Anton Deik named Director of Online Education at BBC
The thoughtful integration of Theological Education and technology is foundational for Anton Deik, the newly appointed Director of Online Education at Bethlehem Bible College. Anton is excited to begin his role. He explains that ‘the growth of the Arabic-speaking church in the Middle East and the continuous need for robust theological education, especially among underground churches, necessitate finding solutions for distance Biblical and theological training in Arabic.’
Prior to his time at Bethlehem Bible College, Anton served with OM Ships on-board M/V Logos Hope and enjoyed preaching and leading worship at Oasis International Church in London.He graduated from Birzeit University in Computer Systems Engineering and has a Master with Merit from London School of Theology in Transformation: Scripture, Church and World. For his role at BBC, Anton brings together his experience in research in Computer Science along with this passion for Theological training .
Anton believes that providing BBC with distance Biblical and Theological training goes along with the vision of the college since its foundation. He explains in this connection that ‘since its inception, Bethlehem Bible College was envisioned by its founder Dr. Bishara Awad to be a center for theological training for the whole of the Arab world’. However, due to political turmoil, the access for Arabs outside Palestine to the college has become restricted. This situation left the vision of the founder of Bethlehem Bible College unfulfilled. Nevertheless, Anton believes that ‘with the current advancements in technology and distance learning approaches, the vision to reach out to the whole Arab world with theological and Biblical training has become closer to accomplish’. Furthermore, the new e-learning program intends to reach not only to Arab speaking countries. Anton explains that ‘the program also envisions to reach out to the wider English-speaking world with distinctive Palestinian Christian perspectives on Biblical Studies and Theology, which will contribute to the enriching of the global Church’.
More than ever, Bethlehem Bible College is being a catalyst for the transformation of the church, not only in Palestine, but also in the Arab world as it reaches out to many more people through online education.
