By all measurable accounts, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College — nestled in the foothills of Appalachia — is doing great. A recent report shows enrollment at Clear Creek is up by more than 80 students since last semester.
But not only is the school growing numerically; it is also growing spiritually. Over the past year, students have engaged in more than 2,700 gospel conversations and witnessed 341 professions of faith with 241 baptisms, 192 rededications and 13 students committing to vocational ministry. God is using Clear Creek students to impact their communities with the gospel.
Why should those who have answered the call to ministry consider Clear Creek Baptist Bible College for their ministry training needs? Here are five reasons:
1. Affordability: Dr. Charlie Goodman, along with his Clear Creek colleagues, likes to say, “At Clear Creek, we want to put you in the ministry, not in debt.” Clear Creek is consistently ranked as one of the most affordable Bible colleges in America. Nearly 100 percent of its students graduate from the school debt free, and 100 percent of students receive some type of financial assistance. Clear Creek faculty and staff never want finances to keep a student from pursuing ministry training.
2. Sound Doctrine: Clear Creek is the Bible college of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. It only exists to prepare men and women for Christian ministry, and it is known for sound teaching. One thing that is true of every graduate from Clear Creek is that they have been immersed in the Bible. All students receive 32 credits hours of Bible course work — from Genesis to Revelation. I have heard Clear Creek graduates say they learned more about the Bible in their days at Clear Creek than they did in their time in seminary.
3. Baptist Distinctives: Not only will students preparing for ministry be trained in sound doctrine at Clear Creek, but their instruction will be taught from the perspective of Baptist distinctives, consistent with the Baptist Faith and Message. Students are taught the value of the local church, the autonomy of the local church and the priority of the local church as God’s plan to reach the world for Christ. Clear Creek is not just a Bible college, but it is a dually accredited Baptist Bible college established to train leaders for ministry in Baptist churches.
4. Ease of Placement: Clear Creek graduates who want to serve in a local church have little trouble finding a suitable ministry assignment. That may be because God is directing their lives, or they tend to be leaders who went to school in hopes of serving in vocational ministry, or because Clear Creek has a solid reputation for training ministry leaders, or a combination of all the above.
5. Cooperation Minded: One thing that is true about Clear Creek graduates is that they leave their time at the Bible college with an understanding of the Cooperative Program and a commitment to its future viability. The students are taught how the generosity of Kentucky Baptists through the Cooperative Program makes their ministry training at Clear Creek more affordable. As a result, these students end up leading churches to continue giving through the Cooperative Program so that it will be around to bless future generations.
Clear Creek Baptist Bible College is an excellent school for those who have heard God’s call on their lives for leadership in Christian ministry. If that describes you, or someone in your church, then consider scheduling a visit to the campus or a phone call with one of its leaders to discern if God may be calling you to Clear Creek Baptist Bible College.
Dr. Todd Gray 