FAIL (the browser should render some flash content, not this).
HISTORY OF IBC

The Southwestern School of Missions was founded in Flagstaff, Arizona in 1958.

Its first classes were held on the Mt. Elden campus of the Southwestern Bible and Missionary Conference. In 1960, the property on North Aris Street in east Flagstaff was acquired and additional construction was begun.

 

The school is a result of the vision of Dr. Gordon H. Fraser and his wife, Thelma, who, with a group of missionaries representing more than twenty evangelical missions, met to form the organization of the school, the structure of which was to be evangelical, inter-tribal, inter-mission, fundamental and not denominationally related.

 

These missionaries elected a board of directors and an advisory council representing fourteen missions and missionary agencies, the faculty of Arizona State College (now Northern Arizona University), and the Navajo Tribal Council.

 

In 1961, the school was incorporated in the state of Arizona as the Southwestern School of Missions.

 

With the board decision in May 1985 to grant a four year baccalaureate degree, the name Indian Bible College was adopted as the operating name of the school.

 

Over the years, God has used the school in a mighty way to prepare the many Native American graduates who faithfully serve the Lord as leaders in reservation and urban churches. The school is particularly well known on the Navajo Reservation where a large percentage of the pastors of evangelical churches are graduates of the school.

 

In February of 2009 Dr. Jason Koppen was elected by the board of directors to serve as the tenth president of the school. Dr. Koppen’s vision for IBC is that it would assist in raising up Native American leaders to serve as the mighty missionary sending force that God created them to be. He would like to see the campus expanded to be able to accommodate up to fifty students. In 2011 the school purchased property adjacent to the existing campus and was able to begin to see that dream fulfilled.

 

Since its beginning, IBC has been committed to the fundamentals of the Christian faith. In addition, we are firmly committed to the Reformation's battle cry that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone based on Scripture alone. We believe that God communicated the content of the Bible to be understood by the original hearers and that it is still to be understood in a normal, straightforward manner.

 

The Bible is still the only necessary and inerrant source of Christian doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16 ). The school's teaching position is non-charismatic and premillenialist.

 

The Leadership of the Indian Bible College:

 

  • Dr. Gordon Fraser was the first director of the school and served from 1958 to 1970.
  • Mr. Allen Franz served from 1970 to 1971.
  • Larry McClanahan served briefly in 1971.
  • In October of 1971, Mr. Robert Hardgrave was called by the board of directors, and moved from Los Angeles to Flagstaff to assume the position of director. Mr. Hardgrave served from 1971 to 1984.
  • In June, 1984, Mr. Guy Kinney was chosen by the board of directors to serve as director of the school.
  • In June of 1989, Mr. Jerry Yonnie, a graduate of 1982, was appointed to direct the school. Mr. Yonnie served as president until 1999.
  • Dr. James Isaac served as president in 1999 to 2000.
  • In June of 2000, Mr. Benjamin Yazzie was called to serve as interim president.
  • In January, 2002, Mr. Richard Standley was called to be the president. He served till 2008.
  • In February of 2009 Dr. Jason Koppen was asked by the board of directors to serve as president.

 

Supportive friends and the Grace of God have made the school possible over the years.