Welcome to Emmaus
Emmaus Baptist College believes that the Bible should be at the heart and core of all education and is the standard for evaluating all claims to knowledge. The Bible, as the inspired Word of God, is instrumental in thoroughly equipping God’s servants for ministry. Emmaus Baptist College exists as a distinctive conservative, Landmark, Missionary Baptist institution of higher education to prepare men and women for ministry.
A Message from the President
I am excited to welcome you to Emmaus Baptist College, an institution with a rich history of sound, Biblical teaching since 1945. At Emmaus, we are committed to carrying on the legacy of conservative Bible doctrine to equip the next generation for service to the Lord. Emmaus is undergoing transformative changes to increase academic standards, improve campus facilities, and expand our reach with online classes. If you're ready to take your Bible study or ministry to the next level, enroll today!
OUR MISSION
The mission of the college is to equip men and women for Christian service through effective Biblical, professional and general education. The goals for achieving this mission are:
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Spiritual – orient, motivate, and lead students to Christian maturity and spiritual depth
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Academic – provide a clear understanding of the Bible as the basis for Christian life and thought
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Intellectual – develop each student's ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and rightly divide the Word of God
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Professional – produce graduates fully competent for Christian service in the area of their calling
OUR HISTORY
Emmaus Baptist College traces its history to the Florida Baptist Bible School, organized by Missionary Baptist churches in Florida and Georgia in 1944. The first session was held in 1945 at Mascotte Missionary Baptist Church, and for the next decade the school met quarterly at churches throughout Florida and Georgia, providing concentrated Bible and ministry training.
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In 1954 and 1955, W. W. Watson helped champion the vision for a full-time school, with classes meeting at First Missionary Baptist Church of Auburndale. Florida Baptist Institute opened its first semester in 1956 at Eastside Baptist Church in Mulberry with fifty-six students. In 1957 the school moved to its Lakeland campus, and Albert Garner was called as its first full-time president. Under his leadership, the school expanded its programs and facilities and received a state charter.
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Florida Baptist College was organized in 1968, and the college, institute, and seminary eventually operated under Florida Baptist Schools, Inc. In 1989 the Lakeland campus was sold, and the college relocated to Brandon, where a new educational building was completed in 1990.
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In 2007 the school adopted the name Emmaus Baptist College, recalling Christ’s teaching of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24.
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Today, Emmaus Baptist College continues more than eighty years of Biblical education and ministry training from its ten-acre campus in Brandon, Florida, with alumni serving the Lord in churches and ministries throughout the United States and around the world.
Affiliation & Accreditation
Emmaus Baptist College is a member of the American Baptist Association of Theological Schools and subscribes to the Catalog of Uniform Standards. The State of Florida Commission for Independent Education recognizes the exemption of Emmaus Baptist College, Inc., from governmental oversight under Florida Statute 1005.06(1)(f). Since its inception in 1945, Emmaus Baptist College has remained an independent private college and is not subject to governmental oversight. As such, Emmaus is not accredited through a US government recognized accrediting agency. Many colleges, universities and seminaries have accepted credits and degrees from Emmaus Baptist College, yet no institution is under any obligation to do so.
Emmaus Baptist College has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar)—demonstrating our commitment to integrity, accountability, and Christian stewardship. This recognition affirms that partners can give and serve with assurance, with the confidence that Emmaus Baptist College is a faithful and transparent ministry.
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View our non-profit profile here: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/7184367
Non-Discrimination Policy
“Emmaus Baptist College accepts students of proven spirituality, evangelistic zeal, good character, and scholastic ability. Students are admitted without regard to race, color, handicap, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college. Emmaus Baptist College does limit the pastoral program to men because of the Biblical qualifications of a pastor. Emmaus Baptist College does not discriminate in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, athletic, and/or school administered programs.