About Us
History
On Thanksgiving Day in 1968, Dr. and Mrs. Clyde C. Patrick were touring the beautiful Ozark Mountains of
northern Arkansas with Dr. James V. Martin. During that restful and enriching time they discussed the
need for serious Bible study and the importance of the Word of God in our world. On this date and
occasion the idea and plan was born for a Bible institute. After much prayer for God’s leadership and
blessing, it was some two and one-half years later that Dr. Martin and Dr. Patrick applied to the State of
Georgia for a charter. Dr. Martin, an attorney, completed the necessary legal work for official recognition
beginning in 1970.
Dr. Patrick, a faithful student of the Word of God, became the first president. His wife Hazel served along
with him. For a brief time in 1976-77 Dr. Patrick relinquished the reins due to failing health, resuming the
presidency until his death in 1979.
On January 1, 1986 the school received a charter from the State of Arkansas. On November 15, 2014 the
Trustees approved placing Anchor Theological Seminary and Bible Institute under the authority of
Worldwide Outreach for Christ, Inc., a Florida based not-for-profit Religious Corporation which is
recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501-C-3 tax-exempt, not-for-profit religious organization.
The primary campus and administrative office was moved from Texarkana, Arkansas to Pharr, Texas by
approval of the Trustees effective January 1, 2015. ATS&BI maintains the school in Texarkana, Arkansas.
Presidents who have succeeded Dr. Patrick are as follows: Dr. William K. Meadows, Dr. Leon McDowell,
Dr. Richard Thompson, and Dr. John Tisdale. Dr. Tisdale has served since August 1, 1990 Under his
leadership Anchor Theological Seminary and Bible Institute continued to be strengthened. In November
2021, after Dr. Tisdale passed Dr. Ralph Beasley assume the permanent roll of President of ATS&BI.
A distance learning system makes readily available to the student education and training where he or
she resides. Extension Centers operate in several states and foreign countries utilizing the curriculum of
Anchor Theological Seminary and Bible Institute. Our text verse: “Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
The Trustees, administration, and faculty consider Anchor Theological Seminary and Bible Institute to be
“a ministry and not a money-tree.”