OUR HISTORY
For more than 45 years, RHEMA Bible Training Center has trained and equipped believers, ministers, and leaders for effective service in building God’s Kingdom. We continue to fulfill the mandate to “Go teach My people faith” and to bear witness to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Start van de bijbelschool
Eind 1949, na ruim 12 jaar voorganger te zijn geweest van een aantal Volle Evangelie kerken in Texas, riep God hem om fulltime rondreizend prediker te worden en dat deed hij, mijl na mijl, jaar in, jaar uit. Tot hij het tot God uitriep: “Heer, deze taak is te groot voor één man!” Waarop God hem zei dat hij een Bijbelschool moest beginnen. En dat gebeurde in 1974, toen RHEMA Bible Training Center startte in een zaaltje van een kerk in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Zijn zoon, Kenneth Hagin Jr. – die nu (ruim 80 jaar oud) nog steeds het hoofd is van RHEMA wereldwijd en voorganger van Rhema Bible Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma – schreef het curriculum. Dat eerste jaar studeerden er 58 studenten af, waarvan de meesten nu nog steeds een grote bediening hebben. Maar het bleef niet bij ruim 50 studenten per jaar, want inmiddels zijn we tientallen jaren verder en zijn er bijna 90.000 studenten afgestudeerd aan de ruim 270 RHEMA Bijbelscholen die er wereldwijd zijn, en zijn er momenteel ruim 16.000 studenten die getraind worden!
Rhema
Rhema is een Grieks woord en betekent ‘het gesproken woord’, tegenover Logos: ‘het geschreven woord’. Geloof komt door het horen van het Woord van God, en misschien ken je dat wel, dat als je de Bijbel leest, er een tekst uit lijkt te springen: een ‘rhema-woord!’ De Heilige Geest spreekt dan tot je. Of misschien maak je mee dat een bepaalde tekst uit de Bijbel keer op keer terugkomt op veel manieren: je leest het, je hoort er een lied over, iemand stuurt je een kaartje met die tekst… ‘rhema’: God spreekt zijn Woord tot je, en dat Woord wekt geloof in je hart op… Dat is het geloof dat bergen verzet en dat is het geloof dat je bij RHEMA leert!
1950
Kenneth E. Hagin received the mandate from the Lord to “Go teach My people faith.”
From that time on, Kenneth had an increased determination to teach faith in God’s Word. He began holding faith seminars and teaching the Word of God.
1973
Brother Hagin Announces opening a Bible School
God’s plan for fulfilling the mandate became clear during Kenneth Hagin Ministries’ first Campmeeting in 1973. Speaking under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Kenneth E. Hagin said, “We’re going to start a Bible School.” He later gave his son, Kenneth W. Hagin, the task of starting what is now RHEMA Bible Training Center.
1974
RHEMA Bible Training Center USA opens
Kenneth W. Hagin and his wife Lynette knew they were called to pioneer the school, and RHEMA Bible Training Center USA opened in September 1974. 58 students graduated the next spring.
1976
RBTC moves to Broken Arrow
When RBTC started, classes were held in a church in Tulsa, OK. In July, 1976 the ministry purchased buildings and land in nearby Broken Arrow.
This campus became the Headquarters of Kenneth Hagin Ministries, RHEMA Bible Training Center, and later RHEMA Bible Church.
1979
Prophecy Over RHEMA Graduates
RHEMA Bible Training Center’s purpose has been clear from the start. But it was dramatically emphasized in a prophecy given through Brother Hagin during the 1979 graduation ceremony.
1980
International RHEMA Campuses Begin to Open
In 1978, Brother Kenneth E. Hagin had said that a day would come when there would be RHEMA Bible Training Centers in different countries around the world. Then in 1980, his son, Pastor Kenneth W. Hagin preached a message about opening RHEMA Bible Training Center campuses internationally.
From that time, RHEMA campuses began and continue to open across the world. There are currently over 250 campuses in over 50 countries.
1985
RHEMA Bible Church opens
As RHEMA Bible Training Center grew, more and more students were looking for a church to call home. Itinerant teachers and evangelists were looking for a base from which to operate.
The Lord spoke to Kenneth W about starting and pastoring a church. RBC now hosts all annual RHEMA conferences - Winter Bible Seminar, Campmeeting, Kindle the Flame, and Call to Arms.
1999
Regional Expansion
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In 1999 the first RHEMA Bible Training Centers in Europe were launched and the region has continued to develop under the direction of John & Michelle Grunewald as the International Directors for Europe, Africa & Middle East. RHEMA campuses are still being planted throughout the Europe, Africa & Middle East (EAME), Asia, Australia, Oceania (AAO) and Americas regions.
2003-
Kenneth E. Hagin ministered for almost 70 years after God miraculously healed him at the age of 17. Although he went home to be with the Lord in 2003, the ministry he founded, and his legacy of faith, continues to bless multitudes around the globe through the on-going work of his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, Pastor Kenneth W. & Lynette Hagin, Craig W. Hagin and Denise Hagin Burns.
RHEMA NORWAY
2013
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First RBTC Campus launched in Norway - in Sarpsborg.
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2015
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Office moved to the Bergen area (Lonevåg) and RBTC Bergen launched.
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2018
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Re-launched a campus in the east - RBTC Østfold.
2019
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In December the first graduates completed studies at RBTC Bergen.
NOW
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This mandate to “Go teach My people faith” is carried by our RHEMA students, alumni, instructors, team members, and partners.
