DR. MILTON’S ADVENT SERMON WAS PUBLISHED ON CHRISTIANITY.COM
“Have you ever seen Miracle of 34th Street? It's a Christmas classic. The 1947 novel became a movie the same year, earning the author an Academy Award for the Best Original Story. The film itself was nominated for the top picture. Edmund Gwenn, who played Kris Kringle, won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Click here to continue this sermon by Dr. Mike Milton titled “Advent: Zacharias’ Prophetic Song” (Luke 1:67-79).

DR. KRUGER REVIEWS JESUS INTERRUPTED
Dr. Mike Kruger, associate professor of New Testament and academic dean for RTS/Charlotte, (currently on a research sabbatical until Feb. 1) reviewed Bart Ehrman’s book, Jesus Interrupted, which was published in March 2009. Click here to read the review.

UPGRADED SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE SOON
We are in the process of updating the RTS academic program that allows students to register, see their grades and pay tuition. The new upgrade should be available for access in January.

PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT SOON
Keep an eye on the next e-letter. We expect to announce the president of the Orlando campus in the next issue.

ENROLLMENT HUGE FOR RTS COURSE OFFERED IN ASIA
RTS has been offering courses in Asia for the last couple of years. The next class will be held in January, and we have 80 enrolled. We're unable to give you further details, but thought you’d like to know what we consider exciting news.

FAVORITE BOOKS ON THE PSALMS
Bryan D. Estelle said in his article in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church magazine New Horizons that when he does work in the Psalms, four resources have been of great service to him. One of the books is The Messiah and the Psalms: Preaching Christ from All the Psalms by Richard P. Belcher, professor of Old Testament at RTS/Charlotte. The other book is Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook by Dr. Mark Futato, professor of Old Testament and academic dean at RTS/Orlando. Dr. Mike Milton, president of RTS/Charlotte and interim president of RTS/Orlando writes, “It is my joy to congratulate two worthy recipients of this notice. I take great joy in my happy association with both of these fine men. Congrats, Mark and Dick!”

NEED A SPECIAL GIFT? SPECIAL PRICING ON SMALL THINGS, BIG THINGS
Come to the RTS/Orlando bookstore for a great price on Dr. Mike Milton’s newest release, Small Things, Big Things: Inspiring Stories of Everyday Grace. This book of devotionals makes a great gift. Call the RTS Orlando Campus Bookstore at 800-390-7426 for pricing, or click here to order on our website. The bookstore will close at noon on Dec. 23. Read an excerpt here.

DR. BRUCE WALTKE CONTRIBUTES TO FESTSCHRIFT
Dr. Waltke, professor of Old Testament at RTS/Orlando recently wrote “The New Testament Doctrine of Land” for Border Crossings: Explorations of an Interdisciplinary Historian, a festschrift honoring Irving Hexham. Irving is a member of the Anglican Church, and professor of religious studies at the University of Calgary, Canada.
 
2010 DEEP SOUTH FOUNDERS CONFERENCE
Register now for the Deep South Founders Conference to be held Jan 14-16, 2010 at RTS/Jackson
and Grace Baptist Church. The theme is God’s Glory Displayed: The Works of God (Decrees – Creation – Providence), featuring special guest Dr. Steven J. Lawson. Click here to register.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Will Faires (M.Div. ‘74) is the RUF International campus minister at UNC Charlotte. Learn more about Will and his wife Martha here. He just completed an eight-week course on ministry to Muslims. He tells us God has blessed the many home bible studies, dinners, game nights and a financial seminar offered to the students. Also, over 70 international students attended the recent Thanksgiving dinner and hayride sponsored by the Carolina PCA and the Efird family.

Jim Fitzgerald (MATS ‘94), former pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oviedo, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called multiple myeloma. This cancer also weakens the bones and as a result Jim has had several broken vertebrae since August. He will begin infusion therapy near Tampa, FL, followed by a bone marrow transplant in about 6 months. If you wish to receive updates on Jim’s condition you can email Karen Middlesworth at cpconline.net and she will add you to the list. If you wish to contact Jim directly, you can reach him at jfitz57@eartlink.net. Please keep Jim and his family in your prayers.

Mark Hutchison – long time student at RTS and award-winning professional photographer, passed away on Dec. 5, 2009. Read more here. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children.

Jason Hunt (M.Div. ’08) is currently finishing a MTh dissertation through the Wales Evangelical School of Theology. The subject of his dissertation is: Cornelius Van Til's doctrine of God and its implications for hermeneutics. He and his wife Laura and his children Clayton and Sophia live in Irmo, SC.

Kevin Middlesworth (M.Div. ’09) and his wife Karen celebrated the birth of their first child Phinehas, or “Finn” for short, on December 17, 2009. Congratulations! Kevin is currently seeking a call to the ministry and his wife Karen is currently on leave from working at the RTS Orlando library.

Steffen Mueller (M.Div. ‘05) and his wife Elizabeth and big sister Sophia welcomed Susanna Marie Mueller (pictured right) into the world on November 13. They reside in Charlotte. Congratulations! 

Omar Nuwayhid (MAC ‘09) was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, two years ago. In addition, his youngest son, Joseph, has had leukemia for four years. Omar and his wife Mervat have four sons, Jeremy, Jonathan, Jason and Joseph. They ask for prayer for daily strength and endurance; for God’s protection, provision and power; for God to provide the right housing for them; and for total healing of Omar and of Joseph’s cancer. Despite these health trials, they are committed to press on in the power of the Lord.  They are continuing in ministry, taking the gospel to whomever God places before them. If you would like to send them a word of encouragement, you may do so by using omarandmervat@yahoo.com.

Chris Probst (MABS ‘02), adjunct faculty in the social sciences division of Howard Community College in Columbia, MD, wrote an article that appeared in  the Holocaust and Genocide Studies journal (free link to the article below). Also, he has joined the Editorial Board of the Association of Contemporary Church Historians.  In addition, Indiana University Press has agreed to publish his book.  He hopes to have the full manuscript finished by next fall.  So, it will be at least 2012 before it finally appears in print. Chris continues to apply for full-time teaching positions.  Click here for the abstract article, here for the full text, or here for the pdf.

Britt Tisdale Staton (MAC ’99) has served in church ministry and private practice counseling for the past 13 years. She owns Alive Studios in Orlando, FL, where she offers counseling services as well as personal shopping and styling services. She is also currently working on her first novel. Click here to see her website.

Russell Hank Wilson (M.Div. ’07) is a chaplain in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Sicily, Italy. Hank preaches every Sunday in chapel and also visits his commands, holds counseling sessions and works on community relations programs. He recently organized a trip to an orphanage for repainting work. The children then came to the base and visited Santa, received presents and participated in lots of activities. Hank’s wife Linda is president of the All Officers Spouses Club (AOSC). They are “penciled in” to move to Camp Pendleton in California in the spring.

ATLA SERIALS TM DATABASE ACCESS FOR RTS GRADS 

Produced by the American Theological Library Association, ATLA Serials provides access to more than 266,000 electronic journal articles and book reviews in all fields of religion. Full-text content is accessible from more than 130 journals selected by leading religion scholars in the U.S. Coverage begins in 1949, although indexing for some journal titles extends back into the nineteenth century.

Access to ATLA Serials is provided through the EBSCO host interface. Users will experience several easy-to-use, refined features, ensuring that the search experience is faster and more enjoyable. Key features include a simplified search screen, a smarter results page, and various enhanced search functions, such as limiters, image quick views, and much more.

Since grant program funding is given for a fixed number of alumni for 2010, the RTS Libraries must limit access to masters degree graduates.  If you wish to sign up, please contact the library at the campus from which you graduated (see www.rts.edu for contact information).  Eligibility for access will be determined by each campus library. The link is available on the RTS Alumni & Friends Community Web site once you have  your access information.

INSTITUTE FOR REFORMED CAMPUS MINISTRY AT RTS/CHARLOTTE
Click here to see a new video from RTS/Charlotte about their Institute for Reformed Campus Ministry.

TEACHING ALL NATIONS
Dr. Jim Coffield, associate professor of counseling at RTS/Orlando, along with an RTS grad and eight current MAC students from RTS/Orlando traveled to the Middle East recently for ministry work (pictured right). 

SEMINAR IN NC OFFERED FOR FUTURE OPC PASTORS
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) is offering a seminar, “Readiness for Ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church,” March 5-6 at Matthews OPC in Matthews, NC. The goal is to train and evaluate candidates for pastoral ministry and introduce them to opportunities for ministry in the OPC. For more information, or to register, please contact Richard Gerber, gerber.1@opc.org or 215-830-0900.

DR. KRUGER REPORTS FROM SABBATICAL
Dr. Mike Kruger, associate professor of New Testament and academic dean at  RTS/Charlotte, has returned from sabbatical, which included a 5-month residency in the UK at St. Edmund’s College (University of Cambridge) and Tyndale House. He worked mainly on research and writing for his book Authenticating Canon (contracted with Crossway, due 2011). He also delivered a paper at the SNTS conference in Vienna and visited a church plant in Prague (planted by Uptown PCA, Charlotte, where Dr. Kruger serves as part-time associate pastor).

