Pinecrest Bible Training Center
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Pinecrest Bible Training Center is a fundamental, unaccredited, three-year Bible School located in Salisbury Center, New York. It was founded by Wade Taylor in 1968. Before becoming what it is today, It originally had ties to the Assemblies of God although it is now an independent Pentecostal school.
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[edit] History of the School
When it was originally affiliated with the Assemblies of God, the school was named Pine Crest Bible Institute. This former school opened in 1959 and was a three year college that did not grant degrees, but was recognized by the Assemblies of God (and other Pentecostal denominations) as a training ground for ministers.
The founder of the current school (not affiliated with the Assemblies of God--though still recognized by the fellowship as a training ground for pastors) is Wade Taylor. When the school was still with the Assemblies of God, Taylor was enrolled as a student. He moved his family to the campus area in September 1959 so he could attend.
Taylor completed his schooling at Pine Crest Bible Institute in 1962, and left to teach at Elim Bible Institute in Lima, New York (which is another 3 year Pentecostal Bible school).
At this time, Pine Crest Bible Institute merged with Eastern Bible Institute, Beulah Heights Bible Institute of North Bergen, New Jersey, Metropolitan Bible Institute of Suffern, New York and New England Bible Institute of Framingham, Massachusetts to form Valley Forge Christian College (which is a four year, completely accredited school fully affiliated with the Assemblies of God in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania). The property remained vacant and unused for the next six years. Pine Crest Bible Institute was later bought and donated to Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network.
When Taylor contacted Robertson and explained his vision for Pinecrest to him, Robertson donated the property to what is now Pinecrest Bible Training Center. Pinecrest’s present ministry began with a conference on the Labor Day weekend of 1968.[1]
In 1996, Wade Taylor’s son, Dr. Ronald Taylor, became Pinecrest’s second president. Ron and his wife, Helen, served at Pinecrest until his death in October 2001.
Dr. Richard Forde, Pinecrest’s vice-president and faculty member for many years, then assumed the president’s position.
On July 22, 2006, Jack Picataggi, former teacher and academic dean at Pinecrest, was installed as Pinecrest’s current president. His wife, Joanne, serves as Pinecrest’s dean.
The school remains a three year institute that does not grant degrees, although its credits are transferable to other four year colleges that do grant Bachelor's degrees.
[edit] Doctrine of the School
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
There is one true and living God revealed in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Man was created in the image of God, but as a result of sin, is lost and powerless to save himself.
The Lord Jesus Christ is eternal deity and is the virgin-born Son of God who died upon a cross to bear mankind’s afflictions and punishment for sin, who arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father, and who will return to earth in power and glory.
Sin is cleansed only through personal repentance and faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Personal salvation is the result of regeneration by the Holy Spirit who baptizes the believer into the body of Christ.
Believers are to be baptized in the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4. There is a moving and working of the Spirit in lives in these last days.
Jesus Christ will personally return to this earth and establish His kingdom on earth.[2]
[edit] Notable alumni
Raunchy comedian Sam Kinison, ironically, attended here. He became an evangelist, who left the ministry to pursue comedy. Most of his comedy was irreverently aimed at the church and Christianity in general. He was also the son of a Pentecostal pastor.
[edit] References
- ^ Our Heritage
- ^ School's official website http://www.pinecrest.org/Statement_of_Faith.htm
[edit] External links
- Pinecrest Bible Training Center's official website[1]
