South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary, Bookstore & Library Resources

Welcome to the library portion of our website. The Steven R. Sylvester Memorial Library opened in May 2007 after hiring Timothy Skinner as its first library director. The library exists to serve the students, faculty, and staff of SFBC&TS. Our library has a physical and online collection of reading materials and a study room with furniture and computer stations. The Library Director is equipped by education and experience to help you effectively use the library. We are glad to help you learn how to learn. Let us assist you in overcoming the hurdles you have. The library has a physical collection of about 5,000 books, is building on its present collection of periodicals, and has online full-text subscription to many journals. Most of our books were donated. The subject with the strongest collection is religion, followed by social sciences. Our intended collection strengths are Bible, theology, pastoral theology, Christian education, elementary education, psychology, counseling, and business. Budget allows the purchase of needed works. We invite you to explore the library and watch it grow. May the library be part of your growth.

LIBRARY HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Open hours vary and are subject to change due to class scheduling, holidays, and inclement weather.

SFBC &TS' library is growing--thanks to the Library Program (also mentioned below)--and we look forward to adding additional volumes within the next few years. However, local SFBC&TS students, with Student ID Cards, also have full access to local area libraries, including university libraries. Contact us by telephone or email us at BookStore for additional information.

SFBC&TS currently has a Library Program underway for the solicitation of donated books for the college and seminary. Please read about our GIFTS program, which includes information on the Library Program.

Hall of Fame

Significant Library Program Contributors

South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary was highly honored to receive in 2004 a three hundred book donation courtesy of the family of the late Dr. John Weldon.

Dr. Weldon's life was rich through his accomplishments, studies, generosity, and family. His story really begins after his military service in World War II. After the war, Dr. Weldon earned a bachelor's degree in Economics and Modern Business in 1947. He continued his academic work and earned a master's degree in Education with a minor in Psychology. He acquired his doctorate in Education. His professional career began by teaching kindergarten, then high school social studies, and later achieving a position teaching Secondary Education at Southern Illinois University.

In 1973, Dr. Weldon accepted a position as Dean of Academics at Biscayne College (now St. Thomas University) and relocated his family to south Florida. At Biscayne College, he served as dean for many years until accepting full professorial status teaching Psychology and Education. Dr. Weldon served St. Thomas for twenty-six years until his retirement in 1999.

Dr. Weldon was an avid reader; acquired an extensive collection of books; and loved to learn and teach. He also served as a Eucharistic minister in the Catholic Church and studied Theology at St. Meinrad. His special devotion, however, was always to God.

After Dr. Weldon's passing on December 11, 2003, his family hoped to find the best place for his library. The family reported that, through prayer, they were led to South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary. After an assessment, the family felt their father would be very pleased his collection would become a valuable and integral part of South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary's library.

Dr. Weldon's generosity continues through this wonderful donation. His books will touch the minds and hearts of SFBC&TS' students for years to come as each pursues personal dreams of collegiate and post graduate education. South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary is privileged to be the recipient of this generous donation and is also deeply grateful for this addition to its library. SFBC&TS sincerely thanks Dr. Weldon's family for this bountiful blessing.

South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary was elated to announce--and enormously privileged to receive--an extraordinary book donation from Dr. Carl W. Holz. Dr. Holz donated seven thousand (7,000) theological books to SFBC&TS' library in April 2004. In heartfelt appreciation, we honor Dr. Carl W. Holz as an extraordinary benefactor to our library.

Dr. Holz began his ministry preparation at Cedarville College in the fall of 1965. However, from 1967 to 1971, he served on active duty in the U.S. Navy. Dr. Holz became a decorated disabled combat veteran of the Vietnam War as a result of his military service.

Dr. Holz spent nearly three years overseas and earned numerous prestigious war decorations and citations. These include the Silver Star; the Bronze Star with V; the Bronze Star; a Purple Heart; an Air Medal; the Combat Action Ribbon; the Navy Unit Commendation; a Meritorious Unit Citation; the National Defense Service Medal; seven Vietnam Campaign Medals; an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Republic of Vietnam Medal of Honor 2nd class; the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry; the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal; a Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation; the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry; and was presented a Presidential Certificate of Appreciation.

In 1971, Dr. Holz resumed his undergraduate studies at Cedarville College. He majored in Business Administration and Pre-Seminary Bible and minored in biblical Greek. In the summer of 1972, he ministered in Liberia, West Africa then returned to complete his studies. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973 and entered Grace Theological Seminary. He earned his Master of Divinity (cum laude) in 1976, therein providing him the credentials necessary to become an Army Chaplain. Due to his Army Chaplain status, and his 1975 ordination as a General Association of Regular Baptist Churches minister, he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in March 1977. In June of 1977 he was promoted to Captain.

Dr. Holz served in the Army as a Chaplain for a decade. In 1986, he left the service but not before earning additional military decorations. These include five Army Commendation Medals; two Army Achievement Medals; the Army Overseas Service Ribbon; the Army Service Ribbon; a Humanitarian Service Medal; and an Army Forces Reserve Medal.

In 1987 he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary. He completed his Master of Theology degree in 1988. Dr. Holz earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Biblical Studies) from Pensacola Christian College in 1995. Dr. Holz also continued his ministries in locations such as Hawaii, Japan, Okinawa, Philippine Islands, South Vietnam, Mexico, Liberia, Crete, Italy, and West Germany.

Dr. Holz retired from the Army in 1998. At that time he began to focus his attention on bible college and seminary development in the United States. His efforts brought about a two-year appointment in 2000 as a Trustee and North American Director for Library Acquisitions for the Sofia Bible University, Sofia, Bulgaria. Also in 2000, Dr. Holz was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature degree from Sofia Bible University, which later resulted in Central Christian University awarding him an honorary Doctor of Religious Letters degree in 2001. Through that honorary award, Dr. Holz became a Fellow in the Christian Fellowship International organization in 2001.

Dr. Holz accumulated a 35,000 volume theological library, which he began in 1964. Unable to maintain this extraordinary library after his retirement, Dr. Holz decided to donate sections of his library to needy schools around the world. His generous donations have gone to schools in India, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Nigeria, Liberia, Jamaica, and the United States.

South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary is incredibly privileged to be one of the recipients of Dr. Holz's remarkable and gracious generosity. His incredible donation to our library will be remembered as one of the major cornerstones of our Library Program. South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary extends its heartfelt thanks and blessings to Dr. Holz and his family. In genuine appreciation, we honor Dr. Carl W. Holz as an extraordinary benefactor to our library.

South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary wishes to thank Cook Communications Ministries for their very kind and generous books donation. SFBC&TS is blessed by their open heart of giving and their donation is very appreciated.