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Mission |
Mission & Purpose
Our passion is to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ
among all people in culturally sensitive ways. As a
Spirit-empowered, biblically grounded community,
Springfield Seminary strives to develop and equip whole
and holy persons to serve and lead, so that churches and
ministry
can become all they are called to be and do all they are
called to do in the world, for the glory of God. We are rooted
solely and guided by a high view of Scripture and a
focus on obedient, personal faith.
Three-Centers Approach
Through a philosophy we adopted call the 3 centers, we
prepare well-rounded ministry leaders. All programs
focus equally on helping students acquire:
- Sound biblical/theological foundation
- Leadership strength
- Strong personal/spiritual character
This transformational philosophy develops graduates
with better potential for enduring success in ministry.
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History |
At its inception the focus was to establish a Seminary which would
universally equip the greater Springfield area Church Leaders, Preachers,
Ministers, Deacons and Sunday School Teachers with confidence in spread
the Gospel of Jesus Christ to win Souls and promotion of Christian
Fellowship through study and training. We have also supported Christian mission,
both home and abroad, to inspire spiritual leadership to churches while
being sensitive to social concern and community issues. This concept was established at our
beginning and has carried on for nearly
forty (40) years.
The Springfield
Seminary was organized in September 1969 under the direction of its Founder
Reverend Herman A. Epps in New Haven Ct. That same year a branch was
established in Springfield Ma. called "The Pitiful Kings" with the Reverend Roy Lee
of Willing
Worker's Freewill Baptist Church of Burr Street as the
President and Reverend Marcel Daugherty of Friendship Baptist Vice President.
In 1975 Reverend King Cole of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church became President with
Reverend Nathanial Dumus of Mt.Zion as Vice President.
In 1978 the
Headquarter of then Springfield Christian Seminary was located at the Christian Hill
Baptist Church 54 Bowdoin St. with the Reverend
Dr. Nathaniel Bailey of Christian Hill Baptist Church as it’s President and
Reverend Dr. James Sowell Jr. as Vice President. In 1981 Reverend Dr. James Sowell Jr. became President with Reverend
Dr. Nathaniel Bailey as Vice President and Incorporated in 1984 as the Springfield
Christian Bible Seminary Association Inc.
In September 1985
the Springfield Christian Bible Seminary was recognized as an affiliated
Institution with Wheaton College, Wheaton Illinois. American Bible College New
York, NY. , Indiana Christian University, Indiana. and Accredited with
Association of Christian Colleges and Theological Schools of Louisiana.
As the
Springfield Christian Bible Seminary student enrollment continued to increase it has relocated
to several venue such as Friendship Baptist Church, and until recently the
Church in the Acres. In 1986 the Reverend Dr. James Sowell Jr. appointed
Reverend Dr. Judge Lee as Vice President and in 1996 Reverend Dr Louis Johnson
was appointed Vice President until 2008.
In early 2009 the
Board of Trustees conduct an intensive evaluation of the Springfield Christian
Bible Seminary's'
Statement of Expectation & Purposes by electing to establish the Seminary as a
legitimate mechanism in Christian/Religious Education in Western Mass by 2012
registering with Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and the New England Association of
Schools and Colleges
.
March 2009 an
Alumni and Supporter Bishop Dr. E. Quinn Brevard was appointed
President/CEO with these goals in mind. He is the Senior Bishop of the Fountain
of Life Outreach Ministries inc. and President of the International Fellowship
of Charismatic Churches and Ministries Worldwide inc. with ministries in nearly
thirty (30) countries around the world.
Already, in
preparation for 2010 the Seminary's curriculum was redesigned to be more
sensitive to the needs of today's adult learners, through the Springfield
Seminary’s new Saturday One Year Certificate Programs. In respects to our new
partnership with the Holyoke Community College this geographical change makes it
easier for all neighboring communities to participate in studying the word of
God with confidence.
The years past
has proved to be kind and rewarding as we prepare ourselves for many good years
ahead. We welcome our Students/Alumni and Faculty’s input to assure the
Springfield Seminary's success. We hold in remembrance the service of the
Springfield Christian Bible Seminary's former Students, Faculty, Friends and Family.
The Most Honorable Bishop Herman A. Epps **
(Founder, The Pitiful
Kings 1969)
Reverend Dr. Nathanial Bailey **
(Founder, The
Springfield Christian Seminary 1978)
Rev. Dr. James Sowell *
(Founder, Springfield
Christian Bible Seminary Association Inc. 1981)
The Most Honorable Bishop E. Q. Brevard Ph.D (Founder, The Springfield
Seminary 2009)
The Most Honorable Bishop J.P. Morgan **
Reverend Marcel Doughty **
Reverend Dr. Nathanial Dumus **
Reverend Dr. Fannie L. Dumus **
Deacon A. B. Wilson
Reverend Dr. Judge Lee **
Rev. James E. Williams*
Reverend Dr. Henrietta Reid **
Reverend Dr Louis Johnson *
Reverend Willie Ford**
Hon. Dr. Ruth Loving
(This list incomplete and will be up-dated )
* Retired
**Deceased
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