AC celebrates 75 years

The College celebrates our 75th Anniversary this year and we want to give God the glory for what He has done and continues to do.

Our mission began on 14th February 1948 as Commonwealth Bible College based in Richmond Temple, Melbourne. At the time, the Australian Assemblies of God responded to a great need for a Pentecostal bible college to train missionaries and pastors. Our journey over the last 75 years includes changes of name and location, equipping thousands of students, and a broadening of courses.

While Alphacrucis has increased its scope to train Christians with a calling in teaching, counselling or business, we have not wavered from our initial mandate to provide education and training for missionaries, church planters and pastors.

Our mission is still to equip Christian leaders to changes our world.

We thank you for your support as we strive to become a Christian University. To do this requires us to expand in our research as well as course offerings. Our 100+ programs now cover leadership, ministry and theology, business, education, and social sciences. Also, we have just begun programs in health care.

We are also focusing on upgrading our online offering, as well as new ways to partner with churches, schools, and other faithbased organisations to provide relevant, practical and effective training for our students around the world.

We thank the ACC churches for your support over the past 75 years, and we look forward to the next 75 years serving alongside you!

Professor Stephen G. Fogarty is President of Alphacrucis University College.

AOG Australia founded in 1937 with a strong commitment to training pastors and missionaries.

CBC purchases the Graceville Campus in 1961 to meet growing student numbers.

CBC begins the process of accreditation in 1987.

David Cartledge and Jeremy Griffiths bring new leadership in 1993 with a focus on evangelism, faith, church planting & healing. 125% increase in enrolments, government accreditation, & new name Southern Cross Bible College.

Commonwealth Bible College inauguration 14th February 1948.

Brisbane floods destroy Graceville Campus in 1974 just as new Principal Aeron Morgan begins.

CBC purchases it’s first property in 1949 and the first CBC graduates leave for PNG missions.

CBC relocates to Katoomba, NSW in 1975.

In 1996 the Chester Hill Miracle raises significant funds from churches and individuals to purchase a new campus in Sydney NSW.

In 1951, Principal James Wallace leads students to plant many churches contributing to the rapid expansion of the AOG.

Fred & Doris Lancaster (class of 1948) return to CBC to teach.

Graduate Andrew Evans becomes the new leader of AOG Australia in 1977 heralding a new era of massive growth and church planting.

Korean language program begins in 1996.

New bachelor graduates in 2000.

MA Leadership program begins in 2003.

Teacher education programs begin in 2010.

All classes are rapidly moved online in 2020 in response to COVID restrictions.

Local Church College program begins in 2004.

In 2007, the AOG NZ join SCC with a campus in Auckland.

The new campus opens in 2012 with innovative new technology. Chaplaincy Australia partnership with AC.

AC receives a NSW government grant in 2021 for HUB Model teacher training in disadvantaged regional areas.

Busy year in 2009 as SCC becomes Alphacrucis, and increases its accreditation.

The Australasian Pentecostal Studies Centre is opened in 2015 and the PhD program is established.

Self accreditation status is achieved in 2016, and the Brisbane campus is established.

AC’s research standards are assessed as above world standard in 2018.

University College status is achieved in 2022, and the federal government allocates Commonwealth Supported Places funding for teaching training.

Wayne Alcorn becomes the new ACC national leader.

In 2019 the innovative education hubs begin.

Imagine the next 75 years!