Our history

In February 1982, the Lord spoke clearly to Rev. John Cedergren as he sat as a student at RHEMA Bible Training Center in Tulsa, OK, USA. The Word of the Lord was this,
“Don't go to school next year. Go to the Philippines and build a Bible School for Me.”

On January 3, 1983, John & Betty arrived in Tarlac, Philippines and began preparations for starting a school. Meanwhile, their daughter, Karen, finished her 2nd year of studies at RHEMA Tulsa, OK and subsequently joined Revs. John & Betty in the Philippines immediately following her graduation from RHEMA in May 1983. Together, the three Cedergrens opened Rhema Christian Training Center in Tarlac, Tarlac in June of 1983. Since opening its doors, Rhema Christian Training Center has trained and graduated nearly 1,000 men and women from all over the Philippines for full-time Christian service

The Cedergrens originate from Minnesota, USA. Revs. John & Betty ‘retired’ from the day-to-day activities of the school and ministry in 1995 now live in Cambridge, MN, USA. However, both remain on the Board of the ministry and maintain active ‘parental’ oversight through trips to the Philippines and counsel. “Sir John” stills serves RCCPI in the capacity of President. They also continue in other areas of ministry, pioneering their second Bible School in Macau, China in partnership with a Rhema -Tarlac graduate.

After 10 years at Rhema -Tarlac as an instructor and administrator, Rev. Karen Cedergren was called by God to pioneer an English-speaking church in Zürich, Switzerland in 1995, where she now lives and continues in her ministry calling. She too continues her involvement with Rhema Christian Training Center in an advisory capacity as co-founder & board member.