Grace Bible College is an evangelical Christian college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The school is regionally accredited by the (Higher Learning Commission) which was formerly known as North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Association for Biblical Higher Education to award Associate and bachelor's degrees.
Grace Bible College is affiliated with the Grace Gospel Fellowship, which is the denominational organization for "Grace" churches (though all churches can choose to affiliate or not affiliate with the organization), Grace Ministries International, the largest missionary arm of the Grace Movement, and a few other parachurch Grace ministries.
History
In the late 1800s, there were renewal conferences in Britain and in the United States. In 1865 there was the rise of the Faith Mission Movement. And in 1880, the rise of the Bible Institute Movement began.
Grace Bible College began as an evening Bible institute in 1939, training lay church members and Sunday School teachers in the Fundamental Bible Church of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The program was expanded in 1941 to a day program and named Milwaukee Bible Institute, then renamed following broader curriculum options in 1953 to Milwaukee Bible College. In 1961 the college was moved to suburban Wyoming, Michigan, and renamed Grace Bible College.
The first president of the college was Charles F. Baker (Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary) (1960-1965). Baker Chapel is named after him. He was an associate pastor with Pastor J.C. O'Hair at North Shore Church in Chicago. In the early 1930s Charles Baker became pastor of Fundamental Bible Church which began as a Bible class led by Pastor O'Hair. Pastor Baker felt the need for a Bible training school. So in 1939 he opened Milwaukee Bible Institute as an evening school in his church.
In 1943, the pastors who held to the grace theological position met and formed the Grace Gospel Fellowship. One important item on their agenda was the need for a training institute. Pastor Charles Baker was approached about making his evening class into a day school. A board was set up and the day school began in 1945 as a three-year Bible Institute with Pastor Charles Baker as president, the position he held until his retirement in 1967.
The second president, Jack Dean (Ph.D., Michigan State University), has held the longest presidency to date (1965-1985). Other presidents have been Sam Vinton, Jr., Bruce Kemper, and Ken Kemper, who is the current president.
Students and faculty
Student demographics:
- 66% Caucasian
- 21% African American
- 4% Hispanic American
- 1% Asian American or Pacific Islander
- 1% Native American
Almost 60% of the faculty hold terminal degrees in their fields. There is a 13:1 student-faculty ratio.
Athletics, clubs, and traditions
Grace Bible College fields teams in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, and women's volleyball in intercollegiate competition. The college is affiliated with the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) and the Association of Christian College Athletics(ACCA). The college has a Taekwondo club, licensed by the American Taekwondo Association. Basketball, bowling, golf, handball, racquetball, skiing, indoor soccer, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and wallyball are available at the intramural level. Computer Club is available for students each week throughout the year and there is also a Go club on campus.
National Championships:
- 1994 - Men's Basketball - NCCAA Division 2A
- 1995 - Men's Basketball - NCCAA Division 2A
- 2006 - Men's Basketball - NCCAA Division 2
- 2009 - Men's Basketball - NCCAA Division 2
- 2010 - Men's Basketball - NCCAA Division 2
- 2011- Men's Basketball - NCCAA Division 2
- 2012 - Men's Basketball - NCCAA Division 2
National Runners-up:
- 2006 - Men's Basketball - ACCA Division 1
- 2007 - Women's Basketball - ACCA Division 1
- 2016 - Women's Soccer - NCCAA Division 2
Student groups include drama/theater group, choral group, Ambassador Fellowship, Student Activities Committee, Student Council, Ambassador Staff, and Campus Ministry Team.
Community Life
Grace Bible College is a small, close-knit community with relationships fostered by four chapel events per week, small groups that meet within the dorms and open interaction between students and faculty. By the signature on the application to attend, students agree to live within a code of conduct which includes not using illegal drugs or alcohol and avoiding sexual immorality. Counseling is provided for students who struggle with those behaviors and still wish to attend. Staff and faculty are friendly and accessible, attending community events and eating meals with the students. Students participate in Christian ministry throughout their program of study, either in a church, the community, or at the college itself. Regular church attendance is also expected.
References
External links
- Grace Bible College