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Introduction to Boise Bible College
A
Bible College
The
traditional goal of a college education was to provide a basic understanding
of our complex world and the tools with which to respond creatively to
life’s challenges. This involved teaching students to read, write, think,
speak, and do research through studies in literature, language, history, the
sciences, philosophy, and theology. Yes, theology used to be an integral
part of a college education. In fact, many of our older universities
originally taught from a Christian perspective. This is obviously no longer
the case.
The
original style of college education is still available today in institutions
generally known as Bible Colleges. These schools use the same framework of
learning used by our early American colleges, and they are devoted to
preparing Christian leaders for the church and the world.
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Doctrinal Position
Boise Bible College makes no apology for its conservative theological
position. The faculty, staff, and administration believe that what we read
in God's Word is precisely what God meant to say, and that we are all called
to holy living and submission to Him and His Word.
Boise Bible College upholds the standards of the church as revealed in the
New Testament Scriptures; contends for the full inspiration of the
Scriptures and the deity of Christ (His virgin birth, miraculous life,
bodily resurrection from the grave, ascension into heaven, and personal
return); teaches the plan of salvation most fully recorded and illustrated
in the Book of Acts; contends for the restoration of the biblical church in
such things as life, teaching, name, organization and purpose, and stresses
the church’s mission of world evangelism.
You
are welcome to study at Boise Bible college regardless of your church
affiliation if you name Jesus as your Lord and Savior and are seeking to
govern your life by His Word.
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Denominational Affiliation
Our college is not a part of any
denominational system, but it is associated with and supported by
independent congregations which are generally called Christian Churches or
Churches of Christ. These churches call all Christians to unite behind the
practices and teachings of the church described in the New Testament as a
means of more effectively evangelizing the world.
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Recognition
By churches
Individuals and churches across the nation, and
especially the Northwest, support the College. Our graduates serve churches
all around the United States and many nations around the world. Our alumni
serve on the teaching staffs of some of the finest Christian colleges and
seminaries.
By governmental agencies
The College is recognized by the State Board of
Education. Eligible students who attend BBC can qualify for Federal benefits
offered through Title IV Student Aid, VA, and Social Security programs. The
College is also approved by the immigration Service of the United States
Department of Justice to educate nonimmigrant alien students.
By educational institutions
Nearly all Christian colleges and seminaries
are receptive to accepting our credits and degrees. Many highly regarded
colleges welcome our students. However, some schools discriminate against
all Bible colleges and are reluctant to accept our credits. Furthermore, as
with all collegiate institutions, transfer of credit often depends upon the
program being pursued by the student and the quality of the work completed.
If you are planning on transferring from BBC to another institution,
investigate the likelihood of transferring credits as early in the process
as possible.
By accrediting associations
The College is accredited by the Association
for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), formerly the Accrediting
Association of Bible Colleges, 5890 S. Semoran Blvd., PO Box 780339, Orlando
FL, phone 407-207-0808. This is the national accrediting association for
evangelical colleges that include a substantial requirement for biblical
instruction and student ministry requirements. It is recognized on the national
level and by the Board of Education of the State of Idaho. The Council for
Higher Education (CHEA), the national accrediting organization, approves the
ABHE.
The College is recognized as a nationally
accredited post-secondary institution in Transfer Credit Practices of
Designated Educational Institutions, published by the American Association
of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
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Location
Boise is increasingly recognized as a very livable city. The city is large
enough to have the benefits of a large city, yet small enough to avoid the
problems associated with large urban areas. It also enjoys an expanding
economy where opportunities for part-time employment are abundant. Boise
Towne Square Mall and the revitalized downtown area offer great shopping and
job opportunities.
Boise offers numerous formal and informal educational opportunities. Boise
State University, Northwest Nazarene College, College of Idaho, and other
vocational schools are located in the area. It also features a museum of
art, a performing arts center, the State Historical Museum, the Boise
Philharmonic, and several very active drama groups.
The
city also provides many opportunities for recreation and amusement. Boise
features community-wide programs like the
Shakespeare Festival, the McCall Winter Carnival, and Nampa’s Snake River
Stampede. A minor league baseball team makes its home just a couple of
blocks from our campus, and Boise also hosts minor-league basketball,
hockey, and arena football teams. The city has numerous parks, many of which are
connected by a Greenbelt along the Boise River. Bogus Basin Ski Resort is
just a 45-minute drive away. Opportunities for camping, hunting, and
fishing abound in the mountains just north of the city.
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Facilities
BBC
is located on a 16-acre campus at the northwest edge of Boise. There are
five main buildings on campus. At the front of the campus is the
Administration Building which houses the offices of the administration and
faculty. Immediately behind this building is the Library/Classroom Building.
Behind these two buildings are three buildings. The two on the sides of the
large parking lot are dormitories. Centered behind the parking lot is the
Multipurpose Building which contains a gymnasium, the cafeteria, student
lounges, and music rooms. For a map of the campus,
click here.
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History
BBC
was founded in 1945 by an evangelist, Orin Hardenbrook, in response to the
need of the Idaho-Eastern Oregon area for a Christian institution of higher
education. For her first twenty-nine years, the College operated as a
ministry of Boise’s First Church of Christ, then located at Eighteenth and
Eastman. The congregation’s ministers served as the core of the faculty, and
its elders as her administrators. Four years after BBC was founded, Kenneth
Beckman moved to Boise to work with the Church and the College. He has
continued with the College from that time to the present.
In
1974 the College was separated organizationally from the First Church of
Christ with its own Board of Directors. J. Richard Ewing was also appointed
as the first full-time president in that year. He expanded BBC’s educational
programs, budget, staff, and faculty. He also led the school in achieving
accreditation.
Dr.
Charles A. Crane became president in 1990. Under his leadership the College
more than doubled its enrollment, built several new buildings, beautified
the campus, and greatly increased the school's visibility and recognition.
In
2007 Terry Stine became president, committed to faithfully pursue BBC’s
mission to raise up leadership for the Lord’s church. The future of BBC
continues to look very bright.
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Our Mission
BBC’s primary mission is to prepare Christians for full-time Christian
ministry. BBC also exists to prepare other Christians to serve churches in
unpaid non-professional capacities. Finally, BBC has been established to
provide Christians with personal spiritual enrichment.
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Goals We Believe You Can Achieve at BBC
Through diligent effort and active involvement
both in campus life and the local church
As Students:
Freshman and Sophomore Years:
– To achieve a measure of confidence and
proficiency in the ability to read, write, think, research and speak.
Junior and Senior Years:
– To have a broad working knowledge of our
world and such disciplines as history, philosophy, science, logic, theology,
and psychology.
– To be able to effectively interact with the
world of ideas through research, critical reading, analytical thinking, and
scholarly writing.
As Christians:
Freshman and Sophomore Years:
– To achieve a basic understanding of the
content of the Bible, with particular attention to: Essential truths and
their implications for conduct; the life of Jesus; and how the church began
and spread in the first century.
– To increasingly know God and to grow in
Christ-likeness.
Junior and Senior Years:
– To be able to wrestle with complex
theological issues, to be able to accurately exegete the Bible, and to
submit to its authority by appropriately applying it to life choices as well
as decision-making in the church.
– To have a self-sustaining and growing passion
to: Know God; pursue personal holiness; and promote the growth and health of
Christ's church.
As Leaders:
Freshman and Sophomore Years:
– To demonstrate servant-hood.
– To be able to handle basic tasks in the local
church’s evangelistic, worship, and teaching programs.
– To embrace the importance of trying to shape
the contemporary church around the New Testament model.
Junior and Senior Years:
– To gain a particular expertise sufficient for
entry-level professional church ministries or entry into a graduate seminary
program.
– To be able to effectively communicate God's
truth to our world.
– To demonstrate servant-leadership.
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