enrollment declined and costs increased in the 1940s, and the board of trustees considered closing the school. john l. patten, pastor of grace baptist church in omaha, saw the need for the school to continue. in 1947, patten volunteered to step in as the school's new leader. he served as president until 1965. under his leadership, the institution changed its name (to "omaha baptist bible institute", and later to "omaha baptist bible college") and sought the support of baptist organizations. in 1956, the general association of regular baptist churches approved obbi. to this day, the garbc remains an important part of student enrollment, though there is no longer any official affiliation or approval system in place.