On February 25, 2026, Biola University celebrates 118 years since its founding in 1908. What began in downtown Los Angeles as the Bible Institute of Los Angeles has grown into the most comprehensively Christian university in North America, yet its foundation remains unchanged.

Founded by Lyman Stewart and T.C. Horton, Biola was established with a clear theological vision: to stand firmly on the authority of Scripture and to prepare believers to serve Christ in every sphere of life. That commitment continues to shape the university today.

“We look back to our university’s history in the early days of the 1900s. We look back through the ages to the saints of God who, even in the most trying of times, stood for the gospel and the abiding virtues of truth, goodness and beauty. We look back to the Scripture as our bedrock and to the glorious Lord sovereign over all. Looking back is an act of faithfulness. Looking back calls us to know the principles our founders had in mind and to defend them, to preserve them, to advance them,” as stated by President, Dr. Barry H. Corey in Biola’s Mission Retrospective. “God led men and women more than a century ago to envision an academy that would be unlike any other. Biola began not to blend in but to be set apart. It is our sacred obligation today to know our reason for being and to commit together that this is why we are here. This is what holds us together.

Each year since 1927, members of the Board of Trustees reaffirm Biola’s doctrinal statement by signing the historic “Workers’ Register and Articles of Faith,” often referred to as the “Red Book.” The simple yet significant act symbolizes continuity across generations, serving as a reminder that while Biola’s campus expands and programs grow, Biola’s theological core remains steady.

“If you focus on the mission you adopt new methodologies that accelerate your mission. If you focus on the methodology of the past you can become irrelevant and thus your mission suffers. As we move into the future it will involve new methodologies, but the new methodologies have to serve and even increase our missional reach and effectiveness,” said Michael Maples, Board of Trustees chair.

Biola’s mission extends beyond classrooms and scholarship into the ways students live out their faith in public life.The school’s theological convictions affirm the intrinsic dignity of every human being as made in the image of God. This understanding begins at conception and extends through every stage of life. The university upholds the sanctity of life from its earliest beginnings to a person’s final breath, grounded in a biblical vision of human worth and the sacred value of life.

Throughout its history, Biola has sought to preserve the freedom to live and teach in accordance with these convictions. In recent years, the university has joined other religious institutions in legal efforts to protect religious freedom and ensure that faith-based institutions remain free to operate consistently with their theological commitments.

These beliefs are not merely preserved in historic documents but expressed in the life of the campus community.

In late January, Biola students traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the national March for Life, joining thousands who gathered to advocate for the unborn. The trip reflected Biola students’ longstanding commitment to upholding the dignity of life and engaging cultural issues with conviction and compassion.

“It was encouraging to be at the March for Life with somewhere around 100,000 people, many of whom sang worship songs and prayers as we walked the streets of our nation's capital,” said Josiah Clark, a student leader involved in the trip. “I look forward to seeing Biola continue its pro-life involvement in future years.”

This week, Biola kicked off its birthday celebration with its fourth annual Giving Day on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Biola’s birthday, students are invited to the Bell Tower for cupcakes, a chance to purchase new sweatshirts and a SquishEagle giveaway. In the evening students are invited to a festive trivia night.

As Biola celebrates 118 years, the university does so not by looking only to its past, but by reaffirming the convictions that have guided it from the beginning. Rooted in Scripture and strengthened across generations, Biola continues preparing students to serve with courage, conviction and faithfulness wherever God calls them. Join the Biola community and apply for Fall 2026 by March 1, 2026.

Written by Sarah Dougher, media relations specialist, with the assistance of AI. For more information, email media.relations@biola.edu.