REGISTER NOW FOR TOUR OF ISRAEL IN OCTOBER
Dr. John Currid, professor of Old Testament at RTS/Charlotte, is hosting a tour of Israel October 8-18. Dr. Currid is a graduate of the Oriental Institute of Archaeology at the University of Chicago and project director of the Bethsaida Excavation Project in Northern Israel. Go to www.jcbs.org to review the brochure and register. For more info, you can also email Luther Bigby at cht@rts.edu.

RTS/ORLANDO CAMPUS BOOKSTORE 35% OFF SALE!
This sale is in recognition of the 2010 Simon Kistemaker Lectures at RTS/Orlando on March 17-18.  The featured speaker is Eugene Peterson. All of his books will be in the store and on sale at 35% off normal retail pricing for the entire month of March. This includes all audio book titles as well. 

Additionally, any customer purchasing an entire set (5 volumes) of his recently completed systematic studies will receive all five volumes at 40% off normal retail pricing.  These will be some of the best prices in the country so don’t delay!  Send your list of titles to the RTS Orlando Campus Bookstore (only) by emailing the manager, Greg Thompson at gthompson@rts.edu.  Include your phone number.

VIRTUAL CAMPUS ORIENTATION SEMINARS
Virtual M.A. (Religion) students are required to complete an orientation seminar on an RTS campus near the beginning of their degree work. To register contact Alice Hathaway, virtual registrar. Upcoming dates for orientation are Feb. 22-24, Apr. 26-28, June 21-23, Aug. 23-25.

PROFESSOR RETURNS TO THE PASTORATE
Dr. David Jussely, professor of practical theology at RTS/Jackson, has accepted a call as the associate pastor of teaching and discipleship at First Presbyterian Hattiesburg (his hometown) working with Dr. Sean Lucas. Dr. Jusseley's children and grandchildren also reside in Hattiesburg. He will remain an adjunct professor and will teach occasional courses in the future at RTS. We wish him well.


MARRIAGE SEMINAR IN ALABAMA WITH DR. HURLEY
Dr. James Hurley, professor of marriage and family therapy at RTS/Jackson, will teach a marriage seminar titled "Strengthening Marriages, Marital Conflicts and Building Bonds", in Cullman, AL, on March 5, 6, 19, and 20. He will take 10 MFT students with him to assist with this seminar.

KISTEMAKER ACADEMIC LECTURE SERIES AT RTS/ORLANDO
RTS/Orlando will host the annual Kistemaker Academic Lecture Series honoring Dr. Simon J. Kistemaker (Emeritus), on March 17-18. Dr. Eugene Peterson, will speak on “Prayer and the Practice of Resurrection”. Dr. Peterson is the professor emeritus of spiritual theology at Regent College in Canada. He is the author of 36 books including The Message, a paraphrased translation of the Bible. The public is invited. The schedule is as follows:

March 17:
11:00 a.m. - Lecture 1: “Praying the Resurrection” 
12:00 p.m. - Community Lunch (RSVP to Rachel at rbutler@rts.edu)                  
1:00 p.m. - Lecture 2: “Prayer & All the Saints” 

March 18:
11:00 a.m. - Lecture 3: “Prayer & All the Fullness”
1:00 p.m. - Lecture 4: “Prayer & the Wiles of the Devil” 

DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR SYNERGY2010 CONFERENCE MARCH 5-7
Gather, learn and network with professional men and women in ministry from throughout the country at the Synergy2010 Conference at the Orlando Marriott March 5-7. Three RTS alumni will present workshops: Leigh Swanson, board member for Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, will speak on “A Look Behind the Walls”; Angel Richard (MABS ’10) executive leadership team for Synergy Women’s Network and conference emcee, will speak on “Leading Yourself As You Lead Others”; and Ezies Ebrahim (MAC ’09), mental health counselor from the middle east, is leading “Building Bridges Between Muslim/Middle Eastern Women and American Women.” To read more about the workshops, conference or to register, click here. The deadline to register is March 3.

UPCOMING RTS VIRTUAL ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
Sign up now for an RTS online course: "Judges to Esther" and also "Poets" with Dr. Richard Belcher is now available via the online virtual classroom for 2 credit hours; "Introduction to Theological Studies" with Dr. James Anderson is now available via the online virtual classroom for 3 credit hours; "Hebrew I" with Dr. Mark Futato and "Greek I" with Dr. Mark House are now available via the online virtual classroom for 3 credit hours each.

RTS/CHARLOTTE SPRING BANQUET
Alistair Begg is the speaker for the RTS/Charlotte Spring Banquet to be held on March 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Begg is the senior pastor of Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls, OH and author of several books. He is the voice behind the Truth for Life Christian radio preaching and teaching ministry that broadcasts his sermons daily to stations across the U.S. Begg will speak on expository preaching.


HELPING HAITI – REFORMATION HOPE
We mentioned a few organizations in the last E-Newsletter that could use donations to help Haiti. Another organization is Reformation Hope (www.reformationhope.org), which has been working in Haiti for 3.5 years with a Haitian-American PCA TE from the NWGP Presbytery. They are a duly constituted 501c3. Read more about them in this news story . Rev. Martin L. Hawley, senior pastor of Hope Presbyterian Church in Marietta, GA, and treasurer of Reformation Hope wrote in to let us know about this need.

SPIRITUAL LIFE CONFERENCE AT RTS/JACKSON
RTS/Jackson will host a Spiritual Life Conference for students, Mar 2-4 with guest speaker, Sean Lucas, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, in Hattiesburg, MS.

STAFF CHANGES AT RTS
 RTS/Orlando welcomes Rachel Butler (pictured left), the new student life and placement assistant. Rachel was born in Arizona, and raised in Oviedo, FL. She returned home after a hiatus in New York, NY, to pursue a MAC degree at RTS/Orlando.  Rachael is now in her second year of study and plans to complete her degree in May 2010. She is moving from the Admissions department to Student Life and Placement. You can contact Rachael at rbutler@rts.edu.

RTS/Orlando says goodbye to Amy Aunger, student life and placement assistant who is leaving for health reasons. We wish her well and will greatly miss her.

RETIREMENT AT RTS
Mary Moore, who served in the maintenance department as office manager at RTS/Jackson, retired on Jan. 18. Moore served for two years and helped to organize the maintenance office. Happy Retirement Mary!

NEED TO ORDER A BOOK?
Remember you can support RTS just by making a purchase for any book you need at www.mindandheart.com, an Amazon Associate Bookstore. Maybe you need to order a book for your child or grandchild, or you’d like to purchase a gift for a family member or friend.  Shop today with us. By doing so you are donating to RTS.

CAMPUS EVENTS

ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Keith Case (M.Div. ’08, MAC ‘06) (pictured right) was recently ordained and is currently in youth ministry at Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church. Keith is pictured right with his wife Amy and their children.

Ryann Craig was invited to present her integrative paper at a conference in Belgium. The tentative paper title is “The Anastasis in Gnostic Texts: What the Gnostic Jesus Teaches about Resurrection in Gnostic Thought”. Click here for the link to the conference.

Bryan Crotts (M.Div. ’03) was installed as associate pastor of Christ Community Church in Greensboro, NC. Participating in the service were Rev. Stephen Crotts (Bryan’s father), Rev. Bill Marsh (MA ’93), Dr. John R. de Witt (moderator of the ARP General Synod) and Mr. Steve Maye (vice moderator of the ARP General Synod).

Richard Farrand (MABS '03) is currently pastoring Sunset Beach Community Church in NC. He and his wife Karen live in Ocean Isle Beach, NC.

Steve Jeantet (M.Div. ’07) will be presenting on Feb. 26 at the Multi-Sector Leadership Forum in Indianapolis. He will present as part of a panel entitled, “Ancient Metaphors, New Realities: The Leader as Prophet, Priest and King.” Steve is in the final year of his coursework for the Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership degree at Eastern University. Steve is the director of outreach at Glasgow Church in Bear, DE, and resides there with his wife Kim and son Jeremiah.

Denny Kuhn (MAR ‘10) presented his MAR thesis, “The Necessity of Libertarian Freedom for Answering the Problem of Evil” on Jan. 12. Denny is a college instructor at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore, OK.

Gary Nantt (M.Div. ’78) is the official mentor of the Mexican Presbytery, advising Presbyterian seminaries in Tijuana and Mexicali. Carol is helping this ministry by providing CMI Children's Catechism materials in Spanish to various churches. Gary and Carol joined Mission to the World in 1977 for service in South Korea, but when the goals for that work were reached and MTW closed the field, they began ministering in Mexico in 1994. They live in Tijuana, in order to serve San Diego County and Baja, CA.

Greg Skipper (M.Div. '06) is currently working with the Calvary Home for Children, a mission to rescue children from abuse and neglect by providing them with help and hope through a stable family environment.

Charles “Chuck” Williams, USA CPT USA JPOTF (MACT '97), currently serving in Qatar, is sad to report the loss of a 19-year-old soldier who was only deployed about a month. He will engage in grief counseling with his fellow soldiers. Also they lost another soldier (one of three killed in PK). He asks for prayer for effectiveness in that area and for safety.

A NEW IPHONE APP FROM RTS
Search the iPhone apps for “90 days” and find “WSC in 90” which is an application to help you learn the Westminster Shorter Catechism in 90 days. You do need the latest version of the iPhone software, 3.1.3, which is a free "upgrade." A "web version" will be available soon for devices other than the iPhone.

