ABOUT AFRICA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (ATS):

 In 1986 Dr. Phillip Walker (PhD in Education), his wife Deborah and Dr. Myron Goodwin (PhD in Education), his wife Carol, and their families came to Kenya to start International Christian Ministries (ICM). ICM is the parent organization of Africa Theological Seminary (ATS) and a registered NGO. Initially, ICM provided teaching seminars at the secondary level as well as missions training courses for a number of expatriates. By 1988, the focus of ICM's activity was narrowed to providing theological training for pastors and church leaders, particularly from the indigenous churches who had no schools of their own. The Church-Based Bible Program (CBBS) was organized to provide training and materials for pastors and Christian leaders for the equipping of the Church. Central to the CBBS Program were Tutor Training Conferences to train pastors to use teaching materials in conducting their own equipping classes in their churches. In 1990, ICM became the first East Africa representative for Walk-Thru-the Bible and consequently started training seminar instructors and offering Old and New Testament Seminars to churches and schools, as well as courses in teaching and leadership development.

In 1991 local pastors asked for formal training so in 1993, ICM started a degree program by facilitating the Global University BA in Bible and Theology (then called ICI University) from the US. The name Africa Theological Seminary (ATS) was given to the semi-residential programs located in the Training Centre in Kitale in 2008. In 1996, ATS held their first graduation for pastors in the Degree Program.

ATS is the semi-residential level formal training partnering with International Christian Ministries, Kenya. In 1993 the degree class started in a rented facility until 1998 when ATS acquired a twenty-acre land with better facilities in section six estate, Kitale Town. Presently, ATS conducts theological education and Counseling Psychology programs at secondary and post secondary levels. ATS is registered as a post-secondary institution of learning by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority(TVETA). Most ATS study programs have been accredited by the Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA).

ATS courses are designed to ensure that they are culturally relevant and address the needs of the church. The seminary operates in a semi-residential in-service model. It focuses mainly on persons who are already actively involved in ministry but lack formal theological training. ATS has developed an effective curriculum to train the leaders who have a demonstrated a calling and involvement in ministry. The curriculum combines active involvement in ministry with theological and counseling training. ATS programs are designed to equip pastors, counselors, and Christian workers for greater effective ministry in churches, and para-church organizations.

VISION STATEMENT:
“Empowered Christian Leaders Transforming Africa and the World”

MISSION STATEMENT:
“Africa Theological Seminary exist to serve the church by providing quality, relevant, in-service
theological education for the discipling and equipping of its leaders.”

MOTTO:
Training the Heart
Instructing the Mind and
Empowering the Hands

CORE VALUES:
1. Loving God
2. Loving One Another
3. Christian Character
4. Empowerment
5. Excellence
6. Team work
7. Servanthood

SEMINARY OBJECTIVES:
The following are seven objectives that direct and govern the operational standards and management of Africa Theological Seminary. All ATS activities and programs are shaped by these objectives:

Objective 1: ATS is committed to working with Christian leaders who are currently active in leadership in their churches, ministries, and communities.

Objective 2: ATS develops and implements in-service and parallel educational programs designed to allow Christian leaders to continue working in their ministries while pursuing studies.

Objective 3: It is the goal of the Seminary to see all members of our community, staff and students spiritually transformed to live more like Jesus Christ.

Objective 4: It is the goal of the Seminary to empower Christian leaders to become agents of positive change and development in their churches, ministries, and communities.

Objective 5: ATS encourages its staff and students to engage in both formal and informal learning opportunities to allow for personal and professional growth and encourage their self-directed and contextual learning.

Objective 6: ATS collaborates with like-minded partners in offering community services for the transformation of individuals and communities through provision of capacity-building workshops and human relief services.

Objective 7: ATS commits to comply with higher educational goals and standards both locally and internationally through intentional dialogue with local and global scholarship trends.