Ambassador Baptist College

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__NOTOC__[[File:Ambassador logo.png|thumb|165px|Logo of Ambassador Baptist College.]]{{Christianity}}

'''Ambassador Baptist College''' ('''ABC''') is a [[fundamentalist]] [[Christian]] college in Lattimore, [[North Carolina]]. The college is [[Independent Baptist]] in tradition. Ambassador Baptist College was founded by [[evangelist]] Ron Comfort in 1989. The current campus is a former [[public school]] building that underwent significant renovations.<ref>[https://www.ambassadors.edu/about About Us], Retrieved on July 30, 2023.</ref> ABC offers live streams of their campus church sermons through a website known as "Sermon Audio".<ref>[https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/ambassadors/ Sermon Audio], Retrieved on July 31, 2023.</ref> 

The school's [[Statement of faith|doctrinal statement]] cements their [[fundamentalist]] ideology. They think that the [[King James Bible]] is the best translation, but bemoan the use of words with "modern day connotations" such as "[[charity]]", "conversation", and "[[gay]]". They firmly believe in pre-tribulation [[rapture]]. They declare [[Calvinism]] and {{wpl| Arminianism}} to be "unbiblical", and state that there's no compromise with [[liberal]]ism, [[Ecumenism|ecumenicism]], neo-evangelicalism, or the {{wpl|charismatic movement||.}} The doctrinal statement is topped off by condemnation of [[homosexuality]], fornication, and [[pornography]], which they equate to [[bestiality]], and as a parting shot they state that "[[transgender|any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance]]" is disapproved by and forbidden by [[God]].<ref name=doctrinal>[https://www.ambassadors.edu/doctrinal-statement Doctrinal Statement], ambassadors.edu.</ref>

==Theology==
{{main|Theology}}
As an independent Baptist institution, Ambassador Baptist College teaches [[Young Earth Creationism]] as [[Biblical literalism|literal]] fact. [[Evolutionary biology]] is completely rejected as is [[geology]]. Like other institutions of this grouping ABC is rabidly [[homophobic]] and [[transphobic]]. Anything considered liberal or leftist is frowned upon.<ref name=doctrinal />{{efn|These idiots can't tell the difference between liberalism and leftism.}} Music produced by the Ambassador music department is strictly Christian in nature.<ref>[https://sacredsheetmusic.com/company/ambassador-baptist-college Sacred Sheet Music], Retrieved on July 31, 2023.</ref> ABC supports using the King James Bible exclusively; even if the King James Bible is not accurate.<ref>[https://byfaithweunderstand.com/2020/01/06/an-evaluation-of-the-work-of-charles-surrett/ By Faith We Stand], Retrieved on August 2, 2023.</ref>

==Academics==

Ambassador Baptist College only offers church ministry training programs. Most of the undergraduate programs are segregated by [[gender]]. Graduate programs are not segregated by gender. Courses include [[Biblical]] studies, Christian education, missions, youth ministry, and [[music]].<ref>[https://www.ambassadors.edu/programs Program's], Retrieved on July 30, 2023.</ref> There are no science faculty or classes. Most of the staff and faculty have their credentials from Ambassador Bible College itself.<ref>[https://www.ambassadors.edu/faculty-staff Faculty and Staff], Retrieved on July 31, 2023.</ref> Students are also expected to do work in churches as part of earning their credentials. Churches include local and international Baptist churches.<ref>[https://www.guidestar.org/profile/56-1648007 Guide Star], Retrieved on August 1, 2023.</ref>

===Accreditation===

Ambassador Baptist College lacks any accreditation. The reason is that they believe accreditation of any sort would bring in "non-believers". ABC also believes that accreditation would create financial dependency on the [[United States]] [[government]].<ref>[https://www.ambassadors.edu/accreditation Accreditation], Retrieved on July 30, 2023.</ref>{{efn|There is a cost-benefit analysis here. Is it worth it, from the point of view of the Ambassador Baptist College, to receive accreditation at the cost of losing any semblance of "financial independence" and [[echo chamber|total control]] of ABC's curriculum?}}{{efn|[[Ironically]], an argument can be made that because it's the US government that mints [[currency]] in the first place, Ambassador Bible College can never truly be financially independent from the American government without inventing its own currency.}}

===Transfer of credits===

ABC has very limited credit transfer due to lack of accreditation status. Accredited institutions that accept academic credits are other fundamentalist schools like Bethlehem College & Seminary, Crown College, Maranatha Baptist University, Maranatha Baptist University, LeTourneau University and Wheaton College. Secular schools and most religious schools don't accept credits from Ambassador.<ref>[https://ambassadorcollege.education/transferring-credits Transfer Options], Retrieved on July 31, 2023.</ref>

==Famous Alumnus==
''See also: [[Dominionism]]''

Gregory Locke, a far right preacher and [[2020 U.S. presidential election|election]] [[denialist]], graduated with a biblical studies degree from ABC.<ref>[https://baptistnews.com/article/shame-on-you-pastor-greg-locke-for-saying-autism-is-demon-possession/ Baptist News Global], Retrieved on August 1, 2023.</ref> Pastor Locke has the dubious (dis)honor of promoting [[COVID-19 denialism]], [[transphobia]], [[homophobia]], [[ableism]], and being a supporter of the [[2021 U.S. coup attempt]]. Gregory Locke also led a prayer at the capital on the day of the insurrection. His prayer helped begin the violence. He even hosted a book burning at his church; [[Nazi Germany|doesn't that sound familiar]]?<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/03/31/tennessee-pastor-extremist-politics/ Washington Post], Retrieved on August 1, 2023.</ref> Greg Locke's antics are so bad that both [[Irony|liberals and conservatives were disgusted]].<ref>[https://act.faithfulamerica.org/sign/locke-movie/ Faithful America], Retrieved on August 1, 2023.</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group="note"}}

==References==
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[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]
[[Category:Fundie schools]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience promoting organizations]]
[[Category:Purity culture]]

Categories: Homophobia, Transphobia, Fundie schools, Pseudoscience promoting organizations, Purity culture