More than 20 years before Christ Bible Seminary opened its doors, pastors in Nagoya had been praying that God would provide more opportunities for theological education in their area. A variety of opportunities existed in both the Kanto and Kansai regions, but even though Nagoya is the fourth largest city in Japan, compared with these other areas there were far fewer opportunities for quality theological education. Moreover, of the major metropolitan areas of Japan, Aichi prefecture has the lowest church-to-population ratio, falling at nearly 50% of Tokyo, making Nagoya a particularly strategic place to raise up and equip future leaders for the church in Japan.
In an effort to serve and join others in meeting this need, in 2004 Michael and Pearl Oh arrived in Nagoya and began laying the groundwork for a new seminary. In April 2005 Christ Bible Seminary opened its doors and held its first convocation; 4 students enrolled and Dr. Oh began serving as the seminary’s first president. CBS held classes on the second floor of Nisshin Christ Church in the suburbs of Nagoya, and under Dr. Oh’s leadership the seminary began to grow as the Lord called students from a variety of backgrounds to come and prepare for gospel ministry.
By 2010 CBS had outgrown the facilities of Nisshin Christ Church and began to search for a more permanent location. After a 90-day prayer campaign a four-story building in downtown Nagoya became available. Just minutes away from Nagoya Station by foot, from 2011 this new location became the home of Christ Bible Seminary.
In March 2013 Michael Oh stepped down from his role as president of CBS in order to serve as Executive Director / CEO of The Lausanne Movement, and Academic Dean Craig Chapin became Interim President of CBS. Over several years Dr. Matt Newkirk had made short-term trips to teach at CBS, and in March 2016 relocated to Japan to serve at CBS full-time. In April 2019 Dr. Newkirk was installed as the second president of CBS.
