On April 18, 1950 Rev. Andrew Helmbold, Pastor of the Paxinos-Augusta Reformed Charge of the Sunbury area, met with Dr. Clarence Benson, President of the Evangelical Teacher Training Association of Wheaton Illinois. They met in the Sunbury YMCA and discussed plans for the establishment of a Christian Training school in the Sunbury area.

The first Executive Committee consisted of Rev. Helmbold, Rev. Walter Dick (Richfield), Rev. Russell Fry (Shamokin), Mr. Foster Furman (Northumberland), and Miss Mary Ross (Snydertown). The First Semester of the school began September 25, 1950 with classes held in the Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church on Susquehanna Avenue in Sunbury. Eighteen denominations and fellowships were represented. Classes were later held at First Baptist Church in Sunbury, Trinity United Brethren Church in Northumberland and since 1961 at Emmanuel Bible Fellowship Church in Sunbury.

Central Penn Christian Training Institute became an affiliate member of the Evangelical Teacher Training Association. Six courses of study were offered that first year and eight courses of Bible and bible study methods were added the following year. Today the curriculum consists of more than thirty courses of study offered over a period of six years.

It is estimated that more than 1800 students have enrolled since 1950. More than 200 churches have sent students to Central Penn. Graduates and enrollees have gone into pastorates, children's work, foreign and home missions, nursing careers, and Christian literature. Most are involved in local churches as teachers, youth workers and Christian Education directors - thus fulfilling the purpose of the school.

The mission of Central Penn Christian Training Institute remains:

* to lead individuals to personally receive Jesus Christ as Savior

* to encourage Christians to grow into Spiritual maturity

* to educate them in the Holy Scriptures

* to instruct practical Christian living so that Christ may be more effectively presented to others

* to equip students to serve Him in life and church related ministries.

Many excellent pastors and pay people have served as faculty and board members. Love offerings received the last two nights of a given semester provide the only remuneration for those who teach so faithfully.

Area pastors have acted as President of the Institute. Pastors, laymen and missionaries have addressed the students in the Chapel, which is held between classes.

Presidents of Central Penn since it's inception:

Rev. Andrew Helmbold 1950-54

Rev. Walter Dick 1955-59

Rev. Russell Fry 1960-61

Rev. Robert Reichenbach 1961-64

Rev. A.H. Schultz 1965-66

Rev. Sinclair Reid 1967-73

Rev. Paul Goossen 1974-75

Rev. LeRoy Heller 1976-95

Rev. Calvin Beveridge 1995-97

Rev. James Beck 1997 to present