From the beginning of the Lord's work in Papua New Guinea in 1971, plans were in place for the establishement of National Bible Schools for the training of the local people.  It was recognized tha tht Nationals of PNG were more likely to be the major contributors in the furtherance of the Gospel to the remotest parts of this wild and primitive nation.

The School of Life was formed and classes began in 1975 at the request of national brethren wanting to learn more about the Bible.

The school has experienced changes in term and day lenght as they experimented to find an optimum situation for training young men to preach and become leaders in the church.

This has lead to the system of running classes of six blocks over 9 months with two-one week campaigns.  There are three classes, a chapel period and a study period five days of the week.

The basic course of study is now over a two year period. It covers a study of Genesis to Revelation and other courses of doctrinal importance.

An advanced year is additional studies and a time of practical training where the students work with congregations and put into practice the principles they have learned the first two years.

The school was renamed the "Melanesian Bible College" in 1988. By 1993 most of the teaching as well as the administration of the school has been taken over by National bretheren.