The institution that you see today was founded in 1967 by a Swedish missionary, Rev. Kjell Sjoberg, when the Pentecostal movement was in full swing in the cities and villages of Pakistan. At that time new churches were rapidly being planted but they lacked trained leaders to provide the necessary pastoral care. To fulfill this need, FGA started a Bible school with a one-year training program for those aspiring leaders who felt the call to serve God. Rev. Kjell Sjoberg served as the first principal of the Bible College.
Because of the increased demand for pastors and workers with more training, in 1989 the school expanded its program to a two-year Diploma of Theology. In the year 2000, a research-based Bachelor of Arts in Theology program was launched, designed to be completed after the Diploma of Theology. In 2009 this program, was replaced by a one-year taught Bachelor of Theology degree. Distinctively, for the last ten years or so, the Bible College has been offering an English-only Masters of Divinity by dissertation, administered in conjunction with the UK Advisory Board for Christian Studies, and overseen by Rev. Dr. Hugh Osgood. Students can be based in Pakistan or abroad.
In August 1994, the Bible College opened its doors for women. This was a paradigm shift in ministry training as women had been marginalized in both society and church. Today around half of the student body is women. In Pakistan’s male-dominated social context, we are proud to also have women on our faculty and staff.
The College started with about a dozen students in 1967. In 2017 we have over 120 students from all over Pakistan. The number is increasing every year and is limited only by our facilities.
FGA Bible College has graduated 700 students. These graduates are serving as pastors, evangelists, indigenous missionaries, children’s ministry workers, women’s ministry workers, worship leaders, and also as witnesses in secular professions. Our graduates serve with FGA churches, other Pentecostal and Evangelical churches, and parachurch organizations. Some are key leaders in their churches or mission organizations. Our graduates are an instrument of blessing to tens of thousands in Pakistan today, a privilege for which we are grateful to God.