Changes

==History==

==History==

In 1952, the Mobile Baptist Association (the local Southern Baptist association) petitioned the Alabama Baptist Convention (the state Southern Baptist Convention) to open and operate a college in the Mobile area (which is geographically distant from central Alabama, where the only other Baptist university - [[Samford University]] - was located).

In 1952, the Mobile Baptist Association (the local Southern Baptist association) petitioned the Alabama Baptist Convention (the state Southern Baptist convention) to open and operate a college in the Mobile area (which is geographically distant from central Alabama, where the only other Baptist university - [[Samford University]] - was located).

Nine years later, the state convention agreed to the proposal, provided supporters could raise $1.5 million over the next two years: supporters raised $2 million in only one year.

Nine years later, the state convention agreed to the proposal, provided supporters could raise $1.5 million over the next two years: supporters raised $2 million in only one year.