Living Our Core Values

By Dr. Jason Koppen, IBC President

The vision of Indigenous Bible College is to help Native America move from being a mission field to becoming a mission force. In 2011 the staff asked the question, “What will it take to see that vision come to pass?” We reverse-engineered from IBC’s vision statement to create five key Core Values that are all intensely biblical and practical for Native Americans. Since being approved by the board in 2013, IBC has worked to thoroughly implement these values in every way possible—from the classroom to the dorm room to the boardroom.

In John 20:21 Jesus said, “As the Father sent me, so I am also sending you.” We believe Jesus meant we are to embrace both His mission and His method—that the way He lived His life was to be a model for all of His future followers. IBC’s Core Values represent our commitment to emulating Jesus in every way.

As the “essential DNA” of our college, we are committed to not only teaching these five Core Values, but also practicing and living them out in every aspect of our ministry. Staff model the values not only because they believe in them, but also for the sake of students so they can go and live them out in their present and future ministries.

This newsletter highlights a few examples of how IBC is expressing these values in thorough and comprehensive ways—often at great cost and sacrifice. I hope this encourages you that IBC is indeed committed to exemplifying what we say is most important—living and ministering like Jesus (John 20:21)!