Johnson Bible College
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| JOHNSON BIBLE COLLEGE | |
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| Motto: | Open day and night to the poor young man who desires above every other desire, to preach the Gospel of Christ. |
| Established: | 1893 |
| Type: | Private |
| President: | Dr. Gary E. Weedman |
| Faculty: | 61 |
| Students: | 876 |
| Location: | Knoxville, TN, USA |
| Campus: | 175 acres |
| Colors: | Blue & White |
| Nickname: | Preachers (men's athletics), Evangels (women's athletics) ![This image is a candidate for speedy deletion. It may be deleted after Wednesday, 3 October 2007.](../../../../images/local/e/e6/Navy_"JBC"_logo.JPG){kind=logo} |
| Affiliations: | Restoration Movement |
| Website: | http://www.jbc.edu/ |
Johnson Bible College is a private, co-educational college located six miles southeast of Knoxville, Tennessee.
It was founded in 1893 by Ashley S. Johnson as The School of the Evangelists and renamed to Johnson Bible College in 1909. Johnson College has the distinction of being the second oldest continuing Bible college in the United States and the oldest Bible college affiliated with the Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ.[1]
There are about 25 full time faculty members, and 800+ students, with enrollment having nearly doubled in the last decade.
Johnson Bible College first received regional accreditation in 1979 from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.[2] It also has accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education.[3] The teacher education program is accredited by the Tennessee State Board of Education and the Association of Christian Schools International.[4]
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[edit] Courses of Study
Johnson Bible College is accredited to offer associates, bachelor's, and master's degrees.
[edit] Undergraduate programs
All undergraduates at JBC, whether working towards an associates or bachelor's degree, are required to major in Bible.[5] Students may also choose a program that has a double major.
Programs offering a double major are:
- Preaching and Church Leadership
- Preaching and Youth Ministry
- Music
- Counseling
- Teacher Education
Programs offering a specialized program of study:
- Youth Ministry
- Children's Ministry
- Missions
- TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
- Media Communications
[edit] Honors program
There is also an honors program which offers majors in history, English, and apologetics.
[edit] Graduate programs
Johnson Bible College offers several different types of accredited graduate degrees. These programs have various residency requirements. The graduate programs offered are:
- Marriage and Family counseling
- Holistic Education
- Educational Technology
- New Testament
[edit] Graduation
Graduates from Johnson Bible College head out from the school into various areas of service. Students engage in preaching, teaching, or otherwise serving a local church; others teach in the school systems, establish counseling practices, or serve on the mission field. Others go out and work in broadcast television or in other media enterprises both inside and outside the church. Other go to continue their education at the graduate level in seminaries or secular schools.[citation needed]
[edit] Campus life
Students, faculty, and staff all are able to take advantage of the campus environment. Modeled along the idea of the family, students, faculty and staff live and work together in a community environment. From dining together, worshiping together, working together, and learning together there is a great sense of this family community.[6]
[edit] Chapel services
Chapel has been a staple of the college from the founding. When you tour the Old Main Building, you will see the Chapel which was used until the Alumni Memorial Chapel was constructed. Chapel attendance is required. Full-time students attend chapel three times a week. Two of these chapel services meet in the P-W Auditorium and consist of a time of worship, prayer, and a message. The format varies from a more traditional format to a contemporary format. The other required chapel is a small group study of the student's selection.
[edit] Work study program
Students work alongside the staff in the work study program. Since 1893, students have been assigned work on campus. The positions available vary based on seniority as well as desires. The jobs available include: cooking, housekeeping, landscaping, maintenance, construction, and many others. There are also specialized jobs that range from Teaching Assistants to other specialized jobs.
[edit] Student activities
Students participate in numerous extracurricular activities on campus. The Eubanks Activity Center provides many opportunities for entertainment. There is a well stocked snack bar, TV lounge, pool tables, and other choices. On the lower level are two racket ball courts and there is a well equipped weight room. Behind the Eubanks Activity Center is a walkway to the French Broad River with walking trails along that for nature hikes. The campus radio station is on the upper level of the center. Many students participate in intra-varsity athletics with their fellow students and faculty.
