Relevant Theological Institute
The Chinese name of this seminary “睿理文” (Rei Li Wen) sounds like the word “relevant” in the English title. In Chinese it means that the Bible is a corpus of texts given by God to
human beings, which is full of God’s wisdom for the salvation of the world (1 Cor. 1:24; Eph. 1:8; and 2 Tim. 3:15). The message of the Bible is ever ancient ever new, relevant to everyday life throughout all ages.
The Vision
This seminary was founded with a dual foci of promoting the use of biblical languages in hermeneutics as well as the importance of the establishment of a church-oriented education system for the transmission of the Christian faith.
The Motto
The motto of this seminary is "Engage the World with Truth and Love".
Mission Statement
Relevant Theological Insititute prepares Christians to become servants after God’s heart to proclaim God’s glory in churches, mission fields, church organizations, workplaces, schools, neighborhood, and homes. We welcome those who are called to either full-time or bi-vocational ministry, or those who seek to establish a firm foundation in the Word of God and to equip themselves with the skills to serve in ministry.
Programs
RTI offers degrees and diplomas in Biblical Studies and Christian Education:
|
Diploma in Bible Survey
Diploma in Biblical Studies Master of Biblical Hermeneutics |
Diploma in Children’s Ministry
Diploma in Church Education Master of Educational Ministry |
*Programs not accredited yet.
Founders
Rong-Hua (Jefferson) & En-Pei Lin are the co-founders of RTI. Both graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, with Ph.D. degrees. Together they pastored two Chinese churches for 12 years in Texas and California. They taught at two seminaries in Taiwan and several Chinese seminaries in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2001.
En-Pei Goan Lin
Education
Ph.D., major in Childhood Education, minor in Foundations of Education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1996. Dissertation: A Study of the Relationship between the Religious Orientation of Faith of Fifth and Sixth Grade Children and the Selected Parental Factors, Religious Orientation of Faith and Child-Rearing Attitude. Dr. Marcia McQuitty, supervisor.
M. A. R. E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1990.
Experience
Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Christian Education. Relevant Theological Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 2013-present.
Adjunct Professor. Various Chinese seminaries in the San Francisco Bay Area, 2007-present.
Assistant Professor of Christian Education, Holy Light Theological Seminary, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2005-2006.
Assistant Professor of Christian Education, Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary and Asian Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary, Taipei, Taiwan, 2001-2005.
Graduate Assistant, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1996-1998.
Education Minister, Mid-Cities Chinese Baptist Church, Hurst, Texas, 1995-2000.
Director of Children Ministry, Bellevue Baptist Church Chinese Mission, Hurst, Texas, 1991-1994.
Coordinator for Preschool Education, Travis Baptist Church Chinese Mission, Fort Worth, Texas, 1989-1990.
Assistant/Substitute Teacher, Children’s Center, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1988-1991.
Publications
Dissertation:
A Study of the Relationship between the Religious Orientation of Faith of Fifth and Sixth Grade Children and the Selected Parental Factors, Religious Orientation of Faith and Child-rearing Attitude.
Presentations: (most recent)
“Building Characters and Achieving True Happiness.” Keynote Speaker, Character Building Seminar, Herald Family Rebuilding Center, Fremont, CA, October 27, 2012.
“Care for Children with Autism, Anorexia, and ADHD.” Speaker, Childhood Education Seminar, America Chinese Evangelical Seminary, Sunnyvale, CA, March 31, 2012.
“Home--A Place of Love.” Workshop Speaker, Midwest Chinese Christians Association Summer Retreat, Cedarville University, OH, July 1-4, 2011.
Articles
Twenty plus articles published in Chinese. Specific issues were discussed in
these articles regarding Christian education from various perspectives.
Ph.D., major in Childhood Education, minor in Foundations of Education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1996. Dissertation: A Study of the Relationship between the Religious Orientation of Faith of Fifth and Sixth Grade Children and the Selected Parental Factors, Religious Orientation of Faith and Child-Rearing Attitude. Dr. Marcia McQuitty, supervisor.
M. A. R. E., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1990.
Experience
Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Christian Education. Relevant Theological Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 2013-present.
Adjunct Professor. Various Chinese seminaries in the San Francisco Bay Area, 2007-present.
Assistant Professor of Christian Education, Holy Light Theological Seminary, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2005-2006.
Assistant Professor of Christian Education, Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary and Asian Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary, Taipei, Taiwan, 2001-2005.
Graduate Assistant, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1996-1998.
Education Minister, Mid-Cities Chinese Baptist Church, Hurst, Texas, 1995-2000.
Director of Children Ministry, Bellevue Baptist Church Chinese Mission, Hurst, Texas, 1991-1994.
Coordinator for Preschool Education, Travis Baptist Church Chinese Mission, Fort Worth, Texas, 1989-1990.
Assistant/Substitute Teacher, Children’s Center, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1988-1991.
Publications
Dissertation:
A Study of the Relationship between the Religious Orientation of Faith of Fifth and Sixth Grade Children and the Selected Parental Factors, Religious Orientation of Faith and Child-rearing Attitude.
