West Coast Christian College collection

Reverend Clifton Rains opened the Pacific Northwest Bible Training School with thirty students in Yakima, Washington (January 17, 1944) to train students for Christian ministry. It later closed for relocation to a more central area. Despite misunderstanding, the Pacific Northwest Bible Training School is in no way related to West Coast Bible College. February 16, 1949 in the Pasadena (CA) Church of God West Coast Bible College operated for its first term. The 1950-51 term opened at the Church of God Temple in Fresno, California where it operated for several years.

In 1953, the school was named West Coast Bible and High School. During the 1956-57 term, a two year Bible College division was initiated. The school changed its name to West Coast Bible College in 1956. The high school maintained a higher enrollment until 1969. By 1957, the school purchased land at the corners of Herndon and Maple Avenues in northeast Fresno and a building program immediately began. The school temporarily relocated to Auberry, California during the building program and the 1958-59 term opened on the new campus.

The college division developed a Liberal Arts Department in 1959. In 1962, the school added a Christian Service Department and the faculty and administration completed a self-study in 1964-65. These initiatives led to the State of California Department of Education’s approval for adding an Associates of Arts Degree. Because of increased enrollment, two new dormitories opened in 1964. They included a chapel, recreation room, and social halls.

West Coast Bible College immediately pursued extending their college to a four-year program. In Spring 1965, the Church of God Executive Council unanimously approved the development of a four-year college and the third and fourth years of curriculum were added. During the first four years enrollment was small which limited developing a strong upper division program.

In 1968, the Executive Council approved the school’s request for an evaluation team for reorganization and for greater support. One measure authorized replacing the superintendent with a full-time president. The Church of God also assumed additional responsibility for the college. Other measures that were implemented including designating a broader geographic area from which to recruit students. The school created a registrar position. It also appointed a professional experienced educator with a doctorate as president in 1969.

Operating under the new structure from 1969-1971 brought a 162% enrollment increase during that period and for the first time exceeded the high school enrollment by almost a 2:1 ratio. The faculty’s academic qualifications improved, a new library was completed and stocked with 17,000 volumes, and they added a new chapel, administrative offices, faculty offices, and tennis and basketball courts.

During a self-study for accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the Committee on Purpose determined that the name no longer adequately described the school’s purposes, educational objectives, programs of studies, and student body and the Board of Directors agreed. In 1981, West Coast Bible College became West Coast Christian College. In 1983, the Spanish Institute of Ministry in Houston, Texas relocated to West Coast Bible College. The merger repositioned the institute as the Division of Hispanic Ministries with its own dean. This later fell under the Junior College. The school created a Junior College Division in 1989 to fulfill the mission of ministerial training while the Upper Level School of Christian Ministries could maintain regional accreditation. The school would otherwise lose that accreditation and remain solely under the American Association of Bible Colleges. For a history of accreditation at West Coast Bible College, see Series 2.2.6: History, Aims, and Purpose of WCBC-Box 28 Folder 15.

West Coast Bible College dissolved after the 1992 spring semester finished. A new ministry began on the same campus as the Western School of Christian Ministries in partnership with Patten College and the Church of God School of Ministry.

1949-1950 J.H. Hughes 1950-1954 H.B. Ramsey 1954-1958 Ralph E. Williams 1958-1962 L.W. McIntyre 1962-1966 Floyd Timmerman 1966-1968 Wayne S. Procter 1968-1969 L.W. McIntyre 1969-1972 Terrell McBrayer 1972-1980 Horace Ward 1980-1986 Hubert Black 1986-1990 Allen McCray 1990-1992 H.B. Thompson, Jr.

SOURCES: West Coast Bible College Records – History West Coast Bible College Records – Board of Directors Minutes West Coast Bible College Records – President’s Files West Coast Bible College Annual Catalog 1949-50. Mrs. Willie Rains (wife of Clifton Rains) David Roebuck Church of God General Assembly Minutes