Pinecrest Bible Training Center

Pinecrest Bible Training Center aka "Bethany Bible Training Center" is an interdenominational, unaccredited, three-year Bible school located in Chesapeake, Virginia, originally from Salisbury Center, NY

History

Pinecrest Bible Training Center was founded by Nicholas Tavani in 1959 under the umbrella of the Italian Assemblies of God. After losing the campus for a time due to financial difficulties, Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network donated the Salisbury Center, New York campus and buildings back to Pinecrest Bible Training Center, Inc. in 1968, with Wade Taylor as the founder and manager of this transaction on behalf of Pinecrest Bible Training Center.

At that time, Wade Taylor was a member of the faculty of Elim Bible Institute in Lima, New York. He felt a "prompting of the Lord" to inquire about the beautifully situated property in the foothills of the Adirondack mountains, and to explain his own vision to Pat Robertson. Wade Taylor had been a student at Pinecrest when it was in operation under the Italian Assemblies of God, and therefore had a heart and understanding for this property.

Once acquiring the property, Wade Taylor assumed leadership role, and began the arduous task (along with some of his followers from Elim Bible Institute) of making the somewhat neglected property habitable for the students of a school with a new vision, Pinecrest Bible Training Center.

Wade Taylor presided as founder and beloved President from 1968 until 1995, and is still held in highest esteem by his students and the friends who supported his ministry. During his tenure as president, he penned his beloved dovotional book Secret of the Stairs. Secret of the Stairs.

He retired in 1996, and his term of presidency was followed by his son, Ronald Taylor from 1995 until 2001, when Ronald Taylor suddenly died from a heart problem.

After his death, Dr. Richard Forde, a long-time faculty member, and associate of the Taylor family took the reins and led Pinecrest for its next phase of operations as a school dedicated to an end-time vision with an emphasis on strong relationship and intimacy with the Lord.

Upon Dr. Forde's resignation from the presidency, the Board of Pinecrest installed Jack Picataggi as president in 2006.

In 2010, while still retaining the corporate name, Pinecrest Bible Training Center began doing business as Bethany Bible Training Center. The stated reason for this change was that the name Bethany denotes a city in the bible which was home to three of Jesus' friends. It was expressed that this name identified with the modified vision of the school and that the old name Pinecrest no longer fit the school's new direction and purpose.

In August 2013, Bethany moved to Virginia.