Our MIssion
One Year. One Book. One Goal: Make Disciples.
GCBI is a ten-month discipleship program located in Central Florida geared towards young adults and designed to create a solid understanding of God’s Word along with a broad experience in discipleship and ministry. Through biblical studies courses and involvement in ministry with the local church, GCBI prepares men and women for the next step- be it vocational ministry, furthering their education, or entering the work force or mission field.
Students will also be mentored throughout the year by spiritual coaches who are committed to seeing them become disciples who will make disciples. During the ten month course of GCBI, students will have the opportunity to:
Read the Bible in eight days out loud as a group
Study the Bible cover to cover
Create a personal Study Bible through academics
Work with a variety of dynamic local ministries
Become a vital part of the local body of Christ
Live in real community with other believers
Tour the Holy Land and walk where Jesus walked
The Great Commission Bible Institute is committed to helping young people become passionate followers of Jesus Christ; young people who will impact our world with His gospel.
We don’t just want to make disciples; we want to make disciple makers.
We believe that Great Commission Bible Institute is a unique opportunity for young people to be equipped to make disciples. We invite you to prayerfully consider applying to be a part of it all!
The Program
The Great Commission Bible Institute was started in 2005 by a team of pastors, Bible teachers, and missionaries for the purpose of training young people in God’s Word, that they may be “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17).
At the Great Commission Bible Institute we believe that the most important aspect of learning God’s Word is living it. So, we have designed a “life learning laboratory” that combines exceptional classroom teaching with life on life discipleship opportunities and hands-on ministry experience. Whether it’s in the church, the dorm, the workplace, or on the street, students will be prepared to take the principles they learn from Scripture and walk them out in everyday life.
Bible
“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”
We believe the sixty-six books of the Bible were all given by God without error in their original language in order to be the supreme and final authority on faith and life. We believe that it can be understood and all of it can be applicable to a believer’s life. That’s why at Great Commission Bible Institute God’s Word is the only textbook we use. We begin the program by reading through the Bible aloud together in 8 days and spend the next 10 months digging deep into all 66 books and 1189 chapters, verse by verse examining its original meaning, cultural context and how it can apply to our life today.
Discipleship
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Discipleship plays a vital role in nurturing the Christian faith, and our commitment to this process is integral to our organization. We recognize the significant impact our leadership team must have in the lives of students as we interact with them daily, serving as mentors and discipleship guides, and spending intentional time helping students process what they are learning. Practically this plays out as life on life discipleship by living on campus in daily community, regular meetings with your RAs and mentors and walking through each day with individuals championing your growing faith, relationship with Jesus and spiritual maturing process.
Community
“By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”
Living in community is vital to not only the Christian faith but also to our program. We encourage our students to not only build community within Great Commission Bible Institute but also with our local churches and ministries. There are many opportunities to get connected with those in the community and play an important role in what makes GCBI unique.
Our Campus
Located on the shores of spring fed Lake Denton in Avon Park, FL the GCBI campus is a “summer camp” style haven and a peaceful homebase for the 10 month program.
With the sweet scent of orange blossoms out our front door and the gentle lapping of a shimmering lake out our back GCBI Florida’s Lake Denton campus is a little piece of quiet Central Florida heaven. Our students and RAs are housed in the 10 cozy cabins under the oaks and enjoy common spaces for their kitchen, dining and classroom spaces centrally located in the main building on campus. Being in the very heart of the state, we are just a short drive from either coast as well as many major cities for fun outings and day trips. Yet who would want to leave when the tranquil atmosphere, coupled with breathtaking sunsets, makes Lake Denton a haven for our students and a place to create cherished memories.
Virtual Tour
Our Location
Learning Experience
GCBI offers a variety of learning experiences from on campus to online.
In Person Learning Experience:
On Campus
At Great Commission Bible Institute we are passionate about not only teaching the word but also learning to live in community effectively. Living on campus with your classmates give you a great opportunity to build meaningful relationships while also learning to live in community.
Off Campus
Deciding to live off campus is a great option for those who are Sebring natives who want to remain where they are but still want to participate in every aspect of being a Great Commission Bible Institute student. You still have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with your classmates, it just might look different then living on campus.
Auditor Learning Experience:
Auditor
When someone audits at Great Commission Bible Institute, they attend the classes and have access to course materials, but they are not required to complete assignments, take exams, or earn grades. This a great option for those wanting to gain more knowledge on the Bible but do not have the time to do all the class work.
Remote Learning Experience:
Online
Integration of online learning into our program has provided a valuable avenue for individuals eager to delve into the study of the Bible, despite the current circumstances that prevent them from attending in-person sessions. Our online learning option ensures that learners at any stage of life can access the same high-quality education as our in-person attendees.
Testimonials
GCBI has graduated over 200 disciple makers over the course of nearly 20 years.
The Experience
from the Class of 2021-2022
Testimonials
From throughout the years
“I grossly underestimated just how much God would work in my heart during my year at GCBI. Growing up, I was the pastor’s kid who had heard the stories of the Bible so frequently that I knew them like the back of my hand. GCBI provided me the opportunity to learn the Bible not as a collection of stories, but rather as one collective story from start to finish. I learned more than I thought possible and was stretched in ways I had not anticipated. I came into the year with my own set plan for my life and ended the year leaning wholly on God for even the next step. God used the community of believers around me, both in the dorms and at Grace Church, to soften my heart to His leading and show me a tangible picture of His grace. GCBI taught me not just about the Bible, but also about the character of my Savior and how to best spend the rest of my life seeking after Him. The end of the year trip to Israel perfectly capped off everything I had learned by providing context to the stories. Getting to walk where my Savior walked and see the places from the Bible with my own eyes is an experience I will never forget nor take for granted. I will always see my year at GCBI as the best year of my life, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone desperate to know not just the Bible but also it’s Author on a deeper level. ”
“Quite simply, GCBI was one of the most positively life-changing experiences I have ever had. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to understand the Bible as a congruent book and as the Word of God, rather than just a collection of irrelevant stories. Wherever you are in your walk with God, being able to read His Word and discover the truth within is an irreplaceable and vital skill!”
“God who wrote it in a truly intimate way. And going through that process while surrounded and supported by other believers who live in relationship with a God they KNOW rather than in mere religious observance for a God they know OF is truly exceptional!”