After much prayer and planning, Bluefield College of Evangelism was chartered as a nonprofit religious educational institution on June 8, 1971. The prior October 1970 had witnessed the establishment of Christian Acres, a Christian service camp, by the Christian churches/Churches of Christ in the Bluefield, West Virginia area. It was believed that a ministerial institution in Southern Appalachia would be a vital strenghthening force for churches in the Restoration Movement in this area.
Bluefield College of Evangelism thus began with the vision of providing a practical education for various church-related ministries. For several years Christian Acres Christian Camp, with chapel, classrooms, dining hall, kitchen, dormitories, and administrative buildings served as BCE's first home. Founder David Branholm served as BCE's first president as the college began its first year with a student enrollment of twenty-three men and women on September 7, 1971.
By 1986, the college had outgrown these facilities and purchased property adjacent to Christian Acres where a single mult-purpose unit housed the chapel, administrative offices, classrooms, library, and kitchen/dining facilities. Though this location provided a scenic mountaintop view for the college and of the surrounding Bluefield area, navigating problematic roads in the winter and visitor difficulty in finding the campus proved an unwise moved. In 1998 a consulting firm was hired regarding BCE attributes. After a careful study and a community survey the results led to the decision to relocate the college. In 2002 the college campus adjoining Christian Acres was sold to India International research and Educational Foundation.
Closing on new property occured on December 9, 2002, when BCE's Board of Directors, in partnership with Crossroads Church of Christ, purchased property and former church building on West Lee Highway in Wytheville, Virginia. Joint sharing of the facility provides church auditorium/chapel, kitchen/dining hall/fellowship area, library, classroom space, and administrative office space for both the church and the college. Following the May commencement exercises of BCE's class of 2003, relocation became a reality. By June 2003, the campus had been transferred to the Wytheville location and Bluefield College of Evangelism was named Blueridge College of Evangelism, becoming a subsidiary of Bluefield College of Evangelism.
Because BCE has remained on the mission to educate preachers and equip workers for service for God, Blueridge College of Evangelism has moved beyond the dreams of her founders to become a national and international resource for training ministry workers. Loving links have been built with the Christians in Southern Appalachia, but recognition for the excellence of the educational experience BCE offers has attracted students from all across this nation and to the furthermost regions of the world. Since the tragedy of 9/11 and the tsunami wave in India during the Christmas holiday in 2004 students from India, Asia, Africa, and Thailand have enrolled in our correspondence courses.
It is Blueridge College of Evangelism's belief that "What the Bible says, we preach; where the Bible does not speak, we remain silent." BCE expects commitment to this philosophy by its students as each carefully studies, follows, and practices the word of God. Alumni are expected to positively represent BCE and its adherence to Biblical principles and doctrines and to encourage others while promoting the Christian life.
Blueridge College of Evangelism's goals cover a broad spectrum, but are what it believes to be desirous for Christian education and for developing a pleasing relationship with God, by:
- Nurturing spiritual formation and growth by providing a Christian worldview
- Encouraging a personal devotional life
- Modeling Christ-like living
- Developing a true sense of worldwide evangelism as protrayed in the New Testament
- Committing to service in local church settings
- Promoting appreciation for Restoration Movement ideals and principles and its plea for church unity is of extreme importance
- Requiring commitment to Biblical, moral, and ethical values
- Dedicating oneself to spiritual growth
- Appreciating BCE's commitment to faith, prayer, and Christian works
- Displaying loyalty to BCE as a Biblical institution dedicated to the service of God