RTS BOARD MEMBER JAMES M. SENEFF, JR RECEIVED 2010 HORATIO ALGER AWARD
The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., named for author Horatio Alger, Jr., was established in 1947 “to dispel the mounting belief among the nation's youth that the American dream was no longer attainable.” Members of this association have received the Horatio Alger Award. They are “dedicated community leaders who demonstrate individual initiative and a commitment to excellence; as exemplified by remarkable achievements accomplished through honesty, hard work, self-reliance and perseverance over adversity. All potential Members must have a strong commitment to assisting those less fortunate than themselves and be willing to contribute to the mission of providing scholarships for younger generations.” Read more about this award here. Congratulations, Jim!

NEW DEVOTIONAL OF FRANK KIK’S SERMONS NOW AVAILABLE AT RTS/CHARLOTTE BOOKSTORE
Dr. Frank Kik is the former James Baird professor of practical theology at RTS/Charlotte, who passed away in 2006. A new devotional, Crossroads: Guide for Living, has been published and consists of 40 daily devotionals taken from his sermons and loaded with some of his best stories and illustrations. The book was edited by Doug Pratt, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Bonita Springs, FL, and Steve Marsh, with a foreword by Dr. Ric Cannada, chancellor & CEO of RTS. Pick up a copy in the RTS/Charlotte bookstore for $4.99.

RTS ON ITUNES U E-NEWSLETTER REPORTS TOP DOWNLOADS
The January RTS on iTunes U e-letter reported the top downloads on the site:
1. Discerning God’s Call for Your Life, RTS/Charlotte Campus Resources, Dr. Mike Milton
2. John – 07, Gospels and Acts, Dr. Knox Chamblin
3. Romans (Part III) – 02, Pauline Epistles, Dr. Knox Chamblin
4. Systematic Theology I – 35, Systematic Theology, Dr. Doug Kelly
5. Karl Barth – 01, The Church and the World, Dr. W. Andrew Hoffecker
Click here to subscribe to the RTS on iTunes U e-newsletter.

KISTEMAKER ACADEMIC LECTURE SERIES AT RTS/ORLANDO
RTS/Orlando will host the annual Kistemaker Academic Lecture Series honoring Dr. Simon J. Kistemaker (emeritus) on March 17-18. Keynote Lecturer, Dr. Eugene Peterson, will speak on “Prayer and the Practice of Resurrection”. Dr. Peterson is professor emeritus of spiritual theology at Regent College in Canada. He is the author of 36 books including The Message, a paraphrased translation of the Bible. His latest book is titled Practice Resurrection (pictured left). The public is invited to the lectures. The schedule is as follows:

March 17:
11:00 a.m. - Lecture 1: “Praying the Resurrection”  
12:00 p.m. - Community Lunch will be offered for $5. (RSVP to Rachael at rbutler@rts.edu)
Note: The lunch date was changed to Wednesday, March 17.                 
1:00 p.m. - Lecture 2: “Prayer & All the Saints”

March 18:
11:00 a.m. - Lecture 3: “Prayer & All the Fullness”
1:00 p.m. - Lecture 4: “Prayer & the Wiles of the Devil”

ATLA SERIALS TM DATABASE HAS ACCESS FOR A FEW MORE RTS GRADS
The libraries of RTS are pleased to announce that RTS alumni now have access to the ATLA Serials™ Database through a short-term grant funded through the American Theological Library Association.  This database provides information on topics such as biblical studies, world religions, church history, and religion in social issues.

Produced by the American Theological Library Association, ATLA Serials provides access to more than 266,000 electronic journal articles and book reviews in all fields of religion. Full-text content is accessible from more than 130 journals selected by leading religion scholars in the U.S. Coverage begins in 1949, although indexing for some journal titles extends back into the nineteenth century.

Access to ATLA Serials is provided through the EBSCO host interface. Users will experience several easy-to-use, refined features, ensuring that the search experience is faster and more enjoyable. Key features include a simplified search screen, a smarter results page, and various enhanced search functions, such as limiters, image quick views, and much more.

Since grant program funding is given for a fixed number of alumni for 2010, the RTS Libraries must limit access to master’s degree graduates.  If you wish to sign up, please contact the library at the campus from which you graduated.  Eligibility for access will be determined by each campus library.

For Jackson, make your request here. For Orlando, make your request here. For Charlotte, make your request here.
For Virtual, Atlanta, or Washington D.C., make your request here.

Once access is granted, the link is available on the RTS Alumni & Friends Community Web site. You will need to also register on the alumni site if you are not already registered there.

REGISTER NOW FOR TOUR OF ISRAEL IN OCTOBER
Dr. John Currid, professor of Old Testament at RTS/Charlotte, is hosting a tour of Israel October 8-18. Dr. Currid is a graduate of the Oriental Institute of Archaeology at the University of Chicago and is project director of the Bethsaida Excavation Project in Northern Israel. Click here for more information or email Luther Bigby.


EMBERS TO A FLAME CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN TN IN APRIL
This biblically-based conference on increasing church vitality will be held in Memphis, TN, April 8-10. RTS Professors Dr. Harry Reeder and Dr. Joseph Wheat will lead the conference along with Rev. Lynn Downing. For more information, click here, or here.

CAMPUS EVENTS

ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Richard Aguilar (M.Div. '97) has been elected to the board of the United Bible Society in Ecuador. He continues to teach at the Christian Center of Communications and to pastor at Christ Redeemer Church in Ecuador. His wife Cindy is no longer teaching at the nursery. Please pray for her employment in translations work. They have four sons, Ricky, Pablo (who is graduating from high school this year), Josue and Michael.

Luke Davis (MABS ‘08) and his wife Lynn moved to Honduras in January to plant a church outside of E. Progreso. Follow their blog here.

Paul deJong (M.Div. '05) is senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers.  Paul was accepted into Peace River Presbytery on February 25, 2010.  He and his wife Sheryl moved to Fort Myers with their daughters Rachel (16), Sarah (15), and Lydia (10) this past January.

Esaie Etienne (M.Div. '04) reports from Haiti. Esaie reports he now has a second medical team and they are providing care to people who are living in a tent camp that is estimated to be about 30 thousand people. The greatest need right now is tents that can withstand rain, and stop mosquitoes and that can sleep 5 to 6 people. He will be in the States for a short visit with his family and will then return to Haiti to continue the relief effort. Click here to see a video of Esaie.

Willie Mangum (MATS '02) is joining the staff of World Impact Now. He and Todd Atkins (WIN President) leave for Uganda on March 4. On April 12 they leave with a team to Fuga Island, Philippines. In November or December, his wife Pam will join him on a trip to India. They will need to raise funds for these trips. You can help by donating here, or by check to World Impact Now, PO Box 20852, Roanoke, VA 24018. They would appreciate your prayers.

Sean McCann (M.Div. '07) and his wife Lindsey delivered school supplies to children in Honduras. Click here to watch the video.

Rocky McElveen (M.Div. ’82), professional guide in Alaska, informs us of a film to be aired on March 7, and March 14. Day of Discovery will air “The Wonder of Creation Wilderness” Parts I and II. The piece was filmed at Rocky’s lodge in Alaska. Click here to read more.

Wes Simmons (MAC '06, MABS '06) is moving from his position as college pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis to RUF director, starting a ministry at Carson-Newman College (his alma mater) in East Tennessee. Pictured right is Wes, his wife Nancy and Emily Anne.

Randy Young (M.Div. ’91, MAMFT ‘91), director of the Living Waters Counseling Center in Medford, OR, was burned severely when he tried to light his grill. Read more here and here.
 

 RTS/ATLANTA PURCHASES NEW BUILDING
RTS/Atlanta announces the purchase of new campus facilities along I-75, just north of the present location.

In addition, a friend of RTS has pledged $1,000,000 towards the purchase and renovation of these facilties. However, in order to activate this challenge grant, we must raise approximately $1,500,000 to pay for our campus facilities, theological library, and numerous renovations, so we are praying for additional partners in helping us raise the remaining funds.

We invite you to participate in this exciting work. If you are led to support the RTS Atlanta Building Fund please make your tax-deductible gift online or contact Tom Campbell, our vice president for development, at (404) 995-8484 for more information.

EUGENE PETERSON BOOKS 35%-40% OFF AT THE RTS/ORLANDO CAMPUS BOOKSTORE
Eugene Peterson is the speaker for the 2010 Kistemaker Academic Lecture Series at RTS/Orlando March 17-18. All of his book titles from Eerdmans will be in the store and on sale at 35% off normal retail pricing for the entire month of March. This includes all audio book titles as well. 

Additionally, any customer purchasing an entire set (5 volumes) of his recently completed systematic studies will receive all five volumes at 40% off normal retail pricing. Send your list of titles to Greg Thompson gthompson@rts.edu at the RTS/Orlando Campus Bookstore, or call 800-390-7426.

RTS & LIGONIER ACADEMY REACH AGREEMENT
Reformed Theological Seminary and Ligonier Academy have reached an agreement that will offer greater resources to their respective students.  This agreement will allow Doctor of Ministry students from either institution to attend classes and utilize the library on the partner campus. Click here for more info.

