Northpoint Bible College
| File:Zbclogo.png Zion Bible College logo | |
Former names | Mount Zion Bible School, School of the Prophets, Zion Bible Institute |
|---|---|
| Motto | Zion, the joy of the whole earth! |
| Type | Private |
| Established | 1924 |
| Affiliation | Assemblies of God |
| President | Charles Crabtree |
| Students | 250 |
| Location | , , 42°45′56″N 71°04′48″W / 42.765454°N 71.080009°W |
| Website | www.zbc.edu |
Zion Bible College (ZBC) is a bible college in Haverhill, Massachusetts. ZBC's sole purpose is to educate and prepare Pentecostal leaders for work in pastoral ministry, prophetic ministry, evangelistic ministry and teaching.
History
The Mount Zion Bible School was founded in 1924 by Rev. Christine Gibson at East Providence, Rhode Island. [1] It was also at one time named School of the Prophets. As the Zion Bible Institute, it was closely associated with Zion Gospel Temple, an independent Pentecostal church, which was pastored by Reuben Gibson, the husband of Rev. Christine A. Gibson. The nearby Zion Faith Home, Inc., was also connected with the school and church for many years while the campus was located in East Providence, Rhode Island.
In 1985, Zion Bible Institute relocated to Barrington, under the leadership of Dr. N. Benjamin Crandall, president from 1985 to 2000. The campus was the former home of Barrington College. The centerpiece of the campus was renamed the Gibson Memorial Building, named in honor of the ZBC's founder. Originally known as the Peck Mansion, it is listed on the historic sites registry for the state of Rhode Island. It housed the President's Office, a variety of additional offices, and the library.
The school became affiliated with the Assemblies of God in 2000. In 2001, it attained accredited status with the Association for Biblical Higher Education.[2] Following Crandall, Rev. George Cope took the presidency. George Cope was asked by the board of administration to resign as president in late 2005. In 2007, former assistant superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Reverend Charles Crabtree, accepted the position of president. [3]
In 2007, David Green, CEO and founder of the Hobby Lobby chain of hobby stores, purchased the former Bradford College campus in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The 18-acre campus was given to Zion Bible College, and Zion was to fund the repairs and upgrades that were necessary before the shuttered Bradford College campus was reopened.[4] The college reopened on their new campus in the fall of 2008.
Campus
The campus, formerly that of Bradford College, is located in the Bradford section of Haverhill.
Academics
The only degree granted by the college is a bachelor's degree in Biblical studies.[5] For this major students complete core coursework in Biblical studies and Systematic Theology. Each student is required to specify a minor.[6]
In 2006, ZBC launched a new program called "Catalyst". This program, designed and initially spearheaded by former professor Marshal Morse, was to serve as a comparable, college-based alternative to the Master's Commission program founded by Lloyd Zigler. Catalyst is a one or two year program in which students participate more in "hands on" ministry at a local church. There are currently two core churches participating in the program. One is listed on the current website whiuch hasn't been updated since its creation. They are “currently developing relationships with local churches that are willing to participate in the Catalyst program…” [7]
Affiliations
It is accredited with the Association for Biblical Higher Education[8] and officially endorsed by the Assemblies of God.
Student life
Student life at ZBC is different from that of a secular college, in that it tends to be more conservative and regulatory.
Chapel is held Tuesday through Friday. Attendance is mandatory for all fulltime students. On various Tuesdays, in place of a chapel service, there are class prayers. Each class (freshman, sophomores, etc.) meet in a specified location to pray with one another and handle class business.
Each student is required to complete S.P.I.C.E (Student Participation In Campus Experience) hours. S.P.I.C.E. assignments include grounds, cleaning crew, security, audio/visual, and mailroom, among others. All fulltime students are required to participate in the S.P.I.C.E. program. A fulltime, on-campus student must complete five hours per week. A fulltime married student or off-campus student must complete three hours per week.[9]
Dress code
There is a dress code for class attendance, chapel attendance, and leisure time.[10] Class attire includes a collared shirt and slacks for males and conservative business casual attire for females. Female students may not wear pants that have back pockets with exterior stitching or flaps.
On personal time, modest pants and shirts can be worn, but shorts and skirts must extend to below the knee. Students are asked to refrain from wearing sweat pants, spandex pants, tank tops, muscle shirts, body rings, tattoos, form-fitting clothing, and sleeveless shirts. Males may not wear earrings, and females may not wear multiple or dangling earrings. Hair is expected to be groomed and neat in appearance. Men’s haircuts must be trimmed and not longer than the top of a conventional shirt collar.
The dress code is monitored daily by the faculty and staff for compliance. Any student who is found to be noncompliant is required to change their clothing before attending class, chapel, or school functions and may be fined by the Resident Director or Resident Assistants.[9]
Residence life
Students are required to live on campus while attending Zion Bible College. The only exceptions to this rule are given to married students or students living with their parents or legal guardians (called off-campus students). On occasion, off-campus may be required to live on campus for at least one academic year.
There is one dormitory for men (Chase Hall), one for women (Wilson Hall), and one for married students without children (students' children are not allowed to live on campus for insurance reasons) and faculty/staff (with or without children) (Heroo Hall). Non-married students are held to nightly campus curfew, room curfew, and weekly room inspections. A violation of curfew is punishable by fines or more severe curfew restrictions.[9]
Extracurriculars
There are several traveling teams at Zion. These teams provide "ministry" opportunities to the students attending Zion Bible College. The teams are overseen by Zion Bible College staff, but the teams are made up of students. These teams can provide music, dramatic presentations, children's activities, and special speakers to churches, camps, and other organizations.
- "Dwelling Place" — Traveling music team
- "Appointed" — Dramatic arts team
- "Studio Z" — Children's activities team
- "Student Preachers" — Team of special speakers for church events, camp, etc.
Gallery
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Academy Hall, administration, student services, residential -
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Student residence halls -
Library
References
- ^ Wilson, Mary Campbell (1993). The obedience of faith: the story of Rev. Christine A. Gibson, founder of Zion Bible Institute. Victory House. ISBN 9780932081322.
- ^ Bible College
- ^ "Zion Bible College Accreditation". Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ^ "Bradford College to change hands today; Deal allows Zion Bible College to move onto campus". The Eagle-Tribune Online. 2007-09-17. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
- ^ Zion Bible College
- ^ "Assemblies of God - Zion Bible College". Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ^ "Assemblies of God - Zion Bible College". Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ^ Directory of Accredited Members, ABHE
- ^ a b c "Zion Bible College Student Handbook" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-05-01.
- ^ "Dress Code" (PDF). Zion Bible College Student Handbook. p. 30-32. Retrieved 2009-05-01.