Arizona Christian University

In 1917, Ida Clouse, a Christian missionary and registered nurse, left her home in the Midwest and moved to Arizona. Taking advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862, she acquired 160 acres (65 ha) of land north of Phoenix and opened the Clouse Ranch,[2] which quickly became a popular Christian retreat destination. Clouse died in 1959, leaving 35 acres (14 ha) of the ranch to the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention, which it used to create a new Christian college.

Founded in 1960 as Southwestern Conservative Baptist Bible College, Arizona Christian University's original campus was located at 2625 E. Cactus Road,[3] on the northern edge of Phoenix. Since its founding, the university has undergone a number of name changes, including Southwestern College, until its name was finally changed to Arizona Christian University in January 2011 in recognition of its growth from a small Bible college to a Christian liberal arts university. Previously, the university was affiliated with the Conservative Baptist Convention until the university made the decision in 2009 to transition to a non-denominational Christian liberal arts university.

ACU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. During the HLC's 2012 accreditation visit, ACU received its best report in the institution's history, including re-accreditation for the maximum ten years as well as approval to offer three new majors.

The university was founded to prepare students for careers in vocational ministry and missions, offering degrees in Biblical Studies and Christian Ministries. In 1975 the university received approval to offer degrees in Education, and subsequently added degrees in Business Administration, Behavioral Health and Music. Most recently, in 2012, under the leadership of new President Len Munsil, the university received approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer degrees in Biology, Communication and Political Science. Additional undergraduate degree programs are being planned, along with an expansion into graduate degrees and growth for its accelerated Degree Completion Program for working adults. In March 2017, ACU received HLC approval to offer online degrees.

In 2010, Len Munsil assumed the presidency of Arizona Christian University. Munsil is a constitutional attorney and has a background in Christian non-profit and public policy work, and was the 2006 Republican nominee for governor of Arizona.

In the first two years of Munsil’s leadership, the school purchased the former headquarters of the Southwestern College in North Phoenix. The school then added a Welcome Center, built a baseball field on an unused portion of campus, renovated old apartment buildings into well-equipped music classrooms and state-of-the-art communication facilities, opened the Phoenix Shop, negotiated for the use of classes and a 300-seat chapel for chorale and performing arts productions at an adjacent church, and raised more than $7 million in cash and in-kind donations, including the largest single gift in ACU history.

During Munsil’s tenure, ACU enrollment has grown from around 400 to more than 800 students, and in 2017 achieved its fourth straight year of record enrollment.[4]

In 2012, it graduated its largest class of more than 100 students at a commencement ceremony broadcast nationally on C-SPAN and featuring United States Senator Jon Kyl.

In 2019, the university moved from North Phoenix to its new campus in Glendale, on the former site of the Thunderbird School of Global Management.[5]

Notable graduates of Arizona Christian University include Dr. Mark Bailey, President of Dallas Theological Seminary, who also began his teaching and academic administration career at then-Southwestern College.[6] Former NBA All-Star and NBA Coach Paul Westphal began his coaching career at then-Southwestern College, leading the school to a Christian college championship.[7]

During the 2010–2011 academic year, the university celebrated its 50th anniversary and instituted the Daniel Award for Courageous Public Faith. The honor is given annually to an individual who has courageously stood for his or her Christian faith and biblical truth in the public square.

The award is named for Daniel, the Old Testament prophet.

The first Daniel Award for Courageous Public Faith was presented to President George W. Bush on 16 March 2011 at a dinner celebrating ACU’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Phoenix Convention Center, with 1,260 in attendance and raising $1.5 million in scholarships for ACU students.[8] On 9 February 2012, the second award was presented to the Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as well as the international aid organization Samaritan’s Purse.[9] The third annual Daniel Award was presented to Christian recording artist and three-time Grammy Award winner Michael W. Smith, who performed for ACU students, faculty and supporters in a concert at the Phoenix Convention Center on 5 April 2013. Subsequent Daniel Awards have been presented to Hobby Lobby founders David and Barbara Green, and Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson. Other notable speakers on campus in the past seven years include author Eric Metaxas, Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), and Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ08).

Arizona Christian teams, nicknamed athletically as the Firestorm, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). The Firestorm also compete as a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field, and football; while women's sports include acrotumbling, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

Following the hiring of baseball coach Doyle Wilson—a top assistant at the University of Southern California who has recruited and coached dozens of former or current Major Leaguers—in 2012 the university completed construction of a new baseball field on campus. That same season, the baseball team won the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Championship, Coach Wilson was named A.I.I. Coach of the Year, five team members received All-A.I.I. Honors, and two players were drafted in the Major League Baseball draft.[10] In 2012 Firestorm Baseball won the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Championship and former baseball coach Doyle Wilson was named A.I.I. Coach of the Year, and five team members received All-A.I.I. Honors.

In 2013, ACU announced the hiring of former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher Bill Swift. Since its inception in 2012, Firestorm Baseball has seen nine students taken in the Major League draft.

In 2013, Arizona Christian University Firestorm football announced that it would be adding football in fall 2014, becoming one of four four-year universities in Arizona offering the sport.[11] During the 2014 season, Firestorm Football had five games televised on Cox7.[12] In 2015, ACU began competition in Central States Football League (CSFL). The Firestorm went undefeated in CSFL play en route to winning the conference championship. They finished the season 6-3 and ranked #22 in the NAIA. During the off-season, Head Coach Donnie Yantis took a job with Arizona State Sun Devils football. Assistant Head Coach Jeff Bowen was then promoted to head coach of the program. The 2016 season showed similar results with the team finishing undefeated in conference play and 7-3 overall, winning their second consecutive CSFL Championship. The team again finished the season ranked #22 in the nation.[13] In 2018, the entire membership of the CSFL was transferred to the Sooner Athletic Conference for football.

Patson Siame, who joined the basketball team in 2016, was part of the world select team at the 2012 Nike Hoop Summit.

With the move to the new Glendale campus, a new soccer field, tennis courts, and baseball/softball field are planned for the edge of campus.[5]

ACU is a non-denominational, evangelical Christian institution where applicants are required to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and agree to take part in ACU’s spiritual formation activities, which include attending chapel services and taking courses in Bible. Upon application, students also acknowledge that ACU is guided by and will teach from the following set of evangelical principles, adapted from the National Association of Evangelical's Statement of Faith:[14]

1. We believe that the Bible alone (the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) is the inspired, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.

2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, his virgin birth, his sinless life, and his miracles. He graciously paid the penalty for our sins through his substitutionary death and shed blood on the cross. Moreover, we believe in his bodily resurrection, his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and his personal return in power and glory.

4. We believe all human beings are by nature sinful and lost and that salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone.

5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit who provides regeneration (i.e. spiritual rebirth) and by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

6. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust – the everlasting blessedness of the saved and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost.

7. We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Additional extra-curricular activities include student-led worship nights, missions trips and service opportunities such as the student-initiated 032 Project, an outreach activity that assists those in the surrounding neighborhood with everything from yard work to painting.

• Official website
• Official athletics website