LISTEN TO THE CALL WITH MIKE MILTON LIVE IN CHARLOTTE OR LISTEN ONLINE
Listen to "The Call with Mike Milton" radio program by clicking here and selecting The Call. (The program is updated weekly). If you are in Charlotte, the program now airs at 10:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. on WHVN (1240AM and 104.3FM). "The Call with Mike Milton" is also broadcast on select stations around the country. You may also subscribe to The Call via RTS on iTunes U under the Charlotte Campus resources.

CHURCH UNDERTAKING INTENSIVE 15-WEEK FOCUS ON BOOK OF PSALMS FROM GRANT
Scott Redd (M.Div. ’04), the assistant professor of Old Testament and dean of students at RTS/Orlando, is working on the Psalms of Ascents with his former church, Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC. The grant money that supports this project came from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship in Grand Rapids, MI, and is funded by Lily Endowment, Inc. Bruce Benedict (M.Div. ‘03) spearheads the project.  Other RTS folks involved are Elliot Grudem (M.Div. ‘03), James Sutton (M.Div. ‘04), Tim Sharpe (M.Div. ’08, MAC ’08) and Dr. Steve Brown, professor of preaching emeritus, who recorded his reading of the Psalms. Read more here.

DR. SWEETING TO PREACH AT EPC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Dr. Don Sweeting, the new president of RTS/Orlando who will begin June 1, will preach during the evening worship service at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church General Assembly at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Denver, CO, where he has pastored since 1998.

RTS VIRTUAL ANNOUNCES UPCOMING ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
0ST516 Systematic Theology II  (Dr. Douglas Kelly) facilitated by Dr. James Anderson is now available via the online virtual classroom for 2 credit hours.

Hebrew Basic I and Hebrew Basic II  with Dr. Mark Futato will be available online this summer. Hebrew Basic I will be offered May 31-June 11, 2010, and Hebrew Basic II will be offered June 21 - July 2, 2010.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Phil and Shanna Davis

Gert-Jan Roest (M.Div. ’00) planted a church in Amsterdam in 2002, together with a colleague. There is now a growing community of about 50 committed people. In 2003 Gert-Jan started his Ph.D. study in theology at the Free University in Amsterdam. He is very interested in the interaction between culture and theology, especially in the question of what this means for our view on Jesus Christ. His wife Sandra works twice a week as a social worker at a women’s shelter at the Salvation Army. They have two boys, Tobias (8) who enjoys reading, soccer, swimming, skiing and skating, and Florian (3½) who enjoys cars, cars and cars.

Update on Randy Young (M.Div. ’91, MAMFT ‘91), director of the Living Waters Counseling Center in Medford, OR, who was burned severely when he tried to light his grill, came through surgery well according to his wife. They only used skin from one shoulder and repaired his ears, not exactly as they were, but the doctor says they will look pretty good. He only had to do a little on the neck. The doctor will try to take him off the ventilator and then look at his hands. He may be able to return to work within a couple months. His hands will not be ready, but he should be able to sit and counsel. It depends on how much he does during the rehab time.

His wife Annette said, “This all seems so miraculous to me and the girls . . . but God is a God of miracles, so we should not be surprised. Please continue to pray that no more surgeries will be needed as the doctor evaluates the grafts next week. Also pray for continued stability as he continues to come out of the coma. Thank you all for your prayers, love and encouragement!"

(Annette will start a new job in April as a social worker--an answer to prayer.) If you are led to give, you can write a check to the Trinity OPC Deacon's Fund, 1332 Mt Pitt Ave, Medford, Oregon 97501.  This fund is supporting the Young family during Randy's recovery.

Atlanta & Orlando
	Are you interested in taking a class this summer? Dr. Steve Brown, professor of preaching, emeritus, will be at RTS/Atlanta June 13-17 to teach “The Christian Life”. Dr. Brown will also teach “Radical Grace” at RTS/Orlando August 2-6.
Charlotte
	Dr. D. A. Carson, research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL, will teach “Johannine Epistles: Text & Biblical Theology” at RTS/Charlotte June 28-July 1.

FALL REGISTRATION BEGINS JUNE 15
Stay tuned for upcoming courses for the fall.

CROSSINGS BOOK CLUB WILL OFFER HARDCOVER OF SMALL THINGS, BIG THINGS
Dr. Mike Milton's book, Small Things, Big Things, has been chosen to be published in a special hardcover edition by Crossings Book Club, the nation's leading Christian book club headquartered in NYC with approximately half a million members. The book will be available for purchase by club members in an offer in the June monthly mailing.

LISTEN TO SERMON OF DR. STEVE CHILDERS AT BETHLEHEM BAPTIST
Dr. Steve Childers, associate professor of practical theology and director of the Doctor of Ministry program at RTS/Orlando, preached at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis (John Piper, senior pastor) April 10-11 and taught a course on church planting to emerging leaders April 12-13. One presentation, “What in the World is God Doing?” can be heard by clicking here. (You will need to sign up for a free account from yousendit.com.) Once you do this and confirm the account on your email, the sermon takes approximately 3 minutes to download. There is a short pause and then the sermon will play in your media player.

DR. ELIAS MEDEIROS SPEAKING IN SCOTLAND
This week, Dr. Elias Medeiros is speaking on “The Migrant Church” at a World Reformed Fellowship workshop in Edinburgh, Scotland. Find this faculty speaking engagement as well as the schedules of other faculty by clicking here. 

DR. MIKE MILTON AND THE US ARMY
Michael A. Milton, Ph.D., chaplain, US Army Reserves, has been nominated and appointed by the chief of chaplains of the U.S. Army as a founding member of the College of Military Preaching. Dr. Milton will provide mentorship to younger chaplains. Dr. Michael A. Milton is president of RTS/Charlotte and the James M. Baird, Jr. professor of pastoral theology.

Dr. Milton has also graduated from the Command and General Staff College, US Army, Fort Leavenworth, KS, through distance education.

In addition, Dr. Milton has been appointed to the Armed Forces Chaplain School at Fort Jackson, SC. His reserve duties will include teaching preaching to new chaplains and other training related ministry in support of chaplains in all branches of the military.

CHANCELLOR TO SPEAK AT FPC ROME
On May 23, RTS Chancellor & CEO Ric Cannada will preach at both morning services at First Presbyterian Church in Rome, GA.

MIKE MILTON’S NEXT BOOK 
Dr. Mike Milton, president of RTS/Charlotte, is working on his next book titled Doxology in the Darkness: How God Transforms our Pain into Praise by P&R. This book, with questions in the back, will be especially useful for small group study.

HAVE A VEHICLE YOU DON’T NEED? DONATE IT TO RTS
If you have a vehicle with an appraised value of $5000 or more, please consider a donation to RTS. The seminary uses vehicles for local errands, airport pickups and to save on the cost of rental cars for out of town guests and visiting faculty. Please contact RTS CFO Brad Tisdale if you have a car to donate for any campus.

SIGN UP NOW FOR RTS ALUMNI & FRIENDS BREAKFAST AT GENERAL ASSEMBLIES
Dr. Ric Cannada and Dr. Don Sweeting (new RTS/Orlando president) will speak at the RTS Alumni & Friends breakfast for the PCA and EPC General Assemblies in June.

• ARP SYNOD
  The RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast will be held Wednesday, June 9, at 7:00 a.m. in Dining Room B of the Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, NC. RSVP to Dawn Kilgore.
• EPC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  The RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast will be held Friday, June 25, at 7:00 a.m. in the Ballroom Salon ABC&D at the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center. Please RSVP to Dawn Kilgore.
• PCA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  The RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast will be held Thursday, July 1, at 6:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom West at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Please RSVP to Dawn Kilgore.

RTS SEMINARS AT PCA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
On June 30, Dr. Ric Cannada, RTS chancellor & CEO, will present a seminar at the PCA General Assembly titled “Elders as Shepherds: Not Merely Decision Makers” and Dr. Mike Milton, president of RTS/Charlotte, will teach a seminar titled "Great Expectations: The Role Relationship of the Pastor’s Wife and the Church” at the PCA General Assembly.

A FEW SPACES LEFT FOR RTS TOUR TO ISRAEL IN OCTOBER
The Israel tour in October is filling up.  If you have any interest in going, go to www.rts.edu/cht or e-mail Luther Bigby. Current cost for the 11-day tour with Dr John Currid is $2995, which includes airfare and most meals.  If there are vacancies remaining after June 1, the price will increase.
 
CAMPUS EVENTS

Jay Coker (M.Div. ‘79) pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, NC, was recently featured in an article in the Fayetteville Observer. Read more here.

Jason Hunt (M.Div. ‘08) has almost completed a MTh. from Wales Evangelical School of Theology. He wrote an article titled "Bavinck and the Princetonians on Scripture: A Difference in Doctrine or Defense?" that will appear in the June or September edition of Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.

Robert Lancaster (M.Div. ’06) will be ordained as a deacon by Bishop John Miller on Saturday, May 15 at 4:00 p.m. at Immanuel Anglican Church in Destin, FL.  The tentative date for his ordination to the priesthood is December 11-12 at St. Andrews Anglican Church in Huntsville, AL. Over these next months he asks for prayer as he undertakes this calling and for future direction in his ministry life. 

