BIBELSKOLEN I GRIMSTAD NORMISJON

What BIBELSKOLEN I GRIMSTAD NORMISJON does

Bibelskolen i Grimstad (BiG) is a Norwegian Christian folk high school (folkehøgskole) located in Grimstad, Norway, founded in 1982 and owned by Normisjon, a Norwegian evangelical mission organization. The school serves post-secondary students, typically aged 18-25, who are taking a structured gap-year experience that integrates Christian faith formation, leadership development, and personal growth. BiG operates six one-year program lines: Veritas (apologetics), Musikk (music), Vekst (personal growth), Idrett & Friluft (sports and outdoor life), World Wide Walk (international missions, including 4.5 months abroad), and Til Tjeneste (a second-year leadership and service program). The school also offers a family camp (Sommer i Sør) and co-organizes the annual Veritaskonferansen apologetics conference with Veritas Norway. Student placements and mission partnerships span eight or more countries including South Africa, Japan, Ecuador, Bangladesh, Uganda, Nepal, Azerbaijan, and the United States.

Name

BIBELSKOLEN I GRIMSTAD NORMISJON

Legal name

Bibelskolen i Grimstad

Website

https://bibelskolen.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bibelskolen i Grimstad (BiG) is a Norwegian Christian folk high school owned by Normisjon, serving roughly 18-25-year-old gap-year students through six program lines spanning apologetics, music, missions, and leadership development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious / Bible Education Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Missionary Training Colleges & Schools (EDAHAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Bible school education
• Folk high school programs
• Christian apologetics training
• International mission preparation
• Residential faith formation

Headquarters

HQ city

Grimstad

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and fees: Primary revenue from student tuition, registration fees, room and board charges, and course trip fees. Main course programs charge approximately kr 162,500 total per year including tuition (kr 41,000), room and board (kr 68,000), registration (kr 2,500), and trips (kr 51,000 combined). World Wide Walk charges approximately kr 139,000 total. Til Tjeneste is a second-year program charging approximately kr 39,000 plus practice costs.
2. Donations (BiG-giver): Individual donors can become BiG-givers through a secure BankID platform. Donations qualify for tax deductions. The school also has a dedicated BiG-partner program where churches provide annual support.
3. Summer camp revenues: Sommer i Sør family camp generates revenue through festival passes (adults kr 900, youth/children kr 700), accommodation bookings (rooms kr 856-1590/night, camping kr 110-440/night), and meal sales. Campers also have access to catering services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bibelskolen i Grimstad (BiG) delivers residential, one-year Christian folk high school education through six specialized program lines: Veritas (apologetics), Vekst (personal growth and pastoral care), Musikk (vocal, band, Soul Children), Idrett & Friluft (sports and outdoor), World Wide Walk (4.5 months of international mission service with NLA credit articulation), and Til Tjeneste (second-year practical service). It also operates the annual Sommer i Sør family camp, the Veritaskonferansen apologetics conference, and rents the Normisjonshallen sports/event venue. All programs share a common core curriculum, on-campus dormitory living, and joint international mission trips.

Product overview

Bibelskolen i Grimstad (BiG) is a Christian folk high school (folkehøgskole) operated by Normisjon, founded in 1982. The school offers a portfolio of six distinct one-year educational programs (linjer): Veritas (apologetics), Vekst (personal growth), Musikk (music with vocal/band/soul children tracks), Idrett & Friluft (sports and outdoor), World Wide Walk (international missions with 4.5 months abroad), and Til Tjeneste (second-year practical service). All students share common core subjects including theology, ethics, Bible study, and elective courses. The school also operates complementary offerings including Sommer i Sør (annual family summer camp), a Veritaskonferansen (apologetics conference), on-campus dormitories, a professional music studio, and event venue Normisjonshallen. The portfolio is architecturally a platform model where all programs share the same campus facilities, common core curriculum, shared accommodation, and joint activities, while maintaining distinct specializations and international trips.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BiG: Common abbreviation for Bibelskolen i Grimstad used throughout the school's communications and marketing.

Products and services

• Veritas (apologetics line) One-year faith-apologetics program equipping students to understand, defend, and articulate the Christian faith through study of God's existence, the problem of evil, the resurrection of Jesus, and Bible reliability. Includes international trips to New York/Washington DC, USA, and Oxford, UK. Targets young adults seeking deeper intellectual grounding for their faith.
• Vekst (personal growth line) One-year personal growth and Christian development program focused on self-leadership, psychology, pastoral care, communication, and life history. Students partner with local aid organizations (Rasteplassen and Tilstede) and travel to Nepal and South Africa. Targets young adults wanting to become better helpers, leaders, and friends.
• Musikk (music line) One-year music program with three specializations: Vokal (Complete Vocal Technique), Band (ensemble performance), and Soul Children (children's worship leadership). Includes individual instrument instruction, access to practice rooms and a professional studio, and tours in Norway and the USA. Targets aspiring musicians, worship leaders, and Soul Children leaders.
• Idrett & Friluft (sports and outdoor line) One-year program with two tracks: Idrett (sports) covering curling, mountain biking, surfing, judo, fencing, padel, climbing, football, volleyball, and handball; and Friluft (outdoor) covering kayaking, via ferrata, mountain hiking, survival overnight, and mountain biking. Includes trips to Hemsedal, Bali, and Nepal. Targets students who want a Bible school year centered on physical activity and outdoor adventure.
• World Wide Walk (international missions line) One-year international missions program spanning 16 weeks in Norway and 4.5 months abroad. Students serve in cross-cultural ministry in Ecuador, Japan, South Africa, Uganda, Azerbaijan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, and may earn up to 30 study credits in Intercultural Competence through NLA Høgskole. Targets students seeking extended cross-cultural mission experience.
• Til Tjeneste (TT, second-year practical service program) Second-year program for Bible school graduates combining 6 weeks of on-campus teaching blocks with approximately 35 weeks of practical service placement. Includes a mission trip to Azerbaijan and projects on discipleship, team-building, leadership, and conflict resolution. Practice placements typically cover student costs and travel. Targets BiG graduates seeking practical ministry experience.
• Sommer i Sør (annual family summer camp)

