STUDENT LIFE  

Student life at RTI is anything but typical.  Our students range in age from 18 to 60 years old; some were born in Oregon, while others were born outside the U.S. Many RTI students see themselves serving in church positions after graduation, while some sense a call to the nations.  All of our students are passionate about sharing the gospel in a clear and relevant way, believing that the Bible is the authoritative word of God, and contains the revealed will of God for all people everywhere.  

LOCATION

Nestled within the Willamette Valley,  just an hour from Portland, the mountains and the ocean, RTI is situated in an ideal location for students wishing to prepare for ministry in any setting.

We are located on the Salem Alliance Campus which includes the Broadway Commons, Broadway Coffeehouse (a great place to study), Salem Free Clinics and the Northwest Hub. Just north of the downtown, students have bikeable and walkable access to a number of theaters, restaurants and shopping and walking and biking paths accessible from the Riverfront Park. 

RTI MAGAZINE

Want to learn more about our student life?

CLICK HERE to read our 2024 Magazine that highlights our student body!

CLICK HERE to read our 2023 Magazine that highlights our student body!

CLICK HERE to read our 2022 Magazine that highlights our student body!

CLICK HERE to read our 2021 Magazine that highlights our student body!

CLICK HERE to read our 2020 Magazine that highlights our student body!

A Day in the Life of a Student

Meet some of our RTI community! Click to watch.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Read Lana’s letter to RTI donors and her gratitude towards her field-ready and debt-free education.

Dear Friends, Simply stated, what led me to RTI was having a vision placed on my heart but the steps to that vision being unknown. God pointed me in the right direction with a couple of things: I knew God gave me a love for His Word and that He wanted me to help others deepen their relationship with Him through His Word. I felt that God was leading me toward writing Bible studies but I also felt that I was under equipped. After hearing RTI spoken of well by my brother in-law and a friend, I decided to apply so that I can get guidance, direction, and become more equipped. What has significantly impacted me since then is the staff, curriculum, and the cohort style at RTI.

The staff at RTI are Spirit-led, each have unique teaching styles, know what they are teaching from their own experience, and work as a unified team to edify students. They have an approach filled with wisdom for encouraging students to walk in the gifts God has given them in a gentle, yet challenging way. They don’t just teach students about God but guide students through their deeper struggles that are involved in growing in faith and holiness—a perfect example for how I would like to minister to others.

RTI’s curriculum is well-developed to teach students from various angles to grow in their knowledge of Christ in ways that cut to the heart. Theology classes have helped me articulate foundational truths and also correct false ideas I had about God, His Church, and my relationship with Him. The Emotionally Healthy Spirituality class has helped me grow in self-awareness and surrender to the Spirit’s leadership to uproot deep-seated sin. The Teaching the Bible, Interpreting the Bible, and preaching classes helped me develop methods to ethically read Scripture and teach it to others. Practicums provided the opportunities needed to apply what we have been learning in classes, to walk through trial and error, and to actively learn in ways that aren’t possible from just gaining head knowledge.

If all that were not enough, being part of a cohort with the same group of students has taught me in a very real sense that God has designed us for relationships. In a recent conversation with my classmates, I realized that I would not be who I am today without God using each classmate to shape me more into who He wants me to be. They’ve spoken into my life, given me grace during embarrassing moments, and have provided a safe space where I could learn to be vulnerable.

I am now in my senior year. God has used the RTI staff, the rich curriculum they’ve developed, their example of leadership, and my classmates to bring me full circle to the original vision He has placed on my heart. My senior project was to write an 8-week Bible study and sermon series for The Way Church. Without the skills and knowledge gained at RTI, I would not have known the intricate steps to writing a Bible study, had the tools and theological knowledge needed for writing, or known how to surrender my own craving for control and let God lead in the process.

Something important stands out to me after reflecting on my journey at RTI: there is a chain reaction that occurs when the Body of Christ comes together to equip one another. From the depth of my heart, thank you for supporting RTI through your prayers and giving. You have been an essential part of equipping the students at RTI and keeping the chain reaction going— equipping those who will equip others. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Lana, Class of 2021