Southern Bible Institute and Seminary Augusta, GA

http://www.gnpec.org/forms/PDF%20Files/ReligiousExemptionGeneralInstructions.pdf

Georgia Non Public Postsecondary Education Commission

SBIS has never been a fully authorized school/college or university, yet presents itself as one.
It is not an old line school.
It refuses to file for religious exemption and has been operating illegally and in non compliance since its inception.
It has never had accreditation.
It has no written permission from GNPEC to disperse honorary degrees.
IT IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, NOR IS IT A SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION SEMINARY.
Interestingly Transworld Accrediting Commission Robert Brogden claim his degree from SBIS was through the Southern Baptist Convention by SBIS. NO.NO.No.
Other extensions of SBIS are SBIS of Ohio (Marsha and Paul Jankowski)
Wellspring Bible Institute.
Irish Pentecostal College.
Logos European College, Fife, Scotland (formerly Cornerstone College)
Glenmachan Bible School
Maranatha Christian Center (Waynesboro, GA)

if Ron had of filed for Religious exemption there are limits on what his school could do.

There is a case #116998 in Mcduffie County, GA Sheriff's Office where Theft by Conversion was involved with Ronald Drawdy and it involved "Southern Bible Church" which does not exist. Southern Bible Church, Institute and Seminary was incorporated in SC by Jarrod Adkins (Ron's grandson) at this. The address of 524 Georgia Ave Suite 2 North Augusta, Sc was an empty office space for a couple of months that now has a manicure business in it. SBIS is meeting in 1116 Furry Ferry's Road, Evans GA. SBIS teaches in GA degree material and still is under the jurisdiction of Ga's NPEC.

 

Update: sbisevans.org (SBIS Evans, GA) is Southern Bible Institute and Seminary with Jarrod Adkins, Ron Drawdy and Cliff Drawdy. Please check with Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission to verify the statement on the site "5/1 in the process of completing state requirement for our school". Previously SBIS of Evans Ga (extension of SBIS Augusta, GA) had stated that their diplomas were issued in GA and degrees in SC. Don not assume. Check with GNPEC as it is there to protect the public.

 

This "info" about Southern Bible Institute is simply not true or twisted to slander for one lady's personal crusade. Southern Bible Institute and Seminary is dedicated to offer quality religious eduction for potential Pastors and church leaders for a very reasonable cost. It was started out of the call of Dr. Ron Drawdy with a tremendous heart for local Pastors. SBIS offers classes twice each week on many varied Bible themes. Classes are taught by very qualified teachers and the course work is vigorous.
I personally have been associated with the Seminary for over 20 years. First as an advisor, when serving in the Georgia Legislature and then for the last 2 years as a student. I have been very pleased with the value of my advanced Bible education and impressed with our Registar's continuing work and commitment to fulfill all requirements of Georgia and South Carolina.

 

The above information is unfortunate, manipulated and untrue. The woman providing this personal slander has already been proven unstable. SBIS is a wonderful school founded on the vision of Dr. Ron Drawdy to provide quality Bible education at a reasonable price for Pastors and Church leaders. I have been associated with this Seminary for over 20 years, first as an advisor in my position as State Senator and then, in the last two years as a student. I have found the classes strenuous and the instructors men of profound Bible knowledge.

 

Would you please highlight which specific pieces of information are untrue. Please keep in mind that virtually all of this can be verified through official sources.

 

OK, just as I thought.

 

