Life Pacific College was founded in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, in 1923 as Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute by Aimee Semple McPherson. Its name was changed to LIFE Bible College, LIFE standing for "Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism", in 1926 when it moved into a newly constructed five-story complex next door to Angelus Temple. In 1990 the college moved to its current location in San Dimas, California. In the early 2000s its present name was adopted.
Life is associated with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and serves as the denomination's primary center for the training of ministers, missionaries and school teachers. There was formerly a sister school on the East Coast that performed a similar function, started in 1957 as Mount Vernon Bible College in Mount Vernon, Ohio. It moved to Christiansburg, Virginia and changed its name to LIFE Bible College East in 1988. In 2003 LIFE East closed for financial reasons and its records were transferred to Life Pacific College.
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Alumni have played a significant role not only within the Foursquare church, but also within the Assemblies of God, Calvary Chapel and the Vineyard movement. Life's most prominent graduates are pastors Jack Hayford, Chuck Smith and Jim Tolle and the African American actor, pastor and academic Otis Young.
Life has always focused on training men and women in practical ministry and for much of its history few alumni pursued additional education. However, it has now become common for Life alumni to attend seminary or graduate school. Several alumni have also earned academic doctorates from places such as Fuller Seminary, Regent University, and the universities of Nebraska, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Aberdeen and Oxford.
Life is accredited by The Association for Biblical Higher Education and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It offers a two-year A.A., 2 four-year Bachelors of Arts: Biblical Studies and Transformational Ministry Majors, a two-year Bachelors of Theology, and an 18 month degree completion Bachelors of Art in Ministry and Leadership. For those who already possess an accredited B.A. or B.S. a master's level program in Strategic Leadership with an emphasis in ministry.
Life Pacific College no longer fields or supports collegiate athletics, but the students are very involved in intramural sports within the community of San Dimas including soccer and co-ed/men's league softball and football.
The Foundations of Pentecostal Theology