In the 1930s an American evangelist, Dr. (Miss) Anna Mc Ghie traveled and preached in India and out of this experience she believed the Lord gave her a vision to start a school for training Indian young people to be evangelists to their own country.  As a result, the South India Bible Institute was founded on November 16, 1937, in Chennai (Madras) by Rev. Dr. James R. Bishop, a missionary of the World Gospel Mission (W.G.M.) who had earlier served in China in lieu USA.

 

After a few months the school was moved to a location facing Ulsoor Tank in Bangalore, but later, for several reasons, it was shifted to rented quarters in Kolar while a place for a permanent location could be secured.  Finally, in 1952 the school has been coeducational.  From a very early date the motto “Saved to Serve” was chosen to epitomize the central thrust of its purpose.

 

In the beginning the seminary was operated by W.G.M., and interdenominational society, but in 1972 the South India Biblical Seminary Council (now called the S.I.B.S. Ministries Council) was set up to govern the school, and at this time the name was changed from an institute to a seminary.  It became at that time a legally registered society in Kolar District, Karnataka.  In 1981 the Church of the Nazarene officially became a co-sponsoring partner in the Seminary, and in 1984 the Immanuel General Mission of Japan joined as a partner.

 

In 1963 the Seminary was accredited by the Board of Theological Education of the N.C.C.I, for the granting of a Diploma with the Graduate in Theology Distinction.  In 1970 it was accredited for the granting of the Bachelor of Theology degree, and in 1976 the school was affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College at the same degree level, but later withdrew from this affiliation.  The B.Th. programme of S.I.B.S. was accredited by the Asia Theological Associa­tion in 1983, and it is under this accreditation (which has been periodically renewed) that it is currently carrying on its academic programmes.  From 2004 a new two year M.Div. programme for the B.Th  up graders was introduced.

           

Ananda Counselling Centre, a unit of S.I.B.S. is dedicated to help Pastors and Christian Leaders in the field of counselling for their effective ministry.  In June 2003 Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling(PGDC) was started.  From 2005 Senate of Serampore college in collaboration with Christian Medical Association of India has recognized SIBS as a center to offer one year Diploma in Clinical Pastoral Counselling (DCPC). The course includes theory and practice with field and Hospital visits. Qualified and experienced teaching faculty are available as fulltime personnel. SIBS also has a fully furnished infrastructure. Ananda Counselling Centre is a unique venture.  Its purpose is to prepare a distinctive kind of Pastoral Counsellors, whose understanding and actions are deeply entangled by both divine love and Christian faith.  Coupling the refined research skills with Christian understanding of humanity, A.C.C.  aims at producing Counsellors equipped with a special ability to help persons on their journeys to wholeness and salvation.  Graduates of this program are qualified to serve in both the Church and the wider community.

 

S.I.B.S. is regarded as evangelical and conservative in doctrine and in life-style.  It lays much emphasis on practical evangelism and missions, on Christian education for the whole church, and on the development of spiritual life and scriptural Holiness.  It has pioneered the Vacation Bible School movement, beginning in 1952, in many parts of India. We are proud of the several indigenous missions societies such as Indian Evangelical Mission and Friends Missionary Prayer Band which have their roots in students who studies in S.I.B.S. and gained their missionary vision while here.