Grace Bible College
| Type | Private Undergraduate College/Graduate College |
|---|---|
| Established | 1945[1] |
| Endowment | $400,000[2] |
| President | Ken Kemper |
| Vice-president | Brian Sherstad |
Academic staff | 28[2] |
| Students | 900+ [3] |
| Address |
1011 Aldon Street SW Wyoming, MI 49509-9990, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States 42°55′10″N 85°41′32″W / 42.91944°N 85.69222°W |
| Campus | Suburban, 23 acres |
| CEEB Code | 0809 |
| Colors | Blue and gold |
| Affiliations |
Grace Gospel Fellowship |
| Mascot | Tiger |
| Website |
www |
Grace Bible College is a evangelical college in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Association for Biblical Higher Education to award associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees. The college is affiliated with the Grace Gospel Fellowship (GGF).
History
An outgrowth of the Bible college movement of the late 19th century, Grace Bible College began as an evening Bible institute in 1939 to train Sunday School teachers and other lay church members of the Fundamental Bible Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose pastor was Charles F. Baker. The program was enlarged in 1945 to a day school and named Milwaukee Bible Institute, which was then renamed following broader curricular options in 1953 to Milwaukee Bible College with Charles Baker serving as president. In 1961 the college moved to a suburb of Grand Rapids (Wyoming, Michigan) and was renamed Grace Bible College. Successive presidents have been Jack Dean, Sam Vinton, Jr., Bruce Kemper, and Ken B. Kemper, who is the current president.
Today, the college has programs across numerous majors such as business, education, exercise science, history, human services, and others. The institution has recently changed its name to Grace Christian University to reflect its broader educational mission.
Doctrine
Students and faculty
Student demographics:
- 66% Caucasian
- 15% 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. There are also various student-led clubs that change from year to year.
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, and Student Council.
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.