The college also has several inter-varsity athletic teams. Johnson Bible College is in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division II. They compete with teams from other colleges throughout the nation.
For many years the baseball and soccer field were inside the campus fence between Brown Hall and Hodges Ferry Road. When the new dormitory was constructed the fields were relocated across Hodges Ferry Road to the new athletic facility. The former field became the new parking lots for Johnson Hall and Brown Hall. The new Athletic Facility has a dedicated soccer field as well as a dedicated baseball field. The facility has continued to grow over the past 5 years or so.
Johnson Bible College is located in the upper Tennessee River valley on the banks of the French Broad River just upstream from where the French Broad and Holston Rivers form the Tennessee. There are numerous off campus attractions in Knoxville or Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This all helps add to the activities available for student life. Additionally, the Student Ministry program attempts to match the College's effort to develop students both academically and spiritually by requiring students to volunteer in ministries outside of the college, such as local church programs and services or area ministries.
[edit] Living on campus
Johnson Bible College is not normally a commuter college but students who live nearby may choose to commute. It is a place where the majority of the faculty, staff, students, and families live, study, and work. The campus provides housing for single students, married students, staff, faculty, and administration. This provides a unique opportunity to live, work, and learn around the same people day in and day out.
[edit] Single student dorms
Dormitory Housing at JBC is same sex. Traditional college students are generally required to live on campus. Exceptions to this rule are handled on an individual basis, unless the student is classified as a commuter. Brown Hall serves as the men's dormitory. Johnson and Clark Halls serve as the women's dormitories. Brown and Johnson Halls opened in fall 2000, replacing previous buildings with the same names. Each dorm is managed by a Resident Manager, who has Resident Assistants working under them as well as the Dean of Students.
[edit] Married student-staff-faculty housing
Married students are given a variety of options. There a numerous factors that determine where they will end up living. The options range from an apartment building, to trailer, to duplex, to town homes. Bell Hall serves as the apartment building. It is made up of students, staff, and faculty. There are two mobile home courts on campus. Duplexes and town homes are spread out in other areas on campus.
[edit] Facilities
[edit] Current facilities
- Old Main Building
Built 1905 (Old Chapel, Distance Learning, Prayer Room) - Clark Hall
Built 1905 (Women's Dorm, former Men's Dorm attached to Old Main.) - Gymnasium and Pool
Built 1949 - Myrtle Hall
Built 1951 (Counseling Center, former women's dormitory) - Bell Hall
Built 1955 (Student/Staff Apartments) - Alumni Memorial Chapel
Built 1961 (Chapel & Music Department) - Glass Memorial Library
Built 1964, enlarged 1989
(Served as Presidents Office on middle level till Eubanks Activity Center's completion in 1989. Original library woodwork and alcoves on upper floor.) - Phillips−Welshimer Building
Built 1975 (Dining Hall, Administrative/Faculty Offices, classrooms, Auditorium/Gym) - Eubanks Activity Center
Built 1989 (Office of President, Student Center, Science Lab, Telecommunications Department) - Johnson Hall
Built 2000 (Women's Dorm) - Brown Hall
Built 2000 (Men's Dorm) - Richardson Hall
Built 2001 (Teacher Education Department, Missions Department, classrooms) - Gally Commons
Built 2007 (New dining hall/Kitchen/Private Dining Rooms, Bookstore & Post Office)[7]
Numerous other faculty and student housing units dot the campus along with plenty of green space and mountain views. Information about current facilities can be found at the following website. Historical Tour
