IBC Catalog

Integrity Bible College History

Integrity Bible College has its roots in the Bible Institute and Bible College movements in the United States. These movements began with the instruction of believers for worldwide Christian service following the Second World War and the Korean conflict. In the last 50 years residential instruction has become very expensive and, facing insufficient endowment, many fine Bible colleges have closed, replaced by distance learning models and the ascendancy of internet technology. In response to the felt need of educational recognition, most three year Bible Institutes have morphed into four year, degree granting Bible colleges. 

Integrity Bible Ministries was incorporated in February 2011 under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to facilitate the equipping of believers unable to pay for the high cost of resident education and for others for whom resident education is not a viable option. It was approved to grant degrees by the Florida Department of Education in August 2011 under section 1005.06(1)(5) of the Florida Education Code. Integrity Bible College had 70 students in 2016 and has grown to more than 200 students in 2020.

Integrity Bible College Philosophy of Ministry

Centrality of the word

As  the world encroaches on the church, may believers have allowed the knowledge of men to replace the knowledge of God. But God says:

“having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever . . .” --1 Peter 1.23

The sweet psalmist of Israel penned these words from God:

How can a young man cleanse his way? ​​By taking heed according to Your word. . . . Your word I have hidden in my heart, ​​That I might not sin against You. --Psalm 119.9,11

The Lord Jesus prayed for us:

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” --John 17.17

Our growth depends on God’s Word:

“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” --1 Peter 2.2

We are equipped to serve God by His word:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. --2 Timothy 3.16-17

At Integrity Bible College we use the word of God itself as our textbook instead of man’s words about God’s word.

The teaching of the Holy Spirit

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth . . . “ --John 16.13

The believer in Christ

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things . . .  --1 Corinthians 2.14-15a

In summary: The Spirit of God will teach the Word of God to the man of God. This is because

The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. --Hebrews 4:12

Integrity Bible College Philosophy of Education

Because we believe these truths, we have adopted and practice these educational principles:

1. We accept as students applicants who profess Biblical salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. These students are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) and can learn the word of God (1 Corinthians 2:14-15).

2. We instruct by introducing believers to the scriptures which God has promised will accomplish His desires (Isaiah 55:11).

3. We teach for life-change (James 1:22, 4.17; Revelation 12.2)

4. We do not compare one student with another student (2 Corinthians 2.12). Therefore, we do not “grade” students.

5. God provides “testing’ to develop endurance in Believers (James 1.2-4, Romans 5.3-4) therefore we provide study direction for students, we do not “test” them. Approval comes from God (2 Timothy 2.15).

6. We offer the word of God without charge, as Paul did the gospel (1 Corinthians 9.18). Students may support the college financially if they are able (2 Corinthians 8:12) and willing (2 Corinthians 9.7) in accordance with Galatians 6.6.

7. A comparison of Deuteronomy 4.1 and Deuteronomy 5.1 shows the Biblical relationship between teaching and learning. Both use the Hebrew word לָמַד (lamad) which is Strong’s #3925. To teach is to cause to learn. Therefore we place the emphasis on what the student does, not on what the teacher does. This principle informs all our courses at Integrity Bible College.

Integrity Bible College Program of Study

(Revised autumn 2016)

Bible

The central program of Bible study at Integrity Bible College is the Biblical Studies Program. This program is based on the English Bible, the heart language of most of our students (a parallel program of studies is being prepared but is not available at this time). The program is designed to prepare new believers to live the Christian life, to glorify God and to serve the body of Christ in either a vocational or non-vocational way.

The program enables the believer to earn three degrees in Biblical Studies. The Associate of Biblical Studies is conferred upon the successful completion of 20 three-unit courses, a total of 60 semester credits of college credit. The Bachelor of Biblical Studies is conferred upon the successful completion of 40 three-unit courses, a total of 120 semester hours of college credit. This is the equivalent of a four year college program at a residential college. The student may earn the Master of Biblical Studies degree by the completion of 60 three-unit courses, 180 total semester hours of college level work, the cumulative equivalent of six years of college work.

These courses are prepared to be at the same level of accomplishment as typical residential Bible colleges. While the educational methods at Integrity Bible College are creative and non-traditional, we require a knowledge level on a par with residential Bible colleges. The granting of transfer credit is always under the purview of the receiving college, but it is our intention that Integrity Bible College courses achieve the same scope and depth as similar courses in other educational institutions, thereby facilitating transferability of each Integrity Bible College course credit to more traditional colleges.

Integrity Bible College Bible Degree Programs

(revised autumn 2016)

The Bible degree programs at Integrity Bible College are commensurate with Bible degree programs of residential Bible colleges in scope and depth. Our methods of instruction are specifically engineered for students for whom resident instruction is not a viable option. We are authorized to grant degrees by the Florida Department of Education in August 2011 under section 1005.06(1)(5) of the Florida Education Code.

Integrity Bible College confers the following degrees in its Bible programs:

• Associate of Biblical Studies 60 semester units

• Bachelor of Biblical Studies 120 semester units

• Master of Biblical Studies 180 semester units 

Each course at Integrity Bible College carries three semester units of credit. The Associate of Biblical Studies requires twenty courses. The Bachelor of Biblical Studies requires an additional twenty courses beyond the A.B.S. The Master of Biblical Studies requires an additional twenty courses beyond the B.B.S. Our courses are highly inductive and develop and require student-centered methods of learning as often found in typical residential college programs.

Transfer of Credits

The transfer of credits from one institution to another is always at the discretion of the receiving institution. Integrity Bible College cannot guarantee students that our credits will be accepted by another college--no college can make that claim. Nevertheless, we have had students whose credits were gladly received by another college. The quality of our courses and our willingness to talk to the deans of other colleges makes this possible, even likely. But the final acceptance or transfer of credit is the prerogative of the receiving institution.