South African seminary is a leading distance education provider

Founded in 1996, South African Theological Seminary (SATSSA) in Johannesburg, South Africa, provides Christ-centered, Bible-based, Holy Spirit-led distance education and training to Christians and pastors within their local church environment. Meeting a great need, distance education has become increasingly popular and allows students to remain in their current employment or church while studying. Recognized as a leading distance education provider of theological education in Africa, SATSSA has over 4,000 students enrolled from more than 70 countries and over 160 graduates.

Programs include Certificates in Christian Life, Christian Counseling and Worship Studies; Diploma in Biblical Studies; and Bachelor/Master/Doctor of Theology. The seminary will soon offer a Bachelor of Theology in Social Transformation and a Certificate in Christian Leadership. Written in South Africa, all the programs were designed to meet practical and theoretical needs. SATSSA purchased translation software to offer their programs in English, Portuguese, French and Spanish.

The seminary also runs their doctoral level programs through distance education, primarily using e-learning that facilitates interaction between students and faculty members. SATSSA cooperates with many national and international partners and displays exemplary institutional generosity by sharing their technology with other schools interested in starting distance education programs.

Graduate Adrian Tamblyn Watts founded a ministry called “Bible Alive,” which operates outreach activities including prison outreach, hospital ministry and School of the Word projects. “Without a doubt, my academic work has lent a certain quality to the manner in which I minister,” says Adrian. “Evidence of this is clearly seen in the wonderful results shown in the lives of those who attend.” Adrian says in each activity of his ministry, SATSSA’s quality training hand can be seen as a contributor to his abilities.