History & Development

Equipping committed, qualified Christian leaders for Christ's service in the 21st century is the mission of Shasta Bible College & Graduate School. The institution's origins date back to 1970 when God laid it upon the heart of Dr. Royal D. Blue to investigate the possibility of initiating an evening Bible institute extension from Multnomah School of the Bible, utilizing the facilities of North Valley Baptist Church. While speaking at Multnomah's Spiritual Life Conference, Dr. Blue met with Dr. John Mitchell, Dr. Willard Aldrich and Mr. John Grunland (director of the evening school) concerning the possibility of bringing an extension program to Redding. Several weeks later, Dr. Aldrich and Mr. Grunland flew to Redding to meet with Dr. Blue and other pastors in the Redding area who were burdened to make Bible institute courses available in the Northern California area. The need for such a program was evidenced by the increasing demand on North Valley Baptist Church to supply young pastors to minister in area churches which lacked qualified leadership, thus an extension program was initiated which subsequently developed into the Northern California Bible Institute (NCBI) with Rev. Hubert Garland as its first part-time Executive Director.

A second stage of growth came under the direction of Dr. Oran Smith who was called as NCBI's first full-time Executive Director. It was under Dr. Smith's leadership that the day program was begun in addition to the original evening Bible Institute. During these years NCBI flourished and extension centers were developed in Susanville, Weaverville and other surrounding population centers. Following the home-going of Dr. Smith, Rev. Don Lamberson and Rev. Lynn Pace assumed the leadership followed by Mr. Roger Martin under whom NCBI became independent in 1979 with its own Board of Directors and committees composed of concerned Christian leaders and laymen. Following the resignation of Rev. Martin to enter church ministry, Dr. Charles Shoemaker was called as Executive Director. During Dr. Shoemaker's tenure NCBI's first buildings were erected and the institution was authorized to grant degrees by the California State Board of Education. On January 1, 1982, NCBI officially became known as Shasta Bible College under the leadership of Dr. Gordon Rasmussen who was called as President following the resignation of Dr. Shoemaker. Under Dr. Rasmussen's administration the Oran Smith Building was completed and steps were taken to move the College toward accreditation with the American Association of Bible Colleges.

In July of 1985, Dr. David Nicholas was selected to assume the presidency. Coming from a background of experience in both pastoral ministry and Christian higher education, Dr. Nicholas led in the broadening of SBC's curriculum, initiated a daily radio Bible teaching broadcast known as Truth for Today, led SBC in sponsoring the annual Greater Redding Area Church Enrichment Convention (GRACE), and began an aggressive pursuit of institutional accreditation. In 1997, accreditation with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) was attained. TRACS is the only Christian accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit both undergraduate and graduate institutions. TRACS is also approved by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Consequently, Shasta Bible College and Graduate School is now listed in the publications, Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education (consulted by all accredited institutions to determine transfer credit eligibility), and the Higher Education Directory, which lists all USDE approved institutions and accrediting agencies. Shasta Bible College and Graduate School is also approved by the Association of Christian Schools International to offer classes and programs leading to ACSI Certification.

Currently, SBC offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in Bible and Theology with emphases available in Pastoral Ministry, Cross Cultural Missions, Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Biblical Languages, Biblical Counseling, Christian Family Life Education, Youth Ministry, Christian Education, and Christian Teacher Education. A Bachelor of Arts in Christian Professional Studies is also offered (Available only in the ASCEND Program, an intensive degree completion curriculum designed for students 25 years and older who have completed at least 60 units or hold an A.A. degree). In 1999, the graduate division of SBC was initiated making the Master of Science in Church/School Administration available to educators desiring to qualify for administrative positions in the Christian school and/or church environment. Students in the M.S. program may emphasize counseling/psychology, assessment, or family and youth ministries. Additional Masters degrees in Christian Ministry, Biblical Counseling and Christian Family Life Education are currently under development.

Shasta Bible College and Graduate School also offers a unique educational service to the community through its SOAR (Strategic Opportunity for Academic Recovery) program. This program provides individualized educational assistance to students in public and private schools who are struggling with reading and math. The SOAR program has proven successful in raising student grade levels and affords SBC's education majors hands-on experience in dealing with educationally challenged elementary and high school students as well as some adults.

The campus is located on 55 acres three miles east of downtown Redding. Presently, two sixplex student resident halls provide housing for single students and the College assists married students in finding housing off campus. Oran Smith Hall houses the Student Services offices, the Student Bookstore, a shared classroom for the SOAR program, the Chapel, Dining Hall and the Student Lounge. The Faye Messler Library is located on the ground floor of the new Jack M. Hicks Learning Resource Center along with a unique Creation Museum featuring fossils, artifacts and other geological evidences supporting the Biblical account of creation a world-wide flood. Additional classrooms, faculty and administrative offices and The Robert G. Nicholas Evangelists' Hall of Fame are located upstairs on the second floor.

Today, over 60% of Shasta Bible College and Graduate School graduates (male and female) are active in some form of vocational Christian service. 80% of SBC's male graduates either enter some form of church ministry or go on for graduate seminary work. Thus far, nearly 100% of SBC's Christian teacher education graduates have been placed in Christian schools. Recently, a number of SBC alumni have been accepted for missionary service with mission organizations including the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE), Evangelical Baptist Missions, Village Missions, and American Missionary Fellowship (add additional agencies). In addition, SBC alumni are pastoring churches affiliated with the General Association of Regular Baptists (GARBC), Conservative Baptist Association of America (CBA of A), The Independent Fundamental Churches of America (IFCA), The Southern Baptist Convention, and various other independent Baptist, Community and Bible churches. SBC also has alumni serving as military chaplains in the armed forces.