Thirty years ago, in the spring of 1995, a young church voted unanimously to begin a Bible college with one purpose: “training laborers for Christ’s harvest.”
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. (Matthew 9:37–38)
When the Lord first impressed upon my heart the need for a local church Bible college on the West Coast, I had many questions. At the time, Lancaster Baptist Church was in the midst of its first major building program—and by the time we brought this vision to our church family, we were already preparing for a second major building program. Yet as I sought the Lord, He confirmed the need again and again, and He used the counsel of several godly mentors to encourage us forward.
Three of those mentors were Dr. Tom Malone, Dr. Jack Baskin (Vice President of Pacific Coast Baptist College when I was a student there), and Dr. Curtis Hutson. Each strongly recommended we move forward, and each provided invaluable counsel along the way. Today, one of our dormitories is named in honor of Dr. Malone. And to my knowledge, West Coast Baptist College was the only college for which Dr. Hutson ever wrote an endorsement letter. He wrote it less than two weeks before the Lord called him Home.
February 27, 1995
I am happy to recommend the West Coast Baptist College, a ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church, Lancaster, California. Dr. Paul Chappell is a man with a burden to reach the lost with the message of salvation and to train leaders who will themselves be greatly used of God.
Dr. Chappell is a great pastor. The last report I had from the Lancaster Baptist Church was astounding. Nearly 2,000 souls were saved and 709 followed the Lord in believers’ baptism last year. Under his leadership, the church has grown beyond anyone’s expectations! I am certain that he will be a great Bible college president.
I recommend West Coast Baptist College because I know that Dr. Chappell will keep it on the right track. Any Bible-believing, fundamental Mother and Dad could feel comfortable sending their young men and women to this great Bible college. What a blessing to have West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, California.
Very sincerely,
Curtis Hutson
It’s hard to believe that was thirty years ago now. God has blessed these years beyond our greatest dreams.
The First Year
Confident of the Lord’s leading and with the unanimous support of our church family, WCBC opened its doors in the fall of 1995 to a student body of forty-three.
Our first classrooms were modular buildings. There were no on-campus dormitories, so students stayed in a refurbished hotel and in scattered houses near the college. Because we had no kitchen, meals were prepared by church members out of their own homes.
But what we lacked in amenities, we made up for in fervency. There was a sincere love for Christ and a burden for souls among our students and staff that defined those early days.
Growth by God’s Grace
Over the years, God has blessed in remarkable ways. Our campus now spans over one hundred acres and includes seven dormitories, dedicated academic buildings, and an administration complex. The college has received full accreditation through TRACS and offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees—on campus and online.
As our academic offerings have grown, so has our student body. We’ve welcomed students from every region of the United States and dozens of foreign countries, all with a desire to be thoroughly equipped for ministry. Our Christ-centered training extends through conferences, regional meetings, online platforms, and worldwide mission partnerships. Each step forward has been a testimony of the Lord’s provision and the faithfulness of His people.
Laborers in the Harvest
Today, thousands of WCBC graduates are serving across the globe, including in forty-six foreign countries. They are planting churches, teaching in Christian schools, serving on mission fields, and laboring in local church ministries. I thank the Lord for each alumnus, and I rejoice in every report of what God is doing through their lives.
Every graduation is a tangible reminder that God is still calling and sending laborers. And every time a graduate shares a story of a soul saved, a church planted, or a mission field reached, I thank God for a church family who—thirty years ago—believed in a vision bigger than ourselves.
Holding Fast and Looking Forward
This year’s theme at WCBC has been “Hold Fast,” taken from 2 Timothy 1:13. As we celebrate thirty years, we also recommit ourselves to the biblical foundation upon which WCBC was built: sound doctrine, personal holiness, fervent soulwinning, and local church ministry.
We live in a time of spiritual drift. But our calling is clear. We must hold fast to truth, stay grounded in God’s Word, and train the next generation to do the same.
Looking ahead, our vision remains unchanged: to continue training laborers for His harvest, to serve local churches, and to equip students to lead with clarity, conviction, and compassion.
Join the Mission
As we mark this thirtieth year of ministry, would you pray for WCBC? Pray for our students, our faculty, and our graduates as they serve around the world. And pray that more young people will surrender to the call of God on their lives.
If you’re a pastor, would you consider sending a student to be trained here? If you’re a parent, would you encourage your son or daughter to seek the Lord’s purpose for their life? If you’re a friend of this ministry, would you consider supporting WCBC so that we can continue offering Christ-honoring, biblically-sound training?
To God be the glory—great things He hath done. And we look forward to what He will continue to do as we hold fast to His Word and labor together for the harvest.