Roots: History of Village Schools of the Bible

1982 l Monty Sholund l Village Schools of the Bible

 Village Schools of the Bible was founded in 1982 to assist newly converted Christians and older Christians in their growth and maturity in Jesus Christ.  The goal was to help people know and apply God’s Word to their lives.

Monty Sholund, the founder of Village Schools of the Bible, was born in Gothenburg, Nebraska and spent 35 years in Africa (Zaire and South Africa).  In 1982 Monty returned to the United States and became the Director of Christian Education at the Village Evangelical Free Church in Maple Plain, Minnesota.

Several people asked Monty to help them study the Bible systematically from cover-to-cover.  Village Schools of the Bible began in September of 1982.  Soon invitations came from other locations and little by little the Village Schools of the Bible grew.

1999 l New Executive Director l Max Frazier

 In August 1999 Max Frazier became associate teacher at Village Schools of the Bible.  In early 2000 when Monty retired, Pastor Max became director-principle of the school.

Max Frazier graduated from Wheaton College in 1969 with a BS in Biology. He studied at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and earned his MA degree (with honors) in Old Testament Studies, at the Wheaton Graduate School of Theology.  He had pastored four Evangelical Free churches in Illinois and Iowa and taught at Moody Bible Institute Evening School, Community Colleges in Fort Dodge and Ankeny, Iowa and Des Moines Christian School.

Max was principal of the Village Schools from early 2000 to June 2011.  Under Max’s leadership Village Schools of the Bible continued to grow in enrollment, campuses and outreach.

2011 l New Executive Director l Pastor Warren Coe

Then in July 2011, Pastor Warren Coe took over as Executive Director.

Warren has a strong background in Bible teaching. He holds a Masters of Divinity Degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School near Chicago. He has served as Senior Pastor of local Evangelical Free Churches in Illinois, Iowa, and Minneapolis for the last thirty three years. In fact, it is interesting to note that Warren and Max Frazier served in neighboring churches in Iowa.  As a Bible conference speaker and a founding member of the Forum on Expository Preaching, Warren has promoted the power of God’s Word—the Bible, among God’s people.

 2016 l God’s Work l God’s Word

 At the end of 2016 we will finish with 607 enrollments.  Our campus expansion now includes Rochester, Minnesota and Des Moines, Iowa.  We have 20 staff, teachers and mentors serving the body of Christ and the local church.  And we now offer online Cover-to-Cover Bible Survey to the body of Christ around the world.  We anticipate enrollments to reach 770 in 2017.

How do we explain our beginnings under Pastor Monty?  God did it.  How do we explain the growth under Pastor Max?  God did it.  How do we explain the remarkable growth today?  God is doing it.  All credit goes to Him.

Village Schools of the Bible is a faith-based ministry.  We rely upon the generosity of God’s people to underwrite the ongoing financial needs at VSB.  Student tuition covers only 20% of the cost of the ministry.  God is using you; your faithfulness and generosity to reach and disciple the body of Christ.

This is the appeal season at Village Schools of the Bible.  Your contribution will help us fulfill the great commission—‘Go and Make Disciples’.  Thank you.

Warren