New Life Bible Institute emerged from a training session for short-term missionaries. Catherine Jeter, the coordinator of short-term missions program of “Have Christ Will Travel Ministries” had arranged for classes to be held at the Living Waters Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. Marshall.

During one of these training sessions it was suggested that the training program be expanded to a three year Bible course. The aim was to train missionaries as quickly as possible to commit them to the field.

With a vision for the world, and trust in God, the Bethlehem School of the Bible Missionary Training School was born.

Under the direction of Rev. Joseph C. Jeter and Sis. Catherine Jeter, coordinator, the school held sessions at the Third Eternal Baptist Church, located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.

The late Pastor Archie Washington opened these doors and allowed the school to come in. Rev. Timothy E. Ruffin served as Director, and Deacon Richard Johnson served as Assistant Director.

The Lord blessed the school. The late Missionary Ernie Wilson preached the first Chapel Service.

Later, the Lord blessed that we were able to open campuses at Bibleway Baptist Church, where the late Rev. Gaither was Pastor, and the late Rev. William Lemon served as Director. Rev. Joseph Thompson served as Director at the Trinity AME Church, where the late Rev. Stevenson was Pastor.

Rev. Vaughn Wilson established a campus at the Faith Baptist Church located at 60th and Market Streets for a short time.

In March 1978, Rev. Timothy E. Ruffin was called to pastor Beulah Baptist Church, and a branch of Bethlehem School of the Bible was started which was later named New Life Bible Institute Missionary Training School.

The Lord continued to bless. The Beulah officers and members opened the door and allowed the school to hold classes in the church building.

Many Pastors opened the doors of their church for New Life, namely Rev. Harry Davis of the Holy Temple Baptist Church for about five years. Currently there are five campuses in operation. Rev. James Kinchen former pastor of True Vine Baptist Church, embraced New Life. Rev. James Christmas is presently pastor. In 1993 Rev. Bruce W. Hook pastor of Liberty Baptist Church desired a branch of the school. Rev. Byron Craig pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church of Norristown, Pennsylvania accepted this ministry.

Still another door was opened to New Life at the Bible Way Freewill Baptist Church in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia, where Rev. Donald Bell is pastor.

Day Classes have been established at Beulah Baptist Church under the direction of Rev. William Henley, former Dean and now President of New Life.

It was with the burden of and in the midst of ministering to these branches of the Bible School that God blessed the school with the gift of administration in the person of Betty A. Ruffin the wife of the late Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Ruffin. Sister Ruffin came forth just at the right time to administrate, organize and coordinate the work of an increased enrollment and the need of faculty for these five campuses.

We praise the Lord for our administration and the office staff who serve untiringly unto the Lord. We are grateful for our dedicated faculty who faithfully impart the Word of God to our students.

We are blessed with a faculty member who accepted the position of Dean in the person of Brother Willie Blassingame.

The Alumni Association of New Life under the former administration of Johnnymae Brown was organized and has been very successful. Our newly appointed President, Deacon Theolphus Hunt, with the assistance of Joyce V. Burton has carried out the goals of the Alumni. We praise God for the prayers, gifts and interest of our graduates.

New Life Bible Institute Missionary Training School is a non-tuition Bible School and is committed to Matthew 10:8b, “freely ye have received, freely give.” Praise the Lord!

The vision of our founder Rev. Timothy E. Ruffin has flourished to the glory of God. To date seven hundred and eight students have graduated from New Life. We stand trusting the Lord to continually send laborers who seeing that the fields are white unto harvest, will come forth to be used of the Lord, and with that concern and burden, take the time to study to show themselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth.