Central Bible College
Encyclopedia
Central Bible College is a private coed Bible college
for the Assemblies of God. It was founded in 1922 with the main campus being located in Springfield, Missouri
. The college has a Bible-centered curriculum designed to educate and train ministers, missionaries, and Christian workers. As of April 2011, Central Bible College had 628 full-time students and 109 part-time students.
. Central Bible Institute was created as a response to this need in 1922 by the General Council of the Assemblies of God. After starting in the basement of Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri
, the institution established a campus on the north side of Springfield where it still remains today. In 1948, it began to offer a four-year baccalaureate program and the name was later changed to Central Bible College. Dr. Gary A. Denbow is the 9th and current president of Central Bible College assuming the position in 2005 after serving as a church planter, missionary, educator, district youth director, assistant district superintendent, and senior pastor.
, and men and women's basketball. CBC is in Division II of the National Christian College Athletic Association
. Despite not offering athletic scholarships, CBC's men's basketball team has won 20 regional championships, has appeared in the NCCAA National Tournament
30 times, and has won the national championship in 1994, 2001, and 2002. Kirk Hanson has served as the men's basketball coach since 1979 and is also the school's athletic director. On January 25, 2011, Hanson won his 700th career win as head coach of the Spartans.
Bible college
Bible colleges are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. Curriculum is Bible-based and differs from that of liberal arts colleges or research universities. Bible colleges generally exclude the study of philosophy, unlike seminaries and theological colleges...
for the Assemblies of God. It was founded in 1922 with the main campus being located in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. The college has a Bible-centered curriculum designed to educate and train ministers, missionaries, and Christian workers. As of April 2011, Central Bible College had 628 full-time students and 109 part-time students.
Accreditation
Central Bible College has been accredited with the Association for Biblical Higher Education since 1948 and was last reaccredited in 2006. In addition, Central Bible College is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and was last reaccredited in 2010.History
Upon the founding of the Assemblies of God in 1914, there was need for training pentecostal ministers and missionariesMissionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
. Central Bible Institute was created as a response to this need in 1922 by the General Council of the Assemblies of God. After starting in the basement of Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, the institution established a campus on the north side of Springfield where it still remains today. In 1948, it began to offer a four-year baccalaureate program and the name was later changed to Central Bible College. Dr. Gary A. Denbow is the 9th and current president of Central Bible College assuming the position in 2005 after serving as a church planter, missionary, educator, district youth director, assistant district superintendent, and senior pastor.
Academics
Central Bible College offers 21 undergraduate Bachelor of Arts majors in four divisional categories focused solely on preparing students for full-time ministry:- Biblical Education
- Bible & Theology
- Bible & Theology Pre-Seminary
- Biblical Languages
- Church Ministries
- Children's Ministries
- Christian Counseling
- Church Administration
- Church Leadership
- Preaching
- Urban Ministries
- Youth Ministries
- Missions & Evangelism
- Global Missions
- Evangelism & Discipleship
- Deaf Ministries
- Deaf Missions
- Fine Arts & Communication
- Church Music
- Contemporary Worship Leadership
- Ministry & Arts/Drama
- Ministry & Arts/Music
- Music Degree (Instrument, Piano, or Voice)
- New Media Drama
- New Media Ministry
Athletics
Central Bible College's athletic program offers men's soccer, women's volleyball, cheerleadingCheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
, and men and women's basketball. CBC is in Division II of the National Christian College Athletic Association
National Christian College Athletic Association
The National Christian College Athletic Association is an association of approximately 100 Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada which see collegiate sports primarily as an opportunity for Christian fellowship and ministry. The national headquarters...
. Despite not offering athletic scholarships, CBC's men's basketball team has won 20 regional championships, has appeared in the NCCAA National Tournament
NCCAA men's basketball championships
The following is a list of National Christian College Athletic Association Men's Basketball champions:-Champions by year:...
30 times, and has won the national championship in 1994, 2001, and 2002. Kirk Hanson has served as the men's basketball coach since 1979 and is also the school's athletic director. On January 25, 2011, Hanson won his 700th career win as head coach of the Spartans.
Alumni
- David WilkersonDavid WilkersonDavid Ray Wilkerson was an American Christian evangelist, best known for his book The Cross and the Switchblade...
, Founder of Teen ChallengeTeen ChallengeTeen Challenge is a Pentecostal Christian recovery program and a network of Christian social and evangelizing work centers. It is a 12-18 month program that serves drug addicts, alcoholics, gang members, prostitutes and people with other characteristics that the program considers to be... - Mark BattersonMark BattersonMark Batterson is an American pastor and author. Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. NCC was recognized as one of the Most Innovative and Most Influential Churches in America by Outreach Magazine in 2008...
, Author and Pastor of National Community ChurchNational Community ChurchNational Community Church is a multi-site church located in the Washington, D.C. area, pastored by Mark Batterson. The vision of the church is to meet in movie theaters at metro stops all across the Washington DC area...
in Washington D.C