HISTORY OF THE SEMINARY MINISTRY
First Missionary Baptist Church, Fresno, California, owns and sponsors Western Missionary Baptist Institute & Seminary. Pastor Burel G. Burnes led the church to sponsor a full-time school for the purpose of training young ministers and other Christian workers. The school began its first year of full-time instruction on September 10, 1978.
First Missionary Baptist Church of Fresno has dedicated members who are fully behind the school with their prayers, counsel, and sacrificial giving. With this continuing dedication, along with the cooperation of sister churches with their prayers and financial assistance, the Lord has continued to build an institute for Christian Education and development for the honor and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ since 1978.
The Seminary has been known as Fresno Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary up until 2020. In 2020, the First Missionary Baptist Church of Fresno prayerfully decided to change the name of the school to Western Missionary Baptist Institute to reflect that our scope of reach is beyond just the Fresno area. As the only institute and seminary on the West Coast, anyone seeking sound Biblical instruction, that lives in the Western States, should strongly consider WMBI.
First Missionary Baptist Church of Fresno has dedicated members who are fully behind the school with their prayers, counsel, and sacrificial giving. With this continuing dedication, along with the cooperation of sister churches with their prayers and financial assistance, the Lord has continued to build an institute for Christian Education and development for the honor and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ since 1978.
The Seminary has been known as Fresno Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary up until 2020. In 2020, the First Missionary Baptist Church of Fresno prayerfully decided to change the name of the school to Western Missionary Baptist Institute to reflect that our scope of reach is beyond just the Fresno area. As the only institute and seminary on the West Coast, anyone seeking sound Biblical instruction, that lives in the Western States, should strongly consider WMBI.
CHURCH-SCHOOL LOYALTY
Believing that the responsibility for all aspects of Christian education and training belongs to the New Testament church by virtue of the Great Commission of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20), Fresno Missionary Baptist Institute and Seminary is subject to the will of First Missionary Baptist Church of Fresno. The school commends itself to the authority of the church and considers the will of the church to be final under Christ. The school exists for the purpose of assisting sister churches in the advanced training of those who are specially called and directed by the Spirit of God. The members of the church have proven for many years that they are supportive of the students and their families. They take great pride in the development and growth of the students entrusted to their care. Students who relocated to Fresno from other areas are encouraged to join the fellowship of First Missionary Baptist Church of Fresno during their tenure as students. Those who are not members of the church are expected to respect the pastoral staff, church officers, buildings, and business affairs of the church.