According to GNPEC (the Education Commission) Ronald Drawdy, President of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary (Augusta, Ga) has communicated that SBIS closed/ceased its operation May 15, 2011. Ron Drawdy still opted to not file for religious exemption and remained in non compliance status. Southern Bible Institute and Seminary remained as non compliant- never operating as an approved, legal institution).
Jarrod Adkins (grandson of Ron Drawdy) registered Southern Bible Church, Institute & Seminary, Inc on May 19, 2011 in SC. According to Ron Drawdy, SBIS Evans, GA is not the same as SBIS Augusta, GA. How can all this be accurate as former State Senator Joey Brush and State Legislator Joey Brush claims above (on 6-12-2012) to have been a student of SBIS for the past two years. Southern Bible Institute and Seminary (according to Ron Drawdy) has been closed since May 15, 2011 and the SC corporation was not "in existence" until May 19, 2011.
So, former State Senator Joey Brush claims to have been a student of "this school" (i.e. one school) for 2 years (advisor for 20). Ron Drawdy of SBIS states... that Southern Bible Institute and Seminary ceased its operation on May 15, 2011. One of these two (or maybe both of them) does not have his story straight. According to their own documents, SBIS Evans, GA (Southern Bible Church, Institute & Seminary of SC) has not been in existence for 2 years and according to Ron Drawdy and what he communicated to GNPEC, Southern Bible Institute and Seminary ceased its operation May 15, 2011.
It can be puzzling trying to understand why Ron Drawdy of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary would not ever apply with GNPEC for religious exempt status, as then Ron Drawdy could have operated SBIS in compliance status that easily and simply. Former GA State Senator and Ga Legislator Joey Brush at one time was over (the chairperson) a education committee, I believe. If Joey Brush was an advisor to SBIS for 20 years, why did not he advise Ron Drawdy to operate SBIS in compliance status as SBIS HAS NEVER operated legally. It would have been so easy for Southern Bible Seminary to be compliant and yet Ron Drawdy refused to~
If Ron Drawdy had of ever sought religious exemption status for SBIS, he would have run the risk of the public learning that he (SBIS) issued degrees that he (SBIS) was never authorized to issue as SBIS has never been a fully authorized school. SOUTHERN BIBLE INSTITUTTE AND SEMINARY WAS NEVER A COLLEGE AND YET ISSUED DEGREES THAT ONLY A FULLY AUTHORIZED INSTITUTION (COLLEGE) COULD HAVE ISSUED (AS IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP, SECONDARY EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY, CHRISTIAN COUNSELING, DEGREES WITH THE WORD "ARTS" IN THEM, AND DEGREES WITH THE WORD "PHILOSOPHY" IN THEN AS IN PH.D.s).
The degrees issued never had any academic value and SBIS never had any legitimate accreditation. ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) does not accredit postsecondary schools and the phrase "SBIS Evans, GA is a recognized member of ACSI" is misleading as ASCI only has information that the member school provides (and the school is a member with the service provider for an annual fee), It does not "recognize" according to ACSI.
To the public, please be careful ...whether Southern Bible Seminary, Southern Bible Institute and Seminary, Southern Bible Institute & Seminary or SBIS Evans, GA...always do your homework and verify the truth....it doesn't matter whether the endorsement comes from a preacher or a politician...

 

I find this information, and the surrounding discussion, interesting and somewhat disturbing. I had heard good reports of the SBIS although I have no connection to them whatsoever. There appears to be some very 'official' information being given to say that this establishment is issuing valueless qualifications while someone else is giving a somewhat subjective view of the quality of the staff and material but does not address the question of 'registration' or 'authorisation'.

Is it possible for someone to give a definitive answer to these questions? Can SBIS issue a degree which entitiles the recipient to call themselves Doctor? Is this an actual Ph.D? Can anyone append Dr. to their name without completing a recognised and accredited Ph.D?

Thank you in anticipation.

 