James “Jimmy” Long (M.Div. ‘71), 64, pastor of Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Slidell, LA, passed away on March 7. He is survived by his wife Betty, two children--Jamie Long and Melissa Milazzo, two grandchildren, two brothers and his mother.  He and his wife have served in the community since 1974, at Trinity Presbyterian and New Life Community. Memorials may be sent to French Camp Academy, French Camp, MS 39745 and/or Vineyard Church of Slidell, P.O. Box 1356, Slidell, LA 70459. A memorial service was held March 10.

His brother Johnny was in the first RTS class and is a missionary in London with World Harvest Mission.

Duane McDaniel (D.Min. ‘05) is the executive director of missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. He was formerly the senior pastor of Hawaii Kai Church in Honolulu, HI, for eight years.  After he led eight teams of his church members from Hawaii to do post-Katrina recovery work in New Orleans, he was named to his new position in July 2008.

Joel Pelsue (M.Div. ’98), founder and president of Arts & Entertainment Ministries  has authored a chapter titled “Hollywood, Entertainment & Neopaganism” in a new book on Neo-Paganism titled Global Wizardry. The book covers how Neo-Paganism is creeping into the culture, education and the arts. "This book will assist pastors, leaders and laymen to grasp and respond to the New Spirituality." -Harry Reeder, Pastor, Briarwood Church, Birmingham, AL.

Cynthia Ruble (MATS ‘00), currently serving in Japan, shares that her homestay (a lady living with her) gave birth to a big, healthy baby girl on April 10.  Her homestay is giving the baby up for adoption, so Cynthia asks that we please pray for her as she goes through this hard time.  She is clearly a believer and Cynthia's main concern is for her to continue living as a Christian when she leaves there.
 
On Easter, Cynthia shares that a post-abortion client was baptized.  She made the decision to prepare for baptism while doing a study with her.  Also, another post-abortion client finished her study recently. She is moving forward with some good plans for her life, which Cynthia believes will include a relationship with Jesus. 

Update on Randy Young (M.Div. ’91, MAMFT ‘91), director of the Living Waters Counseling Center in Medford, OR, who was burned severely when he tried to light his grill. Randy has been moved to Vibra Specialty Hospital. He is off the feeding tube and will slowly wean off of the ventilator. He walked 74 ft. yesterday. Praise the Lord! After his stay at Vibra he will enter rehab, and they are hoping he will be home next month. For more updates on Randy, go to CarePages  (sign up for free), and enter the words "savedbygrace" in the search area and his page will be listed. Click his name to enter his page.

If you are led to give, you can write a check to the Trinity OPC Deacon's Fund, 1332 Mt Pitt Ave, Medford, Oregon 97501.  This fund is supporting the Young family during Randy's recovery.

Correction: Gert-Jan Roast is correctly spelled Gert-Jan Roest. We apologize for the error.

DISASTER RELIEF FUND FOR YAZOO CITY, MS
On Saturday, April 24, a tornado ravaged the Yazoo City area, just north of Jackson. The RTS/Jackson campus did not sustain any damage, but there are RTS staff that live in the damaged area and sustained damage as well as many others that live there. Click here for more information about the damage. First Presbyterian Church in Yazoo City  has set up a Disaster Relief Fund for any who may want to help. The church will assess needs and administer help. Please make checks payable to: Disaster Relief Fund and mail to: First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 61, Yazoo City, MS  39194.

DR. MIKE MILTON INTERVIEWED ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM
Dr. Mike Milton, president of RTS/Charlotte was interviewed on Truths That Transform. The interview will air May 18-19. Dr. Milton spoke on Romans 13. Truths That Transform is a radio program featuring messages from the late Dr. D. James Kennedy and interviews with guests. Dr. Kennedy served for 47 years as senior minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He developed Evangelism Explosion in 1962, launched Knox Theological Seminary in 1989, and founded Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale, FL) in 1971. The broadcast will be available here.

RTS SMART CLASSROOMS
RTS has received a special gift for the development of two "smart classrooms" to be incorporated at two campuses this summer. Smart classrooms will include a full compliment of multimedia components as well as the capability for live interactivity between campuses.

REMINDER: SIGN UP FOR RTS ALUMNI & FRIENDS BREAKFAST AT GENERAL ASSEMBLIES

ARP SYNOD
The RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast will be held Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 a.m. in Dining Room B of the Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, NC. RSVP to Dawn Kilgore.

EPC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast will be held Friday, June 25 at 7:00 a.m. in the Ballroom Salon ABC&D at the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center. Please RSVP to Dawn Kilgore.

PCA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast will be held Thursday, July 1 at 6:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom West at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Please RSVP to Dawn Kilgore.

REMEMBER MOM ALWAYS BUT ESPECIALLY ON MAY 9
If you’re looking for a gift for Mom for Mother’s Day, try MindandHeart. Just type in mothers day (without the apostrophe) and on the next page under the product group, select “all” to see all kinds of gifts for Mom and at the same time you are also giving a small portion to the seminary by using this Amazon associate site.

 
DR. MILTON TO PREACH AT CHAPLAIN TRAINING
Dr. Mike Milton will preach at the annual training for PCA chaplains at the PCA General Assembly in Nashville on June 29. His sermon is titled "This We Will Defend: Essentials of the Reformed Faith for Chaplains Today."


NEW BOOKSTORE MANAGER AT RTS/JACKSON
Nathan Eldridge is the new bookstore manager at RTS/Jackson.  Anna Graham, the current bookstore manager, will pursue a degree in nursing. Nathan has worked in the RTS Bookstore for the last two years as a work-study student.  Welcome aboard Nathan!

BELHAVEN PRESIDENT’S BOOK PUBLISHED
Dr. Roger Parrott, president of Belhaven University, has written The Longview: Lasting Strategies for Rising Leaders. You can find the book here.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Rachel Blackston

Rachel asks for prayer: for the patients at Sacred Heart Hospital in Millot who will soon be discharged and have no safe place to go; pray against injustice for the weak, the poor, and the handicapped; pray for volunteers to continue to go to Haiti…they need doctors, nurses, counselors, engineers, and anyone that has a heart to serve. 

Christy Braman (MAC ’01) is back in Haiti after a few glitches with their van that broke down. They will travel to an orphanage and will train Haitian interpreters to work with Haitians to improve the way they live. Follow her blog here.

Jace Broadhurst (M.Div. ’99) received his Ph.D. in biblical hermeneutics from Westminster Theological Seminary.

Stephen Davis (MATS ’07) and his wife Kathy recently moved back to Philadelphia, his hometown, to plant Grace Church of Philly along with his brother John and John’s wife Dawn. They began weekly services in March in a rented facility in the University City section of West Philadelphia.

Dan Rose (M.Div. ’00) and his wife Carrie are leaving South Louisiana to plant a PCA church in their hometown of Albuquerque, NM.  To connect with the Roses and their new ministry adventure, The Duke City Project, click here and follow his blog.

Andy Stager (M.Div. ‘08) is the associate minister of family life at First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill, SC. He and his wife Ellie have two sons, Deacon and Owen. Ellie is a recording artist. Listen to the songs on her album here.

John Henry Williams (M.Div. Certificate ’96) is the pastor of Greater Saint John Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, and an assistant professor of Religion at Selma University, Selma, AL, and an adjunct instructor in homiletics at Birmingham-Easonian Baptist Bible College, Birmingham, AL. John has published a Lectionary Commentary for The African American Lectionary on the topic "Men’s Day". Click here to read the article in the Year Three commentaries.

Update on Randy Young (M.Div. ’91, MAMFT ‘91), director of the Living Waters Counseling Center in Medford, OR, was burned severely in February when he tried to light his grill. Randy has been moved to Vibra Specialty Hospital. Recent updates indicate his trach is out, he walked about a quarter mile with minimal assistance and his neck is almost completely healed. Physical therapy is going well, but occupational therapy is difficult. His wife asks for prayer for his ability to regain strength in his hands and for less pain. He will be discharged on Mother's Day weekend. He is looking forward to returning to work soon. They are grateful for your prayers.
 
For more updates on Randy, go to CarePages (sign up for free), and enter the words "savedbygrace" in the search area and his page will be listed. Click his name to enter his page.

If you are led to give, you can write a check to the Trinity OPC Deacon's Fund, 1332 Mt Pitt Ave, Medford, Oregon 97501.  This fund is supporting the Young family during Randy's recovery.

Correction: Correction: Steve Brown will be teaching in Atlanta in Summer 2011, not 2010 as previously reported.

NEW RTS/ORLANDO PRESIDENT TO BE A PANELIST AT THE ORLANDO LAUSANNE CONVERSATION GATHERING
Dr. Don Sweeting, new RTS/Orlando president (as of June 1), will be a panelist at the Orlando Lausanne Conversation Gathering on June 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Summit Church in Orlando. The moderator will be JR Kerr from Park Community Church. Other panelists include Doug Birdsall (Exec. Chairman of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism), Andy Crouch (senior editor for Christianity Today and author of Culture Making), Stephen Douglass (president of CCC), Brad Lomenick (director of Catalyst) and Jesse Miranda (president of the Hispanic Leadership Center). RTS is a sponsor of this event. The 12 Cities 12 Conversations events were started to help people engage in the conversation about the future of the church in preparation for the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelism in Cape Town, South Africa, in October. Click here for the church flyer.

