Berea School of Ministry | Universidad Bíblica Berea

What Berea School of Ministry | Universidad Bíblica Berea does

Berea School of Ministry (operating as Universidad Bíblica Berea) is a private, accredited Christian higher education institution founded in 1992 by Dr. Fausto M. Cuervo-Arango in Atlanta, Georgia, and currently headquartered in Stonecrest, GA. The institution provides undergraduate theological education entirely in Spanish, serving Hispanic pastors, ministry leaders, and laypeople across the United States, Latin America, and Spain. Its core academic offerings include five stackable certificate programs (9 credit hours each at $750 per certificate), two associate degree programs — Grado Asociado en Ministerio Cristiano and Grado Asociado en Estudios Bíblicos (each 60 credit hours at $5,100 total), and a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies known as Licenciatura en Estudios Cristianos (120 credit hours at $10,200 total, with two concentrations: Ministerio Práctico and Cuidado Pastoral). The institution holds full accreditation from the Association of Independent Christian Colleges and Seminaries (AICCS) since June 19, 2015, and maintains a strategic dual-credit articulation agreement with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) for graduate-level transfer pathways.

Berea's technology infrastructure is a conventional dual-platform learning ecosystem: Canopy SIS handles admissions, enrollment, grading, billing, and student portal access, while Moodle LMS (MoodleBerea) delivers course content, with Google Meet supporting live virtual classes. The physical campus occupies the upper floor of the Burris Building within Luther Rice College & Seminary facilities. The institution is governed by an 8-member Board of Directors and led by President Dr. David Casas, who has served since November 2010, with Oscar Pozo as Senior Vice President and Academic Dean since March 2021.

The business model is built on tuition revenue ($255 per course) supplemented by administrative fees (application $50, technology $30/semester, graduation $225), charitable donations from individuals and churches, and country-adjusted international tuition rates that range from $35/course (Honduras) to $120/course (Spain). Go-to-market combines church-based referrals through a network of 40+ participating U.S. congregations, direct-to-consumer online enrollment through the Canopy SIS portal, and event-driven engagement via annual conferences and graduation ceremonies. The institution has completed 15 graduation cohorts through 2023 and continues to expand its certificate portfolio and international reach.

Name

Berea School of Ministry | Universidad Bíblica Berea

Legal name

Berea School of Ministry

Website

https://bereaschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berea School of Ministry (Universidad Bíblica Berea) is a private accredited Christian university in Stonecrest, Georgia, offering Spanish-language associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and certificates to Hispanic pastors and ministry leaders across the U.S. and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAKAB

Bible Colleges (Undergraduate Ministry & Biblical Studies)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAKAD

Theological Universities & Pontifical Universities

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

Keywords

• Theological education
• Christian higher education
• Biblical studies
• Ministry training
• Spanish-language university

Headquarters

HQ city

Lithonia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Degree Programs: Students pay tuition per course ($255/course) for Associate (60 credits) and Bachelor's (120 credits) programs. Total program cost is $5,100 for Associate and $10,200 for Bachelor's. Discounts available: 10% off first course, 15% off 2+ courses if paid before semester close; 40% spouse discount for married couples. International students pay adjusted rates based on their country's private university tuition benchmarks.
2. Certificate Programs: Five certificate programs (9 credit hours each, 3 courses per certificate, $255/course = $750 per certificate). Certificates are stackable and can be transferred to degree programs. Also available without credit for enrichment at $100/course.
3. Application and Administrative Fees: Non-refundable admission application fee ($50), reactivation fee ($50), program change fee ($25), late registration fee ($25 per course), graduation fee ($225, $300 for late application), transcript fee ($10), technology fee ($30/semester), returned check fee ($30).
4. Donations and Charitable Giving: Berea accepts financial gifts from individuals and churches to support operations and student scholarships. Donations are described as tax-deductible. One-time and recurring (monthly, quarterly) giving options are available.
5. Installment Payment Plans: Students can opt for monthly installment plans: $60/course before semester closes, followed by 3 monthly payments of $65/course. Requires administrative approval and credit/debit card on file.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Berea School of Ministry (Universidad Bíblica Berea) is a private Christian university that delivers accredited undergraduate theological education entirely in Spanish. It offers stackable certificate programs (9 credit hours each), two-year Associate degrees in Christian Ministry and Biblical Studies (60 credits), and a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies (120 credits) with concentrations in Practical Ministry and Pastoral Care, plus a dual-credit articulation pathway to graduate studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS).

Product overview

Berea School of Ministry | Universidad Bíblica Berea is a Christian higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate programs entirely in Spanish. The core offerings consist of: (1) five stackable certificate programs (9 credit hours each) for non-degree-seeking students seeking biblical enrichment; (2) two associate degree programs — Grado Asociado en Ministerio Cristiano (AMC) and Grado Asociado en Estudios Bíblicos (AEB) — each comprising 60 credit hours and costing $5,100; and (3) a full four-year Licenciatura en Estudios Cristianos (LEC) of 120 credit hours costing $10,200, with two concentrations: Ministerio Práctico and Cuidado Pastoral. Student-facing technology platforms include Canopy SIS for admissions, enrollment, and financial management, and MoodleBerea as the Learning Management System for course delivery. Supporting services include the Biblioteca Fernandez online library and academic advisement. All programs are accredited by AICCS and feature dual-credit articulation with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Canopy SIS: Student Information System (SIS) portal used by students for enrollment, grade tracking, and financial management.
• MoodleBerea