Ian.stewart223,
To give you a point blank answer to your question...No, Southern Bible Institute and Seminary (SBIS) CANNOT LEGALLY use the term "Philosophy" in any of its degreesso it cannot legally issue Ph.D.s. Please google "Instructions For Applicants For Religious Exemption" and you will see what GNPEC (Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission) has in writing. Southern Bible Institute and Seminary MUST FOLLOW the "fully authorized" or the "religious exempt" track if to issue degrees. Sadly, Ron Drawdy, President & CEO, of SOUTHERN BIBLE INSTITUTE AND SEMINARY continually refused to and refuses to come into compliance status. Georgia law states that for Southern Bible Institute and Seminary to operate legally dispensing degrees, it MUST be either fully authorized, an old line school or religious exempt. Southern Bible Institute and Seminary is not an old line school. Southern Bible Institute and Seminary is not fully authorized (is no college or university). Southern Bible Institute and Seminary is not religious exempt, nor has ever filed for religious exemption. Southern Bible Institute and Seminary is a rogue operation; a shell. Southern Bible Institute and Seminary has never operated as a legal, approved institution. Southern Bible Institute and Seminary CANNOT refer to itself as an university or as a college legally and yet advertised itself as such.
According to John Reville who, at the time of the inquiry, was the director in the office of (Southern Baptist Convention's) Conventional Relations; he stated that "at the National Level, the only Southern Baptist Convention educational institutions are the six Southern Baptist seminaries supported by the Cooperative program". Southern Bible Institute and Seminary is not a Southern Baptist Convention seminary at the national, state or local level. In fact, according to the local missionary in Augusta, Ga -Ron Drawdy's Seminary, Southern Bible Institute and Seminary is not part of and never was part of the Georgia Baptist Convention or Southern Baptist Convention.
The Education Commission's Standards Administrator, Dr. Shelvey Holland is one you can talk to. 770 414.3235
The degrees Southern Bible Institute and Seminary NEVER had legitimate accreditation. Accreditation is very important. The degrees issued did not have any of the academic value they were represented to have.
There are other threads you can look up on Degreeinfo. National Accrediting Agency For Private Schools. National Accrediting Association For Christian Schools. Association of Academic Accreditation. Logos European College and Southern Bible Institute and Seminary.
In the catalogs Southern Bible Institute and Seminary had, it stated SBIS was incorporated under the umbrella of Second Baptist Church, Thomson, GA. That is total deception! At the time of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary's incorporation (Southern Bible Church and School, Inc) it was made to appear that Southern Bible Church was the church whose umbrella it was under. The registered agent, "Rev." Tom McElfresh, was a member of and regularly attended Second Baptist Church. There was no Southern Bible Church in actuality. Southern Bible Church and Second Baptist Church are two separate churches. Second Baptist is a member of the Southern Baptist convention. "Southern Bible Church" is not; never has been. There are grave doctrinal differences between the "two". There was no church of the corporation at the Greene Street building until approximately 2oo7 when Ron's son, Steven Drawdy, preached there under Southern Baptist Landmark Church.
"SBIS Evans, GA" is at 1116 Furry Ferry's Road, Evans, Ga and is the Church of Joey Brush and his family. The church has pulled the name Bible Cathedral (f. July 10, 2012) and will be revealing its new name in August according to its social site. Its pastor is Jarrod Adkins, grandson of Ron Drawdy. Jarrod Adkins was the registrar of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary and still is. Jarrod Adkins received his "high school" diploma from this corporation in 2005. The Sc Corporation of Southern Bible Church, Institute and Seminary, Inc was incorporated within a month of when Ron Drawdy was asked "where the heck is Southern Bible Church" after a large check was written out to "Southern Bible Church" and Southern Bible Church could not be located. Southern Bible Church was supposed to be the church overseeing Southern Bible Institute and Seminary. There was no record of it in McDuffie County or Richmond County. In fact, there was no trade name (DBA Doing Business As) name of Southern Bible Seminary, Southern Bible Institute and Seminary registered in the courthouse in either county.
SOUTHERN BIBLE INSTITUTE AND SEMINARY HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LEGALLY ISSUE A PH.D. SOUTHERN BIBLE INSTITUTE AND SEMINARY HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LEGALLY ISSUE A ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE, BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE OR MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE. SOUTHERN BIBLE INSTITUTE AND SEMINARY HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LEGALLY ISSUE A DEGREE IN CHRISTIAN COUNSELING OR COUNSELING IN ANY FORM. SOUTHERN BIBLE iNSTITUTE AND SEMINARY HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LEGALLY ISSUE A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY. Southern Bible Institute and Seminary could not legally issue Secondary Education degrees or Organizational Leadership degrees.
SO, what does that say for the degrees issued by "extensions" of SBIS-Southern Bible Institute and Seminary of Ohio (SBIS)...Mrs. Paul (Marsha) Jankowski. Marty Tharp's extension in Atlanta, GA and the ones overseas. Logos European College (Cornerstone College), Geoff and Hazel Carr, Facilitators. Max Flynn represents SBIS in North Carolina. The Maranatha extension of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary in Waynesboro, GA. The Glenmachan Church of God Bible School extension. The Shigionoth Bible Seminary (Douglasville GA). Zion Benevolent Baptist Church extension in Hopkins, SC.
Jim Vick, of Jacksonville Theological Seminary in Jacksonville Florida did have his name on Southern Bible Institute and Seminary's letterhead at one point. He was listed for "Records". (The registered agent of the "inactive" Association of Academic Accreditation is his mom and Harold Vick his dad).
Additionally, Ron Drawdy claims to the Education Commission to of have closed Southern Bible Institute and Seminary May 15, 2011. Why then was it advertised in the Bereaan Bible Searchlight's October 2011 and November 2011 publications?
Southern Bible Institute and Seminary (SBIS Evans) was advertised as an extension of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary Augusta, GA.
Please use extreme caution when it comes to Southern Bible Institute and Seminary Augusta/Evans GA. There are places that do Academic Background Checks (Accredibase is one) and they could be helpful in helping you spot degree mills and checking the legitimacy of degrees offered.

