Helping establish people in God’s Word has been the life-long passion of Jack and Kay Arthur and has spread to their youngest son, David Arthur, as the family looks forward to the future while celebrating their ministry’s 40th Anniversary.
Jack and Kay began their ministry as a couple on the mission field in Mexico. When sickness required the couple to return to the United States, they began searching for other ways to serve the Lord. Kay was approached to lead teens of a local Chattanooga church. She never imagined what began as a group of 19 students having Bible study in the couple’s Chattanooga home would eventually grow into an international ministry impacting millions of people all around the world.
When the in-home Bible study for teens grew, the couple began praying for a permanent meeting place for the growing ministry. They found a 32-acre farm available and, after its purchase, they established it as “Reach Out Ranch.” As the attendance of teens and women grew at the ministry’s Bible studies, men began asking if they could also attend. Reach Out Ranch became a place for the entire family to be trained in the Scriptures. However, Kay’s Bible studies soon spread beyond the walls of its Chattanooga beginnings.
After Kay accepted an invitation to teach weekly Bible classes in Atlanta, she began to wonder how the students would feed themselves in her absence. She realized they needed to be taught the method she used when studying – the Inductive Bible Study Method. From this realization Kay wrote the first Precept Upon Precept Bible study course in 1975 on the book of Romans. After beginning Precept Upon Precept, God opened doors in radio and television for the ministry. Kay shared biblical truths and the Inductive Bible Study Method locally in the Chattanooga area.
In the early 1980s, Precept Upon Precept studies and Kay’s broadcasted programs began to spread around the United States and the world. The ministry changed its name to Precept Ministries and Kay soon became a published author with her first title, How Can I Live?
Precept’s International Ministry began in 1984 with just three languages: Korean, Spanish and Romanian. Key leaders, who desired to teach the Inductive Bible Study Method and translate materials, were designated in each country. The International Ministry expanded greatly throughout the next 20 years. A Precept Training Center was built in Lake Suduc, Romania, and used to host conferences and training events for Precept’s Eurasian Ministry. To date, Precept’s International Ministry reaches 150 countries and 70 languages – something Jack and Kay never dreamed of when they left their ministry in Mexico.
Precept continues to air Kay’s teachings internationally through her radio and television program, Precepts For Life, which has won the National Religious Broadcasters’ Award for Best Teaching Television Program in 2004 and 2009. Precepts For Life is broadcasted weekly and daily on stations all over the world, reaching an audience of over 83 million viewers.
Precept Ministries International’s mission is to establish people in God’s Word and they complete this mission not only by Kay’s media programs but also through the variety of Inductive Bible Studies they produce. With the wide success of Precept Upon Precept Bible Studies, the ministry explored producing other studies to meet the needs of Bible students on every educational level. The ministry has seven different Bible Study series including: 40 Minute Bible Studies, Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible Studies for Kids, ”LORD” Series, Inductive Bible Study Curriculum for teenage Christian and Home School students, New Inductive Study Series, In & Out, and Precept Upon Precept, which is being taught for college credit at Tennessee Temple University and Temple Seminary in Chattanooga. Kay and Precept’s team of Teaching and Training Staff continue to work diligently to provide new studies. A few new titles to be released in 2010 include: When The Hurt Runs Deep, Esther Precept Upon Precept, Understanding Spiritual Gifts 40 Minute, and Sweeter Than Chocolate: Hebrews 11.
As the ministry continues to grow, Jack and Kay retain their vigor and passion. Kay, at age 76, and Jack, age 84, have begun to prepare their ministry for the future. A plan was set in 2009 to begin to pass the baton of spiritual leadership of the ministry to the couple’s son, David. Throughout the last year David has co-authored How to Grow Spiritually Strong in 28 Days with Kay, as well as shared teaching platforms across the nation and internationally at speaking engagements, conferences and study tours.
David commented on this transition and the future of the ministry by stating, “I was only 3 years old when my parents started the ministry, so it has truly been a ‘life-time’ experience for me to see this ministry grow over the past 40 years. I am ready to engage the next forty years of ministry with the same passion and values Mom and Dad have modeled so well for me. The Lord has raised up an army of Bible Study Students through this ministry and I look forward to serving God’s Kingdom with them in the years to come!”
Precept Ministries International rejoices over its 40th Anniversary that will be celebrated throughout the year at various events. The ministry invites you to celebrate this milestone by attending one of its many conferences, training workshops, tours and Bible studies held worldwide throughout the year. For more information, please visit www.precept.org.