South Pacific Bible College

What South Pacific Bible College does

South Pacific Bible College (SPBC) is a private, non-profit tertiary education institution headquartered at 201 Otumoetai Road, Tauranga, New Zealand, founded on 25 January 1982 by the Otumoetai Church of Christ (Tauranga) and Lakewood Church of Christ (Denver) along with other supporting churches and individuals. The college delivers Christ-centred theological education through three core programmes: the Certificate in Chaplaincy (NZQA Level 5, approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority), the Diploma in Christian Studies (NZQA Level 5, currently being redeveloped for 2026), and Flexible Study Options supporting full-time, part-time, distance, and block study modes via online, on-campus, and blended delivery.

The institution operates with a lean staff of approximately 9 employees, including a CEO (Steve Raine), COO (Dr Leon O'Flynn), and programme, academic, pastoral, and finance managers. SPBC runs on standard learning management and online delivery systems with no disclosed proprietary technology platform. Revenue is generated through tuition and course fees (recurring subscription-style billing for the academic year) and donations via a 'Ways to Give' programme from supporters and graduates. The college draws students primarily through a direct-to-consumer, community-led go-to-market: prospective students discover SPBC via the website, enquiry forms, and referrals from church and missionary networks across the South Pacific and globally.

Since 1982 SPBC has trained more than 150 graduates from over 21 countries spanning New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, China, Pakistan, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Chile, and the United States. The college is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates within New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Immigration New Zealand regulatory frameworks. No private equity, venture capital, or public market investment is associated with the institution.

Name

South Pacific Bible College

Legal name

South Pacific Bible College

Website

https://spbc.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Short description

South Pacific Bible College is a non-profit tertiary education institution in Tauranga, New Zealand, delivering NZQA-accredited Certificate in Chaplaincy and Diploma in Christian Studies programmes to domestic and international students through online, on-campus, and blended delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bible Colleges (Undergraduate Ministry & Biblical Studies) (EDAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Bible college
• Chaplaincy training
• Christian ministry
• Tertiary education

Headquarters

HQ city

Tauranga

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Course Fees: Revenue generated from tuition fees for Certificate in Chaplaincy and Diploma in Christian Studies programmes. Fees vary by programme and are detailed in the Course Fees & Costs Schedule PDF.
2. Donations and Supporters: The college accepts donations from supporters and has a 'Ways to Give' programme. Graduates are encouraged to contribute financially to assist future students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

South Pacific Bible College is a private, Christ-centred tertiary education provider offering NZQA Level 5 qualifications including a Certificate in Chaplaincy for practical chaplaincy training and a Diploma in Christian Studies covering biblical, theological, and practical ministry content. Programmes are delivered via online, on-campus, or blended modes to students in New Zealand and across the South Pacific and beyond. The college combines academic study with spiritual formation to prepare students for ministry, chaplaincy, leadership, and service.

Product overview

South Pacific Bible College is a Christ-centred tertiary education provider offering a portfolio of three main programmes: the Certificate in Chaplaincy (NZQA Level 5) for practical chaplaincy training, the Diploma in Christian Studies (NZQA Level 5) for comprehensive biblical and theological foundation, and Flexible Study Options enabling full-time, part-time, distance, or block study modes. All programmes are grounded in Scripture and Christian theology, combining academic excellence with spiritual formation to prepare students for ministry, leadership, and service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certificate in Chaplaincy NZQA Level 5 programme providing training and upskilling for chaplaincy roles in hospitals, schools, universities, military, emergency services, prisons, sports teams, and corporate wellbeing contexts. The award leads to the New Zealand Certificate in Christian Studies (Level 5), Christian Ministry Strand, and is delivered entirely online with weekly facilitated sessions and practical placements.
• Diploma in Christian Studies NZQA Level 5 diploma providing a biblical and theological foundation for ministry and further study. Covers the Gospels, Pentateuch, Pauline Literature, Prophetic Literature, and practical ministry courses. Available on-campus in Tauranga with flexible delivery options, and being redeveloped for 2026.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Otumoetai Church of Christ (Tauranga, New Zealand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding churches that provided generosity and support to establish South Pacific Bible College in 1982. Played a key role in the establishment of the institution.
• Lakewood Church of Christ (Denver, Colorado)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the founding churches that provided generosity and support to establish South Pacific Bible College in 1982. US-based church that contributed to international establishment of the college.
• Other Supporting Churches and IndividualsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdditional churches and individuals provided founding support for the establishment of SPBC, contributing to its initial capital and early operations.
• New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)coreOthersGovernment body that provides accreditation for SPBC's qualifications. The Certificate in Chaplaincy is approved by NZQA; Diploma in Christian Studies accreditation is being sought through NZQA.
• Immigration New Zealand (INZ)coreOthersGovernment agency that processes student visas for international students. SPBC must follow INZ guidelines and report international student enrolment status.
• Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended insurance provider for international students. SCTI's International Student Insurance policy is recommended by SPBC to meet visa compliance requirements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Laidlaw College: The largest interdenominational theological college in New Zealand, offering NZQA-accredited certificates, diplomas, and degrees in Christian ministry, theology, and counselling. Directly comparable to SPBC in mission, qualification level, and NZ tertiary education positioning.
• Bible College of New Zealand (BCNZ): A New Zealand-based Bible college delivering ministry and theological training across certificate and diploma pathways. Closely comparable to SPBC in denominationally-aligned (Elim/charismatic) Bible college model and target student base.
• Carey Baptist College: A Baptist-affiliated NZ theological college offering diploma and degree programmes in theology, ministry, and mission. Comparable to SPBC in offering NZQA-recognised ministry training with both on-campus and online delivery.
• Faith Bible College: A New Zealand Bible college providing ministry and theological training with a focus on practical equipping. Comparable to SPBC in scale, mission orientation, and Bible-college delivery model.
• Tabor College: An Australian Christian higher education provider delivering diploma, bachelor, and postgraduate theological programmes. Comparable to SPBC in faith-based theological training, though significantly larger and more diversified.
• Melbourne School of Theology: An interdenominational Australian Bible college and theological school offering ministry and chaplaincy pathways. Comparable to SPBC in theological curriculum and South Pacific regional student reach.
• Sydney Missionary Bible College (SMBC): An Australian Bible college focused on ministry, missions, and theological formation with a strong church-planting ethos. Comparable to SPBC in emphasis on practical ministry training and missionary orientation.
• Moore Theological College: One of Australia's oldest Anglican theological colleges, offering comprehensive theological and ministry training. Comparable to SPBC as a regional theological educator, though significantly larger and denominationally Anglican.

Broad incumbents

• Regent College: A globally recognised evangelical theological graduate school in Vancouver, Canada, with a significant online and international student base. Comparable to SPBC as an evangelical theological educator reaching Pacific and global students, though at a much larger, graduate-only scale.

Emerging players

• Alpha International: A UK-based organisation running the Alpha Course, widely used for Christian evangelism and introductory theological education in churches globally. Comparable to SPBC in its role in equipping Christians, though focused on short courses rather than accredited tertiary programmes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Pacific Bible College