Curious...for the handful that might read this.

[Jon Mark Smith]

A small Bible College in Central Mississippi (Magnolia Bible College) just shut her doors.
Buildings remain...
A dream remains...
A remnant remains...
Missionally speaking...what could be done with what used to be known as Magnolia Bible College?

Opinions welcomed.

[James Nored]

Hi Jon. This is a good question to ask. Here are some things that come to mind off the top of my head:
- Sell the college and use the proceeds to fund new church plantings
- Sell the college and use the proceeds to feed, clothe, and shelter those in need
- Turn the college into a feeding, clothing, and sheltering station

I'll be curious to hear others' thoughts.

[John Dobbs]

The church in Kosciusko has a great opportunity for service to the community here.

*Open up the property as an event center and rent it out to groups that would like to use it
*Use the dorms as a women's shelter for homeless women and their children
*Use sponsored retreats bringing speakers like Brennan Manning or James Nored or others.
*Invite or host small conferences to use the facility
*Prayer retreats
*Operate Angel Food ministry out of the gym
*Soup Kitchen for the impoverished
*Free afterschool childcare for the impoverished in the gym
*Emergency lodging
*Minister's retreat setting for ministers who are burned out and need to recharge

There are a hundred things that can be done there. But the real question is can a small town Missisippi church that once had a BIG dream (to start a college in 1976) now dream again...a dream bigger than themselves.

They could do many of the things above ... but need to hire someone to oversee that area ... and I believe it could be a huge benefit to so many people.

john

[Mike Ellis]

Homeless Shelter. Get them straight. Get them educated. Teach them to Fish. Have them teach others how to Fish.

[Darin Hamm]

What size community? What is the area like? How many buildings? What were they used for? I would have to know more about the community, what is available and what resources exist as far as paying for bills etc.

[Jon Mark Smith]

Thanks for the responses, guys.

The community is a small, central Mississippi community with around 4000 people locally. The community makeup is 45% caucasian with the rest being of African heritage or Hispanic.

All in all, the community is a mission field...especially when reaching out to a minority culture.

The current facility setup is as follows:
Dormitory that can house 40 or so.
Gymnasium facility with industrial kitchen (and small workout room)
Office Complex attached to gymnasium facility
6000 sq.ft. library facility
Classroom facility with 5 classrooms (including a small science lab)

There is no money available for bills and upkeep at this point.

There is still a large amount of debt owed because of the gymnasium complex.

I'm sure I've missed something...I'll come back to this when I remember more.

JM

Darin Hamm said:

What size community? What is the area like? How many buildings? What were they used for? I would have to know more about the community, what is available and what resources exist as far as paying for bills etc.

[Darin Hamm]

Sounds like you have some great feedback.

A business that employees people with need and focuses on green or environmental or fair trade clothing that actually markets itself that way.

[Daniel Whalen]

GREAT QUESTION! We are asking the same question about a building that is up for sale here in Anderson. It was once a 'women’s shelter' and before that a funeral home. We are thinking about a missional community with room for emergency housing for people who don't fit the profile for the local shelter. .... Moving into the places the empire has abandoned and claiming them for the Kingdom seems to be a widespread issue these days.