RTS FACULTY SPEAKING AT 2010 BUSINESS ETHICS CONFERENCE
Dr. Andy Peterson, president of RTS/Virtual, will speak on “Working in the Public Company in God’s World” at the Conference on Christian Business Ethics Today: A Christian Worldview with the Westminster Confession of Faith at the Union League in Philadelphia June 11-12. Dr. Mark Futato is also a speaker at this conference, and will speak on “Working in the Private Company in God’s World”.

SUMMER CLASS WITH D. A. CARSON AT RTS/CHARLOTTE
Dr. D.A. Carson will teach “The Text and Biblical Theology of the Johannine Epistles” June 28 – July 1 at RTS/Charlotte. The class will be held from 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. The prime focus of this course is on the content of 1, 2, and 3 John. Nevertheless this focus is maintained against three backgrounds: (1) the nature of Gnostic heresy at the end of the first century, and the answers, theoretical and practical, that the apostle John advances in response to it; (2) the problems of syncretism and contextualization in contemporary culture; (3) and the bearing of the content of these epistles on various strands of biblical theology.

NEW ASSISTANT CONTROLLER HIRED AT RTS/JACKSON
Welcome, Jason Dill, who has recently been hired for the position of assistant controller in the Institutional Finance Department on the RTS/Jackson campus.  Jason grew up in Clinton and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Southern Mississippi.  He has worked in various financial capacities - most recently as a staff accountant for the local, non-profit organization Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth. Jason is filling the position previously held by Diane Turner and will focus on the student billing module within PowerCampus, as well as various institutional financial reporting responsibilities and projects.

RTS/ATLANTA OPEN HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON
On Tuesday, April 13, Reformed Theological Seminary signed the closing documents on the new facility for RTS/Atlanta. The campus is located at 1580 Terrell Mill Road, Marietta, GA, 30067. The RTS/Atlanta campus anticipates moving to the new campus in June.

DR. MIKE MILTON IS AWARDED THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL
Dr. Mike Milton is “humbled and honored” to be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. The medal is a military award presented to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the U.S. subsequent to January 16, 1969. Effective 11 September 2001, this award also may be bestowed for non-combat meritorious achievement in a designated combat theatre. Normally, the acts or services rendered must be comparable to that required for the Legion of Merit but in a duty of lesser, though considerable, responsibility. Dr. Milton will formally receive the award in the fall.

RTS/ORLANDO NOW HAS STUDENT HOUSING
The seminary now has some apartments to rent to RTS students at affordable prices located at Villas at Lakeside on Slavia Rd. in Oviedo. Click here for more information. The apartments are 3.7 miles from the RTS campus. If you are interested in renting one of these apartments, please contact Rachael Butler at 407-366-9493 or email rbutler@rts.edu.

MISSISSIPPI TORNADO DAMAGE
Priscilla Sullivan, admissions coordinator for RTS/Jackson, sustained damage to her house (see pictures) during the Mississippi tornadoes that recently hit the region. She and her family are ok. Let’s not forget our friends in Nashville also who have suffered extreme flood damage.

LAST REMINDER: SIGN UP FOR RTS ALUMNI & FRIENDS BREAKFAST AT GA
Thank you for your many, many kind responses. There is still available seating if you would like to have breakfast at one of these events. Please make all RSVP's to Dawn Kilgore.

ARP SYNOD
The RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast will be held Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 a.m. in Dining Room B of the Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, NC.

EPC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast will be held Friday, June 25 at 7:00 a.m. in the Ballroom Salon ABC&D at the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center.

PCA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast will be held Thursday, July 1 at 6:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom West at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Troy Albee (M.Div.  '02) is finishing his ministry as an associate minister at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Durham, NC, and preparing to be a church planter on the south shore of Boston, MA, through Christ the King Presbyterian along with his wife Krista.  Click here for more info.

Joseph Bingold (MAR '06), a first year MBA student at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, is a Time Magazine essay finalist. He wrote a paper titled "A Forest-Based Model for Energy Sustainability". Click here to read more about him and to read his paper.

Scott Davenport (M.Div. '08)  has accepted a call from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Peru to be the registrar and dean of curriculum in the Reformed Biblical Seminary in Trujillo, Peru.  Mr. Davenport will be working as a member of the Peru mission team.  His call was recently approved by the Presbytery of the Southeast of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, where Scott’s credentials will remain. 

Matthew Eusey (M.Div. ’07) was called in April as interim pastor at Bellewood Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, WA. He recently moved to Bellevue with his wife Karyn and two sons, Stephen (2) and Luther (6 months).

Steve Jeantet (M.Div. '07) has accepted a call to Covenant Life Church  in Sarasota, FL, as executive pastor. He will start on June 1.  He was formerly the minister of outreach at Glasgow Reformed Presbyterian Church in Bear, DE. He is also starting his last semester of his PhD and will become a PhD candidate in August. Steve and his wife Kim have a son Jeremiah (20 months). Kim is very talented in cake decorating. See her designs here. 

Aaron Kahler (M.Div. '09) is currently serving as pastor of Forest Glade Baptist Church, in Mexia, TX.

Jerid Krulish (M.Div. ‘09) was ordained and installed as the assistant pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, WA, on February 14. Jerid and his wife Aria have two children, Lilia (3) and Wren (1).

Pete Alwinson (D.Min.'96), senior pastor at Willow Creek Church, and adjunct member of the RTS faculty, will teach Communications - I, at Haifa Theological Institute (HTI) in Israel, that prepares Messianic Jewish leaders for ministry (May 24-June 2). HTI is administered by Dr. Eliyahu (Ilya) Lizorkin. Ilya is a graduate of RTS-Orlando (M.Div. '00) and Stellensboch University (M.Phil.'06 in Bible Interpretation and D.Phil. in Ancient Cultures '09). He is a lecturer in Jewish and biblical studies at Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS) that prepares Arab Christians for Christian ministry. If you’d like to know more about these important ministries, email him here.

Omar Nuwayhid (MAC '09), 48, who was suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), passed away on Tuesday, May 18. Please keep his wife and four sons in prayer. A memorial service has been planned at RTS/Orlando in the chapel on Monday, May 24 at 6:00 p.m. 

Joel Pelsue (M.Div. '98) will speak at the Exchange: The Truth & The Lie Conference in June with Mark Driscoll, Francis Chan, and Peter Jones.  It is produced by Resurgence of Mars Hill, in conjunction with TruthXchange.  Joel will speak on "The Truth & the Lie in Hollywood". The conference is June 17-18.  

Curtis B. Singleton, III (M.Div. ’80, MCE ’80), 73, director of The Seamen’s House in Savannah for the past 17 years, passed away on May 1, 2010. He leaves behind his wife Evelyn and brother William of St. Louis. The funeral service was held at Independent Presbyterian Church. The Obituary Guest Book is found here.

Update on Randy Young (M.Div. ’91, MAMFT ‘91), director of the Living Waters Counseling Center in Medford, OR. Randy was burned severely in February when he tried to light his grill. Randy's Home!!! Randy came home on May 6 and is doing very well. His family is working together to care for him. His wife Hannah asks that we continue to pray he will gain better use of his hands and not have complications. If you are led to give, you can write a check to the Trinity OPC Deacon's Fund, 1332 Mt Pitt Ave, Medford, Oregon 97501.  This fund is supporting the Young family during Randy's recovery.

PROFESSORS TO PRESENT PAPERS AT ANNUAL MEETING OF EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

REGISTER NOW (FREE) FOR ORLANDO LAUSANNE CONVERSATION GATHERING JUNE 16
Dr. Don Sweeting, new RTS/Orlando president, will be a panelist at the Orlando Lausanne Conversation Gathering on June 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Summit Church in Orlando. The moderator will be JR Kerr from Park Community Church. Other panelists include Doug Birdsall (Exec. Chairman of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism), Andy Crouch (senior editor for Christianity Today and author of Culture Making), Stephen Douglass (president of CCC), Brad Lomenick (director of Catalyst) and Jesse Miranda (president of the Hispanic Leadership Center). RTS is a sponsor of this event. The 12 Cities 12 Conversations events were started to help people engage in the conversation about the future of the church in preparation for the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelism in Cape Town, South Africa, in October. Click here for the church flyer. Click here to register.

EXPOSITORS’ CONFERENCE 2010
Register now for the Expositors’ Conference 2010 with Steven J. Lawson & R.C. Sproul, sponsored by Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, AL. The conference will be held September 27-28. Click here to register.

RTS FACULTY SUMMIT
The RTS Faculty recently went to Simpsonwood in Norcross, GA, for their yearly retreat. The RTS Board joined them for dinner and toured the new RTS/Atlanta campus (pictured left). 


READ DR. DON SWEETING’S BLOG ABOUT HIS DECISION TO COME TO RTS/ORLANDO
The new RTS/Orlando president wrote a blog in May titled “Why I Did it? On Accepting the Call to RTS”. Click here and scroll down to the appropriate heading.

