Prospective Student Update

March 2026

The Considering the Ministry Campus Visit Event held January 8 & 9, 2026, was a big success! 37 men from across Canada, along with 13 girlfriends/wives, joined us for this special two-day event. It was a time of fellowship, learning and encouragement. Various pastors and faculty members, as well as their wives, shared their wisdom based on their experiences on topics like how to decide whether to study for the ministry, what the ministry is really like, how to prepare for seminary and what to expect as a student at CRTS. The prospective students spent valuable time with current students over dinner and were able to ask lots of questions during the student panel. We look forward to hosting another event like this in 2029!

Key Takeaways from the Campus Visit Event

  • Deciding to commit to preparing for gospel ministry and confirming that you have been called to gospel ministry are two distinct (yet, of course, also related) things. It’s the first one that you’re deciding on before seminary. The second one comes after seminary, through ecclesiastical exams and the calling of the churches.

  • The Lord shapes up the path to committing to seminary studies in remarkably different ways. Don’t be surprised if your path includes some detours and potholes. That is common enough. The grace and power of God shine through all the more clearly in those circumstances (2 Cor 12:9-10).

  • In the Lord’s plan and providence, pastors and their wives and their children are different. Relying on God’s grace, we are all called to be faithful Christians, but our marriages and our family lives are not “cookie-cutter.” Just like everyone else in the congregation, pastors, their wives, and their families are distinct within the body of Christ. Also, life in the ministry looks different during various phases and stages of life. The 55 year-old wife, who recently became a grandmother for the third time, has different opportunities for service in the church, alongside her husband who is a pastor, than a 35 year-old wife, tending to four children under the age of 10.

  • When we feel stuck in our life of sanctification—and therefore also begin to question our suitability for ministry—the answer begins with who God has made us to be in Christ (LD 32) not, in the first place, finding the right method or program that promises improvement. In the words of Dr. Tim Lane, one of our presenters, “who we are comes before what we do.”

Speaking as the wife, I appreciated the women’s session but also valued all the other sessions that I was able to attend with my husband. Entering the ministry is a decision made by the husband and wife together, and it affects their relationship and their livelihood, and so I really appreciated being able to hear the same presentations my husband did – it helps us to be on the same page (which is so necessary!), but also allowed us to talk about the different things we heard & learned, thereby being mutually encouraged. That was so valuable to come out of the event feeling so encouraged as a couple. Individually, too, but as a couple… that was special.

Prospective Student Wife on attending the Campus Visit Event

Schola Linguarum Biblicarum

We are excited to announce the official launch of the Schola Linguarum Biblicarum (“School of Biblical Languages”). This is a school with the primary purpose of training young men in the biblical languages to prepare them for theological studies run by Dr. Dean Anderson of the Free Reformed Churches of Australia. All courses are taught online using Zoom and are free to members of the FRCA, CanRC, and other sister churches.

In order to meet the CRTS pre-requisites, students opting to take Greek or Hebrew studies via Dr. Anderson’s Schola Linguarum Biblicarum must take the equivalent of two years of Greek and at least one year (two years strongly recommended) of Hebrew. A letter of assessment from Dr. Anderson must be included in the application to CRTS.

Read More >

The Heidelberg Castle

Housing Assistance

One thing that can cause new seminary students a lot of stress is finding suitable housing in Hamilton. Single students can rent a room in the “Heidelberg Castle,” which is the CRTS-owned house beside the seminary, named by the students who live there. However, for married couples and families, finding housing can be much more difficult, especially from a distance.

Recently, we have added an exciting new feature to our website: a dedicated housing page with rental listings from area church members. It is password-protected and is available to prospective, new and current students. Please contact Leanne for the password.

Check out the housing page >

Visit CRTS

Sit in on classes and chapel. Meet with faculty. Talk to current students. Join one of our scheduled campus visit days for prospective students or arrange a visit that works with your schedule. Contact the Registrar’s office for more information.