History of Ambassador Baptist College

Often throughout his first twenty-nine years in the ministry of evangelism, God spoke to Ron Comfort’s heart about the need for a school that would be comparable to a technical school, singly focused on training young people for full-time Christian service. Whereas there were many good Christian colleges, there were only a few that had a single focus of producing young people exclusively for the ministry. In 1986, while Evangelist Comfort was ministering in Germany, God assured him that he would be in some way involved in a Christian college ministry. In October, 1987, while preaching an evangelistic campaign in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, he surrendered to start Ambassador Baptist College.

For two years Dr. Comfort crossed America preaching to pastor’s fellowships telling them of his direction, philosophy, and plans for a ministry-focused college. Also, during that time, he was able to raise $400,000, the seed money needed to open the college in the fall of 1989.

During the two years of preparation, a constant effort was made to determine a suitable location for the college. Many criteria were taken into consideration: an area where students would have soul-winning potential, an area with several independent Baptist churches in which the students could be involved, the cost of living, the job market, and a moderate climate, conducive to economical operating expenses. This list of requisites became a prayer list, as well as considerations in locating the college.

In the definite leadership of the Holy Spirit, God directed Dr. Comfort to a recently vacated Christian school campus in Shelby, North Carolina. Ambassador Baptist College opened its doors in that rented facility in August, 1989, with an enrollment of 37 students. It became obvious, with the growth of the college, that the Shelby campus was not the ultimate location.

In the summer of 1994, the college leadership began to explore the possibility of purchasing a vacated public school campus in Lattimore, North Carolina, just eleven miles from the founding location. Since 1936, the Lattimore school had housed both elementary and secondary schools and consisted of five buildings. The town of Lattimore afforded a quiet atmosphere conducive to a Bible college atmosphere. In 1994, the town had approximately 150 residents and was labeled a peaceful community where vandalism was virtually unknown. With open arms, the community accepted Ambassador and the campus was purchased for the grand sum of $150,000. For the next two and a half years, the campus had to be totally remodeled and renovated. Upon completion of the major portion of this work, the college relocated in January, 1997.