CAMPUS EVENTS
ALL CAMPUSES  - FALL REGISTRATION BEGINS JUNE 15

RTS/ORLANDO - FIRST “PREVIEW DAY” HELD JUNE 5
Tom Nelson, director of admissions at RTS/Orlando remarked that there was “very little advertising” for RTS/Orlando’s first Preview Day, but the turnout was “more than expected”. Dr. Reggie Kidd gave a Q&A session about answering your call to ministry and how the seminary can equip you. Tim Trouten, Kim Frederickson and Professor Scott Redd gave a Q&A on seminary life. After lunch, the admissions team offered tours of the campus and the new off-campus housing area. If you are interested in attending the next open house in Orlando, please contact Tom Nelson.

ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Do you have an alumni snippet to share? Send it to the editor, here.

Mark Batluck (M.Div.M. '06) and his wife Mela have moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he is pursuing a Ph.D. in New Testament while they both work with the Navigators student ministry at the University of Edinburgh.  They are expecting their first child in November.

Paxson Jeancake (MAR ‘04) is the director of worship and arts at Valley Springs Presbyterian Church in Roseville, CA and the author of The Art of Worship: Opening Our Eyes to the Beauty of the Gospel.  He serves on the executive committee of the Worship Reformation Network - a national community of worship leaders with a common vision for biblical, Reformed, and gospel-driven worship. He and his wife Allison have recorded three CDs: The Rhythm of Worship (2003), Ascension (2007) and Wide Awake (due out June 2010). Paxson and Allison live in northern California with their two daughters, Laura Camille and Mallory.
Click here to see his website and to listen to a few songs off the new album.

Ronald Morrell (M.Div. ‘77), 64, or Elkhorn, WI, died unexpectedly on March 5, 2010. He spent the last 12 years as chaplain at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Hospital. He is survived by his wife Catherine , children Jenny Mcallister, Rachel  Bost and Thomas Morrell, and four grandchildren. He is further survived by his sister Jewel Booher, brothers Ken (Mary), Stan (Margaret), David (Alice), Randall (Deanna) and Wayne (Nell) Morrell.  A memorial service for Ron was held at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Center Chapel.  The funeral service was held back home in Bristol, TN.

Blake Schwarz (M.Div. ’09 ) just accepted a position as the dean of students at the Cambridge School of Dallas. He and his wife Julia are excited about moving home.

James “Jay” Wilson (M.Div. ’09, MAC ‘09) and his wife Debbie announce the birth of Isaac Aiden Wilson, born on May 24th (on their 7th anniversary). Congratulations! Jay is a counseling center intern at City Church in San Francisco. 

SIGN UP NOW FOR FALL SEMESTER AT RTS/HOUSTON

RTS FACULTY TRAVEL CALENDAR

MIKE MILTON ON THE HARVEST SHOW

 PICTURE FROM ORLANDO LAUSANNE CONVERSATION GATHERING
Dr. Don Sweeting, president of RTS/Orlando (2nd from right) served on a panel at the Orlando Lausanne Conversation Gathering in June. Questions asked included: What are the key trends occurring in the church globally which we should be aware of?  What are some of the most significant challenges facing the Western church? To see more of the questions, go to Dr. Sweeting's blog here, and scroll down to 12 Cities 12 Conversations. Also you can follow him 
here on Twitter.

RTS ALUMNUS PICTURED WITH DR. MILTON AT US ARMY CHAPLAIN CENTER
Dr. Mike Milton, president of RTS/Charlotte, taught “preaching” at the US Army Chaplain Center and School in June to approximately 190 new chaplain candidates. The course involved preaching an expository sermon for Father’s Day. Dr. Milton is pictured here with Alan McClelland (M.Div.M. ‘07) who graduated from RTS/Jackson. Dr. Milton, a chaplain in the US Army Reserves, was nominated and appointed recently by the chief of chaplains of the U.S. Army, as a founding member of the College of Military Preaching. Keep up with Dr. Milton on twitter at twitter.com/mamilton.

CAMPUS EVENTS
Fall classes begin August 25 – Online registration is open.

ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Do you have an alumni snippet to share? Send it to the editor, here.
Richard Brueck – (current student) is taking some time off from seminary to commit to a two-year opportunity in East Africa. He and his wife Kate have been there about a month and they are both teaching classes to the students. Kate teaches English and music and will be starting two choirs in the next few weeks. Richard teaches Bible most of the day and two English classes.  He asks for prayer that God would continue to send headmasters for training and that God would give him energy and health during those weeks.  Please pray that they would continue to adjust, that friendships would deepen, and that God would allow them to find a good church. Visit www.rafikifoundation.org  to find information about your ROS, what Rafiki is doing, the villages, and the exchange.

Dean Conkel (M.Div. ‘93) is the pastor of Dayspring Presbyterian Church in Forsyth, Georgia.

Will Faires (M.Div. ‘74), campus minister for Reformed University Fellowship International (RUFI) at UNCC in Charlotte, NC, shared that 25 international students attended their spring dinner. He asks for prayer for the students, for the ongoing bible studies and is not only thankful for the area churches offering hospitality to the group but also for God’s provision for this ministry.

Michael Farrell (MATS ’99), associate librarian at RTS/Orlando, and his wife Leigh Anna celebrate the birth of their daughter Hannah, (pictured right) born several weeks early on July 4th! Congratulations!

Andres Garza (M.Div. '06), Mission to the World's northern Mexico team leader experienced devastation in Monterrey, Mexico, after the recent Hurricane Alex. Please keep them in your prayers.

Bill Leach (M.Div. ‘93) is the organizing pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church (mission) in Harrisonburg, VA. The church meets at the Elks Lodge on South Main. Bill lives in Harrisonburg with his wife Annie and their five children: Corban, Madeline, Mikaela, Declan and Josiah.

J. Phillip Luther, Jr. (M.Div. ‘07) and his wife Virginia will be moving to Greece in a few months as Mission to the World (MTW) missionaries. He and his wife have six children: Rachael 17 (youngest),  Matthew, Jennifer, Ashleigh, Jason and Brittany.

Bill Robfogel (M.Div. ‘76) is a Serving in Mission (SIM) member who serves in the Transformational Education Network (TEN3) technology department providing wiki support and online collaboration tools for developing curriculum.  Bill also serves as the liason between the TEN3 communications and technology departments. Click here to watch the video explaining TEN3. Bill and his wife Edna have been in Sebring, FL, for almost 2 months now. They ask for prayer for the trainers, and the writers and the students and for God to use them to help move liberal arts education in Africa away from dependence on the west, towards a biblical worldview and living model of discipleship.

Dr. Chuck Hill wrote Who Chose the Gospels?  Probing the Great Gospel Conspiracy (Oxford University Press). Due Nov. 2010. Click here to purchase the book.

CHARLOTTE PROFESSOR INTERVIEWED ON REFORMED FORUM
Dr. James Anderson, assistant professor of theology and philosophy at RTS/Charlotte was interviewed on Reformed Forum with a panel from Christ the Center, discussing his book Paradox in Christian Theology and other issues in Reformed apologetics. Click here to listen to the interview (the “play” button is very small and found just under the title). Click here to purchase the book.

DR. JOHN CURRID – PROFESSOR AND ARCHAEOLOGIST – READ ALL ABOUT IT!
The Times-Herald in Charlotte recently published an article on Dr. Currid and his work in archaeology. Click here to read the article. Dr. Currid hosts many of the RTS tours overseas. The 2010 tour he is hosting to Israel in October is full. Another tour to Israel in 2012 is in the planning stages. Contact Luther Bigby at cct@rts.edu if you are interested. Click here for more RTS tours.

SIGN UP NOW FOR FALL SEMESTER AT RTS/HOUSTON
RTS/Houston is now approved to offer classes for credit and plans eventually to offer the complete MAR and M.Div. degrees. Classes will be held at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. Read more here.

CAMPUS EVENTS
Fall classes begin August 25 – Online registration is open.

Lauren Spiewalk (MATS ‘10) is moving to North Africa with World Evangelization for Christ (WEC) to help establish safe-houses providing counseling, trade skills training, and Bible study to women and children who have been rescued out of human trafficking.

NEW STUDENTS ARRIVING ON CAMPUS
Welcome to the fall semester at RTS. Students have arrived from all over the United States, including Wisconsin, New York, Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, North Carolina and more. Others have come from overseas including Scotland, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Korea,  Brazil, South Korea, Macedonia, Kenya, Switzerland and more. Classes began Aug. 25 for most of our campuses. Please keep these students in your prayers as they have left much to follow the call of the Lord and serve Him. Pray for their financial needs, their family and their relationships. Many of you are already assisting them with scholarship gifts. Thank you so much for your support. If others of you are led to give, please click here to give to RTS. Pictured here are several new students to RTS/Orlando making their way to a seminar.

A MESSAGE TO NEW STUDENTS FROM PRESIDENT MIKE MILTON
Dr. Mike Milton, president of RTS/Charlotte, delivered this message to incoming RTS/Charlotte students on Monday, Aug. 23 at orientation. "Recently I participated in the ordination of a young man to the Gospel ministry, to pastor a congregation in small town in South Carolina. It was an awe-inspiring moment. And beneath the prayers and petitions, with laying on of hands, I watched his wife, smiling with tears, holding their babies and looking up to heaven. You see, their dreams were coming true. Hard work and commitment to follow a Savior had now led to this worship service. And yet three years ago he sat where you sit today... Click here to read the rest of the sermon.

