Providence Bible College and Theological Seminary
oUR hISTORY
Providence Bible College & Theological Seminary draws from a rich spiritual heritage. First founded as Whitfield Institute of Tidewater in 1952, the history of PBCTS has been one of progressive development. In the desire to model itself after the ministry of George Whitfield, “. . . that wherever a group of disciples will gather, leadership training is provided to build up God’s people,” the Institute emerged with a small group of students and mostly volunteer staff, bringing an innovated approach to providing local church members with excellent training.
PBCTS ACCREDITATION
Providence Bible College and Theological Seminary is a religious institution exempt from state regulation and oversight in the Commonwealth of Virginia. PBCTS is accredited by Transworld Accrediting Commission, an international accrediting agency overseeing the quality of education provided by smaller Christian colleges and seminaries. They may be contacted at 2310 E. Alessandro Blvd., Suite A-210, Riverside, CA 92508 or by phone at (951) 656-3590.
Eventually, PBCTS was incorporated in 1987 as a Religious Institution with the Virginia Council of Higher Education, authorized to grant degrees in Religion. In 1995, Dr. Raymond W. Stiles, a local businessman
in the Hampton Roads area with a background in education and law, took over as President of Providence
Bible College. After a lengthy time of service at PBCTS, he retired in 2012. During his tenure, he oversaw the growth of all student programs, the formation of the Distance Education program, the creation of the Graduate School, and the approval of Veteran’s Tuition benefits.
The Rev. Dr. Reginald Woodhouse faithfully served as the President of PBCTS from 2012-2023, providing strong visionary leadership while bringing together a team of stellar faculty and leaders. With strong faith in God and using his professional background as a Pastor to Pastors, administrator, and public official, he led PBCTS and area churches in facing the new challenges in our society, mentoring leaders to rise up and follow his example of sacrificial leadership and devotion to biblical values and education.
By taking a new look at the trademark PBCTS degree programs and in collaboration with Academic Affairs, new programs like the DMin/MBS Dual Enrollment program are now serving working professionals and church leaders, offering a dual track of learning as they prepare to enter the doctor of ministry program.
Providence Bible College and Theological Seminary continues to provide quality educational programs in biblical studies and theology in the Hampton Roads area. PBCTS students have graduated with ministry and Bible degrees at the Bachelor, Master and Doctoral levels and have gone on to serve God in capacities as Pastors, Bible Teachers, and missionaries. Establishing close links with international bible school students and ministries in Africa and South America, is also an important distinctive for Dr. Woodhouse as he plans for the future.
Our degrees are offered with specializations in ministry areas like pastoral work, missions, and biblical education. Our theological views agree with the Apostle’s Creed, the Council of Nicea and the Reformation. Graduates come from Baptist, Reformed, and all interdenominational backgrounds.
(757) 625-7996
Dr. Raymond Stiles
oUR MISSION
*To prepare our students for academic, intellectual, and theological competence in his or her chosen field of study
*To provide each student with the knowledge and skills of rightly dividing the Word and the truth of God in Biblical studies and exposition
*To develop students who are scripturally sound and spiritually equipped to serve God in their world
*To equip students to share the salvation gospel message via a strong testimony in their character, speech, and example.
Dr. Reginald Woodhouse