Relocated college to offer

first dorm housing this fall

   BROOKS — After merging this past winter with a Seattle-area university and relocating here, a small college on the outskirts of Salem that educates and trains Christian ministers is now planning to open dorms for the first time next fall.
    Traditionally a commuter campus, Salem Bible College has drawn students from up to three hours away for its unconventional block-schedule classes that meet once each week. But now that it is part of Kirkland, Wash.-based Northwest University, the college will offer on-campus dorm housing.
   “Residence halls will make SBC a viable option for students who live outside of the Willamette Valley, and for those who want the experience of living on a college campus,” said Rev. Debbie Lamm Bray, director of academic services. “They will also open an entirely new level of campus life. We’re really excited about the new energy and possibilities that will bring.”
    Northwest University is affiliated with the Assemblies of God, and the merger made Salem Bible College the first of Northwest’s distance campuses. Carley Kendrick, who served as SBC’s president for 12 years, continues to lead the Salem work as the college dean.
    For SBC, the merger means that Salem credits come under Northwest’s regional accreditation. SBC had started the process of accreditation and was accepted to applicant status with the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) when merger discussions began.
   “Completing ABHE accreditation and achieving regional status probably would have taken another 10 years on our own,” said Kendrick. “This merger pushed us a decade ahead.”
   Opened in 1988 in Salem, the college in recent years has been in a former elementary school on River Road North in the Gervais and Woodburn area. The college made the move to Bethel Park in Brooks in December.
    Bethel Park, owned by the Oregon Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God, features private residences, office buildings, and facilities that are typical of Christian camps and retreat centers. One of the buildings, the 27,000 square-foot conference center, is the college’s new home. “Students were – and are – so excited about the move to a larger facility in such a beautiful location,” said Bray. “It has been wonderful to see them enjoy all the space here. We as faculty and administration also love the beautiful setting and appreciate the exciting potential here.”
   “Being in this building is a tremendous blessing to us,” Kendrick said. “Our previous building was 4,000 square feet, so this is a major increase in space. It’s also allowing us to open dorms next fall.”
    Salem Bible College was founded to provide an affordable, Pentecostal education for those considering or entering full-time Christian ministry. Salem Bible College of Northwest University continues this work by providing a professional degree in biblical and ministerial studies that fulfills academic requirements for ministry credentialing, and by enhancing the ministry of the local church by providing continuing education for leaders as well as training for members.
    The college offers two degree programs: the two-year associate in Christian leadership and the four-year bachelor of science in Christian leadership. All credits are regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities;
     Those desiring more information can contact the college at 503-304-0092 or sbcinfo@northwestu.edu.