 

Very detailed response, thank you.

Thank you so much for your very detailed response. Today I also received a response from Shelvey Holland confirming SBIS is neither authorised nor approved for religious exemption and even if it were it could not issue a PH.D.

As Christians we tend to take other Christians 'at face value' and accept what they tell us because Christians are supposed to be honest! I now realise that I know at least one person named in your response and have connections to one of the establishments mentioned. Thank you again for having the determination to make such information known even when to do so will not make you popular with many people. It is now for me to take this information and do something appropriate with it.

 

Sir (Ian), it grieved me to post all that I have posted. I tried to handle it Scripturally first. I went repeatedly to Ron Drawdy only and begged him to stop! Then, at the treasurer of Second Baptist Church's insistence on a Sunday, I began gathering proof to show to all the deacons of the church. Yet five days later, the treasurer and chairman of the deacons showed up announced to my home and I told them the details and left it in the hands of the chairman of the deacons as to what to do. I received a call from him Saturday morning telling me to be silent.
So, from a Scriptural standpoint, I tried to keep it first between me and Ron. Second, I tried to keep it within the church with its leadership. Unsuccessful at that, I could not live with myself knowing that the public was continually being harmed and was going to continue to be harmed and I knew it! So, as a last resort, I posted it on this site to keep any one else from being scammed! Again, I stress that it broke my heart! and that my sole intent is to protect the public.
I appreciate your comments above. Dr. Shelvey Holland of the Education Commission has been very helpful!

 

Thank you once again for this information. I appreciate the situation you were placed in and it has been to my benefit that you took the decision to post to this forum. I trust you will be blessed for your integrity and that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

 

Here are some Extensions of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary advertised in Southern Bible Institute and Seminary Catalogs~ C-A-U-T-I-O-N!!SBIS EXT. (Atlanta, GA) 3982 Green Forest Parkway Smyrna, GA 20082 770 434-6451 [email protected] (Marty Tharp)
SBIS EXt (Ohio)
SBIS EXt (New Mexico)
International Extensions Schools of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary
SBIS Extension (Guana)
SBIS Extension (British Isles)
SBIS Extension (Mexico)
SBIS Extension (Canada)
SBIS Extension (North Carolina)

As well, Ronald Drawdy was the registrant for the domain site "sbisevans.org" May 1, 2012 with the cell number listed being that of his grandson's Jarrod Adkins. The 803 202-1900 number for SC is listed for 725 Riverview Drive, North Augusta, South Carolina~Jarrod Adkin's home, so is that the main campus for SBIS, now...

Another question, how can Sbis Evans (GA) be an extension of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary Augusta GA (Southern Bible Church and School, Inc of GA) when it is the outreach ministry of Southern Bible Church, Institute and Seminary, Inc (SC)according to its own documents~
It is so impossible to make the lies connect to each other for a proper fit as the Truth is the only thing that ever fits~
The 2009-2010 catalog of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary is mind boggling and insulting...Page 14 of it states that "Southern Bible Institute hold(sic) accreditation therough Association of Academic Accreditation (AAA), the National Accrediting Association For Christian Schools (NAACS) and is in candidate status with Accrediting Commission International (ACI) and is a recognized member of the Association of Christian Schools, International". AAA was involuntarily dissolved in 2008. NAACS was voluntarily dissolved in 2007. ACSI made SBIS remove the "recognized" as it does not recognize them. And ACI, well those three letters speak volumes themselves.
Public, please be extremely cautious of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary Augusta, GA and Southern Bible Institute and Seminary Evans, GA~

 

We've received numerous post reports, all from the same person, claiming that the derogatory information presented here is false. However, since much of the information is verifiable with public sources, we've not been able to find any indication that any of the information is demonstrably false.

If the person reporting the posts as false wishes to provide specific, verifiable sources that refute any of the information provided, we're more than happy to report that information. However, when Kizmet asked for this earlier in the thread, the silence was deafening, so I assume the same will be true now.

As such, the information provided above is assumed to be correct until and unless we receive information to the contrary that we can verify.

 

Indeed, those three letters (ACI) speak volumes--infamous volumes.

