Testimony

It is hard to imagine that almost forty five years have gone by since I graduated from Florida Bible College. It is even harder to imagine all of the challenges and adventures that have been crammed into those forty five years. What does fall rather easily into my thoughts is the profound impact that a solid Bible education, a vibrant Christian community and a thrilling Christian outreach experience have played in my life during those years. Very few things would be more valuable for a young ...

I rejoice with you that you are steadily moving forward toward the reopening of Florida Bible College. Bible schools that are clear on the gospel and sound in the faith are desperately needed in this day when compromise for convenience's sake is so prevalent. As you progress toward the actual reopening of FBC keep your standards high and your motives pure, and God will surely bless your efforts. I pray for great wisdom for each of you who are directly involved in this important endeavor. ...

There have been many influential people and organizations in my life, but none as great as the ministry of Florida Bible College and those associated with it. My first connection was as a seventh grader attending Christian Youth Ranch where I heard the gospel message clearer than ever before, and I put my faith in Christ. My high school years were filled with the positive influence of innumerable FBC students who invested in my life and helped me make wise decisions and choices that changed m...

Forty-five years ago, faithful individuals from Florida Bible College reached out to this former atheist at the University of Miami. Their simple message of God's grace and mercy to lost sinners shattered my atheistic concepts. The love of God shared with me caused the Son of God to become the focus of my life.

The emphasis of FBC on the Word of God caused it to become my daily meditation. Jenny and I have been deeply enriched through our associations with FBC ...

While I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home, the son of a pastor, and assured of my salvation at an early age, it was through the ministry of Florida Bible College that God really got hold of my heart.  At an FBC sponsored camp, when I was only 13 years of age I dedicated my life to Jesus Christ and felt the call of God on my life for ministry.  From that time forward until graduating high school I was involved in ministry through an FBC inspired Youth Ranch.&nbs...

Knowing Stan and Carol Ponz since our mutual involvement in youth ministry in the late 60's has given me an opportunity to watch their exemplary lifestyle for almost five decades.  Consistency, authenticity, leadership and experience are qualities I believe will enable Dr. Ponz to lead Florida Bible College effectively. ...

The image of fun, sun, and a new adventure helped bring me to Florida Bible College back in 1972! Most might think that is why I went, but what was not obvious to family or friends was the turmoil within my soul! Few knew that I had applied to serve in the Peace Corps and that their rejection had me shaken. I had the perfect background for a project in South America and thought it would be a formality to be placed in that field. Little did I know that using God words in your appl...

It is exciting to see that Florida Bible College is restarting soon. I believe the foundation I needed for my ministry through the years came from my time at FBC. It is my prayer that GOD blesses the new school as He did before.

Pastor - First Baptist Church of Port Tampa

 

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In 1967 I met Mels Carbonell at a Youth Ranch Bible Study and learned of Florida Bible College. I was saved at age 12 and grew up in a Christian family and a great church. I went to our church's summer camps and later was a counselor there. I was headed to the University of Florida to study Forestry but in my Senior year of High School after visiting FBC in Miami and going to Boca camps for two years, the Lord led me to change directions and go to FBC.I went there without the suppo...

I came to FBC in August 1970 having never heard of Youth Ranch, and never having met anyone from there.  A friend of mine visited and brought back catalogs after hearing Dick Seymour speak at his church. I was reared in a very solid Christian home and wanted to go to a Bible college for at least a year. The catalog course descriptions looked like what I wanted. We told ourselves if FBC didnt turn out to be what we wanted, we would transfer to Miami Bible College after the f...

I am so excited to hear that Florida Bible College will soon be educating students again!  I was 15 when I was saved under the ministry of a FBC grad, Mels Carbonell, at Dunedin Youth Ranch.  From there, I was discipled and helped to grow in Christ through Bible studies, Ranch attendance and Spring and Summer camps.  I could hardly WAIT to be old enough to attend FBC!  I was able to do that in the Fall of 1970. 
 
At FBC, I not only got a solid ...

My most elementary basis for my Christian life I learned at FBC and I will always speak good of it. Let me say that I see the deep need for a new FBC with a renewed emphasis on the clear teaching on the simplicity of the Gospel together with a balanced teaching on the Christian life revealed in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

There needs to be a good balance between the work of the of God's Holy Spirit and the Word of God. We cannot be the...

I am thrilled to hear of the restart of FBC.  It is an answer to prayer that I've had for some time.

The Biblical Education and training that I received there has stayed with me my entire life and is what sustained me throughout my career. The hours spent on memorizing scripture really came home to me when the Lord had me stationed in the Middle East.

The Lord saw fit to take me out of school after 3 years and use what I'd learned in a very different way--not in Ranch, a Churc...

If we confess that Jesus Christ is our Savior then we should love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind while loving others as ourselves.  And if we love others, then we will want them to come to put their faith alone in Jesus Christ and to go on to become fully obedient worshippers of God.  Florida Bible College gives us the means to equip people with a biblical world-view for ministry to do this correctly, clearly, compassionately, courageously, and consistently... loca...

This world is in a state of confusion, people not knowing where to turn.  In these days, I am convinced that the answer to the problems of the world are very simple... the faithful, clear and bold presentation of the Gospel of Christ to a lost and blinded world.  I am passionate about the restart of The Florida Bible College.  Our mission is to teach and disciple believers to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of Christ.  By maturing and preparing laborers for the work of the ministry,...

FBC was very instrumental in changing my life path so I am very excited to be a part of the restart so we can bring that same experience to the next generation.

Trustee - Florida Bible College

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My time at FBC was one of great enlightenment of what it meant to give a clear Gospel message, to have a zeal for presenting that clear Gospel to the world.  One of the lights for the Gospel went out when FBC closed in 1996.  The youth of today desperately need that light.  I have long envisioned a re-lighting of the FBC torch to re-ignite the spirit of FBC to reach the next generation with the clear Gospel of Christ, the generation of my children and my grandchildren.