Pinecrest Bible Training Center

Pinecrest Bible Training Center is a fundamentalist, unaccredited, three-year Bible School located in Salisbury Center, New York. It was founded by Wade Taylor in 1968.

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History of the School

Founder Wade Taylor attended Pine Crest Bible Institute, located on Pinecrest's current site, from 1959-1962. He left to teach at Elim Bible Institute in Lima, New York (another 3 year Pentecostal Bible school). Pine Crest Bible Institute merged with Eastern Bible Institute, Beulah Heights Bible Institute of North Bergen, New Jersey, Metropolitan Bible Institute of Suffern, New York and New England Bible Institute of Framingham, Massachusetts to form Valley Forge Christian College (which is a four year, completely accredited school fully affiliated with the Assemblies of God in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania). The property remained vacant and unused for the next six years. The Pinecrest property was later bought and donated to Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network, who donated the Salisbury Center campus and buildings to Pinecrest Bible Training Center. Pinecrest's present ministry began with a Labor Day conference in 1968. [ [http://www.pinecrest.org/Our_History.htm Our Heritage ] ]

In 1996, Dr. Ronald Taylor became Pinecrest’s second President until his death in 2001. Dr. Richard Forde, Pinecrest's Vice-President and longtime faculty member, then assumed the position. On July 22, 2006, Jack Picataggi, former Pinecrest teacher and Academic Dean, was installed as Pinecrest’s current President. His wife, Joanne, serves as Pinecrest’s Dean.

Pinecrest offers a two-year Biblical Studies Program and a third-year Advanced Biblical Studies Program leading to diplomas, and a one-year Short Term Certificate Program, which combines courses from the three years. Pinecrest's credits are transferable to other four year colleges that do grant Bachelor's degrees.

Pinecrest accepts international students and is approved by the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs for the training of veterans and other eligible persons. ----

Doctrine of the School

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice. There is one true and living God revealed in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Man was created in the image of God, but as a result of sin, is lost and powerless to save himself. The Lord Jesus Christ is eternal deity and is the virgin-born Son of God who died upon a cross to bear mankind’s afflictions and punishment for sin, who arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father, and who will return to earth in power and glory. Sin is cleansed only through personal repentance and faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Personal salvation is the result of regeneration by the Holy Spirit who baptizes the believer into the body of Christ. Believers are to be baptized in the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4. There is a moving and working of the Spirit in lives in these last days. Jesus Christ will personally return to this earth and establish His kingdom on earth. [School's official website http://www.pinecrest.org/Statement_of_Faith.htm]

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Notable alumni

Raunchy comedian Sam Kinison, ironically, attended here. He became an evangelist, who left the ministry to pursue comedy. Most of his comedy was irreverently aimed at the church and Christianity in general. He was also the son of a Pentecostal pastor.

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References

Reflist

External links

*Pinecrest Bible Training Center's official website [http://www.pinecrest.org/index.htm]