When people ask what it means to be a Bible college in 2025, the answer starts here: Bible college will never change from being Bible-centered. That’s one of our core values at Grace Christian University. It’s who we are. And it always will be.
That phrase ”Bible-centered” isn’t just something we use because it sounds good in a brochure or on a website. It’s the foundation of everything we do here. From curriculum to community life, from how we teach to why we serve, the Bible stays at the center.
In a world where so much shifts daily—culture, values, even the language people use—staying Bible-centered makes us stand out. And that’s exactly the point.
Formed by Truth, Sent with Purpose
People sometimes assume that when you say “Bible college,” you’re talking about a place that only trains pastors or missionaries. And yes, we do that. We always will. Preparing men and women to serve in vocational ministry is still core to our mission.
In 2025, Bible colleges equip students not just to know the Word, but to apply it wherever they’re called.
It’s about preparing grounded, Spirit-led believers, people who follow Christ into every area of life. That means education, counseling, business, nonprofits, social work, and beyond. Wherever God calls them, we want them ready to represent Christ with confidence and humility.
Being Bible-centered doesn’t mean narrowing a student’s options. It means expanding their vision. We want them to lead in classrooms and boardrooms, in sanctuaries and studios, not because they’ve memorized the right answers, but because they’ve been formed by the truth.
Formation starts in the classroom. Our students take more than 30 credit hours of Bible and theology because we believe Scripture should shape the foundation of everything we do.
It continues outside the classroom, in the way students serve together, in mentoring relationships, and in friendships that stretch and strengthen them. And at the heart of it all is this: we’re not just teaching students how to study the Bible. We’re helping them learn how to live it.
Bold About the Bible
“I tell people all the time,” Grace President Ken Kemper shared, “we are a Bible college. And that won’t change. Not now, not ever.”
There’s something powerful about that kind of consistency. In a world where institutions pivot quickly to chase trends or avoid controversy, staying anchored in Scripture can feel bold. But it’s also necessary.
Culture shifts. Technology evolves. Even the shape of the modern church looks different than it did a few decades ago. But the need for biblical truth has only intensified.
We’ve seen what happens when Christian institutions try to stay relevant by softening their foundations. It might make things easier in the short term. But it erodes clarity. And it makes students question where, if anywhere, they can find solid ground.
That’s not us. That’s not Grace.
We don’t hide the Bible in the background. We lead with it.
This doesn’t mean we’re closed off or rigid. It means we’re rooted. We teach students to think critically and live boldly, with the Bible as their compass. We prepare them for real life, not by watering things down, but by helping them become courageous ambassadors for Christ.
And that approach matters. According to the Barna Group’s Open Generation study, many young adults today want to grow spiritually but don’t feel equipped to engage with Scripture confidently. Bible colleges like Grace stand in that gap, helping students not just understand the Bible but trust it, apply it, and live it out.
Why Bible Colleges Still Matter
So why do Bible colleges still matter in 2025?
Because truth still matters.
In a time when convictions are easily swayed and truth feels up for debate, students need a place that reminds them God’s Word is still true. Still trustworthy. Still the foundation for life.
We’re not interested in chasing cultural approval. We’re interested in being faithful. And that’s what a Bible college is designed to do: keep the focus on Christ, His Word, and the mission of raising up Gospel-shaped leaders for every sphere of society.
We don’t exist to entertain. We exist to disciple.
Bible colleges don’t make students perfect. But they make space for students to be formed, for their character to be shaped, their calling refined, and their courage strengthened. And that formation is critical.
The Impact We See Every Day
This character development is happening at Grace every day.
“I’m encouraged every time I talk to a student or alum who tells me how their time at Grace helped them stay grounded,” said President Kemper. “Helped them grow in their faith. Helped them face the real challenges of life with courage, not because of who they are, but because of who God is.” We serve a God that is greater than life’s biggest challenge.
We hear these stories again and again. A student who found purpose while studying Scripture in a psychology course. An alum who’s serving in the public school system and leading a Bible study for her coworkers. A military chaplain who shares how Grace prepared him to bring the Gospel into high-stress situations.
These are the kinds of graduates Bible colleges produce, not just theologians or pastors, but whole-life Christ followers. People who carry biblical convictions into every space they serve. People who live the Gospel with joy, even when it’s difficult.
Focused on the Mission
So yes, we’re a Bible college.
We’ve always been a Bible college. And we’re going to keep being one. Because in 2025, just like in 1939 when we were founded, the truth that the Bible holds still matters, and it always will.
Being a Bible college isn’t about holding on to the past. It’s about holding on to the truth, and about training students who will love the Lord, lead with integrity, serve with humility, and stand firm on the Word of God.
It’s about graduating courageous ambassadors for Christ, people prepared to make an eternal impact, wherever God calls them.
That’s who we are.
And that’s who we’ll remain.
