Don Stewart, Net Bible Institute: Mark, thank you for this interview, and yes, please call me Don.

The Net Bible Institute went online September 27, 1999. It was created to be the most thorough study course on the Christian faith that anyone can take anywhere.

When completed, it will consist of forty-four different courses in five different series and will cover all the basics about what Christians believe and why they believe.

The amount of material will total about thirteen thousand 8 ½ by 11 inch pages. Each course will be recorded so the student may listen and/or read the material. There are tests given after each section and a final exam for each course.

Our long-term goal is to make all of this material available in every major language on earth so that anyone, anytime, can have a thorough knowledge of the Christian faith. They will be able to read the material in their own language as well as hear it in their own language.

Everything on the site is provided free of charge.

WWCW: You've added a large amount of quality content to your web site in a short amount of time. From what I understand, your web site's been up for only a few months and your Q & A section has already surpassed the WWCW's - and we've been around for 5 years! How did you do it? Did you already have a lot of content that lent itself well to conversion to a web format?

DS: My wife and I formed our own publishing company over ten years ago. We produced a number of books. We decided to turn each of these books into textbooks for the different courses. Therefore we had some of the material already on hand. The remainder of the courses are currently being written. Right now, for example, on our Bible Answer Page, we have 750 specific questions answered. Eventually that will number over two thousand.

WWCW: The graphics on your site are very professional and your technology is state of the art. I especially like the Java applet tree function. Are you working with a professional web development organization? If so, who (if you wish to say)?

DS: The graphics were designed by my wife who is a wonderful artist. As far as the technical side goes, it is the work of one man. He teaches web development, advanced web sites, and other internet related courses on the university level. He and his wife have generously donated all their expertise for free. We are so thankful to have them working with us. Although I’d love to tell you his name, he and his wife wish to remain in the background as anonymous helpers.

WWCW: I like your policy that everything on your site is offered for free and can be freely copied and distributed (on a not for profit basis). So many organizations seem overly concerned with raising money such that it almost seems like they are "selling" the Good News. Non-Christians and Christians alike seem to instinctively reach for their wallets when interfacing with such groups. What is your philosophy, in general, when it comes to acquiring funds to run a Christian organization?

DS: We are a non-profit organization called AusAmerica (short for Australia/America). My wife is Australian and we live in eastern Australia. We understand that many Christian organizations have used the web as a tool to sell their products and services. We have no problem with that. However, as far as we are concerned, everything on our site will always be free of charge. People may download, copy and distribute the material as much as they would like. All we ask is that they do not charge for it.

We are totally supported by the contributions of those who believe in what we are doing.

WWCW: Your vision is pretty common among Christian apologetics organizations who've had an Internet presence for any amount of time. They've had the desire but have never really gotten it off the ground. I sense your attempt is going to be different. What makes you think you can pull it off, if I can be so bold as to ask?

DS: As I mentioned, a lot of the material had already been written and since we owned all the rights to the books, we could do with them whatever we wanted. Over a third of the forty-four courses have already been written so we are well on the way to completion.

As far as the popularity of the site, we have been overwhelmed by the response. We have not advertised the site as yet and have not really promoted it in any substantial way. Yet in just 6 months we presently have 1536 students in 24 countries studying with us. It’s a confirmation to us that the Lord is the driving factor behind the ministry.

WWCW: What should a new visitor to your site do first? What would be the first course you recommend for a non-Christian? For a new Christian? For a mature Christian?

DS: The first thing that a person does who comes to our site is register for the school. This allows them to have their own unique student record. They can then take tests, receive grades, and track their progress.

After they register, they choose a course in which to take. We recommend that everyone, whether they be a new Christian, a mature Christian, or an unbeliever, first take our course, "The Case For Christianity." This course presents a reasoned defense of the Christian faith.

WWCW: Some of the visitors to the WWCW, both Christian and non-Christian, are very well versed in philosophy and science. They tend to read and are able to follow the arguments of Christian intellectuals such as J. P. Moreland, William Lane Craig, Hugh Ross and their secular counterparts. Do you plan to implement or have you implemented any curriculum and Q & A geared toward the more intellectual net surfer?

DS: Yes and no. Our site is written on a Bible Institute level. It will provide in-depth coverage of all the major issues concerning what Christians believe and why they believe. It will have something for everyone, including the more intellectual net surfer.

We ourselves are not looking to provide some of the more detailed philosophical responses. This has been already done very well by others. Indeed, we are in discussion with one particular ministry who does just that and hope to align ourselves with them to give much-need answers in these areas.

WWCW: What is your vision for the future of the Net Bible Institute? Do you plan to offer degrees and pursue accreditation some day?

DS: We do plan to offer a certificate of completion for those who successfully finish each series of courses.

We have already been approached by one accredited institution that is interested in giving academic credit for some of our courses. As far as becoming accredited ourselves, we may or may not go that route. We’ll see what the need is down the line.

Our vision is to finish the entire 44 courses (complete with their recording) in the next four years. As the resources become available we will begin to translate and record them into other languages.

Once we have a series of courses finished, such as "What Christians Believe," we will then put them on a CD Rom. That way any person with a computer can access the material without having to be connected online.

Our ultimate goal is to make the material accessible to everyone on the face of the earth. That’s where our hearts are really at.

WWCW: I know you are very busy and I thank you for your time. I'll conclude this interview with a strong recommendation that our readers check out your site and enroll for their first course today! Again, the web site is nbible.org. Do you have any parting comments?

DS: Thank you so much for the interview. For a final word, I would challenge all your readers to do three things.

First, sign up for a course with the Net Bible Institute. Next, tell others about this free resource. And finally, above all, pray that God will grant us the wisdom to complete this Bible Institute in the very best way possible.

Thanks again for giving us a chance to share our vision.

Don Stewart