Heritage Christian University: A Legacy of Biblical Education

Heritage Christian University (HCU) stands as a private Christian university in Florence, Alabama, deeply rooted in the tradition of the Churches of Christ. Dedicated to providing affordable biblical education for ministry preparation, HCU has a rich history that spans over a century and a half.

The Genesis: Mars Hill Academy (1871-1887)

The university's story begins in 1871 with T.B. Larimore, a prominent evangelist, who established Mars Hill Academy. Situated along Cox Creek near Florence, Alabama, on land inherited by his wife, Esther Gresham Larimore, the academy's primary mission was to equip ministers and Christian leaders for service within the Churches of Christ.

Mars Hill Academy played a pivotal role in establishing numerous congregations in Florence, North Alabama, and southern Tennessee. Housed initially in Larimore’s 12-room home, the academy provided a unique learning environment. The academy closed in 1887 as Larimore devoted himself fully to evangelism. The original 12-room house was restored in 1971 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Among those educated by Larimore at Mars Hill were notable restoration preachers F.D. Srygley and J.C. McQuiddy.

Resumption of Christian Education: Mars Hill Bible School (1947)

After a period of dormancy, locally organized Christian education for the Churches of Christ resumed in 1947 with the establishment of Mars Hill Bible School. This elementary and secondary school was built on the site of the old Mars Hill Academy. William Wallace Alexander, a local physician, played a crucial role by purchasing the property for the school from T.B. Larimore’s son, Virgil, who still resided on the land where his father had operated the original academy.

Addressing the Preacher Shortage: The T.B. Larimore School of Evangelists (1966)

In November 1965, recognizing a significant shortage of preachers, Shoals area church leaders proposed to the Mars Hill Board of Directors the establishment of a school to help prepare men for ministry. A steering committee, functioning under the Mars Hill Board of Directors, quickly assumed responsibility for the promotion of the school, curriculum planning, and the selection of teachers. Supplementing the work of Mars Hill Bible School, the new T.B. Opening in January 1966 with 70 students enrolled, the T.B. Larimore School of Evangelists followed the model of a non-credit Bible institute or preacher training school. After operating in the spring and fall of 1966, the school’s steering committee, at the direction of the Mars Hill Board of Directors, transitioned from an administrative function to an advisory one.

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The Birth of a College: Southeastern Institute (College) of the Bible (1968)

The vision of providing higher education in the Shoals, specifically designed for the training of preachers, remained alive. Before the end of 1967, plans were already underway to establish a private college in Florence, independent of Mars Hill, to prepare students for ministry. In 1968, those plans began taking shape when Malcolm Hill agreed to leave his work as preacher for the Forest Park congregation in greater Atlanta to become the inaugural president of the newly established Southeastern Institute (College) of the Bible in Florence. Inez Alexander, widow of Dr. William Wallace Alexander, donated land for a campus near the old T.B. Larimore home and local orthopedic surgeon, Dr. G.R. Melson, serving as chair of the Businessmen’s Advisory Board, began efforts to establish an endowment for the school.

Founded in 1968, Southeastern classes met for the first time in January 1969. The institute would include a three-year program offering bachelor’s degrees in Sacred Literature and Religious Education.

Transition and Transformation: International Bible College (1971)

In October 1970, the Southeastern administration and Board of Directors was reorganized and in early 1971, Charles Coil was selected by the new board as the second president of Southeastern College of the Bible. As president, Coil was empowered to establish a program unique among the churches of Christ-the four-year Bible college. Neither a preacher training school nor a liberal arts college, the coeducational Bible college would have a standardized academic calendar, admissions policies, and curriculum. In September 1971, Southeastern was renamed International Bible College. The new name would reflect a desire and practice to train men and women for service worldwide.

