For many years, the Churches of Christ in Queensland sought to locally train Christian workers. This vision began as early as 1924 when the State Conference formed the Christian Workers Committee to explore this goal. In 1941, a sub-committee was established with the specific aim of creating a Bible College in Queensland, which was finally approved in 1962.
Progress accelerated rapidly. In August 1963, a property appeal was launched seeking £15,000. Rallies and dinners were held to attract donors, with Woolwich Bible College's Vice-Principal A.G. Elliot and Principal A.W. Stephenson as speakers, an early indication of future inter-college cooperation. Remarkably, the funds were raised in just three months, enabling the purchase of five acres in Kenmore for £6,000 in January 1964. Local churches united in working bees to clear the site, and ceremonies throughout the year marked the college's impending commencement.
Early consideration was given to naming the new college Campbell College, after Alexander and Thomas Campbell; however, eventually, Kenmore Christian College was decided upon. Dr James Jauncey was appointed as founding Principal, bringing exceptional qualifications with ten degrees spanning Science, Journalism, Mathematics, and Theology. Though originally Australian, he had recently served as Minister of the thriving 1400-member First Christian Church in El Paso, Texas.
In 1965, merely two years after the property appeal began, the first class of seventeen students commenced ministry training. The College Convocation held on March 2, 1965, at Ann Street Church of Christ drew an overflowing crowd, with students representing Australia and the USA. Later that year, Dr Jauncey articulated his vision for the college:
"I guess it is stretching things a bit to call our campus a mountain. It is more a lovely hillside with a magnificent view. But I like to call it a mountain. For to me it is the mountain of God... I want it to be known like that, a place where young men and women meet God like Moses did on Mt. Sinai. If that can happen, they will go on lighting fire for Him all their lives."
Following initial growth, student numbers declined in the 1990s, prompting exploration of new training models. The Churches of Christ NSW Theological College, relocated from Woolwich to Carlingford, had pioneered an innovative approach emphasising on-the-job learning within existing communities rather than traditional four-year campus residence. This model particularly benefited churches recruiting ministers directly from congregations, allowing skill development within ministry contexts.
In 1996, Kenmore partnered with the NSW Theological College to implement this new model collaboratively. This partnership evolved into a full merger in 1999, creating the Australian College of Ministries under inaugural Principal Dr Keith Farmer. Student growth flourished over the subsequent quarter-century, with unprecedented enrolment in Queensland. The original Kenmore property was sold to Churches of Christ Care and now serves as the denomination's Kenmore campus.
2025 marks the 60th anniversary of Churches of Christ ministry training in Queensland. Throughout this period, from Kenmore through to ACOM, local staff and students have pursued Dr Jauncey's founding vision of practical, Scripture-based training, maintaining high academic standards and Restoration Movement emphasis.