Southwestern began life as three separate Bible schools. The first, founded by Reverend P.C. Nelson in 1927, was called
Southwestern Bible School. It was located in Enid, Oklahoma. The
second, founded by Reverend Guy Shields in 1931, was called Shield of Faith Bible School. It was located in Amarillo, Texas. The third, founded by Reverend J.T. Little in 1931, was
called Southern Bible College. It was originally located in Goose Creek, Texas, but relocated in 1933 to Houston, Texas.Shield of Faith moved its Bible school to Fort Worth, Texas
in 1935. Southern Bible College merged with Shield of Faith in 1940 to create South Central Bible Institute when the school came
under the leadership of the Texas District Council of the Assemblies of God. In 1941, Southwestern Bible School merged with South
Central to create Southwestern Bible Institute. In 1943, the institute moved to its present location in Waxahachie, Texas, taking
over the former campus of Trinity
University, which had moved to San Antonio.Shortly after relocating, the school added a junior college curriculum. The institute later became known as Southwestern
Assemblies of God College and added two more years to the curriculum. In 1994, the names of the college was changed to
Southwestern Assemblies of God University.