The main purpose and objective of the Northwest Florida School of Biblical Studies is to train God's people for His service. We believe that this is a most desperate challenge facing the church today in the twenty-first century. Many of God's people are suffering from spiritual malnutrition in knowledge and the practical application of God's Word. We need more training in the Lord's church, and more in-depth training in the Word and its application in the fields of service. We are interested in teaching and training the average member of the church, with special emphasis on training young men to preach the gospel of Christ. We are also interested in training men to serve as elders, deacons, teachers and soul-winners. Women are encouraged to take courses and to be trained to serve in the areas which they are authorized to serve. We know that there are several Christian colleges and preacher training schools in the brotherhood, and we are not trying to be in competition with any of them. We also recognize that the Christian college's intended purpose is to provide Christian teaching for our young people while they are receiving their secular education. On the other hand, if a man or woman is solely interested in being taught and trained in the Bible and related subjects, then a school like N.W.F.S.B.S. is an excellent choice. The school's faculty and administration believe in concentrating our teaching on the Bible, Bible related subjects, the mechanics and methods of teaching and preaching, and the practical application of everyday Christian living. When a person comes to Northwest Florida School of Biblical Studies he or she engage in a two year, tuition free training. They will spend approximately eighteen hundred clock hours in the classroom and in field training. When a person leaves after the two year period, we feel that this individual will be well prepared to serve in whatever capacity he or she may serve in the Lord's church. As we have already stated, we are not only concerned about training preachers, but also elders, deacons, teachers and others; therefore, we encourage a person who is considering serving in any of those above mentioned capacities to enroll in the school. We need more people in the church who are serious and sober-minded in their service to the extent that they will be willing to train and properly prepare themselves. Our preacher training students are men (also their families) who have sacrificed their homes, jobs and many other things to come and devote two full years in training to preach the gospel. The studies that these men undergo are so intense and time consuming that most are not able to work full-time while they are here. Therefore, most of these men have to depend on individuals and congregations to provide their support and living expenses. Our preacher students receive training in every book of the Bible. They are also taught Bible related subjects which are necessary for them to be effective preachers. Homiletics (how to prepare and deliver sermons), personal evangelism, denominational doctrine, debate, logic, church history and Greek are some examples of Bible related subjects which are taught. We teach our men how to deliver sermons and reach people through the pulpit. We emphasize and stress the power and effectiveness of God's Word. We have video equipment for them to practice their sermons so they can see for themselves the mistakes they make. We use many other practical methods to shape and mold them into fine gospel preachers. We maintain a practical approach in training preachers. We not only teach them the mechanics of preaching and how to preach from the pulpit, but we train them in a practical way how to be an effective minister unto the people. We teach our ministers how to conduct funerals and weddings and at times attend some of these various functions as a class. We visit nursing homes and hospitals in order to teach them how to be effective in ministering to the sick and elderly. They learn first hand what it is like to visit and minister to people in need. We show these men how to conduct Bible studies, how to knock on doors, and how to hold campaigns in various communities. We seek to teach these young men how it is really going to be when they get out and begin preaching. We feel that when these men begin their preaching experience, they will not go out without already having actually performed some of these things. This practical aspect of their training will better prepare them to serve as evangelists. We also believe that it is not fair to shade the eyes of our prospective preachers and mislead them into thinking that preaching is an easy and comfortable life. The practical experience which these students receive while in school better prepares them to serve in God's Kingdom. We believe that we are a unique school. We believe we have so much to offer anyone who is interested in training to preach the gospel or training to serve the Lord in any capacity of the Lord's work. We are sound in the faith. We do not specialize in hobbies. We love the Lord, his Word, his Church, and the lost. Each instructor in the school has this love, and seeks to instill this love in each student. We hope that you will decide to come and be a part of this growing institution. We will help you and work with you in every way that we possibly can.