 

Instead of simply reporting the posts, it would be better if the person doing the reporting clicked the "reply" or "reply with quote" button in this thread and refuted the supposedly derogatory information with a post of his/her own in this thread.

 

On 7/21/2012 Shigionoth Seminary of Douglasville, Georgia was mentioned by me as an extension of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary. It was based on this: Shigionoth Bible Seminary - Blank Title "Perfecting the vision one 'I' at a time." "Shigionoth is an extension of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary based in Augusta, Georgia." On the page is Shigionoth class of 2011. Additionally on 2 sites was the following: "Shigionoth Seminary is an extension of Southern Bible Institute and Seminary; fully accredited, you are able to earn degrees from an Associates to a Ph.D. by attending classes every Wednesday night taught by Dr. Randy Locke." cache:S2Qdeb2C1m4J: - Google Search
Calvary Church of God

BUT NOW TO THEIR CRESIT!

On their current site they have changed. They are now "associated with and supported by Calvary Church of God, Douglasville, GA" On their FAQs sheet The following TO THEIR CREDIT~

"Q: Is ShegionothSeminary recognized by the state of Georgia? A: Nor, because Shigionoth Seminary does not use the words "College", "University", or "Degree" in any form, the state does not require the religious teaching institution to file paperwork with them. This has allowed us to start our school at the ground level while building credibility, accountability, and reputability.Q: Is Shigionoth accredited in any form? A: No. Secular schools such as colleges and universities must comply with state rules and regulations. This often includes the need to be accredited with particular state agencies. These state agencies do not exist for religious educational facilities as long as the religious institution does not include the aforementioned terms. There are religious accrediting agencies that accredit religious educational institutions but from our current perspective there is no need to associate ourselves with a religious accrediting agency until our home state recognizes us a religious educational facility. Q: Does Shigionoth offer degrees. A: No. See above. Q: Does Shigionoth Seminary plan to offer degrees in the future? A: Yes. To do so we must first complete the process required of the state of Georgia to file for "religious exemption". Upon the successful completion of this application we will then be able to offer degree programs to our students. we have plans for this process to be completed no later than March of 2014. Q: What do classes currently scheduled at Shigionoth Seminary offer the students in terms of credible recognition? A: We are focused on credible and accountable record keeping and accounting practices. Student class records are maintained so that at any point upon completion of a course that confers a certificate or program of study that confers a diploma , the student can request transcripts be sent to the interested party only at the students request. In addition, upon our successful completion of the religious exempt application with the state of Georgia, the classes taken will be retroactively applied toward degrees upon the request of the student."


NOW THIS SPEAKS TO THE CREDIBILITY OF SHIGIONOTH SEMINARY! IT IS AWAY FROM, NO LONGER AN EXTENSION OF SOUTHERN BIBLE INSTITUTE AND SEMINARY AUGUSTA, GA PRIMARILY! SECONDLY, IT IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION AND IS OPERATING ACCORDING TO STATE LAW AND GUIDELINES! I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THESE GOOD FOLKS WERE DECEIVED BUT NOW HAVE HAD THEIR EYES OPENED AND ARE WALKING IN INTEGRITY AND ABOVE REPROACH! In all fairness to Shigionoth Seminary, It thrills me to give an update and report that they are on solid ground now~

 

now to their credit!

 

There are few good unaccredited seminaries in existence. When one of these pushes their accreditation with an unrecognized accreditor it certainly hurts their credibility. Those that choose not to "pursue" accreditation usually do not because they know they cannot be accredited by a recognized accreditor. While we can debate which of these unaccredited schools are worth attending, is it not easier to attend an accredited school? There are five types of accreditation that religious and theological schools can obtain. They are ATS, AARTS, regional accreditation, ABHE, TRACS, and DETC. Many factors go into choosing a school and cost is certainly one of them. There are good schools available at reasonable costs from all of them. As to government interference, none are interfered with that I know of. One of these they try to interject their opinions (theological views) in their reviews, but to date have not forced the issue with any seminary.

Are there reasons to attend a non-accredited seminary? Yes, but they are very specific reasons and do not cove most circumstances. ATS will not accredit fully DL M.Div programs, but TRACS and DETC do and I believe that ABHE does also. I know that some of the regional accreditors also permit 100% DL M.Div degrees. A Bible school or Institute should and must obey the laws of the land and the state they are located in, if not then they are not being true to their religion, no religion promotes lying.

 

Very well articulated, and certainly the truth!!!