AA in Education

Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a Bible-based institution for theological and professional studies. It is rooted in the great commission of Jesus Christ to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation”’ and to “make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Mark 16:15a; Matthew 28:19, 20), which is the primary emphasis of Southwestern’s parent body, the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

The purpose of Southwestern Assemblies of God University is to prepare undergraduate and graduate students spiritually, academically, professionally, and cross culturally so as to successfully fill evangelistic, missionary and church ministry roles and to provide quality educational and professional Christian service wherever needed throughout the world.

Three Bible schools were brought together to form Southwestern Bible Institute. The first, known as Southwestern Bible School, was established at Enid, Oklahoma in 1927 under the leadership of the Reverend P. C. Nelson. The second, Shield of Faith Bible Institute, was founded in Amarillo, Texas, in 1931 under the direction of the Reverend Guy Shields. It included not only a Bible school, but also a grade school and high school. The third, which was operated as Southern Bible College in connection with the Richey Evangelistic Temple, began at Goose Creek, Texas in 1931. It was started by Reverend J. T. Little in Trinity Tabernacle and later moved to Houston in 1933. The school's name was then changed to Southern Bible Institute. The Bible school division of Shield of Faith Bible Institute was moved to Fort Worth in 1935. The high school division was transferred the following year. In 1940, a merger resulted in Southern Bible Institute, moving to Fort Worth. The combined school, operating as South Central Bible Institute, came under the ownership and direction of the Texas District Council of the Assemblies of God. The school in Enid merged with South Central in 1941, at which time the name was changed to Southwestern Bible Institute. In 1943, the institute was moved to its present facilities in Waxahachie, Texas. During the 1944-45 term, a junior college curriculum was added to the school's program. The Junior College Division soon accounted for about half of the enrollment in the College. Southwestern Bible Institute became a regional school in 1954. At that time seven districts of the Assemblies of God--Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Texas, Oklahoma, South Texas and West Texas--owned and operated the school. In 1969, the Rocky Mountain District, composed of Colorado and Utah, was admitted to the Region.