Baptist Bible College (Missouri)
 | |
| Motto | Life Change U |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1950 |
| Affiliation | Baptist Bible Fellowship International |
| President | Mark Milioni |
| Undergraduates | 462 [1] |
| Postgraduates | 86 [1] |
| Location |
Springfield, Missouri, U.S. 37°14′24″N 93°17′05″W / 37.23995°N 93.28479°WCoordinates: 37°14′24″N 93°17′05″W / 37.23995°N 93.28479°W |
| Campus | Suburban, 38 acres (15.4 ha) |
| Mascot | Patriots |
| Website |
www |
Baptist Bible College (Missouri) is a college that specializes in ministry and professional studies degrees. Founded in 1950 and located in Springfield, Missouri, BBC has a heritage of producing Christian professionals and ministers; offering accredited associates, bachelor's, and master's degrees .
History
Baptist Bible College has its origins in a May 1950 meeting of Baptist ministers at the Texas Hotel in Fort Worth. In the summer of 1950 land was bought at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Kearney Street in Springfield, Missouri. This former 5-acre (2.02 ha) city park was turned into dormitories, which opened on September 5, 1950. From the founding until 1975, George Beauchamp Vick, pastor of the Temple Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan (currently NorthRidge Church), was the president of the college.
Vick's vice president, W. E. Dowell, Sr., became president for the following eight years. In 1983, A. V. Henderson led the school for three years. In 1986, Leland Kennedy presided over the institution for 15 years. In 2001, BBC received probationary accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.[1] Mike Randall was installed as the fifth president on February 20, 2002. Accreditation was received in 2005, due in part to Randall's hard work but mostly due to the hard work of Dr. Russell Dell who served as Baptist Bible College's academic dean for many years. In 2008, Jim Edge was appointed to office, and resigned after three years. The Board of Trustees named Ron Sears as interim president and began the search for a new president. In 2012, by a unanimous vote of the trustees, Mark Milioni was named as the new president. Following a decline from its peak enrollment of over 2,600 in the 1970s, Baptist Bible College has continued to see increased enrollment since 2013.
Academics
Accreditation
It was first accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 2001 and is also accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), Commission on Accreditation.[1][2] Both groups are United States Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognized accrediting agencies.
Gender policies
BBC offers most of its degrees to both male and female students, however, some degree programs are offered only to one gender. For example, BBC offers a bachelor's degree with a major in Pastoral Studies only to men. BBC believes, "...men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions of men and women in the home and in the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to hold the leadership positions (pastors and deacons) in the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible of licensure and ordination for pastor by the church."[3] Sometimes, only a certain class or even assignment is gender specific. The Missions/Intercultural Studies major is available to both men and women, but men must take Expository Preaching, while the women take Women's Speech. Some classes are available to both men and women, but require (as an assignment) men to preach an expository sermon, while women teach an expository lesson.
Financial information
Tuition is $405 per credit hour for undergraduate students and $325 per credit hour for graduate students, plus additional fees. Room and board costs are approximately $6,550 per year for students residing on-campus. The estimated total cost per undergraduate year before financial aid is $18,590.[4]
Athletics
Baptist Bible College is a Division II member of the National Christian College Athletic Association and maintains intercollegiate men's basketball and soccer, and women's basketball and volleyball teams.[5]
Notable alumni
- Jerry Falwell – Bachelor of Theology in 1956