Our Campus

Campus Life in NLBS holds high significance as it counts so much to the ministerial and character formation of the students. A student is expected to make every attempt to live in harmony with one another maintaining interpersonal relationships. Living together as one community and striving together for a common goal is our ultimate priority. Cultural meets and social evenings facilitate to prosper love and harmony in the community life at the campus. Cleanliness and hygiene are vital for NLBS. The constructions of the buildings in rectangular shape provides a beautiful space right at the centre of the campus where everyone can come together to have fun and fellowship. Students are provided with basic facilities such as dormitory, mess, sports and recreational resources. The trees with its branches hovering over the ground and seating facilities around it provide a wonderful place to foster the fellowship and interpersonal relationship. Life in the campus could easily be understood at four important levels.

1. Spiritual Life

There are bounteous opportunities provided to the students to maintain a well-balanced spiritual life. The spiritual life of a student is understood in at least five phases. They are morning and evening devotions, main chapels, spiritual emphasis days, chain prayers, fasting prayers and whole-night prayers. On Sunday mornings most of the students will be assigned to different local congregations and the rest meet at the chapel for service. The spiritual activities are aimed at implanting a well-disciplined spiritual status within a person.
The common devotion times are compulsorily maintained in the morning and in the evening. The day starts with the morning devotion from 5:30 to 6:00 AM. All the students come to the chapel and spend time for prayer and short meditation. The devotions are held separately for both English and Malayalam medium students. The students themselves prepare a thought for the day, which becomes the impetus to live through the day. Apart from the common devotions the students are encouraged for personal piety. Wednesday evenings are set apart for praise and worship and song practice. The campus provides them magnificent atmosphere to maintain the same.
The student body is divided into different Tutorial Groups under faculty members to nurture them in every aspect of their lives. The Tutorial Groups aim to a holistic spiritual formation of the students which includes personal, inter-personal, academic, and practical aspects of life.

2. Academic Life

The academic schedules are strictly maintained with utmost importance in the campus. Class learning is the primary mode of teaching. It is mandatory for the students to ensure adequate class attendance in order to be qualified for appearing in the exam. We have well-maintained class rooms. Four to five hours of classes are scheduled for each day. The classes start at 8:25 AM and goes up to 1:30 PM.

a). Study Time

Students strictly observe the study hours in the campus. The usual study hours are in the morning and in the evening. This is exclusive of the normal class hours of the day. The morning timings is from 6:30 AM to 7:20 AM and the evening is from 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM. During the morning study hours the students come to their respective class rooms and spend it meaningfully. Rest of the study time is spent in the Library.

b). Library

Library is the heart and soul of seminary life. The students are provided with good facilities to make the maximum use of library. NLBS gives substantial care for the development and maintenance of library. We have a library with a fair collection of over 21,000 volumes and more than 30 national and international theological journals and secular magazines/weeklies. The library uses computerized Dewey Decimal cataloguing system. It library maintains both Malayalam and English sections which are intended to assist the students of both the mediums in their academic endeavour. Computer and internet facilities are available for the students. We are in the process of acquiring American Theological Library Association Serials (ATLASerials online database). The library of NLBS boasts of a well-qualified and experienced staff.

3. Social Life

NLBS family consists of people from various cultures and backgrounds which make the life in the campus very much exciting. We have students from different states of India. They are united into this family as body of Christ for a common goal from diverse traditions, languages, customs and practices. This variety makes the life in the campus a joyful one. The students share moments of joy and happiness with one another.
Occasionally, an evening is set apart for the community to come together for fellowship and fun. Students have opportunities to display their talents in various art forms. Many of the theological issues debated in the class rooms are given visual portrayal by the students. Amidst hectic academic pressures and tensions the students find it a time to relax, rejoice and renew relationships. Social Evenings most often are preceded by the fellowship meal. At times students are shown mission based and socially relevant movies.
NLBS gives importance for sports and recreation. Except on Wednesdays and Sundays, games are organized for students from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The whole student body is divided into four different groups with four different names. These groups are primarily meant for facilitating the sports activities. NLBS Sports Day is a day the students look forward with enthusiasm. Various sports events are organized on this day.
Students’ Seminary Fellowship (SSF) is the students’ body which takes care of all cultural, social, recreational and spiritual activities related to the students. Annually it organizes a Food-Fest and Inter-Seminary games. It strives towards an inter-seminary theological, ministerial interaction and fellowship.

4. Practical Ministry

The students are assigned to various types of ministries according to their talents and interests. Weekend outreach programmes are of primary importance. ‘Liberated to Liberate’ is the motto of the Department of Practical Training. Church planting, community services, hospital visits, open-air meetings, mini conventions, house visit, film shows, etc., are the important prospects for practical involvement.
During the weekends students are encouraged to go in small groups and visit different places. Students have the opportunity to involve in Sunday School and church assistance in the nearby churches. This enhances them towards ministerial formation. NLBS’ alumni have been instrumental in establishing numerous churches.