History
Housed on a rented two-story building on a hill in New Lucban Subdivision, Cervantes Hill, Baguio city, Bethel Bible Institute was founded on August 10, 1941 - the first Bible school of the Assemblies of God in the Philippines. There were twelve students. Except for one Filipino, all the faculty members were American. The school was closed when the war broke out in December 08, 1941. After liberation, Bethel Bible Institute was reopened on June 02, 1946 in Pozzorubio, Pangasinan under the leadership of Rev. Rudy C. Esperanza who was a part of the original faculty in Baguio. Twenty students held classes in the local Assembly of God Church.
Bethel Moved to its present location in Malinta, Valenzuela City (Polo, Bulacan then) in August 1948. The name of the school was changed to Bethel Bible Institute and Seminary. There were thirteen students who began classes on August 05, 1948 in nipa huts. Under old army tents the students ate, studied, and had chapel services. On Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1948 the three hectare campus was dedicated to the Lord. The first graduates were fourteen pioneers on April 01, 1949.
Bethel became a member of PABATS in 1967. In 1985, a curriculum change was introduced to enable Bethel to grant the Bachelor of Christian Ministries degree. The name was changed to Bethel Bible College. In 1986 when the Far East Advanced School of Theology to Baguio all the facilities of the FEAST administrative building were turned over to Bethel Bible College. Before that move, FEAST was located in the Campus of BBC.
Since 1941, Bethel Bible College has been a place of prayer, study of the Bible, fellowship, and of training. Today, graduates of Bethel are occupying positions of leadership in the Assemblies of God, Pastoring churches, serving as cross-cultural missionaries, Christian education and Music directors in local churches, Bible school administrators and teachers. This proves God's faithfulness to Bethel Bible College and its students.
