Reformation International Theological Seminary (RITS) began in 1996 after attempts at establishing working relationships with other schools aimed at providing education specifically for those in off-campus and overseas settings proved untenable.  Working with students overseas or off-campus was considered too complicated and more importantly, unprofitable.

Despite this obstacle, the vision of Reformation Christian Ministries (RCM) was clear:  A generation of people on the mission fields of the world, including North America and Europe, needed access to inexpensive college and seminary training.

The true Gospel brings about an entire change of thinking which needs undergirding by an education aimed at applying that Gospel in the churches, occupations and institutions in each person’s respective country and setting.  To this end, we needed to provide quality education comparable to, even better than, that found in a North American college or seminary campus program so as to prepare the next generation of preachers, teachers and other leaders who in turn would teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).

To date, the predominant institutional approach is to bring students to a campus in North America and have them learn outside the setting of their own country or church.  This is clearly more efficient for the school, but this is not the way that the disciples learned.   We respect the contribution that centralized campus programs have provided over the centuries, and where a campus program is a viable option for a person living near such a campus or able to relocate to one, we find them very useful.  However, this does not come close to meeting the need for Christian leaders both in the church, much less the public and private sectors.  Furthermore, the vast majority of students cannot afford to be dislocated from jobs, family, church and culture.  Even those who find a way to the centralized campus very often do not find their ways back to their native country.   Those who do, often find reacclimation to their culture much more difficult and eventually leave.  None of this bodes well for the mandate to make disciples of their nations, which requires leaders to remain in and relevant to their own culture and country.

Whether it be in the mission fields of the world, or in North America and Europe, we are committed to educating people in their local setting so that their education becomes immediately applicable to their situation.  Those within their circle of influence don’t have to wait for three to six years to benefit from the education the student is receiving, because within days of their learning it, they will be using it in their culture, in their church and in their immediate setting.