Coil attended Bristow Junior College and Oklahoma State University before receiving his degree from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. Coil preached regularly in Knobel, Arkansas; La Porte, Indiana; Florence, Alabama; El Dorado, Arkansas; and West Memphis, Arkansas before moving back to Florence, Alabama in 1965 to begin full-time work in gospel meetings. In 1967, Coil preached a gospel meeting with the Golf Course Road Church of Christ in Midland, Texas. At the meeting in Midland, 339 responded to the invitation, including 86 who were baptized. In the fall of 1970, the reorganized board of directors of Southeastern College of the Bible approached Coil to ask him to consider taking the college’s presidency. I gave the group the names of highly qualified men for their consideration. The group asked me to reconsider after the men I had recommended all pled that they had other obligations. I asked for time to think and pray. The group told me that if I did not accept they would sell the property and give the receipts to an established Christian college. IBC was a dream that I was willing to make reality. In the early days of the University, the business office often had difficulty meeting the payroll. Coil faced great health difficulties with determination and faith. Charles Coil left this life to be with the Lord on December 1, 1994. Dennis Jones wrote: “[Coil] was beloved by the staff and students here, reared a fine family with his wife Maye, and touched more lives than many of us ever will. His influence reached around the world, and it wasn’t unusual for people to speak about how their lives were positively influenced by brother Coil. His wisdom and gentlemanly spirit will be sorely missed by all of us here. Brother Coil was a dreamer. He dreamed of a better day for the Lord’s church. Harold Taylor and Basil Overton officiated Coil’s funeral on December 3, 1994 in the HCU chapel. Old friends Jimmy Moffett, Marlin Ivey, and Jimmy Allen spoke about their departed friend. Coil personally selected the hymns for congregational singing. Coil was laid to rest in a mausoleum in the Mt.

Embracing University Status: Heritage Christian University (2001)

In 1989, after serving eighteen years as the college’s chief administrator, Charles Coil announced his resignation as president of International Bible College. He continued to serve as chancellor until his death in 1994. IBC alumnus, Dennis Jones, succeeded Coil as the institution’s third president. To help meet the need for advanced education for preachers and church leaders, a graduate program offering Master of Ministry and Master of Arts degrees was added in 2000. In January 2001, the institution changed its name to Heritage Christian University to reflect more accurately its status as offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. In August 2001, the first graduates were awarded their master’s degrees.

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Leadership Transition: W. Kirk Brothers (2017)

On December 15, 2017, the Board of Directors announced the selection of W. Kirk Brothers as HCU’s fourth president. Dr. Brothers assumed office on June 1, 2018, and was inaugurated as the fourth president on August 18, 2018.

Academic Programs

Heritage Christian University provides undergraduate education primarily focused on biblical studies, designed to equip students for effective ministry service within the Churches of Christ tradition. The programs emphasize practical application of scriptural knowledge, communication skills, and personal spiritual growth, with a curriculum that integrates theological foundations and real-world ministry scenarios. The flagship undergraduate degree is the Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, a four-year program comprising 120 credit hours that covers core areas such as Old and New Testament studies, hermeneutics, preaching, and Christian leadership. This degree prepares graduates for roles in congregational ministry, missions, education, and related fields, with coursework emphasizing exegetical analysis and homiletical skills to foster confident, biblically grounded servants.

Beyond the core curriculum, undergraduate students engage in practical experiences, including internships with over 105 local Churches of Christ congregations within a 75-mile radius of the campus, providing hands-on opportunities in preaching, teaching, and community outreach. Dual enrollment is available for qualified high school students, allowing them to begin earning credits toward the B.A. through the distance program. The university also offers an Associate of Arts in Biblical Studies. While the primary focus remains on biblical studies, the degree's versatility supports career paths such as military chaplaincy, children's home direction, media production for ministry, curriculum development, and disaster relief coordination, reflecting HCU's commitment to holistic ministry preparation.

HCU offers a 128-hour undergraduate program leading to a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies. All students major in the bible and may choose up to 12 electives or one of two concentrations-Preaching Ministry or Family Life Ministry. HCU also offers an Associate of Arts program. This 66-hour program of study results in the A.A.

Heritage Christian University offers three master's degrees. The Master of Arts (M.A.) prepares students for serious biblical study in Greek or Hebrew. The Master of Ministry (M.Min.) trains students for more effective ministry. The Master of Divinity (M.Div.), the first professional degree in the field of ministry, prepares ministers for comprehensive service for churches. In particular, in cooperation with the Ezell Institute for Biblical Research, students completing the M.Div. degree will be equipped to work in churches with limited resources. The MA and the M.Min. are both 36-hour programs, while the Master of Divinity is 75 hours with a required Spiritual Formation program to be completed. Instead of a thesis, M.Min.

The most recent name change came in January 2001, when International Bible College became Heritage Christian University to better represent its expanded scope, including the addition of graduate programs in 2000 that offered Master of Ministry and Master of Arts degrees. The first master's degrees were conferred in August 2001, marking a key expansion in academic offerings. Further milestones include the launch of a Master of Divinity program in 2011, focused on small church growth.

