European Nazarene College (EuNC) is committing to theological education in Arabic by merging with Arabic Nazarene Bible College (ANBC) to create the Arabic Learning Center.

“Through the EuNC - ALC, we hope to fulfill the vision of the church leaders in the Middle East: provide accredited programmes in the Arabic language, make theological education available to all the Arabic speakers through online education beyond the Middle East, and offer a broader education than it was possible before,” said EuNC Rector Maria Gusztinné Tulipán.

Originally founded in 1953, ANBC has met in various forms in Lebanon, Cyprus, and Jordan. In 2017, the college began researching how it could reach students through an online platform, partially due to the complex relationships between countries in that area. One of their many options was to partner with an existing Nazarene institution. 

As conversations continued over the next couple of years, ANBC and EuNC developed a plan to help offer a high quality and easily accessible theological education in Arabic. In January of 2023, the Board of Governors for ANBC voted unanimously for the dissolution of the college, contingent upon the vision that EuNC would create the Arabic Learning Center. 

Currently, EuNC has eight instructors approved to teach in Arabic, with another six going through the approval process. During an EuNC faculty assembly in February, Eastern Mediterranean Field Strategy Coordinator Khalil Halaseh discussed the vision of making education available to the wider church in Arabic given the growth of the church in Arabic-speaking areas. 

The Arabic Learning Center will not only serve the Eastern Mediterranean Field but the wider Arabic speaking population globally. According to the 2022 Nazarene Annual Statistical Report, there are 7,825 Nazarenes that worship weekly in Arabic.

The hope is the program continues to add to the growing unity amongst Arabic-speaking Nazarenes.
“God wants us to work together in partnership,” Halaseh said. “If we put our resources together, we can build a great generation for the glory of God.”

EuNC has moved to a decentralized educational model in recent years. Most of the education is carried out online, while there are specific learning centers established in 17 different countries. 

With the addition of the Arabic Learning Center, ANBC’s current campus in Cyrpus will become another one of EuNC’s learning centers. Through the Arabic Learning Center, students can earn a Certificate in Spiritual Formation, a Diploma in Christian Ministry, and an Advanced Diploma in Applied Theology. The Diploma of Christin Ministry at EuNC is approved as an ordination track through the International Course of Study Advisory Committee for the Church of the Nazarene.

Eurasia Region Director Jim Ritchie addressed the EuNC faculty in February, reminding them of the necessity for adaptability, and expressed his hope of reaching the Arab world in a new way. 

“The best days of EuNC are ahead of us,” Ritchie said. “We build on a great legacy, but we have a great future.”