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WorldwideEvangelical Seminary
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About WWES

Online evangelical theological education for people already serving in churches and ministries.

A seminary that comes to where you serve.

Worldwide Evangelical Seminary (WWES) offers online evangelical theological education for people already serving in churches and ministries. Study is fully online and in English; non-native speakers are welcome. There is no campus. Since 2013 more than 7,100 students in 96 countries have registered with us.

WWES is run by WWES International Education Society, a society registered in Nova Scotia, Canada (reg. no. 3269309).

What we believe

WWES subscribes to the Statement of Faith of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. We stand on the authority of Scripture, the centrality of the cross, the need of personal conversion and the urgency of mission. We hold the essentials firmly and the secondary questions with generosity.

Training in mission, for mission

We want every WWES graduate to be a mature Christian thinker who serves the indigenous, multiplying mission of Christ’s church: making disciples, raising leaders, and planting fellowships and congregations. You do not need to leave your ministry to learn: your church is where you put your studies to work, week by week. In Year 1 this includes a practicum in your own ministry, with a mentor.

What your studies are worth

WWES provides private theological education and is registered as a society in Nova Scotia, Canada. Whether another school, church or employer accepts our studies is their decision, so please check with them first.

From letters in Finland to a worldwide seminary.

A mail-based extension program in Finland in the 1990s moved online in 2009 and proved that digital texts and volunteer teachers could make theological education very affordable. WWES grew from the founder’s Doctor of Ministry project (Acadia Divinity College) in 2012 and was incorporated in Nova Scotia in 2013 as WWES International Education Society.

  1. 1995–2008Mail-based extension program in Finland
  2. 2009Moved online on Moodle
  3. 2012Planning and pilot as a Doctor of Ministry project
  4. 2013Incorporated in Nova Scotia; first students
  5. 2026WWES Online 3.0
  6. Today7,100+ students, 96 countries, 20 branches
Graduates celebrate
Graduates celebrate
A graduation group
A graduation group
Certificates addressed and ready to be posted to graduates
Certificates addressed and ready to be posted to graduates

Three principles.

Learn while serving

Students stay in their churches; ministry is the classroom, in the tradition of Theological Education by Extension.

Open and affordable

Financial aid of up to 100% for Christian leaders with limited means, by principle. Volunteer faculty; courses written for second-language English and low bandwidth.

Multiplication

Evangelical and academically serious. Every graduate teaches others (2 Tim 2:2): growth through people, not buildings.

Pastors and scholars from the churches we serve.

Some of our teachers studied with WWES themselves and now pass on what they learned to students around the world.

Rev. Teemu J. Lehtonen

Rev. Teemu J. Lehtonen

Founder and President of WWES. WWES grew from his Doctor of Ministry project at Acadia Divinity College in 2012.

Dr Ernest Musekiwa

Dr Ernest Musekiwa

Zimbabwe. Leads academic affairs at WWES and teaches in the Master’s program, including Christian Doctrine. President and Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Christian Missions Theological College and Seminary, Harare. Serves on the WWES board.

Dr Eria Ssekandi

Dr Eria Ssekandi

Uganda. Leads Missioners Theological College in Kampala, a WWES branch, and serves on the WWES board.

Rev. Dr Elisha Ndema

Rev. Dr Elisha Ndema

Tanzania. Leads Christian Evangelical Seminary and Bible College in Mwanza, the WWES branch in Tanzania. Ordained minister in the Anglican Diocese of Victoria Nyanza. Teaches Bible and theology courses at WWES since 2019.

Richard Musoyo

Richard Musoyo

Zambia. Director of Anchor Bible College and Seminary in Ndola, a WWES branch.

Gustavo Massacristo

Gustavo Massacristo

Angola. A WWES graduate who joined the teaching faculty. Teaches Church History and Creeds and Confessions.

Dr Naek Sijabat

Dr Naek Sijabat

Indonesia. Pastor and university teacher. With WWES since 2017; serves on the WWES board.

Gen Delali Antonio

Gen Delali Antonio

Ghana. A WWES graduate and the author of “She Rescues & Other Stories” and “A Garland for the Soul”. Teaches The Bible and Its Interpretation.

Write it yourself.

AI-generated submissions (essays, projects, forum posts) are not allowed. You may use tools only for spelling, grammar and bibliography. Submissions are screened for AI use and plagiarism. Violations lead to suspension and the transcript being withheld. Writing in simple English is fine: we assess what you understand, not your spelling or grammar.

Privacy in WWES Online 3.0

Support

Replies to your questions may be prepared with AI assistance, and they are always checked and sent by a person. Contact us.

Ready to study where you serve?

Open and affordable. Check if you are eligible for 100% free studies.

How to apply