Presentations: (most recent)
“Building Characters and Achieving True Happiness.” Keynote Speaker, Character Building Seminar, Herald Family Rebuilding Center, Fremont, CA, October 27, 2012.
“Care for Children with Autism, Anorexia, and ADHD.” Speaker, Childhood Education Seminar, America Chinese Evangelical Seminary, Sunnyvale, CA, March 31, 2012.
“Home--A Place of Love.” Workshop Speaker, Midwest Chinese Christians Association Summer Retreat, Cedarville University, OH, July 1-4, 2011.
Articles
Twenty plus articles published in Chinese. Specific issues were discussed in
these articles regarding Christian education from various perspectives.
Rong-Hua (Jefferson) Lin
Education
Ph.D., major in New Testament, minor in Pastoral Ministry, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2000. Dissertation: Paul: Deviant or Reformer of Judaism? A Study of Jewish and Christian Identity in Asia Minor. Dr. Bruce Corley, supervisor.
M. Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1992.
M.A. in Communications, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1990. Thesis: The
Use of the Performing Arts in Communicating the Christian Faith.
Experience
President and Professor of New Testament. Relevant Theological Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 2013-present.
Pastor, San Ramon Valley Gospel Church, San Ramon, California, 2010-2012.
Adjunct Professor. Various Chinese seminaries in the San Francisco Bay Area, Gateway Seminary Chinese-English Bilingual Program, and Holy Light Theological Seminary, 2009-2019.
Professor of New Testament. Christian Witness Theological Seminary, Concord, CA,
2007-2008.
Assistant Professor of New Testament, Holy Light Theological Seminary, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2005-2006.
Assistant Professor of New Testament, Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary, Taipei, Taiwan, 2001-2005.
Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church Chinese Mission / Mid-Cities Chinese Baptist Church, Hurst, Texas, 1991-2000.
Publications
Books
Is St. Paul a Jewish Deviant or a Reformer of Judaism: The Clash of Jewish Identity and Christian Identity in Asia Minor. Lewiston, New York: The Edwin Mellen Press, 2009.
In Search of the Living Truth: The Bible Needs Interpretation. Taipei: Olive Press, a division of CCLM, 2012. (In Chinese, 活畫聖經，活出真理)
Presentations
“A Review of the Chinese Essays in Honoring the Past, Looking to the Future: Essays from the 2014 International Congress of Ethnic Chinese Biblical Scholars, Hong Kong.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, TX, November 21, 2016.
“Paul and Jewish Proselytism.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Evangelical Theological Society, Atlanta, GA, November 18, 2010.
“The Role of Abraham in Salvation History.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Evangelical Theological Society, New Orleans, LA, November 19, 2009.
“Jewish Identity Crisis Posed by Paul’s Gentile Mission.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Evangelical Theological Society, Providence, R.I., November 19, 2008.
Articles
Twenty plus articles published in Chinese on Bible and exegesis.
Ph.D., major in New Testament, minor in Pastoral Ministry, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2000. Dissertation: Paul: Deviant or Reformer of Judaism? A Study of Jewish and Christian Identity in Asia Minor. Dr. Bruce Corley, supervisor.
M. Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1992.
M.A. in Communications, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1990. Thesis: The
Use of the Performing Arts in Communicating the Christian Faith.
Experience
President and Professor of New Testament. Relevant Theological Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, 2013-present.
Pastor, San Ramon Valley Gospel Church, San Ramon, California, 2010-2012.
Adjunct Professor. Various Chinese seminaries in the San Francisco Bay Area, Gateway Seminary Chinese-English Bilingual Program, and Holy Light Theological Seminary, 2009-2019.
Professor of New Testament. Christian Witness Theological Seminary, Concord, CA,
2007-2008.
Assistant Professor of New Testament, Holy Light Theological Seminary, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2005-2006.
Assistant Professor of New Testament, Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary, Taipei, Taiwan, 2001-2005.
Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church Chinese Mission / Mid-Cities Chinese Baptist Church, Hurst, Texas, 1991-2000.
Publications
Books
Is St. Paul a Jewish Deviant or a Reformer of Judaism: The Clash of Jewish Identity and Christian Identity in Asia Minor. Lewiston, New York: The Edwin Mellen Press, 2009.
In Search of the Living Truth: The Bible Needs Interpretation. Taipei: Olive Press, a division of CCLM, 2012. (In Chinese, 活畫聖經，活出真理)
Presentations
“A Review of the Chinese Essays in Honoring the Past, Looking to the Future: Essays from the 2014 International Congress of Ethnic Chinese Biblical Scholars, Hong Kong.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, TX, November 21, 2016.
“Paul and Jewish Proselytism.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Evangelical Theological Society, Atlanta, GA, November 18, 2010.
“The Role of Abraham in Salvation History.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Evangelical Theological Society, New Orleans, LA, November 19, 2009.
“Jewish Identity Crisis Posed by Paul’s Gentile Mission.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of The Evangelical Theological Society, Providence, R.I., November 19, 2008.
Articles
Twenty plus articles published in Chinese on Bible and exegesis.