About SBC

Since 1936, SBC has been providing students with a unique opportunity to discover and develop their potential for ministry in the church and society. Courses are taught from an evangelical Anabaptist perspective with hands-on mission experience being central to SBC's program. Ultimately, students leave SBC changed. They have a deeper understanding of how the world needs to be reached for Jesus Christ and they have the desire and resources to impact people in their ministries and careers.

Mission

SBC is an evangelical Anabaptist college equipping servant leaders for Church ministries.

We accomplish this mission through:

• Biblical education that is practical, analytical, relational, and creative.
• Intensive faith and life formation within a discipleship community.
• Developing and discerning ministry skills with a missional focus.
• Relevant biblical and ministry training for congregations.
• Strategic partnerships in education and church ministry.

Core Values

The core values that guide all we do are:

• The Bible is the Foundation for Learning
• Community is the Context for Learning
• Discipleship is the Process of Learning
• Mission is the Purpose of Learning

Objectives

To accomplish its mission, SBC provides a program of biblical, general and professional studies. Through the academic program, within the context of Christian community, students are challenged to a life of discipleship to Jesus Christ and a biblical worldview.

At SBC, students learn principles of inductive Bible study, which take into account historical, cultural and literary aspects of the text. Developing these skills in biblical interpretation gives them tools for life-long critical evaluation of issues from a biblical perspective. Students are challenged to exercise stewardship of their minds to critical thinking, to Christian commitment and to servanthood leadership within the church and community.

Studying at SBC provides a unique opportunity for students to discover and develop their potential for ministry to those with spiritual, physical and social needs. Biblical and theological courses provide the foundation for understanding who God is and how He works in His world. General education courses expand students' awareness of the world in which they are called to live committed lives, and professional courses are designed to develop tools for effective ministry in the church and larger society.

Philosophy

The philosophy of education at SBC is rooted in its doctrinal understandings as outlined in the Statement of Faith and seeks to reflect the best dimensions of modern educational theory.

Since the Bible is the final authority for faith and life, and because revelation in Scriptures cannot contradict general revelation within the created order, the Bible must be the central integrating factor of all learning. The Holy Spirit is an active participant in the educational process, helping the learner to understand and apply biblical truth. Fullness of life in all its redemptive dimensions can be experienced only through a submission to the Lordship of Christ and a willingness to grow in the knowledge of truth.

The educational process is focused on preparing students for faithful participation in the human community in general and the church community in particular. While the teaching/learning process involves an interchange between the teacher and learner, the focus at SBC is on the learner. Students carry the primary responsibility for their own learning. Teachers are primarily facilitators of the learning process. As such they are motivators and models of learning, faith and conduct.

Evaluations are an integral part of learning. While self-evaluation is encouraged, all participants in the teaching/learning process at SBC are periodically evaluated by others in order to ensure the best possible educational experience for all students.