Grace Bible Institute
Instituto Biblico de la Gracia

Grace Bible Institute students receive certificates for scoring above 95% during the Fall 2000 trimester.       The Instituto Biblico de la Gracia operates at our Tijuana Outreach Center.  Plans for a Bible Institute began in 1989, when we first started building the Tijuana Outreach Center.

        Classes began in 1996, with YUGO missionaries Jim Slinker and Martin Castro, the Institute's very first directors and teachers.  At that time, we were running generators for electricity and fighting the mud to get in and out of classes during rain storms. Mr. Slinker had taught at the Logos Bible Institute in Mexicali from its inception in 1985, and in November of 1994, the Slinker family moved to Tijuana to start Grace Bible Institute and plant a local church (Aztlan).  Meanwhile, Martin Castro and his family moved from Mexicali to Tijuana in September of 1996 to assist with the Bible Institute and new church plant. 

Institute Director Tony Varela       The school year of 2000-2001 was a new start for the Grace Bible Institute. YUGO Missionary Tony Varela stepped in as the new Director due to the departure of Institute Director Jim Slinker, who moved to Washington to begin a new ministry among Hispanics in the Yakima Valley.  Tony has a real heart for the people of Mexico, as he was born in Mexico and is a naturalized U.S. citizen, holding dual citizenship!

       Tony’s vision is four-fold: REACHING the lost with the gospel, DISCIPLING the believer, EQUIPPING for ministry, and SENDING where God opens doors (Matt. 28:19-20). 


Ways you can help

  • Become an Institute teacher or guest teacher.  If you have a Bible college degree, are gifted in teaching, and have a burden for Mexico, consider becoming a teacher or guest teacher.  Please contact Tony Varela for more information.
  • Provide a Bible institute scholarship. Almost all of our students receive a scholarship due to their poor financial situation.  If you would like to contribute financially towards the Bible education of one of our Mexican students, you may do so by submitting a donation to our San Dimas office, designating the amount for the National Workers Fund.  Please call (909) 592-6621.