CHAPTER IX ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT
As one looks at Biola University today, with its beautiful campus, its various schools, its numerous majors and the specialties, one cannot help but wonder about its history. There are numerous reasons for the achiev- ments of this great educational institution. Because the success of any ed- ucational institution is determined, to a great degree, by its academic program and the expertise with which it is developed and irrple'TI2Ilted, there- fore, the history and philosophy of Biola University's academic prog~am from its beginning will be examined. The answer to one obvious question, "Why a Bible Institute in the first ยท place?" reveals much about the beginning curriculum. An early issue of the King's Business stated that the coming into existence of Bible Institutes at that time were "the product of the times, and an outgrowth of certain conditions. They were God's agency for an emergency." The article commented further that many of the large seminaries were destitute of students, that hundreds of churches across the land were closed and many others were without pastors, and that the church of that day had a great need for Bible trained Sunday School teachers, helpers, evangelists, and other leaders. Therefore, Bible Institutes, including Biola, were established to train students in the basic knowledge of the Bible and practical Christian work. This need ulti- mately determined the curriculum of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles when it was founded . Rev. Horton's conunent on some evangelistic meetings held in the Los Angeles area just prior to the opening of Biola, "The greatest drawback to the Lord's work is the fact that the leaders are not qualified by practical equipment," summed up the situation. In a letter to Mr. Stewart, in the summer of 1907, a year before Biola opened, Mr. Horton said, "The need is J. . now so definite for instruction along the dispensational lines that I want
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter