Grace Bible College

Grace Bible College

Type	Private Undergraduate College
Established	1945
Endowment	$400,000
Academic staff	28
Students	423
Address	1011 Aldon Street SW Grand Rapids, MI 49509-9990 , Grand Rapids , Michigan , United States
Campus	Suburban, 23 acres
CEEB Code	0809
Colors	Blue and gold
Affiliations	Grace Gospel Fellowship National Christian College Athletic Association Association of Christian College Athletics
Mascot	Tiger
Website	www.gbcol.edu

Grace Bible College is a fundamentalist Christian college in the premillennial, Mid-Acts Dispensational tradition 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 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 Grand Rapids, 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:

• 90% Caucasian
• 4% African American
• 0.6% Asian American or Pacific Islander
• 2% Hispanic American
• 1% Native American

Almost 60% of the faculty hold terminal degrees in their fields. There is an 11:1 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

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 "Ministry Labs," twice-weekly chapel services, and small groups that meet within the dorms. They have a strict no-tolerance policy towards illegal drugs, alcohol, and sexual promiscuity. Students who wish to attend must sign a covenant saying they will not indulge in such behaviors. 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 are expected to participate in ministry every semester, either in a church, the community, or at the college itself. Church attendance is expected but not monitored.

External links

• Grace Bible College