About
Where everyone majors in changing the world.
Catalyst Bible College is powered by Nelson University.
About Our Campus
With meager beginnings in 1928, brave men and women of God overcame relentless spiritual attacks and built Visalia First on prayer and the presence of God.
Our world is changing at lightning speed, but there is one thing that has not changed: the power of the Gospel and a Spirit-filled church. In every adult service for the past 27 years, someone has accepted Jesus as their Savior and committed their life to Him. With multiple ministries and services happening throughout the week, lives are consistently being changed for the Kingdom!
Students of Catalyst Bible College have the incredible opportunity to work alongside strong ministry leaders at Visalia First as they develop leadership skills, a strong network of peers, and a deep knowledge of the Bible.
Location
Located strategically in the Central Valley of California, Visalia First is under an hour away from the Sequoia National Park, three hours away from Los Angeles, and two hours to the nearest beach.
Our campus is in the perfect location to have hands-on ministry experience across our partner churches.
Student Scholarships
Visalia First and Catalyst Bible College are committed to produce credentialed, high-functioning ministers for the Assemblies of God with little to no debt. This is why we are offering more than $100,000 worth of scholarships for students to apply for each year. The average CBC student will graduate receiving $10,000 in scholarship dollars.
Contact us for more information on how to apply for scholarships and become a CBC scholar.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Dr. Mark Merrill
President/Founder
Dr. Mike Clarensau
Vice President of Academics
Regan Munsey
Vice President of Operations
Krysta Edwards
Director of Student Success
Joshua Elkin
Student Life Coordinator
Eliza Borjon
College Public Relations
Meet Our Faculty
Dr. Mark Merrill
Doctor of Ministry- George Fox University
Isidro Carrasco
Master of Divinity- Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Regan Munsey
Master of Organizational Leadership- Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Dr. Carl Fabrizio
Doctor of Ministry- Andersonville Theological Seminary
John Walker
Master of Theology- Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Dr. Shawn Fox
Master of Divinity- Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Blake Edwards
Master of Theology- Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Dr. Dwayne Blackwell
Doctorate of Ministry- Liberty University
Dr. Kent Mankins
Doctor of Philosophy- University of Buckingham
Dr. Ed Kemp
Doctor of Ministry- Gordon Conwell
Sam Chand
Sam Chand Leadership Institute
Miles Vega
Master of Marriage, Family and Child Counseling- California State University