Quantifiable outcome

• Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen) approves full loan and grant coverage for Bible school studies
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NLA HøyskolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiG has a partnership with NLA Høyskole enabling World Wide Walk students to earn up to 30 study credits through NLA's one-year program in Interkulturell kompetanse (Intercultural Competence). The program includes Interkulturell kompetanse: Grunnleggende teori (15 credits) and Regional og tematisk fordypning (15 credits). Content overlaps with WWW curriculum and helps students reflect academically on cross-cultural experiences.
• Norwegian Settlers Church (Sør-Afrika)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian Settlers Church, founded by Norwegians who came to South Africa in the late 1800s, hosts BiG students for mission work and the main school trip. The church has 2000-3000 members from various ethnic groups. Through the Genesis organization, they run extensive social programs including orphanage, surf academy, after-school programs, and healthcare in slums. Students participate in youth work, Bible groups, worship, and community service.
• Global Mission Japan / Norsk OrientmisjoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiG students on World Wide Walk Japan serve at Global Mission Centre in Iwaki, 2+ hours north of Tokyo. Work includes Sunday school, music, Alpha courses, worship services, and cafe ministry. Under 1% of Japan's population is Christian, making evangelization and relationship-building central to the mission. The center also runs support work for 2011 tsunami refugees.
• Veritas NorwaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVeritas Norway organizes Veritaskonferansen, Nordens største trosforsvarskonferanse (Nordic's largest apologetics conference). BiG's Veritas line co-hosts this annual October event. Past speakers include John Lennox, Alister McGrath, and John Dickson. The conference attracts participants from across the Nordic region and serves as a major brand platform for BiG.
• KNIF Trygghet ForsikringminorOthersKNIF Trygghet Forsikring is a sponsor for Sommer i Sør 2026, contributing to the annual family camp event.
• Rasteplassen and TilstedeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVekst line students collaborate with local aid organizations Rasteplassen and Tilstede for practical experience helping people in various life situations. These partnerships provide students with hands-on social ministry opportunities.
• Pate Ministries (Ecuador)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAt Ecuador coast, students work with Pate Ministries organization which focuses on discipleship and Christian children's work in villages through activities, music, and faith sharing.
• Kompis (Normisjon Bangladesh)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn Bangladesh, students participate in Normisjon's Kompis mission work, including Sunday school, children's programs, school and boarding school support, women's Bible school, home visits, and hospital visits.
• Genesis (Sør-Afrika)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenesis is the outreach organization of Norwegian Settlers Church running eight programs addressing physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs across all ages. Programs include orphanage, surf academy, Bible groups, home healthcare, and after-school care.
• GTM MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusikk line partners with GTM Ministries for the USA trip, benefiting from their experience, contacts, and local knowledge for organizing the southern states and Nashville music tour.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Youth With A Mission (YWAM): YWAM is a large international Christian missions organization running Discipleship Training Schools and mission outreach programs across many countries. It serves a similar global-mission-training audience as BiG's World Wide Walk, though with a much larger global footprint.

Direct peers

• Fjellhaug Internasjonale Høgskole: Fjellhaug is a Norwegian theological higher-education institution with programs in theology, biblical studies, and intercultural ministry. It overlaps with BiG in audience (Norwegian Christian students) and curriculum focus (Bible, theology, mission).
• NLA Høyskole: NLA Høyskole is a Norwegian Christian university college offering theology, leadership, and intercultural programs. It is directly comparable as a Norwegian faith-based higher-education peer and is also BiG's existing credit-articulation partner.
• Word of Life Bible Institute: Word of Life Bible Institute operates residential Bible-training programs with an emphasis on missions and discipleship. Comparable to BiG in combining intensive Bible education, residential community, and short-term mission trips.
• All Nations Christian College: All Nations is a UK-based evangelical Bible and mission-training college offering cross-cultural and Bible programs for international students. It is directly comparable in combining residential Bible education with structured international mission placement.
• Capernwray Hall Bible School: Capernwray is a UK-based residential Bible school offering one-year gap-year programs combining Bible teaching, community living, and mission travel. It is structurally similar to BiG's residential one-year model with international exposure.
• MF Vitenskapelig høyskole: MF is a Norwegian Lutheran theological school offering accredited degree programs in theology and religion. It overlaps with BiG's theological core and serves a comparable Norwegian Christian-student demographic, though at a higher academic level.
• Ansgar Teologiske Høgskole: Ansgar Teologiske Høgskole is a Norwegian theological higher-education institution focused on Christian ministry training. It serves a similar target audience of faith-seeking Norwegian students pursuing ministry-oriented studies.
• Høyskolen for Ledelse og Teologi (HLT): HLT is a Norwegian Christian university college offering leadership and theology programs with a similar Christian-formation value proposition aimed at Norwegian students entering ministry and service.

Regional players

• IKO – Kirkelig pedagogisk senter: IKO is a Norwegian Lutheran educational resource center supporting congregational and Christian education. It overlaps with BiG in audience (Norwegian Lutheran/church-affiliated learners) and in mission of Christian formation, though it operates more as a continuing-education resource than a residential school.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BibelskoleniGrimstad
• Facebookfacebook.com/BibelskolenBiG
• Instagraminstagram.com/bibelskolenigrimstad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bibelskolen-i-grimstad-normisjon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about BIBELSKOLEN I GRIMSTAD NORMISJON