OUR LOCAL CHURCH CONTEXT
One of the core philosophies of Portland Bible College centers around providing you with hands on ministry training. We believe it is important to raise up local church leaders in the church, by the church and for the church. To achieve this, Portland Bible College is actually a ministry of City Bible Church, and is under the guidance of the church elders. We believe that you will be able to experience the best kind of ministry preparation and development within the context of the local church and many of the classes are structured around this core philosophy. The church is critical to keeping the college contemporary with its curriculum, insuring that what is being taught is applicable to the needs of the church today. We believe that preparation within the church will allow you to receive instruction from effective leaders, as well as provide "hands-on" ministry opportunities in Christian service.
PBC is geared to train you in real life ministry experience, so that you can be of the utmost usefulness when you return to your home church. You will get to take part in putting on one of the many conferences hosted during the year by City Bible Church. This is a great opportunity to put into practice those ministry skills you have been developing, as you pray with people at the altar and serve in whatever area you are needed. You will also be able to participate in the many ministries of CBC on a regular basis. It’s all about loving and desiring to be a vital part of the local church, regardless of your occupation- whether it’s business, politics, media or the church. We are committed to partnering with you to see you develop the gifts and callings God has placed within you.
At CBC, we believe we are called to reach as many people as we can with the power and message of Jesus. One of the ways we strive to do this is through the development of multiple campuses. We are one church, with one leadership team, one senior pastor, one vision, a unique DNA and spiritual heritage that finds expression through multiple campuses. Technology has allowed all of these services to experience live worship and church life together, while allowing Pastor Frank to minister from any location, and be viewed live on the other campuses.
OUR SPIRITUAL ATMOSPHERE
One of our most noted distinctives is the spiritual atmosphere at PBC. For decades students have acknowledged the wonderful environment that fosters a deeper relationship with God. Prayer in each class, Spirit-lead worship in the chapels, a prayer center devoted to intercessory prayer and personal devotional times are just a few of the activities that work with the curriculum to build the students relationship with the Lord. It is often within this atmosphere that the student discovers or confirms their future life direction.
OUR THEOLOGY
Portland Bible College is Pentecostal and Charismatic in its theological orientation. It places a significant focus on the function and restoration of the local church. Its many classes are aimed toward the theological & evangelical fundamentals that allow both practical and spiritual application in the student’s future ministry in the local church. In short, PBC offers an academic and pragmatic approach with the ultimate goal of seeing the church realize its full potential. Our vision is to found future leaders with a sound theological basis and contemporary spirit-filled life experience.
OUR MENTORING APPROACH TO EDUCATION
PBC believes that the educational experience must extend outside the classroom to include mentoring. This program gives occasion for a unique mentoring relationship between faculty/staff and students. The Mentoring Program provides an opportunity for the faculty to address the personal development of the student. Through the mentoring relationship, each student can receive personal impartation for their spiritual and ministerial development. Most graduates state that what has benefited them the most was their close relationships with the faculty and staff.
OUR LOCAL, NATIONAL, & INTERNATIONAL STUDENT BODY
PBC boasts one of the largest international and national student ratios in the nation. Students from over 40 nations have attended PBC. This affords each student an opportunity to interact and minister to a broad spectrum of people. Our nation, like others, is becoming more and more ethnically mixed. As a result, we need future Christian leaders that are able to minister to a community that is culturally diverse. PBC offers the student, the chance to learn and minister with future international Christian leaders.
OUR ACADEMICS
Though not the only focus of the college, PBC’s academics are rigorous and challenging. PBC students that transfer to other colleges and universities perform admirably and those graduates who go on to post-graduate work find they were well prepared to pursue advanced degrees.
OUR FINANCIAL DISTINCTIVE
Because of semester scheduling allowing for a longer break between fall and spring terms, class schedules (7:30 AM to 12:00 PM, Monday through Friday), and the current job market in the Portland metropolitan area, the student can realistically expect that he/she can complete their PBC education debt free. As well, City Bible Church underwrites PBC every year and this in turn helps PBC offer some of the lowest tuition rates in the Pacific Northwest In a sense, every student enters PBC with a partial scholarship.
