What is RTF?
RTF Asia Pacific Ministry
What Is RTF — Restoring the Foundations?
Restoring the Foundations (RTF) is a Christ-centred, biblically based ministry of healing, freedom, restoration, equipping and transformation, founded by Dr. Chester and Betsy Kylstra. Its central emphasis is helping God’s people experience the healing and freedom Jesus purchased for them and then equipping them to walk in that freedom and help others.
RTF is not simply a counselling programme or a particular prayer technique. It is an integrated ministry approach that brings together the truth of God’s Word, the finished work of Christ, repentance and forgiveness, healing of the heart, renewal of the mind, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. RTF describes its purpose as equipping and empowering people to walk in God’s healing and freedom.
The Founders — Dr. Chester & Betsy Kylstra
RTF grew out of the ministry and personal journey of Dr. Chester and Betsy Kylstra. Chester’s background in aerospace and engineering gave him a strong analytical and systematic orientation, while Betsy’s background in the mental-health profession gave her a deep understanding and compassion for people who were hurting. Together, God used their different gifts and experiences to develop the RTF ministry process.
In 1990, Chester and Betsy entered full-time ministry and established Restoring the Foundations Ministry. Over the years, the ministry developed internationally and became a network of ministers and churches committed to bringing healing and freedom through a biblical integrated approach. In 2015, the Kylstras passed the leadership of RTF International to Lee and Cindi Whitman, while continuing their own leadership-development work.
At the heart of the Kylstras’ revelation was an important insight: the difficulties people experience are often interconnected rather than having only one root. Therefore, ministry should address the different dimensions together rather than treating only one symptom.
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RTF Asia Pacific — A Ministry of Equipping and Multiplication
Since 2012, Rev. Dr. Judah Daniel and Hephzibah Shammah Choo, Directors of RTF Asia Pacific, have carried this RTF vision throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Their emphasis has been not merely to conduct healing ministry for individuals, but to equip, train and empower pastors, church leaders, ministers and believers to become increasingly effective servants of Christ.
The vision is to see leaders and God’s people learn how to live the Kingdom lifestyle in the reality of God’s presence—relating intimately with Father God, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and allowing that relationship to transform their character, families, churches and communities.
The objective is multiplication:
Healed people become equipped people.
Equipped people become empowered people.
Empowered people become effective ministers.
Effective ministers help build healthy families and churches.
Healthy churches can bless communities and impact nations.
This reflects RTF International’s own emphasis on training and equipping ministers so they can bring healing, freedom and wholeness to people worldwide.
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The RTF Integrated Biblical & Holy Spirit-Led Approach
The distinctive feature of RTF is its integrated approach. RTF identifies four interconnected problem areas that can contribute to bondage and brokenness in people’s lives. The official RTF explanation describes these as generational sins and resulting consequences/curses, ungodly beliefs, hurts and broken hearts, and demonic oppression.
The slide you provided captures these four areas:
1. Generational Sinful Patterns & Consequences — GSPC
People can grow up within family and cultural environments where sinful patterns, unhealthy behaviours, attitudes and consequences are repeatedly passed from one generation to another.
Examples may include patterns of idolatry, rebellion, anger, fear, control, shame, addiction or destructive relational behaviour.
The biblical answer is not fatalism—“This is just how my family is.”
Rather, through Christ, people can repent, receive forgiveness, renounce ungodly patterns and establish a new godly legacy.
Galatians 3:13 points us to Christ’s redemptive work.
The message is:
My past may explain some of my struggles, but it does not have to determine my future in Christ.
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2. Evil Spiritual Influences — ESI
RTF also recognises the reality of spiritual warfare and demonic oppression.
The purpose is not to make people fearful of demons, but to teach believers to understand their authority and identity in Christ and to submit to God, resist the devil and walk in truth and obedience.
The RTF approach understands that unresolved areas such as sin, lies and wounds can create vulnerability to spiritual oppression. Therefore, the four areas are addressed together rather than in isolation.
1 John 3:8 reminds us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.
The focus therefore remains on Jesus—not Satan.
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3. Hurts & Broken Hearts — HBHs
Life wounds people.
Rejection, abandonment, betrayal, abuse, grief, disappointment, failure, loss and broken relationships can leave deep wounds in the heart.
Sometimes people respond to these wounds through anger, withdrawal, fear, control, unforgiveness or hurting others.
But Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted.
Luke 4:18 presents the ministry of Jesus as bringing healing, liberty and restoration. RTF ministry therefore seeks to help people bring their wounds honestly before Jesus and experience His love, presence and healing.
The goal is not merely to talk about the wound.
It is to invite Jesus into the wounded place and allow Him to minister His healing truth and love.
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4. Ungodly Beliefs — UGBs
Our experiences can produce beliefs that are contrary to God’s truth.
A child who experiences rejection may conclude:
“I am not wanted.”
Someone repeatedly criticised may believe:
“I am never good enough.”
Someone betrayed may conclude:
“I can never trust anyone.”
Someone who fails may believe:
“I will always be a failure.”
These beliefs can shape behaviour, relationships and spiritual life.
RTF therefore emphasises renewing the mind with God’s Truth.
Romans 12:2 teaches that transformation takes place through the renewing of the mind.
The question becomes:
“What lie have I believed, and what does God say is actually true?”
As God’s truth replaces ungodly beliefs, people can begin to think, believe and live differently.
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Listening to God and Encountering His Presence
A vital part of the RTF approach is learning to listen and commune with God.
RTF is not simply about a minister giving answers to another person. The person receiving ministry is encouraged to personally encounter Father God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, with the ministry team following the Holy Spirit’s leading.
The person learns:
“God sees me.”
“God knows me.”
“God loves me.”
“God speaks truth to me.”
“Jesus can heal my wounded heart.”
“The Holy Spirit can lead me.”
“I can walk in the freedom Christ has given me.”
Thus, ministry becomes more than an event—it becomes training for a lifestyle of intimacy with God, healing, freedom and spiritual maturity.
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The Mission of RTF Asia Pacific
The expression of the RTF vision through RTF Asia Pacific can be summarised as:
**Healing Hearts.
Changing Lives.
Empowering Leaders.
Building Godly Families & Marriages.
Blessing Communities.
Transforming Cities.
Impacting Nations.**
Ultimately, the vision is much bigger than helping individuals feel better.
It is about seeing God’s people restored to their identity, inheritance, intimacy and influence in Christ, becoming the people and Church God intends them to be.
The desired outcome is a people who know God intimately, live in His truth, walk in freedom, function in the power of the Holy Spirit, build healthy families, serve their churches effectively and carry the love and presence of Jesus into their communities.
In One Sentence
RTF — Restoring the Foundations — is a Christ-centred, biblically based and Holy Spirit-led integrated approach that helps God’s people identify and address generational sinful patterns, hurts and broken hearts, ungodly beliefs, and spiritual oppression, so that through Jesus Christ they can experience healing, freedom, wholeness and transformation—and then be equipped to help others experience the same.
That is the heart of RTF Asia Pacific since 2012: not merely to minister healing, but to raise and equip Kingdom leaders who can carry God’s healing, freedom and transforming presence into families, churches, communities, cities and nations.
Www.RestoringTheFoundations.asia
https://Courses.RestoringTheFoundations.asia
To sign up for up coming live courses:
https://RTFAP.yapsody.com
