TBC no longer a 'best-kept' secret

By AMY DAVIS
for Tennessee Bible College

The cat's out of the bag. Cookeville's other college is a secret no longer.

Mention the name Tennessee Tech in the Upper Cumberland, and folks will immediately think of the university of purple and gold well known for its many colleges of study—a draw for a 10,000-plus student body.

Same goes for area schools like Nashville State Tech or Volunteer State Community College.

But there's another local college you may not be aware of—a school that's actually been around more than 31 years offering Bible degrees to a small, steady stream of students.

Now you've heard of Tennessee Bible College.

And word is getting out about this little white school building in the countryside of northeast Cookeville and what it has to offer, which is a large selection of courses in Bible doctrine, textual studies, church history, Christian apologetics, biblical languages, ministry and philosophy, as well as general education course selections such as English composition, literature and psychology— many of which may be transferred to other colleges or universities.

Students who stay the course at TBC can earn a bachelor's degree in religious education, master's in theology and even the prestigious Th.D. in theology, not to mention a two-year preacher's diploma.

TBC is also planning to link arms with Tennessee Tech, just two miles from its campus, in an effort to provide students of both institutions even more career options.

It's an educational opportunity that many Cookevillians never knew existed in their own home town, which is evident from inquiries of prospective students, many of them calling or e-mailing the school to say, "I didn't know we had a Bible college in Cookeville!"

TBC computer specialist Joy Wheeler, a former teacher at Cookeville High School, said, "I was telling some of my former students about it, and they didn't know it was here. Never heard of it."

"And sometimes people will stop here for directions," said TBC secretary Lois Irby. "They just happen upon it."

Most, however, discover TBC through the internet—that could account for why most of the school's students have been from outside the Cookeville area. The small campus of TBC has even been a draw around the globe, attracting Bible scholars from as far away as Korea, China, the Philippines, Malaysia and elsewhere.

Most recently, TBC has been home away from home for two young men from China, and a couple of young Chinese women have just arrived to assume studies on the TBC campus for the winter quarter, which began Jan. 8, 2007.

When their work here is done, the scholars will take their newfound Bible knowledge back to their Communist homeland, where they can spread the word to others and strengthen their small church congregation in the big city of Wuhan.

And that's good news to TBC President Malcolm Hill, who founded the college in 1975 for that very purpose—to train students to go "into all the world" with the gospel, as stated in Mark 16:15-16 of the Bible.

"It is our wish to see our men and women go out into the world and be a tremendous influence on mankind for what is good and right," Hill said.

While some TBC students travel all the way to Cookeville for their educational experience, many others enroll in the college's distance learning program, in which materials are mailed to them, and they complete the work from home at their own pace.

Since the program began in 2000, TBC has conferred bachelor's degrees to three long-distance scholars: two from Zambia, Africa, and one from Mooresville, N.C. Approximately 60 other students from 14 states and 11 countries are on the same educational path.

TBC has come a long way since its humble beginning in 1975, when it consisted of night classes in the Sycamore Church of Christ building in Cookeville.

"The interest kept growing," Hill said.

When the Northeast Church of Christ congregation was formed in 1978, class meetings resumed in that building until TBC's current facility was constructed on adjacent property in 1994.

The 18,000-square-foot building, surrounded by nine acres of green countryside, is equipped with an administrative area, classrooms, dormitories, a library, chapel, student lounge, kitchen and recording studio.

The school is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and operates solely on contributions from church congregations, businesses and other individuals who support its cause.

"The purpose is to help train gospel preachers and to help Bible school teachers grow in Bible knowledge," Hill said.

But preaching isn't for everyone. Some students opt for a different career path and choose TBC courses that will transfer to another college or university, such as TTU.

"Tennessee Tech has been good to work with us," Hill said. "So if a student wants to go to Tech full time, he can go there and come to Tennessee Bible College at the same time, and they accept about 25 to 30 courses that we have."

It can be cost effective as well. Undergraduate courses at TBC are $90 each, or $30 per credit hour. Scholarships are also available.

"No worthy student is turned away for lack of funds," Hill said.

TBC sophomore Mark Day, who came to Cookeville from Indianapolis, Ind., said he has enjoyed his Bible college experience so far.

"I like the important principles I have learned and the advice I have received from the professors," said Day, who is majoring in religious education and was named to the school's president's list for the fall quarter.

He found out about TBC while attending Camp Indogan, a Bible camp in Angola, Ind., during his high school years. There he met Holger Neubauer, who, at the time, served as assistant to the president at TBC. Since Day was interested in preaching, Neubauer recommended he attend Tennessee Bible College—and so he did.

"I wanted a sound Bible college to learn as much as I thought I needed in order to preach," said Day, who now resides in Algood with his new wife, Alissa.

He added, "Tennessee Bible College has given me more knowledge and new perspectives in thinking about the Bible. It has opened doors to preaching opportunities."

And the 21-year-old is already getting his feet wet, preaching each Sunday morning at Midway Church of Christ near Spencer and teaching a Wednesday night Bible class at Northeast Church of Christ in Cookeville. In addition, he assists in television productions at TBC.

Which TBC classes has he enjoyed the most?

"Hermeneutics and philosophy," he said. "These classes have helped me tremendously in interpreting the Bible and reasoning with people to point them to God's word."

He added, "TBC is an excellent school for anyone who desires to know the Bible. The classes are small, so it is easy to ask questions, participate in discussion and become familiar with the faculty."

TBC's winter quarter concludes March 30, 2007 and the spring quarter begins April 2, 2007.

For information about enrollment, call the college at (931)526-2616 or e-mail tbc@tn-biblecollege.edu.