First known as Hobe Sound Bible Institute, the college was founded in 1960 under the leadership of Stephen D. Herron, a Wesleyan Methodist minister and prominent camp meeting speaker and general evangelist, the school's founder and president for 25 years.

Herron approached H. Robb French and Florida Evangelistic Association, now Hope International Missions, about year-round utilization of the camp meeting facilities for a Bible college.

In September of that year, Hobe Sound Bible Institute welcomed its first student body, representing 12 states and Canada.

The registration for the first year totaled 24, with a 3-person teaching staff that included Herron, missionary C. J. Goodspeed and Wesleyan Methodist evangelist Dr. Johannes Maas, founder of Worldwide Faith Missions.

In 1986 the college attained full accreditation with The Association for Biblical Higher Education.