In 1984, men who were largely the product of Norris' ministry, gathered around the leadership of RAYMOND W. BARBER to establish a SCHOOL OF LIKE NATURE. Dr. Barber, now Chancellor of the NBBI, was the pastor of the Worth Baptist Church of Ft. Worth, Texas for 35 years. He is known nationally for his dynamic preaching and leadership among independent Baptists and is a frequent chapel speaker and special instructor at NBBS. Many of the co-founders of the school are still able to take a very active role in NBBS.

In conjunction with the founding of the school, the Independent Baptist Fellowship International was also established. More than 500 churches support one or more of the ministries of the Fellowship. The IBFI is not only the parent organization to the school but also to a mission agency as well as a national publication, THE SEARCHLIGHT.