Our Past
The name Cherith comes from the Biblical account in I Kings Chapter 17 where Elijah was fed by the ravens at the Brook Cherith during a time of great drought. If God used ravens to deliver bread, He can use a teaching ministry to deliver the Bread of Life.
Dr. James L. Jones
Founder of
Cherith Bible Institute
Cherith Home Bible Institute was organized in 1986 by James L. Jones. He surrendered to full-time service in the field of Missionary Evangelism in 1979 and began conducting revival meetings and evangelistic campaigns throughout the Eastern states. In 1983, the Lord led Him to concentrate on reaching souls in the coalfield area of Southern West Virginia. It was during this phase of his ministry that God began to burden his heart with the need for Bible study material.
In 1986, he shared the burden with his wife Sharon, and they both dedicated their lives to the production and distribution of practical Bible study material. They named the ministry after the brook, and Cherith Bible Institute was born. Soon, the ministry grew, and several pastors began to recognize and support Cherith. James began to seek the help of pastors, authors, Bible teachers and missionaries to give the studies a broader degree of practical value. The contributors to this program are too numerous to mention.
As courses were developed, classes were offered in local churches to test the material. The program was tested in local churches until 1995, when property was donated at Lindside, West Virginia. A course testing building was built and classes were offered to local church members in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina. For seven more years, the Bible study material was further tested in actual classes conducted at the Cherith Center and extension schools using guest professors and local church pastors as instructors. When the thirty unit program was compiled and testing was completed in 2003, the classroom building was converted into a print shop and offices in preparation for worldwide promotion and distribution. The courses are continually being updated and revised to provide a more thorough and richer content. The goal of the Cherith program is to offer a Biblical and practical course of study that will enhance the local church service, and personal growth of the student. Today, Cherith Bible Institute has graduates serving as pastors, missionaries, church planters and Bible teachers around the world.