Detroit Bible College
Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan
1945-2004
E-Travel
E-yearbooks has the 1967 and 1971 editions of the Shield, the school yearbook. Encyclopedia of Evangelism has a sketch of the school.
History
Seeing the need for a nondenominational religious school, the Christian Business Men's Committee of Detroit founded Detroit Bible Institute. With a motto "The will of God, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else," D.B.I.offered classes in Bible study, leading to a Christian Workers Certificate. D.B.I. became a degree-granting institution in 1960 and changed its name to Detroit Bible College.
The 1967 yearbook shows a student body of around 250. Eighty percent of students were commuters. Many held part-time jobs; some were married. To help working students, D.B.C. offered evening classes. Most students continued to serve their local churches as teachers, youth leaders, or musicians. Wikipedia states that "the student body represented a cross-section of conservative Protestant and independent churches."
The Shield noted,"Matriculation is limited to those who have found life through the Bible." Therefore, the Bible shaped the educational philosophy of DBC, serving as the primary textbook for many classes. DBC offered four courses of study--theology, Christian education, missions, and music.
Student activities and organizations were in line with the mission of the school. The most recognizable student group was the Women Chorale, which carried the school name on tours throughout Michigan. There was also a Women's Fellowship, a Ministerial Fellowship, and a chapter of the American Association of Evangelical Students. Four Gospel Teams of eight students each were sent out to the churches in Detroit to teach, perform music and preach during the school year. The school also sponsored a Summer Outreach program for students to assist local congregations in the same way.
In 1978 D.B.C. moved out of Detroit into a new campus at Farmington Hills but continued outreach into the Detroit inner city. With an expanded liberal arts curriculum, the school gained regional accreditation and took the name William Tyndale College. However, it experienced financial difficulties. Beginning in 2001 prominent Michigan politicians helped the school receive federal funding. Regent University also provided funds to help the school avoid closure. However, W.T.C. had to return $300,000 of federal funds and was forced to close in December 2004.
Bricks and Mortar
D.B.I./D.B.C./W.T.C. led a vagabond existence. D.B.I. began classes in the Missionary Workers Tabernacle on Stimson Street in Detroit. After two more homes in Detroit churches, the school moved into a campus on Meyers Road in northeast Detroit in 1950. The Shield shows a three-building campus. Plans for four more buildings never materialized before the campus was sold in 1976. That campus later housed Lewis College of Business, a historic Black school.
After another stop at Franklin Road Elementary School in Southfield, W.T.C. moved to a new campus on West 12 Mile Road in Farmington Hills, MI. That campus is now home to the Islamic Cultural Association.
Google street view of 138 Stimson Street today. It is now the home to Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries. (https://www.google.com/maps/place/138+stimson+street+detroit+mi/) accessed 2-10-2017
Sports
Team name: Lancers
School Colors: Blue, Gold and White
The 1967 Shield shows the basketball team as a member of the Michigan Christian College Athletic Association, along with other like schools. The Lancers finished third that year.
The yearbook shows D.B.C. participating in an all-sports day with Midwestern Baptist College, Michigan Christian College, and Detroit Tech. The day-long event included baseball, soccer, volleyball, table tennis and tug of war.
That year D.B.C. organized a flag football team that played against Midwestern Baptist, and Michigan Christian. College Football Data Warehouse credits D.B.C. with a 1972 game against Northland College, a game in which D.B.C. was beaten 40-6.
The 1970-71 DBC basketball team finished with a 12-13 record. Image from the 1971 Lancer, used by permission of E-Yearbooks
The 1967 Lancers. Image courtesy of e-yearbooks.
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