History of SLCC
Established in 1956, St. Louis Christian College (SLCC) was a private, religiously-affiliated institution of higher learning that merged with Central Christian College of the Bible (MO) in June 2022. The college occupied a 35-acre residential campus in Florissant, Missouri one mile west of the intersection of West Florissant Ave. and Interstate 270, and one–half mile east of the intersection of Washington/Elizabeth and Interstate 270 (20 minutes from downtown St. Louis). The campus included men’s and women’s residence halls and campus apartments, as well as educational and recreational facilities.
SLCC achieved accreditation status in 1977 with The American Association of Bible Colleges (AABC), currently known as The Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), and maintained good standing throughout. SLCC was licensed by the State of Missouri to award Associate (two-year) and Bachelor (four-year) degrees. Its curriculum was particularly rich in the humanities, and aimed to prepare graduates for vocational Christian ministry and other helping professions. Courses were offered year-round to traditional day students, evening students, and online students.
From its inception, St. Louis Christian College provided Bible-centered higher education to equip men and women as leaders who can handle the Word of God and provide ministry with excellence in urban centers and rural communities around the world. The College was founded to meet the ministry needs of the St. Louis region.
1956 — In June 1956, three St. Louis ministers met to discuss a common concern: the need for leadership in the churches of the St. Louis region. Luther Perrine, Hubert Burris, and Vernon Newland reviewed the evangelistic decline of the previous quarter century and proposed to found a Bible College as a “center of evangelism” for the St. Louis region. Out of that proposal, St. Louis Christian College was established. Luther E. Perrine became president (1956–1966). In the first year, faculty responsibilities were distributed among eleven ministers. Nineteen students enrolled.
1957 — Eugene Hetzel was hired as the first full-time professor (New Testament).
1958 — SLCC moved from the Ferguson Christian Church to it permanent campus during Thanksgiving time in the Fall, securing an 11.5 acre campus.
1962 — Russell Boatman became Academic Dean, serving in that capacity through June 1978. He was later named Academic Dean Emeritus and continued to teach 11 more years. In total, Boatman served SLCC for 30 years. Upon his retirement, the Boatman Leadership Seminar was held in his honor for the next 28 years, last taking place on November 5, 2021.
1966 — Glenn H. Bourne became president in June (1966–1978). He served in that capacity through June 1978. St. Louis Christian College attained accreditation with the American Association of Bible Colleges and enjoyed growth in facilities, faculty, enrollment and influence during the Bourne-Boatman administration.
1978–1979 — This was a brief difficult time as SLCC searched for its next president. In April 1978, Bob Stacy was named president-elect. After Stacy stepped down, William Maynard (Dean of Students) became the Acting President in October 1978. In March 1979, Bob Lyttle became president-elect and stepped down shortly afterwards.
1979 — Thomas W. McGee became president (1979–1995) in August 1979. He served as president of the college for 16 years, the longest tenure in the college’s history. During his visionary leadership, over 300 students were graduated. They served Christ from coast to coast in the United States and around the world. Under his leadership, the Adults in Ministry (AIM) degree-completion program was started, Boldly Beyond 2000 (a capital gifts program for Presidents Hall) reached $1.2 million, debt was significantly reduced, and relationships with churches were strengthened. President McGee assembled a highly qualified and motivated faculty and staff. St. Louis Christian College received an enrollment growth award from Christianity Today and the AABC. The College had the highest enrollment growth of member colleges of its size. Enrollment was at 194, the second highest the school had ever experienced. St. Louis Christian College continued to refine and revise programs to achieve the mission of equipping men and women to impact the world for Christ.
1995 — Dr. Kenneth Beck became the fourth president (1995–2004) of SLCC. Dr. Beck’s tenure with the college was highlighted by significant enhancement of the institution’s facilities providing students with a comfortable environment in which to learn.
2004 — From 2004 to 2006 St. Louis Christian College was led by a five-man Presidential Transition Team. Team members included two Senior Ministers: Ben Merold of Harvester Christian Church and Paul Newland of Gateway Christian Church; and three operational staff members of SLCC: Dr. Jamie Lankford, finance officer, Dr. Kendall Brune, development officer and Professor Keith McCaslin, academic officer.
2006 — In June of 2006, Dr. Guthrie Veech became the fifth president (2006–2016) in the college’s 50-year history. He brought a balance of academic expertise from the college classroom and ministry experience from diverse local congregations to the role of President.
2010 — SLCC’s peak enrollment was in Fall 2010, as 337 students were enrolled. This was the fifth consecutive year that SLCC saw student enrollment climb over 300.
2016 — For the duration of the 2016-17 school year, St. Louis Christian College was led by a four-person Presidential Transition Team. The team members that served from July-December 2016 were: Don Sanders, Director of the Merold Institute for Ministry at Harvester Christian Church; Dr. Ken Johnson, SLCC trustee and retired professor at Lindenwood University; Pamela Ralls, Director of Institutional Excellence and Dr. Mike Pabarcus, Professor and Interim Academic Dean. Team members that served from January-May 2017 were: Dr. Ken Johnson, Dr. Ladd Haverly, Executive Pastor at Gateway Christian Church, Harold Merritt, Professor and Chair of Biblical Education Division at St. Louis Christian College, and Scott Womble, Professor and Adults in Ministry Coordinator.
2017 — In June 2017, Terry Stine became the sixth president (2017–2022) of St. Louis Christian College. Mr. Stine came from Boise Bible College, where he began as Professor of Missions in 2005 and then served as President from 2007-2017.
2022 — On June 1, 2022, SLCC merged with Central Christian College of the Bible (MO).