Faith
There is no greater or more basic act for human beings than to believe that their Creator exists and that He has brought salvation through His Son Jesus Christ alone, that is, to have faith. Our goal is that our graduates will deepen their own faith and work to nourish the faith of those under their care in their congregations.
Our Values
Joy
The Triune God is the source of all life, goodness, love, and joy. Therefore, the Christian and the church should be overflowing with the joy that is a fruit of God’s presence. The first duty of the pastor is to be joyful in God through Christ, and to proclaim that same joy to the church and world.
History
In His wisdom and love, God providentially orders and governs all of history for His glory and for the good of His people. ATS’s program seeks to connect its curriculum and graduates to that history of redemption, so that churches may marvel at God’s preservation and guidance of His people in grace and truth.
Our Focus: Word, Church, World
The only institution that will last past the end of history is the same thing that the Bible calls “the Bride of Christ”: the Church. Thus, Agricola Theological Seminary exists to serve the Church by preparing pastor-theologians and Christians to serve the local churches by the Word of God. Our theology and curriculum are formed in conscious participation in and service of the Church of God. God is the God of all creatures and all things everywhere, and He wishes for his Name to be worshipped in all creation. God is still working to spread the gospel of His Son to all the corners of the earth, to every tribe and nation, for the joy of all peoples.
ATS intentionally emphasizes this mission of God so that its pastor graduates will bring that vision to their new congregations in Finland. It is only by His Word that man knows God, and it is God’s Word — through the prophets and apostles — by which man is to live. Therefore, we believe that Christian theology, Christian ministry, and Christian living cannot exist apart from the hearing of this Word of God. God and His Word are the primary focus of our curriculum, and will be the primary focus of our pastoral graduates.