Baptist College of America

[Joshua83]

As someone who feels called to and desires and plans to be a pastor one day, I was wondering what you guys know of this place Baptist College of America (sorry if this has already been discussed):

Baptist College of America - Home

 

[Katarinea]

I've never heard of it. Of course, this doesn't mean too much, as I only know about some of the big-name Christian colleges, but something that does raise a red flag is that they don't have a doctrinal statement posted on their site. Doctrinal statements are the bones of Christian colleges, and what separates them from normal, secular places. If they don't show you their doctrinal statement, then how can you know if they will teach you the right things?

I would recommend the college I attend -- from a quick glance at your profile, I can see you desire to go to the Philippines as soon as possible, and there's a one year Bible certificate here that could be great in preparing you for ministry, or if you want to wait, there's a four year missions program. Here's the link to the site: abc.edu I don't know your stance on doctrine, but this is a great college where you can be equipped with the truth of God. We have an online program, too, for at least the Bible certificate and several other classes.

I hope that God leads you to a place where He would have you to be in His will, though -- God bless

 

[Joshua83]

thank you I will make sure to check that link out...God bless always...

 

[MbiaJc]

As someone who feels called to and desires and plans to be a pastor one day, I was wondering what you guys know of this place Baptist College of America (sorry if this has already been discussed):

Baptist College of America - Home

One thing to consider. Jesus did not go to the school of the sons of the prophets to pick his twelve of the very top of the class?

 

[AndOne]

As far as I'm concerned the best Baptist College out there is Boyce College in Kentucky. Never went there - but it stands on a solid foundation. If I didn't have a family and a job - I would do everything I could to get in there. It is right next to the best Baptist seminary - Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - as well.

 

[Hammster]

One thing to consider. Jesus did not go to the school of the sons of the prophets to pick his twelve of the very top of the class?

No, but He did train His disciples before Ge sent them out.

 

[Marcus Constantine]

Hi!

I'm not a fan of BCA. I don't think they're incapable of training to some extent for ministry, but there are some red flags when I look over BCA's info. Firstly, they're not accredited. If you're going to go to college, go to one that will open possibilities in the future for further education. If you go the unaccredited route you can still get training, but your future options for ministry and graduate school or seminary will be diminished. They also offer credit for life experience, which is a big "no-no" in academics. A third issue I have with them is the way they do their distance learning courses. It's all through correspondence. I think distance education can be very effective and valuable for those training for ministry, but internet-based courses are a much better option that are available at other colleges. You get interaction with your peers and the professor and there are great options like videos and online grade books that that are helpful features. One last thing I'll mention is their integrity. I don't do this lightly, because no institution is perfect. However, BCA promotes themselves as a college, but their lack of accreditation, their unwillingness to provide on their website mandatory information that a college has to provide (crime rate, graduation rate, etc.), and the lack of authorization to operate in the states they offer correspondence to would lead me to believe that they don't really consider themselves a college. They act one way to their students, but another when it comes to legal and financial matters. That's a huge problem on many levels!

 

[OzSpen]

Joshua,

As someone who feels called to and desires and plans to be a pastor one day, I was wondering what you guys know of this place Baptist College of America (sorry if this has already been discussed):

Baptist College of America - Home

When I read over the site there was not a mention of accreditation. While there are many colleges and seminaries that are preparing for and pressing for accreditation, I did not see any of that information on this website. I'd be wary of this kind of college.

In Christ, Oz

 

[MbiaJc]

No, but He did train His disciples before Ge sent them out.

Very true! However He is doing the same today, without the help of the Schools of the sons of the prophets. You probly don't agree with that either. However most Churches today require a graduate of the school of the sons of the prophets to fill their pulpit.

 

[Hammster]

Very true! However He is doing the same today, without the help of the Schools of the sons of the prophets. You probly don't agree with that either. However most Churches today require a graduate of the school of the sons of the prophets to fill their pulpit.

Probably because they don't want some hack who uses terms like "Son's of the prophets" to fill their pulpits.

 

[PrincetonGuy]

My greatest educational asset during my first year in the pastoral ministry was my excellent secular university education. That education gave me an invaluable foundation upon which to build my further education in biblical and theological studies. I am not aware of even one Baptist college that can offer a student the quality of general education that one can expect to get at a fine secular university.

 

[AndOne]

I am not aware of even one Baptist college that can offer a student the quality of general education that one can expect to get at a fine secular university.

This doesn't surprise me...

 

[PrincetonGuy]

This doesn't surprise me...

I have in my home library a substantial amount of information on every Baptist college in the United States, and I would not encourage anyone to attend any of them. I do not believe that Christians should settle for less than the very finest university education that God may choose to open the doors of for their admission. Let us not forget that Baptist colleges simply do not have the financial resources necessary to hire the best-educated professors, to equip a library suitable for academic studies, or to equip laboratories at an adequate level for their science classes. Neither do they attract the brightest and most gifted students that inspire the rest of us to use to the best of our ability the brains with which God has blessed us.

What are the most important functions of a college or university? Are they not to give their students a solid and broad education and to equip their students for further study? Is it possible for any Baptist college to do that even nearly as well as one of our country’s best universities, or even one our country’s mid-level universities? How is a young Baptist to be inspired to pursue graduate studies by post-graduate and post-doctoral students if such students are totally absent from the campus? How is a young Baptist to be exposed to and inspired by scientists working in research laboratories in a Baptist college that does not have a nickel in its budget for scientific research? Is the function of a college to indoctrinate its students into the Baptist theology of the college, to indoctrinate them against them against the Baptist theology of other Baptist colleges, and to indoctrinate them against objective scientific thought?

The most important functions of a college or university are to give their students a solid and broad education and to equip their students for further study. With such an education, they are equipped, if so led in that direction, to enter one of the best seminaries with a diverse faculty that will not spoon-feed them one denominations theological beliefs, but will bring to their attention divergent interpretations, challenge them to think for themselves, and equip them for studying the Bible.

 

[MbiaJc]

Probably because they don't want some hack who uses terms like "Son's of the prophets" to fill their pulpits.

I love when you guys can't come back with anything but a personal attack!!!!!I love it I love it

 

[Hammster]

I love when you guys can't come back with anything but a personal attack!!!!!I love it I love it

It was more of a criticism than a personal attack.