Ozark Bible College
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| Motto | "Not to be served, but to serve." |
|---|---|
| Type | Private, Christian school |
| Established | 1985 merger; 1942 (Ozark Bible College); 1946 (Midwest Christian College) |
| President | Matt Proctor |
| Students | 679 |
| Undergraduates | 679 |
| Location |
Joplin, Missouri, USA 37°06′13″N 94°30′40″W / 37.10350°N 94.51102°WCoordinates: 37°06′13″N 94°30′40″W / 37.10350°N 94.51102°W |
| Colors | Blue and white |
| Affiliations | Part of Restoration Movement Christian Churches/Churches of Christ |
| Mascot | Ambassador |
| Website | www.occ.edu |
Ozark Christian College is a private, not-for-profit college located at 1111 North Main Street, Joplin, Missouri affiliated with the Restoration Movement of Christian churches and churches of Christ.
Ozark Bible College was established in Bentonville, Arkansas, on June 12, 1942. The school was committed to training men and women for Christian service by teaching the Word of Christ in the Spirit of Christ. An earlier Ozark Christian College was established in St. Joe, Arkansas, in 1938. It moved to Harrison, Arkansas, in 1939, and then to Bentonville in 1940. This school was to provide both occupational training and Bible teaching in affiliation with the Restoration Movement.
Ozark Bible College was founded to be a Bible college training full-time and part-time Christian workers. Workers were prepared to be ministers, missionaries, evangelistic singers, church secretaries, educational directors and assistant ministers, as well as elders, deacons and volunteer workers in the local church. The trustees elected F. W. Strong as president and Seth Wilson as dean, positions they held in the former college.
Many churches in the four state area of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma were closed and hundreds were without preachers. Ozark Bible College desired to provide Biblical preachers whose preaching would revive the churches.
In October 1944, Ozark Bible College moved to Joplin, Missouri. The Cragin Mansion located at 516 N. Wall Street became the new home for the college. Joplin was chosen as the new location for the college because it was easily reached by car, bus, train or plane. Many churches surrounded Joplin, which provided opportunities for student ministries. Joplin also had job opportunities for students.
In 1946, Edwin B. Strong succeeded his father as president of Ozark Bible College. The college grew from sixteen students in 1942 to 123 students in the fall of 1949. An addition to the building in 1948 provided a dining room, a small chapel and two classrooms. At this time most of the full-time faculty preached every weekend. Area ministers assisted as part-time instructors. Students were involved in service in the churches on weekends.
The curriculum has always stressed a knowledge of the Bible, gained through a direct study of the Biblical text, with every degree carrying a major in Bible. Strong emphasis has been placed on apologetics (knowing why christians believe in God, Christ and the Bible) and hermeneutics (principles and methods for understanding the Bible). Skills for ministry were also taught at this time.
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