About Grace > Introduction

An Introduction

Who are we?
Our leadership comes from the Association of Churches for Christian Education. An association of Bible believing Bay Area Churches who were challenged by the need for effective leadership training. Leaders in the local church must be discerning, maturing Christians who can relate their faith effectively in their culture. The school, therefore, seeks to impart a way of life as well as a perspective of biblical understanding.

What is our emphasis?
The Theology of Grace is at the core of our teaching. This is because we believe that Christians who gain an understanding of grace will serve God out of gratitude rather than guilt, fear, or manipulation. According to the Apostle Paul the most important aspect of Christian service is the motive behind it (1Corinthians 13). It is very important to sharpen skills, learn effective methods and increase efficiency in ministry. But not nearly as important as being motivated by an appreciation for God's unspeakable gift.

What is our objective?
To help equip and challenge Christians to accurately and vividly manifest Jesus Christ in their everyday lives. But how does Christ Himself become visible through His people? Primarily in two ways: (1) He displays His own character as believers bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and (2) He displays His abilities as believers lovingly serve one another through the exercise of their spiritual gifts. We see our task as teaching Christians in such a way that both their character and their ministry skills are being used to paint a beautiful portrait of Christ, to be a work of art… (Ephesians 2:10).

What do we believe?
The school is fully committed to the verbal-plenary inspiration of the Scriptures with its teachings growing out of a sound literal hermeneutic. It is our objective to maintain academic excellence in an atmosphere of fervent love for reaching people for Jesus Christ and edifying those who have received Him. Under the oversight of a faculty actively involved in the ministry of the local church, the student is directed to achieve this balance.

Statement Of Purpose
To assist local churches in equipping and challenging committed Christians to become effective Bible teachers and preachers who will function as servant-leaders in the church of Jesus Christ.

Key Objectives
Training:
To provide formal training in Bible, theology, and ministry which is both comprehensive and relevant.

Accessibility:
To provide a unique schedule of classes that is convenient and accessible to all.

Character:
To encourage the development of godly character and Christ-like qualities in the life of the student.

Service:
To prepare the student for works of service in and through the local church.

Commitment:
To enhance the student’s sense of commitment to the local church.

History
The school was established in 1977 specifically to meet the needs of men preparing for a ministry as expositors and preachers of the Word of God. Without veering from this original goal, the school has broadened its ministry to provide Biblical, theological and practical training to all Christians desiring preparation for various areas of service.

It has long been the conviction of the leaders of Grace School of Theology that the ideal context for spiritual training on every level is the local church. No other environment provides such a balance between theory and practice. Therefore, the leadership of Valley Bible Church, the original sponsor of the school, understood their responsibilities to include the advanced training of those called to leadership in the local church. Grace School of Theology was designed to fulfill this responsibility.

Created in the crucible of a local church and molded by Biblical scholarship, Grace School of Theology aims to produce discerning, maturing Christian leaders who can relate their faith effectively to the culture. The school desires to impart a way of life as well as an understanding of the Biblical perspective.

In 1987 Grace School of Theology moved its administrative offices and classes to a new location and facility. The educational unit of the Grace Bible Church in Pleasant Hill is the main site for classes.

A new name was chosen in 1987 also. The word Ministry was added to the name to emphasize the fact that the objective is effective ministry in God's church. The earnest ambition of the faculty is to impart their lives to others, who will in turn become men and women who will have fruitful ministry in their local churches in the spirit of II Timothy 2:2.

At the same time a new corporation was formed. Grace School of Theology was originally a ministry under the charter of a single local church. Since then a group of sound, independent, evangelical churches has formed and incorporated the Association of Churches for Christian Education as a California non-profit religious Corporation for the express purpose of sponsoring and supporting Grace School of Theology and Ministry as an independent institution of private post-secondary Christian education.

The board of directors consists of pastors and members from a number of local evangelical churches. Each director has a burden for the local church, as well as a sincere desire to help raise up quality Church leadership.

Perhaps most significant of all, Grace School of Theology and Ministry has a vision and a great concern for integrity: spiritual, biblical, personal, and social.

Grace School of Theology and Ministry is fully committed to the verbal-plenary inspiration of the Scriptures. Its teaching grows out of a sound literal/historical hermeneutic. Our objective is to maintain academic excellence in an atmosphere of fervent love for reaching people for Jesus Christ and for edifying those who have received Him. Under the oversight of a faculty made up of local pastors and teachers who hold earned graduate degrees in Theology and Biblical Studies, and who are themselves actively involved in the ministry of the local church, the student is directed to achieve a proper balance of effective ministry skills and the proper motivation of gratitude for God's grace.