[edit] Notable single family residences
- The White House
Built 1890 (Dr. & Mrs. Johnson's House. Home of the President of the College.) - 1925 Sears - Roebuck & Co House
Built 1925 (Foundation poured and constructed by students, then the pre-built house was assembled)
[edit] Future facilities
- Bob Russell Preaching Center
Renovated 2008 (Will be located in the former kitchen, dining room, private dining rooms, and storage areas in the PW building after renovation.) [8]
[edit] Former facilities
- Original Main Building
1893-1904 (Wooden structure destroyed by fire December 1, 1904)[9] - Industrial Hall-Old Dusty
1898-1960 (Wooden structure on top of hill. The Lower level contained the wood shops with Women's dorm rooms on upper floor.)[10] - Irwin Library
1912-2000 (Large brick structure. Contained Marble covered Library in basement with classrooms on upper 2 levels) - Brown Hall
1971-2000 (3 story facility) - Johnson Hall
1972-2000 (3 story facility with rooms arranged in suites) - Dairy Barn
The college's Dairy Barn was located where the P-W Building sits today.[11][12] The pond in the rear was used by the cows. This was the home to the Dixie Holstein Herd.[13]
[edit] Pictures
 Old Main & Irwin Library circa 1920. |
 Old Main Building & Irwin Library 1998 |
 Old Main Building 2007 |
 Aerial View of campus from Chapel to Valley |
 Alumni Memorial Chapel |
 Phillips−Welshimer Building |
 P-W Building & Pond. Only natural pond on campus. Utilized by students in 1904 to save the other buildings from the fire in the Original Main Building.[14] |
 Gally Commons. |
[edit] Presidents
The college has had only six Presidents in its 114-year history. President David L Eubanks was the first President to retire. Prior to that, all the others died while in office. They are buried in the College Cemetery across from the Old Main Building.
In 1896, during his tenure as the college's leader, Ashley Johnson wrote the Condensed Biblical Encyclopedia. [15]
| President | Order | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Ashley S. Johnson | First (and Founder) | 1893−1925 |
| Emma Johnson | Second (and Founder) | 1925−1927 |
| Alva Ross Brown | Third | 1927−1941 |
| Robert M. Bell | Fourth | 1941−1968 |
| David L. Eubanks* | Fifth | 1969−2007 |
| Gary Weedman | Sixth | 2007−present |
* Retired from office/President Emeritus
[edit] Presidential Cabinet
- Dr. Richard Beam, Academic Dean & V.P for Academics
- Mr. David Legg, Dean of Students & V.P. for Student Services
- Mr. Philip Eubanks, V.P. for Development
- Mr. Chris Rolph, V.P. for Business & Treasurer
- Dr. Tim Wingfield, Dean of Enrollment Services
- Dr. Mark Pierce, Director of Institutional Effectiveness
[edit] References
- ^ College Information on JBC website
- ^ SACS Accreditation Information
- ^ ABHE Accreditation Information
- ^ http://www.jbc.edu/college/prospect_academics_accreditation.php Teacher Accreditation information.
- ^ http://www.jbc.edu/college/pdf/07-08_undergraduate_catalog.pdf JBC Undergraduate Catalog
- ^ Campus Life Information on JBC website
- ^ http://www.jbc.edu/college/geninfo_facilities_gc.php Gally Commons Information Page
- ^ http://www.jbc.edu/college/geninfo_facilities_brpc.php Bob Russell Preaching Center Information Page
- ^ The Story of Johnson Bible College, Robert E. Black. Tennessee Valley Press. Kimberlin Heights, TN pg. 76
- ^ The Story of Johnson Bible College, Robert E. Black. Tennessee Valley Press. Kimberlin Heights, TN pg.75
- ^ Dr. L. Thomas Smith's "Above Every Other Desire",
- ^ The Life & Preaching of R.M. Bell. Kathryn Watts. College Press, Joplin MO. Pictures from 1968 & 1978
- ^ P-W Historical room sign from old dairy barn with the name of the herd.
- ^ The Story of Johnson Bible College. by Robert E. Black. Tennessee Valley Printing Co. Kimberlin Heights, TN pg 77
- ^ Condensed Biblical Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
[edit] External links
- Johnson Bible College official web site.
- Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) website.
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) website.
- Johnson's SACS accreditation details
