About

Christian Life College provides bachelor's degree and certificate programs at our Illinois campus and numerous off-campus sites throughout the Midwest. Our diverse student body includes individuals from various denominations and traditions who collaborate in studying, serving, and worshiping together.

History

Christian Life College has a rich history that spans over 70 years. Its journey began as the Chicago Bible College, with annual sessions held in connection with the Philadelphia Church ministry. As the concept of Bible College grew, a four-year program was implemented to train pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and Christian workers.

Over the years, the institution continued to evolve, and in 1954, it was incorporated as a state-recognized institution. The school eventually became separate from the church in location, policy, and administration, moving to a new home on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Despite the challenges that came with the passing of their president, Dr. Russell Meade, the ministry of Christian Life College continued to thrive. The college board of directors voted to leave their older city location, and God blessed their move with an increased enrollment and enlarged faculty.

In 1981, the college united with Christian Assembly Church, leading to a name change to Christian Life College and Christian Life Church. This bond has only strengthened over time, leading to the college gaining approval from the State of Illinois’ Board of Higher Education to grant Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees.

Christian Life College continues to grow and evolve, with a self-study process undertaken in 1994 to work towards full accreditation. This is a testament to the dedication and hard work of those who have been a part of this institution over the years.

Statement of Faith

  • We believe in the verbal, plenary inspiration of both the Old and New Testaments in their original autographs

    II Timothy 3:16, 17; I Peter 2:2; II Peter 1:21.

  • We believe that God created all things in time and space by the power of His Word. The events of the creation week are literally and historically true, and we believe in the Biblical record, including the literal existence of Adam and Eve as the progenitors of all people, the literal full and resultant divine curse on the creation, the worldwide cataclysmic deluge, and the origin of nations and languages at the tower of Babel.

    Genesis 1-11; John 1: 1-3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1-3, 11:3.

  • We believe in one Triune God; God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As a person of the Divine Trinity, God the Father is spirit, infinite, sovereign, eternal, and unchangeable in all His attributes. He is worthy of honor, adoration, and obedience.

    Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 48:16; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; I Timothy 1:17; John 4:24

  • Item descriptionWe believe that man was created in the image of God, historically fell in Adam, and now the entire human race shares in total depravity.

    Genesis 1:26, 3:1-24; John 3:3-6; Romans 5:12, 19; Ephesians 1:7; 2:1-5

  • We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, suffered and died a substitutionary death on the cross for the sin of the world.

    Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 1:26-35; John 5:19, 36; 8:26; Acts 10:38

    After His literal, physical death as a redemptive sacrifice on the cross, Jesus Christ was literally and historically resurrected and ascended bodily into heaven, where He ever lives to make intercession.

    Acts 2:32, 36; Ephesians 1:7; I Corinthians 1:17,18; 15:1-4; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 3:18; I John 2:2; Hebrews 4:14-16, 7:25

  • We believe that salvation is the gift of God by grace alone and is received through personal faith in the person and finished work of Christ.

    John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 6:23; Ephesians 2:4-10; Acts 2:38,16:3; Hebrews 6:1

  • We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit, fully God, convicting, regenerating, and sanctifying the in-dwelt believer to live a holy, Christ-like life.

    John 16:7, 8; 3:3-6; Acts 5:3, 4; Romans 8:1-6,8, 9; Galatians 5:17-22; I Corinthians 6:11; I Peter 1:2

    The promise of a personal baptism in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by subsequent gifts which empower the believer for a victorious life, the edification of the church, and the evangelization of the nations.

    Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:20; Luke 11:13, 24:46-49; John 7:38, 39; Acts 1:5, 8, 2:4, 32, 33, 39, 5:32; I Corinthians 12-14

  • We believe in the New Testament pattern of a local church: indigenous, self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating. The ordinances of Christ include water baptism by immersion for believers only and the Lord's supper

    Acts 1:4-8; 2:42-47; 5:32-35; 6:1-6, 13:2, 14:23; 20:28; I Corinthians 1:2; 1:26; 12:26, 27; Ephesians 4:11; Colossians 1:18; I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9

  • We believe in healing as a provision of God in answer to believing prayer.

    John 14:13,14; I Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14-16

  • We believe in the personal, visible Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is the "blessed hope" of the church; the bodily resurrection and final judgment of all mankind resulting in eternal death for the wicked in a place of eternal punishment which was prepared for Satan, (a personal, malignant being who acts as tempter and accuser). All who die outside of Christ shall be confined in conscious torment for eternity, whereas those who die in Christ are saved and shall receive eternal reward in the presence of God.

    Matthew 24:30-46; Acts 1:9-11; I Corinthians 15:51, 52; I Thessalonians 4:16-18; Titus 2:13; II Peter 3:13; Revelation 11:15; 20:4-6, 11-15; 21:1-4