Get to Know Emmaus Better

About Us

Redeeming Nations

Students at Emmaus are challenged to the life of a mind transformed in Christ, empowering them to see their God-given abilities, and equipping them to boldly lead out for the kingdom. Our alumni become agents of transformation and sustainability in Caribbean as move out into their communities, embrace the resources available to them, and change culture. Emmaus, as a leading Christian university rooted in Christian orthodoxy, brings truth to the fear-based animistic cultures the Caribbean through Christian higher education. We intentionally contextualize the message of the Gospel in a way that enables individuals and communities to experience the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit that protects, defends, and sustains them in a fallen world.

Our Mission

We exist to train Christ-like redemptive leaders for the transformation of Haiti, the Caribbean, and beyond. We do this through higher education rooted in Christian orthodoxy in response to the theological needs of the global church in the developing world. 

Our Vision

Our vision is to be a world-class leading evangelical Christian university for the Caribbean and beyond with students, staff, and graduates bringing transformational change to their communities.

Our Priorities

We are committed to excellence in ACADEMICS—the renewing of the mind, SPIRITUAL FORMATION— deepening the spiritual life, and SERVICE—developing effective ministry and leadership abilities across a variety of disciplines.

Our Heritage

Emmaus University is Wesleyan-Arminian in its theological orientation and adheres strongly to the Wesleyan-Holiness Tradition placing special emphasis on the moral transformation of the believer’s heart and mind into the likeness of Christ. Like John and Charles Wesley, our education aims at producing in our students a heart fully devoted in love toward God and their neighbor. Such full devotion brings about a transformation in one’s worldview, in one’s affections or loves, and in one’s disposition; and it is expressed in humble obedience. Our doctrinal beliefs and commitments are spelled out more specifically in our Statement of Faith and Ethos Statement

Our Location

Emmaus University is located on Haiti’s northern coast a few miles outside of Cap-Haitian, Haiti’s second largest city. The small rural village of Cercaville along Haiti’s National Highway 1 in Acul du Nord is home to the University campus and community. The University’s beautiful modern 7-acre campus sits on a lush coastal plain within sight of the Atlantic Ocean just 30 minutes from the international airport. 

Haiti occupies the western third of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, sharing a border with the Dominican Republic. The island lies 700 miles off the coast of Florida and covers an area slightly smaller than the state of Maryland. Port-au-Prince is Haiti’s capital and largest city.

Haiti Quick Facts
  • Population just under 10 million
  • 62 years average life expectancy
  • 41.6% unemployment rate
  • 95% Nominal Christians/Catholic/Voodoo
  • 16% Evangelical

Redemptive leaders

The greatest challenge facing the church in Haiti is not poverty, corruption, or bad economics, but worldview: it needs transformational preaching and a redemptive mindset from its leaders. Emmaus University sends out Christian men and women as leaders equipped and committed to redeeming their nation.

Dr. B. Easley
Professor of Leadership

Our History

Emmaus was founded as the Emmaus Vocational Bible School in the 1967 by OMS International (now called One Mission Society). After many years of successful training of Haitians for bi-vocational ministry, EVBS closed as a vocational school in 2001. It reopened the next year in August 2001 as Emmaus Biblical Seminary and focused exclusively on theological education. Dr. Bill Cooper was appointed as the newly-renamed Seminary’s first president.

In 2006, land was purchased in Acul du Nord and construction began on a new seminary campus. Construction was completed in 2009 and the new campus was officially dedicated in January of 2010, the Monday before the earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince. Classes began to be held on the new campus later that spring. Dr. Bryan Easley was appointed president beginning July of 2010. Dr. Matt Ayars, who had served as Seminary Vice-Rector, followed as the seminary’s president in July of 2012.

In 2015, the Seminary, in partnership with Indiana Wesleyan University, offered its first graduate degree, the Master of Christian Education.

In 2017, the Seminary’s enrollment topped 100 theological students for the first time. After several years of self-study and strategic development, EBS applied for full accreditation to the Caribbean Evangelical Theological Association, the regional arm of the International Council on Theological Education, a globally recognized accrediting agency for international Christian theological education. The Seminary became fully accredited with CETA in January of 2018.

In November 2018, the Seminary board approved the change of name to Emmaus University and the institution was restructured into 3 different schools: School of Theology and Ministry, School of Leadership and Entrepreneurship, and School of Education.