Products and services

• Certificados (Certificate Programs) Five (six as of 2025) stackable certificate programs of 9 credit hours each (3 courses) offering biblical knowledge and practical skills without commitment to a formal degree program. Certificates include: Estudios Bíblicos, Estudios Teológicos, Enseñanza de la Palabra, Formación Ministerial, La Gran Comisión, and (new for 2025) Cuidado de la Iglesia. Cost is $750 per certificate ($255 per course); also available without credit for enrichment at $100/course. Credits transfer to degree programs. Designed for Hispanic pastors, ministry leaders, and adult learners seeking biblical enrichment.
• Grado Asociado en Ministerio Cristiano (Associate in Christian Ministry, AMC) Two-year undergraduate degree program of 60 credit hours equipping students with essential ministerial knowledge and practical ministry tools. Focus areas include ministry, missions, and ethical studies. Total program cost: $5,100 ($255 per course). Designed for Hispanic pastors and ministry leaders in the U.S. and abroad; credits are transferable to the Licenciatura (bachelor's) program.
• Grado Asociado en Estudios Bíblicos (Associate in Biblical Studies, AEB) Two-year undergraduate degree program of 60 credit hours equipping students with essential biblical-theological knowledge and fundamental tools for teaching in the local church. Total program cost: $5,100 ($255 per course). Designed for Hispanic adult learners pursuing biblical teaching roles; credits are transferable to the Licenciatura (bachelor's) program.
• Licenciatura en Estudios Cristianos (Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, LEC) Four-year undergraduate degree program of 120 credit hours preparing Hispanic leaders for ministry. Offers two concentrations: Ministerio Práctico (practical ministry) and Cuidado Pastoral (pastoral care/counseling). Total program cost: $10,200 ($255 per course). Credits transferable from Associate programs. Includes a dual-credit articulation pathway to graduate studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS). Designed for Hispanic pastors, ministry leaders, and adult learners in the U.S. and abroad.

Quantifiable outcome

• Associate degree ($5,100 total) costs roughly 75% less than comparable programs at competing Hispanic seminaries ($6,750–$8,400).
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerea entered a strategic partnership with SEBTS (Wake Forest, NC) for dual-credit articulation. Credits earned at Berea are recognized at SEBTS. Berea's Associate in Christian Ministry and Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies degrees are recognized by SEBTS, enabling graduates to seamlessly transfer toward SEBTS master's programs in the Spanish-language program.
• Association of Independent Christian Colleges and Seminaries (AICCS)coreOthersAICCS is the primary accreditation body for Berea. Berea obtained full accreditation on June 19, 2015, and maintains it as proof of academic quality. AICCS does not evaluate student commitment, which Berea acknowledges is a complementary factor in educational outcomes.
• Luther Rice College & SeminarycoreTechnology or IntegrationBerea occupies the upper floor of the Burris Building within Luther Rice College & Seminary facilities at 3038 Evans Mill Road, Stonecrest, GA. President Dr. David Casas also serves as Associate Professor at Luther Rice. The institutions share campus infrastructure.
• Participating Churches (40+ congregations)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 40 churches across the U.S. participate in Berea's accreditation community, referring prospective students and providing pastor recommendations for admissions. Churches include Brooklyn Tabernacle (NYC), Mount Paran Church of God (GA), First Atlanta Baptist Church (GA), Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida (GA), and many others.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University: Large accredited evangelical university with extensive online degree programs in religion, biblical studies, and Christian ministry — competing for similar working-adult ministry-leader students, including Spanish-speaking populations, but at much larger scale and with broader program offerings.
• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: A premier accredited Baptist seminary whose alumni (including Berea's President Dr. David Casas) shape the evangelical theological training ecosystem. Operates graduate theological programs in the same doctrinal tradition as Berea, with overlapping faculty networks.
• Dallas Theological Seminary: A large, well-established evangelical seminary whose faculty alumni teach at Berea. Offers accredited theological degrees and is recognized as an industry-leading institution in the same Christian higher education space, with overlapping student demographics in ministry leadership.
• Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: Accredited Baptist seminary with overlapping faculty pedigree (Berea's Director of Operations holds a D.Min. from Midwestern). Offers theological degrees in the same evangelical Baptist tradition and competes for similar ministry-leader students.

Direct peers

• Moody Bible Institute: Moody is a long-established accredited Bible college offering undergraduate degrees in biblical studies, theology, and ministry — directly comparable to Berea's Associate and Bachelor's programs in Christian Studies and Biblical Studies.
• Hispanic Baptist Theological Seminary: An accredited Texas-based theological seminary focused on training Hispanic Baptist pastors and leaders — directly competing with Berea for Spanish-speaking ministry students seeking accredited credentials in the U.S.
• Luther Rice College & Seminary: Berea's physical operations are housed within Luther Rice's Burris Building in Stonecrest, GA, and President Dr. David Casas concurrently serves as Associate Professor there. Both institutions are accredited evangelical Christian colleges/seminaries offering undergraduate and graduate theological degrees, with overlapping faculty and governance.
• Universidad Seminario Evangélico de Lima: Peru-based evangelical theological institution where Berea's Senior VP Oscar Pozo previously served as Dean of Faculty of Theology. Offers Spanish-language theological degrees, sharing curriculum lineage and faculty ties with Berea, and serves overlapping Latin American student populations.
• Baptist University of the Américas: A Texas-based accredited Baptist institution explicitly serving the Hispanic/Spanish-speaking Christian community with theological and ministry degrees — the closest direct competitor in the U.S. Spanish-language Christian higher education space.
• Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS): SEBTS is Berea's exclusive dual-credit articulation partner, enabling seamless credit transfer from Berea Associate and Bachelor's degrees into SEBTS master's programs in the Spanish-language track. Both are Baptist-aligned accredited theological institutions serving similar ministry-leader populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BereaSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/BereaSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berea-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Berea School of Ministry | Universidad Bíblica Berea