Peace River Bible Institute

What Peace River Bible Institute does

Peace River Bible Institute (PRBI) is a private, nonprofit Bible college established in 1933 and headquartered in Sexsmith, Alberta, Canada, with a satellite operational footprint extending to Grande Prairie and surrounding northern-Alberta communities through field-education partnerships. It operates as an evangelical Christian post-secondary institution authorized by the Province of Alberta to grant degrees, and its core products are five credit-based academic programs — Foundations of Christian Studies (one-year, 30 credits), REACH Certificate (one-year, 32 credits, including a month-long cross-cultural mission), Associate of Christian Studies (two-year, 60 credits), Bachelor of Biblical Studies (three-year, 90 credits), and Bachelor of Religious Education (four-year, 122 credits) — with BRE majors in Cross Cultural Work, Ministry Studies (tracks in Youth, Theology, Worship, Faith-Based Addictions Treatment, Cross Cultural), and Pastoral Ministries.

The technology stack is utilitarian rather than differentiated: PRBI runs on Populi as its student information system for enrollment, transcripts, and student login, uses OPALS for the digital library, participates in the Acadeum CHEC Consortium for cross-institutional course sharing, and relies on standard website, social media (Facebook, Instagram), and e-transfer/online donation infrastructure. Curriculum and educational delivery are delivered through a faculty team led by Academic Dean Tyler Hanson, with instructors holding advanced degrees from Trinity Western Seminary, Acadia Divinity College, Canadian Theological Seminary, and Providence Theological Seminary, and bringing substantial pastoral and missionary experience. Practical training is operationalized through a mandatory Field Education program and optional Internships, placing students in churches (McLaurin Baptist Church, Grande Prairie Alliance Church), healthcare facilities (Grande Prairie Care Centre), and social-service organizations (Wapiti House, The Mustard Seed, Joy Chapel Ministries).

The revenue model is a hybrid of tuition and mandatory room-and-board fees (program-dependent, not publicly disclosed), supplemented by donations and charitable giving (e-transfer and online portal, with recurring monthly options), community-facing facility rentals (gymnasium at $100/hour, fitness-center memberships at $25/month), and ancillary services such as printing. Customer segments span post-secondary residential students (high-school graduates, mature, homeschool, international, transfer), ministry-aspiring students pursuing pastoral/cross-cultural/youth ministry, alumni engaged via The Trumpet newsletter and Prayer Alert, and local community users of fitness/gymnasium facilities. Go-to-market is sales-led through the website application flow, campus visits, alumni and church-partner referrals, and community-led through field-education relationships; the institution is a member of the Christian Colleges of Canada (CCCC) and Christian Schools International, and holds an academic progression agreement with Trinity Western University.

Name

Peace River Bible Institute

Legal name

Peace River Bible Institute

Website

https://prbi.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Peace River Bible Institute is a nonprofit evangelical Bible college founded in 1933 in Sexsmith, Alberta, offering one- to four-year certificate, diploma, and degree programs in biblical studies and ministry preparation, with revenue from tuition, room and board, donations, and community facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Bible Colleges (Undergraduate Ministry & Biblical Studies) (EDAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE), Missionary Training Colleges & Schools (EDAHAKAF), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Biblical higher education
• Theological certificate programs
• Christian ministry training
• Bible college degrees
• Religious education

Headquarters

HQ city

Sexsmith

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue from student tuition for degree and certificate programs. PRBI offers five primary programs: Foundations (30 credits), REACH (32 credits), Associate of Christian Studies (60 credits), Bachelor of Biblical Studies (90 credits), and Bachelor of Religious Education (122 credits). Fees vary by program with payment plans available.
2. Room and Board: On-campus housing and dining services included in student costs. Students live in furnished dormitories with single beds, desks, and access to communal showers and laundry facilities.
3. Fitness Center Memberships: Community members can purchase monthly fitness center memberships for $25/month with a $20 keytag fee. The facility operates 5AM-4PM Monday-Friday and is available to individuals 16 years and older.
4. Gymnasium Rental: Youth groups and organizations can rent the gymnasium for $100/hour with a $150 damage deposit. Booking is available in hour-long increments with specific sports equipment provided.
5. Donations and Charitable Giving: PRBI accepts donations through e-transfer ([email protected]) and an online donation portal. Donors can designate funds to ongoing ministry needs, campus development, scholarships, or general use. Recurring monthly donations are supported.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Peace River Bible Institute is a residential Bible college in Sexsmith, Alberta offering certificate and degree programs in Christian studies (Foundations, REACH, ACS, BBS, BRE) with specializations in Cross Cultural Work, Ministry Studies, Pastoral Ministries, and Faith Based Addictions Treatment. Programs combine biblical and theological coursework with required field education placements at local churches, healthcare facilities, and social service organizations.

