History

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In 1982 the late Dr. John Garlington invited an inter-church, interracial group of pastors and Christian leaders to meet in Portland’s Albina community. They prayed and planned together to open a community Bible College. They organized themselves as a nonprofit corporation to provide college-level Biblical studies and ministry training to meet the needs of the N/NE Portland community and its churches.

Dr. Garlington was the first Chairman of the Board, and classes opened in September of that year. Beth Nance was the first NPBC librarian, and continues to devote her time as librarian and board member.
NPBC originally utilized space at Maranatha Church, then at Berean Baptist Church, until it was able to renovate two derelict drug houses and convert them to its use.