Check out this virtual overview of the history of our college! We are honored to be a college with a rich history and a proven ability to turn students into leaders for Christ.
1925
Born out of a revival in 1925, the college was first known as Bible Standard Theological School. Bible Standard Theological School was led by Fred Hornshuh (who led the college 1925-1930) and offered a two year degree. The college started in the parsonage next door to the church, Bible Standard Mission until 1926 when they moved to the basement of Lighthouse Temple. The first graduate of Bible Standard Theological School was Senethea Meyer who completed the two year degree in 1926.
1934
E.J. Fulton became the new leader for the college in 1934. He led the college until 1947. In 1941, the college began to offer a three year degree.
1949
In 1949, the college was able to build its own three story building next to the Lighthouse Temple. In the same year, the college changed its name to Bible Standard Institute.
1951
Harvey Klapstein became the new president of Bible Standard Institute. Then, in 1958, the college changed its name to Bible Standard College. Two years, later Bible Standard College merged with California Open Bible in 1960.
1965
In 1965, there was a transition in leadership as Edward Wood became the new president of Bible Standard College. He continued to lead the college until 1971, and it was under his leadership that the college took on the new name Eugene Bible College in 1970.
1971
Donald Bryan became the new president for Eugene Bible College in 1971, taking over for Ed Wood.
1974
1974 was a significant year for the college. Under Donald Bryan's leadership, the college not only moved to its current location on Bailey Hill Rd, but it also started its application process with the Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) on April 9, 1974. In addition to starting the process of becoming accredited through ABHE, the college also began to offer four year degrees. When the Eugene Bible College moved to Bailey Hill, Bryan Hall was built as an administration building, and the library (now known as the Flint Memorial Building) was built as the Open Bible Resource Center. A year later, in 1975, Hornshuh Hall (now the women's dormitory) was built. Then, in 1978, Meyer Hall (now the men's dormitory) was built.
1980
On October 20, 1980, Eugene Bible College was granted candidate status by ABHE. Three years later, the college became officially accredited with ABHE on October 31, 1983. On campus, the student center was later built in 1985, and then in 1986, EBC merged with Dayton Bible College and Open Bible College.
1988
Jeffrey Farmer transitioned into the president role of EBC in 1988 as Donald Bryan stepped down. In 1990, the library building was expanded to include classrooms. The Wood Meadows apartments were built on campus a year later in 1991.
1996
In 1996, there was another transition in leadership as Robert Whitlow became the president of EBC. In the same year, the Klapstein Kourte apartments were built as well as the Doris Hunt Music Center.
1998
David Cole became the new president of EBC and led the college for twelve years. Under his leadership, EBC was granted a candidate status with The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities in January of 2007.
2009
In 2009, the Rexius Event Center was built. Due to the Rexius Event Center construction and some other needed repairs, the board at that time voted to borrow funds from the Endowments and Scholarship funds ($1.2M) to complete the building. They intended to replenish it along with interest. However, the recession of 2008-2009 was in full swing, and repayment had to be delayed.
2010
In 2010, the board made plans to close the college and sell its assets. However, New Hope International made a significant faith investment of 3.7 million to refurbish the sagging finances, repair its buildings and recruit new students. In honor of the generosity and investment that gave our college a second breath, Eugene Bible College was renamed New Hope Christian College (NHCC). This new name would also give the college a global reach, including students from the mission fields. It was in 2010 that Wayne Cordeiro became the president of the college.
2012
Having to return to Hawaii due to several reasons, Dr. Cordeiro handed the leadership reins to the Vice President at that time, Dr. Guy Higashi. He became the president of NHCC in 2012 and led the college for four years. During this time, NHCC added two online degrees: the Associate of Science in Ministry Leadership degree (2014) and the Master of Arts in Christian Leadership (2015).
2016
Mark Kelley then succeeded Guy Higashi and became the interim president for one year while Wayne Cordeiro transitioned from Hawaii to Oregon.
2017
In 2017, Wayne Cordeiro returned to NHCC as president after passing the baton of senior
pastor in Hawaii to his executive pastor, John Tilton.
2018
In 2018, we requested the services of Dr. Erika Funk, who formerly served with the University of Oregon Foundation, which manages its endowment fund. Her services were highly regarded, and she worked for over a year to reconcile the accounts and acted as an internal auditor under the purview of the Attorney General’s office. She was to classify which funds were “scholarships” (funds that were to be given in their totality) and which funds were “endowments” (larger amounts designated with donor instructions and only the interest disbursed).
2020
NHCC planted the church New Hope West on campus in 2020 during the beginning of the COVID lockdown. The church started as an online church in an effort to bring people close to God and one another during a tough time.
2021
New Hope West officially opened it's doors on Easter of 2021, welcoming newcomers from all over Lane County. It was also in 2021 that NHCC scored the highest financial integrity score with the accrediting association ABHE.
2024
Today, New Hope Christian College is looking forward to celebrating 100 Years of Excellence. Through the generosity of individuals, New Hope West, and other partner churches, annual scholarships for students now exceed $250,000. Wayne Cordeiro is shifting his focus to New Hope West, and Noland Peebles will be partnering with him to lead the college.
Today, New Hope Christian College is growing as a college and improving with each year! Check out the video below to get a glimpse of what campus is like now.
