History of NBC Contest
Starting in January 2012, Student Development will be asking a question about the history of NBC for students to answer. The first student to reply with the correct answer to Student Development will win a prize!
Did you know that in the fall of 1967 there were 117 students enrolled in the first class of Nazarene Bible College?
Did you know that Dr. Norman Oke, later to become the first Academic Dean of NBC, attended the 1964 General Assembly in Portland, OR, where the delegates, after extended and often heated discussion, finally voted approval for the formation of a Bible college. After voting the Bible College into existence, that General Assembly also elected a board of trustees, and Dr. Oak was honored to be one of the trustees. Soon after the General Assembly, the Board of General Superintendents selected Dr. Charles Strickland to be the first president of the Bible College. In early 1965 a Site Location Committee was formed to select a location for this Bible College.
Did you know that after the Site Location Committee made its full report to the Board of General Superintendents, they voted that Colorado Springs should be chosen as the best location for the Bible College. Rev. Bill Sullivan was the pastor of Colorado Springs First Church at that time, and he and his generous church board offered the use of the facilities of First Church at 500 W. Bijou for the college classes until the building were ready on the campus. By April, 1967, Dr. Charles Strickland had arrived to make his dwelling in the city and make necessary preparation for the beginning of the college classes in September of that year. Thus the first classes began at NBC in September 1967.
Did you know that the site for the Bible College was on the Pring Ranch and was quite a distance from the city, quite remote from the noise, the traffic, and the bustle of downtown Colorado Springs. Soon after the 100-acre tract was given to the college, a part of it, approximately 30 acres, was fenced. Then in 1968, the first three buildings were erected – the Administration Building (now Sanders Administration), the Classroom Building (now known as Leist Hall), and the Student Union Building (later named Williamson Center).
Many times professors and students could see a herd of cattle grazing peacefully right up to the fence. Frequently a considerable number of wild antelope were seen grazing unafraid among the cattle and completely oblivious that human beings were near.
Published: 11/30/2011
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