Product overview

Peace River Bible Institute is a Bible college offering five academic programs: Foundations of Christian Studies (one-year certificate, 30 credits), REACH Certificate (one-year certificate with cross-cultural mission component, 32 credits), Associate of Christian Studies (two-year diploma, 60 credits), Bachelor of Biblical Studies (three-year degree, 90 credits), and Bachelor of Religious Education (four-year degree, 122 credits). The BRE degree includes specializations in Cross Cultural Work, Ministry Studies (with tracks in Youth, Theology, Worship, Faith Based Addictions Treatment, and Cross Cultural), and Pastoral Ministries. Supporting services include a student portal (Populi), online library, transcript requests, field education programs, internship opportunities, fitness center, athletics (Impact Athletics), performing arts teams, and community education (Learning For Life). Course sharing through Acadeum allows students to access partner institution courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foundations of Christian Studies

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trinity Western University (TWU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRBI maintains a progression agreement with Trinity Western University enabling 4-year BRE graduates to transition into TWU's Master of Arts in Leadership program with a minimum 3.0 GPA. BBS graduates may complete a qualifying year at TWU before the MA program. Specializations available include Business, Education, and Health.
• Rising Above MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Rising Above Ministries to develop the Faith Based Addictions Treatment specialization. This 9-10 credit program equips students to help others break free from cycles of defeat, available as a standalone certificate or BRE specialization.
• CCCC (Christian Colleges of Canada)minorOthersPRBI is a member of the Christian Colleges of Canada (CCCC), an organization of Bible colleges and Christian post-secondary institutions.
• Christian Schools InternationalminorOthersPRBI holds membership in Christian Schools International, an organization supporting Christian education institutions.
• Advisors with PurposeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvisors with Purpose is a ministry that works with charities and churches to offer free estate planning services, helping individuals create legacy gifts for PRBI and other Christian organizations.
• Lakeland College Emergency Training CentreminorOthersNFPA 1001 Firefighter Program courses offered through Lakeland College can be transferred as electives within the BRE Ministry Studies major. Fire fighting courses provide basic training while serving on Sexsmith Volunteer Fire Department.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trinity Western University: Larger evangelical university in Langley, BC offering undergraduate and graduate programs. Strategic progression partner for PRBI graduates (MA in Leadership) and a broader incumbent that competes for similar faith-oriented Canadian students at a wider scale.
• Ambrose University: Christian university in Calgary offering undergraduate and graduate programs in theology, ministry, and education. Comparable evangelical higher-education institution operating in Alberta with broader program scope than PRBI.
• Tyndale University: Larger evangelical university in Toronto offering undergraduate, graduate, and seminary-level theological programs. Broader incumbent operating in the same Canadian evangelical higher-education space with deeper resources and a wider program portfolio.

Direct peers

• Briercrest College and Seminary: Canadian evangelical college and seminary in Caronport, Saskatchewan offering certificate, diploma, and degree programs in biblical studies and theology. Directly comparable Bible college model with similar denominational breadth and program structure.
• Horizon College and Seminary: Canadian interdenominational Bible college in Saskatoon offering certificates and degrees in biblical and theological studies. Comparable faith-based post-secondary institution with overlapping program portfolio and recruitment strategies.
• Prairie Bible Institute: Three-year diploma and degree-granting evangelical Bible college based in Three Hills, Alberta. Directly comparable as a Canadian prairie-region Bible college offering certificate through bachelor's programs in biblical and theological studies with a similar interdenominational evangelical focus.
• Providence University College and Theological Seminary: Christian university and seminary in Otterburne, Manitoba offering undergraduate and graduate theological programs. Directly comparable Canadian evangelical post-secondary institution with overlapping recruitment geography in western Canada.
• Rocky Mountain College (Calgary): Small evangelical Bible college in Calgary offering undergraduate theological degrees. Directly comparable in size and mission to PRBI, with several PRBI faculty alumni of this institution.
• Canadian Bible College (historical) / Bethany Bible College: Canadian evangelical Bible colleges (now operating through the Canadian Bible College network / Bethany Bible College). Directly comparable Bible college model focused on biblical and theological training with similar evangelical ethos.
• Columbia Bible College: Bible college in Abbotsford, BC offering associate and bachelor-level programs in biblical studies and ministry. Directly comparable small evangelical post-secondary institution with overlapping programming and recruitment base in western Canada.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/acollegeforlife
• Instagraminstagram.com/prbilife
• Xx.com/prbi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/peace-river-bible-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Peace River Bible Institute