Osaka Bible Seminary

Osaka Bible Seminary is the only Bible college in Japan sponsored by Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. It was established in 1937 by Harold Cole at the invitation of M. B. Madden, was forced to discontinue during World War II, and was reorganized in 1950 under the leadership of Paul's father, Martin B. Clark. When he died in 1989, Paul P. Clark became president and continued in that capacity until March 2001, when one of our long-term goals was realized in passing on the leadership to a Japanese president, Brother Akinori Nakano. In addition to Dr. Clark, the school has a faculty of three full-time and several part-time Japanese professors. Over 110 graduates have gone out from OBS, serving all over Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. Over 90% of living OBS graduates remain faithful in the church, and about 90% of the four-year graduates are in leadership ministry.

 

Osaka Bible Seminary Building Built in 1961
Dr. Paul P. Clark, President Emeritus
New President Kishimoto
Some of our students

OBS exists to train preachers, pastors, evangelists and other Christian workers for the church.

 

Tanemaki Kai (Annual Fall Preaching Rally)
Extension Course in Okinawa, November 2008

Extension Course in Kagoshima, February 2009

Seminar brought by Japan Help Line (Suicide) Host
Seminar on Sermon Preparation (Homiletics)
Ordinataion of a recent graduate, Mr. Kato
Former President and Mrs. Nakano
Four OBS grads singing at Shinya and Makiko Uejima's wedding
Relaxing over food

Graduates serve all over Japan

The Nakaharas in Shizuoka

Paul Clark speaking in OBS chapel

The school year in Japan begins in April and ends in March. During the two-month summer break, students are active in evangelism projects--preaching, Vacation Bible Schools, camps, etc.  They are also involved in working with local congregations during the school year.

In November of every year OBS sponsors Tanemaki Kai (Seed sowing rally).  Christians and alumni from all over Japan come to participate in the fellowship.

In April 2004 OBS began a Distance Learning program via the Internet.  Weekend extension classes are also held in various congregations around Japan, as well as on campus..

Pray for students for OBS!

A TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR EMERITUS AKIRA ODA: Brother Oda graduated from OBS in the first graduating class (1952) and taught New Testament and Greek, along with some Hebrew over 46 years until his retirement in 1998.  Brother Oda passed on to the presence of his Lord and mentors who had preceeded him in January 2008.  He published the first Greek-Japanese Lexicon, the 4th totally revised edition being published in 1998.  It is included in the CD ROM J-BIBLE (similar to the U.S. Bible Works Database and Study Aids).  His three-volume boxed set of his Greek grammar was published in 2003.  He authored several other commentaries and Bible study helps as well.  We are grateful for having known Brother Oda for these many years as a spritual senpai or mentor.

Osaka Bible Seminary