Campus and Facilities

Heritage Christian University's main campus, encompassing 67 acres in Florence, Alabama, features a collection of buildings designed to support its mission of biblical higher education, spiritual formation, and community life. These facilities include academic, administrative, and recreational structures that facilitate teaching, worship, and student engagement. The Academic Building stands as the hub for instructional activities, housing multiple classrooms equipped for lectures and seminars in biblical studies and related fields. Recreational and support facilities further enhance campus life, including the John Kerr Student Center, which offers spaces for student organizations, informal gatherings, and physical activities through its integrated gymnasium. The Maintenance Building supports the upkeep of all campus infrastructure, while Kerr Hall provides on-site housing integrated into the main campus area. In March 2025, the university broke ground on a new Student Resource Center, a $4.8 million project intended to expand services for academic and extracurricular needs.

The Academic Building was constructed in 1977. The Alexander Activities Building was built in 1978 and has a gymnasium for students. The Dr. Smith Park is an area for picnics, devotionals, and has a playground for children. The Ralph C. Bishop Soccer Field and Edith M. Kerr Hall is a student apartment complex that can house up to thirty-two students in eight apartments.

The Overton Memorial Library

The Overton Memorial Library at Heritage Christian University serves as the primary information hub, supporting the institution's focus on biblical studies and theological education by acquiring, organizing, preserving, and providing access to diverse resources. It promotes information literacy and academic scholarship while assisting students and faculty in effective resource utilization. At the core of the library's physical holdings is the Thomas and Marie Holiday Biblical Studies Collection, which constitutes the majority of its print materials and forms the foundational resource for theological research and coursework. Complementing this are specialized reference and archival collections, including the Ray and Blanche Horsman Reference Collection for quick factual consultations and the Heritage Marriage and Family Resource Center, which curates materials on Christian perspectives of family dynamics.

Notable among the special collections is the Frederick W. Danker Depositorium, donated in 2010 by renowned biblical lexicographer Dr. Frederick W. Danker, encompassing his personal library, papers, and a Lexicon Museum that traces the evolution of Greek-English lexicons for New Testament scholarship, from early editions like those by Erwin Preuschen to Danker's own Concise Greek-English Lexicon. Another highlight is the Coy D. Roper Rarities and Antiquities Collection (RRAC), honoring retired professor Dr. Coy D. Roper, which preserves rare books, historically significant Bible editions, and university memorabilia of theological importance. Digital resources expand access beyond physical holdings, with subscriptions to key theological databases such as EBSCOHost's ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials for scholarly articles and serials in religious studies, and the Digital Theological Library 2, offering over 120,000 open-access items including books, journals, and multimedia on theology. E-book platforms include OverDrive for audiobooks and digital titles, Perlego for unlimited access to textbooks with note-taking features, and Brepolis' Sources Chrétiennes Online for early Christian texts. Additional tools encompass the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae for ancient Greek resources and the Alabama Virtual Library for broader academic content, all accessible via institutional login to support remote research.

To enhance research and writing skills, the library integrates resources like citation generators in Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) style, Zotero and Mendeley for source management, and tutorials on source evaluation and plagiarism avoidance, aligning with HCU's academic honesty policies.

The library was dedicated in November 1986 in honor of Basil and Margie Overton and in memory of their son Timothy, who died in 1974. In October 2005, the McMeans Family Reading Area was created in honor of William Delona and Othella Tuten McMeans. The Heritage Marriage and Family Resource Center was created within OML in April 2006 through a grant from the Alabama Marriage and Family Project. The Frederick W. Danker Depositorium is located within the Overton Memorial Library. In April 2010, Frederick Danker informed the staff of the Overton Memorial Library that he would be giving his entire personal library and papers to the library. The process officially began in October 2010 and continued until shortly after Danker's death in February 2012.

In 2021 the library reported 35,947 physical volumes and 7,285 licensed digital/electronic databases. The library is managed by a total number of 2 full-time employees, including 1 librarians. Heritage Christian University's library has a total library expenditure greater than $100,000 per year. Heritage Christian University's library does not have any external branch. The library collection is comprised of both physical (i.e. books, medium, etc.) and digital/electronic items.

Student Life

Heritage Christian University provides on-campus housing options tailored to both single and married students, emphasizing a supportive environment aligned with its Christian mission. Single undergraduate students are primarily housed in Kerr Hall, a dormitory located at the western end of the campus core adjacent to the Alexander Building. Married students reside in dedicated university apartments, which offer separate living spaces suitable for couples or families. These apartments are situated on campus and provide essential amenities for independent living, though specific details on unit configurations are outlined in the resident handbook. On-campus living is required for single freshmen and sophomores under 21 years of age who are living away from home, subject to exceptions including parental permission or work providing room and board. Approximately 33% of undergraduates choose or are required to live in on-campus housing. Housing costs for the 2024-2025 academic year include $2,200 per semester for single students during fall and spring terms, with monthly rates of $650 for married student apartments. A free meal plan is provided for single student dorm residents, offering lunch three days a week during the fall and spring semesters.

