: Turin, Naples, Palermo, Florence and Rome, to name a few. Also, there have been some extension schools abroad (Germany, Switzerland, Albania). In 2020, on the wake of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched a new Online Full-time Distance Learning program: students can follow live the lessons of the Residential School, from their home! This is a full-time program that allows students to complete the Bachelor of theology without having to move to Rome. 

In 1990 the first issue of Lux Biblica, our school's journal, was published, with the aim to update alumni on theological and ministerial issues, and to stimulate the churches with accessible material for spiritual and ecclesial growth.

Today, our programs are accredited by the ECTE, The European Council for Theological Education (formerly EEAA), member of ICETE (International Council for Evangelical Theological Education), of INQAAHE (International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education) and EQAR (European Quality Assurance Registrar). This has opened the door for IBEI alumni to continue their studies in various institutes such as Evangelische Theologische Faculteit of Leuven (Belgium), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (USA), London School of Theology (England), Tilsley College (Scotland).

Today, IBEI continues to labour in order to serve the evangelical churches in the formation of believers, to be prepared to serve!

The following project is currently being promoted:

Fill the Gap 2023

The yearly tuition of €6000/$6550 per student (including room & board) and the real costs amounting to €9000/$9830 leave us with a gap of €3000/$3280 per student, per year. We ask Italian students and their churches to cover the student’s tuition, which is already a significant effort for many of them (even with the scholarship fund in place). We also look to donors to give in order to "Fill the Gap" either by providing the full amount of €3000/$3280 per student, or in smaller amounts to reduce this gap. Any help will be greatly appreciated and will make a significant impact. To express our gratitude and to enable you to see the effect of your giving, we will send you a regular newsletter directly from the student for whom your donation helps close the gap.

To donate to one of this project, click right here or the "support" button above. When checking out, make sure to write in the "Note to CMML" box "Fill the Gap 2023". Thanks!