1.1 Background History
The Independent Church of India (ICI) had established a Bible School by the name of R. Dala Memorial Bible School at Senvon around the year 1940. When the Indo-Burma Pioneer Mission (IBPM) New Development started, the Headquarters of the Independent Church of India and the IBPM was shifted to Sielmat in 1956. The R. Dala Memorial Bible School was also shifted to Kangvai for a few years after which it was again shifted to Sielmat. When the Independent Church of India and the IBPM parted in 1965, the Bible School went to the IBPM. The IBPM did not continue the School for unknown reasons. The R. Dala Memorial Bible School, therefore, stopped function and was closed down.
The Independent Church of India, since then, began to establish a number of secular educational institution. But there was no school for theological studies as the R. Dala Memorial School was no more. The ICI’s cherished dream to start a theological institution for imparting evangelical theological education to the people who are being called by God continued, though nothing could be done to fulfil it for some years.
The dream came true in March, 1980 when the 30th General Assembly approved the opening of a Bible School at Sielmat, Churachandpur, Manipur. Accordingly, on 1st April, 1980, the School started with only fourteen students, with Rev. D. Ruolngul, B.A., B.D., as the first Principal, assisted by Rev. Lalngaisang and Rev. H.B. Hluothang who joined them in June of the same year. Over the past few decades, it has grown in size and strength through the guidance of God. In 1995, it was upgraded to a college under Rev. H.B. Hluothang, B.A., B.D., M. Th. as the Principal. With the introduction of Bachelor of Theology (B. Th.) course in 1995, Englilsh became the medium of instructions.
The motto of the College is, “Rightly Handling the Word of Truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).