Central Bible College - Cup Yearbook (Springfield, MO)

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Olflllflfl, I'lC2lflfl2l1f Yesterday Original qzmrlenr-Celitml Airerizbly, Fifi! .fllddwll body. 1922. lmirziflmlion Building orrupied, 1924. W wus-f' Brolfner Eiwzf Fin! building takes form on :be fampzu. Y '97 1 arriwef with Jtudenlf from Bethel, 1929. W' I' EVANS, Thin! Dean

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CENTRAL BIBLE INSTITUTE was born to serve a dying world. At a time when the earth was pressed between one great holocaust and the threatenings of economic disaster and a second world war, a little school was begun in a church basement in Springfield, Missouri. As we look back on that beginning, we are cer- tain that the world held no great welcoming service for the new school. The world may never stretch forth wide arms to embrace its graduates or the spirit for which the school stands, yet every corner of the earth has been warmed from its hearth. Every land has echoed its songs of salvation and many of the earth's heartaches and sorrows have been alleviated by those who have gone from its halls to minister. Though the world held no great celebration at its birth, Pentecostal people rejoiced when C.B.I. was be- gun in 1922 in the old Central Assembly building at Campbell and Calhoun in Springfield. D. W. Kerr was the first dean. He and Mrs. Kerr, well beloved early leaders in the General Council, and their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Pierce, con- ducted the school that year. In 1923,edue to the retirement of Brother and Sister Kerr, W. Welch, President of the school, journeyed to Newark, New jersey, and persuaded Frank M. Boyd, Dean of Bethel Bible School to come to Springfield and become C.B.I.'s second dean. The school work was continued that year in the Central Assembly building, which was a square box- like structure about one-half the size of the present main auditorium. Classes were held upstairs in the audi- torium and in the basement, two classrooms in all. The basement included one classroom, dining room, kitchen, and the offices of the Dean and the Business Manager. W. Sitton, who later became very active in the servicemerfs work, was business manager, and Miss Mollie Baird, now missionary in India, was the dean's secretary. The grant of the present property was made from the City of Springfield. Some prominent business men very positively opposed the establishing of the school, because they were skeptical of the Pentecostal move- ment. They were afterward very happy for being over- ruled in the matter. Brother and Sister Boyd lived in the white cottage just east of the present Administration Building. Huge stacks of lath and brick were piled in front of the cot- tage. When they came home from Central Assembly each day, they watched with great interest the progress of the new building. This first unit was financed by small gifts from our Pentecostal people. Most of the money came in through dime containers. wenfy-gihk D. W. KERR, Fifi! Dean -I. W. WELCH, First Prer. FRANK BOYD, Serond Dean W. T. GASTON, Semmz' Pref.

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It was decided at first to complete the front of the present Administration Building two stories high, and the west wing, However, the student boys volun- teered to excavate for the east wing and help in every way possible on the building. With that help the work on the east wing was started. The forms were in for the east wing when a very heavy rain storm caused them .to collapse. It was really a ruin, and discourage- ment prevailed for the moment. The project was about to be abandoned but again the students rallied, carry- ing it to completion. The student body numbered 132 when the new building was occupied. The first class graduated in 1925 and the next year, W. T. Gaston succeeded Brother Welch as president of the school. In 1929 the school was amalgamated with Bethel Bible Training School. It was at this time that,W. I. Evans, who was then dean of the Newark school, was brought to Springfield to assume the duties of dean of C.B.I., and Ernest S. Williams succeeded Brother Gaston as president of the school. At the same time a number of changes were made in the curriculum of the school and a Practical Work Department was established. During the next five years the school kept pace with the rapidly expanding Assemblies of God fellow- ship. When the enrolment reached 181 in 1934-35, the directorate decided to add a new wing and a third floor to the building, thus doubling the capacity. These improvements stirred new interest which brought the enrolment to 321 the following year. In 1936 John Welch Hall was constructed and was named in honor of the first president. This was a dormitory for men students but also contained a large modern cafeteria and kitchen. , It was in 1938 that the students and faculty felt the need of a school annual. The Lord's blessing upon this venture was very evident, and the first issue of THE CUP came forth that spring to tell its story of 3C.B.I. in picture and print. Then in 1.959 a large frame building was erected on the campus. This new building included ia large auditoritun, gymnasium, orchestra room, and twenty- two music rooms. It made possible the expansion of the music department and recreational activities. During the war years C.B.l. made its contribution. Former students served in every department of the armed services and a number became chaplains. The fall of 1946 saw further changes. The east campus became dotted with G.I. barracks for veteran MOTHER BOWIE, 1931 E. S. WILLIAMS Third Prei. lyfdlff tower erected, 1935 First CUP, 1938 Adminirtmtion b uildi ng lafged, 1935. Welch Hull neun compleiiwz, 1936. Tabernacle in ronrlruczion, 1939. ,W