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History of the School
Comprehensive and systematic courses in Bible study are offered. As the Holy Spirit takes the things of Christ and reveals them to us, we can expect rich blessing. In order to achieve the widest possible reach, the classes are open to all, including serious students who wish to complete their courses for credit and auditors who sit in on the lectures. In these days of confusion and uncertainty, the student will find encouragement and comfort in the unchanging and authoritative Word of God. PLAN OF SALVATION 2. BELIEVE - "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9) 3. RECEIVE - "But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12) The Sinner's Prayer Dear Lord, I know I am a sinner and because of my sins I deserve death and punishment in Hell. I believe as the sinless Son of God You shed Your precious blood and gave your life so that my sins could be forgiven. You bodily arose from the dead and I now call upon Your name, Lord Jesus. to save me from my sins. I invite You into my life and I trust in Your finished work at Calvary alone to take me to the Father in Heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. DOCTRINAL STATEMENT I. We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as verbally inspired of God, and inerrant in the original writings and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life. II. We believe in one God, eternally existing in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. III. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man. IV. We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and, in case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word, and deed. V. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. VI. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven, and in His present life there for us as High Priest and Advocate. VII. We believe in "that blessed hope," the personal, pre-millennial and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. VIII. We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are "born again" of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. IX. 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. NON-DENOMINATIONAL HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL The School is the outgrowth of the thinking, planning, and praying of many Christians in the city of Baltimore. The first men to plan definitely for a non-denominational Bible School in Baltimore were Gustavus Ober, a business man who gave much of his time, strength, and means to the Lord's work in the Port Mission, a gospel center for seaman; Dr. A. C. Dixon, a retired Baptist minister; Dr. Paul C. Culley, a medical missionary on furlough from the Philippine Islands; Dr. Russell Bradley Jones, pastor of the University Baptist Church; Dr. Arthur Forest Wells, pastor of the Northminster Presbyterian Church; Mr. A. S. Loizeaux, a business man of the city; and Dr. T. Roland Philips, pastor of the Arlington Presbyterian Church. The Fellowship of Bible Study, as it was originally known, held its first rally with Dr. Howard A. Kelly, of Baltimore, and Dr. Tom Lambie, of Ethiopia, as the speakers. The following Monday, November 9, 1931, the first class session was held in the University Baptist Church. The faculty was composed of Dr. Wells who taught Bible doctrine; Dr. Philips, who taught Book Analysis; Mr. Loizeaux, who taught Prophecy and Dispensations; and Dr. Culley, who taught Missions, Bible Geography and Archaeology,and who assumed much of the responsibility for the administration. By January 1932, there were 177 persons registered as students and auditors. The work of the first year proceeded in a very satisfactory manner, and there was every evidence of the blessing of the Spirit of God. The Northminster Presbyterian Church was the School's home during the two following years, 1932-1934. In 1933, the State of Maryland granted a charter to the School, and the incorporators were Frank V. Coggins, Daniel H. Flynn, Douglas Ober, Austin F. Robinson, and Harry C. Staley. Immediately tbese men organized by drawing up a constitution and by-laws. Psalm 119:89 and II Timothy 2: 15 were selected as school mottoes, and a corporation seal was designed. During the summer and early fall of 1942, the Lord directed in a building fund campaign that resulted in the purchase of the present building at 1712 Park Avenue. Through the faithful endeavors of the Board of Directors and other members of the building fund groups, we were able to buy our home. We now own this building, entirely free of debt. The location is easily accessible by transit service. The School property at 1712 Park Avenue consists of a large three story brick building housing the School office, the Book Nook, the Howard A. Kelly Auditorium, the T. Roland Philips Library and the Alumni Room. Immediately behind the main building is a large four story reinforced concrete building which houses four classrooms including the Kelly Auditorium, and the dining room. Since 1973, the School has operated a branch at 6601 Loch Raven Boulevard, the facilities having been made available through the kindness of Loch Hill Chapel. Because of significant growth at this location, this branch closed at the end of our '96/'97 school year. In 1977, the Lord blessed us to open a Branch at 502 Jack Street, Brooklyn, Maryland. "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of Love, which ye have
showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."
We praise the Lord for those saints who ministered at the School with more than fifty
years of faithful service: During the school's over sixty-nine years of existence, the Lord has faithfully met its every need. We are persuaded that He will continue to direct and provide as we seek His leading, and as we carry on in a manner which is pleasing and honoring to Him. Our expectation is solely from Him. Through these years, hundreds of students have learned how thrilling and informative the Bible can be when it is taught by qualified instructors who know and love the Book and its Author. Lives have been enriched and love for the Lord increased. |
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