In particular, Heritage Christian University provides on-campus housing and the total dormitory capacity, whether on or off campus, was about 31 students in the 2021 academic year.

Chapel services form the cornerstone of spiritual activities, held Tuesday through Thursday during each semester to promote communal worship and reflection. Practical engagement extends to field education and mission opportunities, where students apply spiritual principles in real-world settings to fulfill practicum requirements and build ministry skills. For female students and the broader community, the Radiant Women's Resources program offers targeted spiritual formation through theologically rich classes, workshops, and study series held on campus and online.

The Field Education Program offers extensive supervised experience in ministry and missions settings combined with academic resources and personal reflection. M.Div. students are prepared to enter a serious engagement with their relationship to God as a primary part of their formation as a leader in a Christian community. Within the first calendar year of enrollment in the M.Div. degree, students are required to attend a retreat and become part of a spiritual formation group. As a part of their development, students participate in M.Div.

Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is HCU Skit Team, followed by Christian Ladies Organization and Student Government Association.

HCU Press

The press's catalog features a range of titles, including regional histories of Churches of Christ congregations in Alabama counties, such as A Little Band of Disciples: The Beginnings of the Church of Christ in Madison County, Alabama and A Faithful Band of Workers: The Beginnings of Churches of Christ in Jackson County, Alabama, which document early church plantings and growth. Other notable publications address contemporary Christian practice, like From Pulpit to Purpose: Pulpit Education-Training Leaders for Impact in the Black Church by Dewayne Tapscott, focusing on leadership in African American congregations, and In Christ’s Image: A Guide to Youth and Family Ministry, edited by W. Each year, the award is presented during the Founders Ceremony, typically held on or around March 9, with ten recipients selected for their exemplary contributions. Notable recipients exemplify the award's intent. In 2020, individuals such as Mrs. Faye Chastain and Dr.

Since 2015, Heritage Christian University Press has published an annual volume in the Berean Study Series. The Berean Study Series is a 13-lesson resource, consisting of videos and corresponding study guides (available as a pdf file or printed book) for each lesson. Each 25-minute video message can stand on its own or be used as a springboard for class discussion. Lessons are written and presented by Heritage Christian University faculty and staff.

HCU Press also assisted HCU professor C. Wayne Kilpatrick in the creation of his self-published J.R. Bradley: A Forgotten Larimore Boy (2019).

The Heritage Christian University Founders Award

The Heritage Christian University Founders Award was inaugurated in 2018 during the celebration of the university's fiftieth anniversary. Each year, ten honorees are selected for special recognition for their service to the church and community. Past recipients include 2018 honorees Russ Blackwell, Dale Boren, Maureen Cagle, Debbie Dupuy, Glenn Dupuy, Oscar Easley (posthumously), James Gray, Patsy Hubbard, Lisa Minor, and Denise Willingham. 2019 recipients were Alvin Alston, Anna Gunderman (posthumously), Larry Kilpatrick, John Lawson, Linda Lumpkins, Marsha Oakley, Charles Payne (posthumously), Donna Payne, Coy Roper, and Cynthia Tillery. The 2020 recipients were Faye Chastain, Robert Coats, Johnnie Lou Cochran, Larry Gunderman, Matt Heupel, Thomas Holiday, Robert Huffaker, Dr. John Kerr, Sonny Owens, and Cathy Turner.

Affiliations and Accreditation

Heritage Christian University maintains a primary denominational affiliation with the Churches of Christ, a non-denominational fellowship of autonomous congregations rooted in the Restoration Movement. The university holds accreditation from the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), which recognizes its programs at the associate, baccalaureate, and master's levels and affirms its commitment to integrating faith with higher education. Additionally, the Graduate School of Theology at Heritage Christian University is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), approving its offerings of the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Scripture, and Master of Ministry degrees. Heritage Christian University also participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), enabling it to offer distance education programs across state lines while complying with interstate standards for postsecondary education.

Heritage Christian University is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education.

A Commitment to Affordability

HCU prioritizes financial accessibility, offering scholarships to help graduates avoid significant debt, a common challenge for ministry students elsewhere, and supports dual enrollment for high schoolers interested in biblical studies.

As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $10,800 in 2021. Heritage Christian University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. In 2021, room and board cost at Heritage Christian University amounted to $9,348 a year. Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial aid for students. The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 5 freshmen. There were 37 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Heritage Christian University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 37. Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid.

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