ITEM is a religious, charitable, educational, non-profit corporation serving worldwide. It is tax exempt. ITEM assists denominations and local churches by offering pastoral training. ITEM sends professors to teach at local institutions at regular intervals to equip Christian leaders who are primarily pastors. ITEM stands for International Theological Education Ministries.

ITEM sends pastors and professors to the students to minimize cost and to maximize learning opportunities in their own contexts near their families and ministries

 ITEM doesn’t pay salaries to instructors but recruits instructors who receive their income from other sources. Pastors are already paid by their churches; professors are paid by their educational institutions; and retired instructors receive income from their pensions, savings, or Social Security retirement. ITEM brings instructors to the students, not vice versa. This saves time and money for the students and removes family hardships experienced when leaders move to the U.S. for training. ITEM trains national leaders in short terms of 1 week in their own locales so they need not leave jobs to get training. We are now offering 3-day Preaching Conferences. That means that much of what has been taught can immediately be transferred to their families, congregations, and communities without being forgotten. ITEM encourages and equips national Christian leaders who can quickly reach their people with the gospel and plant churches. By contrast North American missionaries must first learn the language and/or culture, which consumes time and limits the impact of western missionaries during their first years on the field. ITEM provides in foreign countries work experience and part-time employment to national Christian professionals: administrators, translators, office staff, hospitality services, and event organizers. ITEM provides opportunities here for pastors, professors, and elders to share their training with the world. ITEM blesses churches here with opportunities to partner with Christians worldwide.

ITEM believes that the most effective evangelism, discipleship, and church planting is done by strategic investment in national Christian leadership.