RTS FACULTY PROMOTIONS
Dr. Howard Griffith (pictured left) was promoted to associate professor of systematic theology and academic dean at RTS/Washington D.C. as of June 1. In addition, Dr. John Yeo (pictured right) was appointed academic dean at RTS/Atlanta this summer.


NEW STAFF AT RTS
Welcome Holley Gregory in the RTS/Charlotte Admissions Office, who is also the wife of new student Mark Gregory.  Sarah Cozart will be leaving in early September and we will miss her.

Joe Morris (M.Div.M '94), (pictured right) will be the interim facilities, security and safety director for RTS/Jackson. Joe arrived in March of 2006 and has worked under the guidance and training of Robert Benton as assistant to the director. He is married and has three children. 

RTS/Jackson was sad to see Robert Benton leave on July 23, but excited for him as he takes a new job opportunity to work on the design and new technologies of HVAC systems with Lennox Co., in Grenada. Benton was the director of facilities for 13 years, working diligently all over campus and many times, behind the scenes to keep the campus operations moving smoothly. He will also be greatly missed.

Heather DeFrancisco is not a new name at RTS/Orlando but she does have an additional position now as student life and placement assistant as well as part-time receptionist. She replaced Rachael Butler (MAC '10) who is now working as a counseling intern with Dr. Chuck DeGroat in California. Heather is married and recently celebrated her one-year wedding anniversary.

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL CHOOSES RTS STUDENT AS NEW HEADMASTER
Providence Hall Classical Christian School in Oklahoma City has chosen Nathan Carr as new headmaster. Carr is an MAR student at RTS/Virtual and is currently writing his thesis. He was upper school development director at Providence this past year, and has been with the school since 2006.

HIGH PRAISE FOR ESV ATLAS
Dr. Derrick Thomas, John Richards professor of practical and systematic theology at RTS/Jackson, enjoys a good atlas, and this one is no exception. See his article on the new ESV Bible Atlas by John D. Currid and David P. Barrett. Thomas writes, "First, I declare a bias - well, two if I may: that I know John Currid (one of the co-authors of this volume -he's a colleague and a dear friend), and I have something of an obsession for Bible Atlases. After all, what is more necessary..." Click here to read the rest of his article on Reformation 21. Order your copy of the atlas here with a portion of this sale going to RTS when you buy on www.mindandheart.com.  

NEW BOOK BY DR. JOHN FRAME
Dr. John Frame, professor of systematic theology and philosophy at RTS/Orlando has finished Doctrine of the Word of God (P&R) which will be published in November. In the preface he writes “I turn 70 in April, 2009. My father died at age 72, in 1980. They discovered that he had acute leukemia, and he was gone in six months. So I find myself more and more often calculating the implications of mortality. I am not morose, and for now I am in good health. I believe in Jesus Christ and anticipate a glorious reunion with him before too long. But while I am here I need to put a fresh emphasis on redeeming the time…” Click here to read the rest of the preface (with permission from Dr. Frame).

FIRST ANNUAL REFORMATION WORSHIP CONFERENCE IN GA
Midway Presbyterian Church in Powder Springs, Ga, will host the First Annual Reformation Worship Conference Oct. 21-24 with speakers who are leading experts in Reformed worship including Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old, Dr. Terry Johnson, Dr. T. David Gordon, Dr. Mark Ross, Dr. L. Roy Taylor, Dr. David W. Hall, Rev. Carl Robbins, Dr. Jon D. Payne, Dr. Paul Jones and others. Early registration is available until Aug. 31. Click here for more information. This conference can be taken as 4PT526 Worship, a three credit hour course, through RTS/Atlanta by attending two addtional weekend sessions. To see details go to the Fall 2010 Upcoming Classes for RTS/Atlanta. Contact Jonathan Stuckert jstuckert@rts.edu with any questions on earning masters level credit for this course.

CAMPUS EVENTS
RTS/HOUSTON 
Sept. 3 – New start date of classes for ‘The Gospels” with Dr. Cara. The class is held Friday nights and Saturday mornings.

RTS/WASHINGTON D.C.
Aug. 26 - Convocation will be held at McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, Va., at 7:30 p.m.
The Rev. Irwyn Ince, (MAR, RTS Washington) is the speaker.

Oct. 15-16 - A conference “The Church and Islam” will be held at McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, Va.

RTS/ORLANDO
Nov. 3-4 -  James Davison Hunter will discuss his book, To Change the World; The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World, at RTS/Orlando. His book is the RTS/Orlando “One School One Book” title that the entire Orlando campus will read for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Feb. 10 - Presidential Inauguration of Dr. Don Sweeting.

RTS/CHARLOTTE
Aug. 27 – BBQ Picnic for new students.
Aug. 28 - Orientation brunch for Women of RTS.
Aug. 31 - Convocation will be held on campus, and Dr. Mike Milton will speak on “RTS and the Movement of the Holy Spirit in the Church Today”.

Sept. 23 -25 - Women of RTS will hold a retreat at Bonclarken, with speaker
Elizabeth Garn (MATS ’09)

Sept. 28 - The Fall Lectures at RTS/Charlotte will be led by one of America's most famous church historians, Dr. George Marsden, retired professor of American Christianity at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Marsden will give a series of lectures on Jonathan Edwards at RTS/Charlotte. The author of numerous prize-winning books, he is considered the preeminent Edwards scholar on the planet.

Nov. 12-13 - RTS/Charlotte will host a PCA MNA Church Planter Readiness Seminar. Through input, dialogue and evaluation by experienced church planters, students will receive helpful insight into church planting competencies, and leave with a plan to strengthen their ministry skills in key areas. The resulting snapshot will help them develop learning strategies for growth and development in ministry skills. Dr. Rod Culbertson is an assessor for this seminar.

RTS/JACKSON
Aug. 26 - Convocation will be held on campus.

Aug. 30 – Dec. 6 - Emeritus  Professor of New Testament, Knox Chamblin will teach a series on the Theology of CS Lewis at Trinity Presbyterian Church on Monday evenings.

Sept. 7-9 - A missions conference will be held on campus. The main speaker will be Rev. Doug Nichols, founder of Action International, highly recommended by Dr. John Piper. 

Sept. 16-17 - Sharon Hersh will be conducting a series on Addictions for the Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling (MFTC) annual conference.  Lectures will be held in the RTS/Jackson Biblical Studies Building.  
 
Nov. 9-11 - The John Reed Miller Lecture Series will be held on campus. The speaker is Dr. Steve Lawson (D.Min. ’90), senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala.

ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Do you have an alumni snippet to share? Send it to the editor, here.

Tommy Park (M. Div 07) is the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) campus minister at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. Read more about his RUF group here www.unf.ruf.org.  He is married to Nikki and they have a daughter Naphtili (Tili). He is also the chair of the Interfaith Center Advisory Council for the Interfaith Center at UNF.  

Nathan Parker (M.Div. '09) and his wife will be moving to England this fall to attend Durham University. Nathan will be working toward a PhD in historical theology on the writings of the Puritan John Flavel.

RTS SUCCESSION PLAN TAPS PRESIDENT MILTON AS CHANCELLOR ELECT
The succession of top leadership is a common challenge among churches, ministries and even companies and corporations. It is best for organizations to prepare for such changes by developing a succession plan that leads to a smooth transition.  Reformed Theological Seminary, in an effort to glorify God and to be an example of good stewardship and effective preparation, has therefore planned and is now implementing a succession plan for Chancellor and CEO, Dr. Robert C. (Ric) Cannada, Jr.

The executive committee of the RTS Board of Trustees, at their September 2nd meeting, unanimously elected Dr. Michael A. Milton as chancellor elect and successor to Dr. Cannada. Both Dr. Milton and Dr. Cannada will share leadership responsibilities for the next 21 months, until June 1, 2012, at which time Dr. Milton will assume full responsibilities as chancellor and CEO of RTS.  At that time, Dr. Cannada will remain with RTS as chancellor emeritus assisting the seminary with the anticipated 50th anniversary financial campaign to help provide for the future operational and capital needs of all the RTS campuses. Read more here.

SMART CLASSROOM
Due to a generous donation, RTS has almost completed the installation of two "smart" classrooms. These classrooms include a full complement of multimedia components and the capability for live interactivity between campuses. The RTS/Orlando classroom is now complete (pictured right where a training was held) and the RTS/Charlotte classroom installation will begin shortly. An additonal gift that will be given next year will allow for a smart classroom to be installed on the RTS/Jackson and RTS/Atlanta campuses. 

MANY FACULTY SERMONS ON THE GOSPEL COALITION SITE
Search for faculty by name on this insightful site of resources. The Gospel Coalition was founded in 2005 and is a “fellowship of evangelical churches deeply committed to renewing our faith in the gospel of Christ and to reforming our ministry practices to conform fully to the Scriptures.” Find blogs, publications, interviews, book reviews and more here. RTS Faculty resources provided by Dr. Mike Milton, Professor Mike Glodo, Dr. Derek Thomas, Professor John Muether, Dr. Robert Cara, Dr. John Frame, Dr. Mark Futato, Dr. Reggie Kidd, Dr. Simon Kistemaker, Dr. Doug Kelly, as well as numerous notables and RTS alumni.

PICTURES FROM RTS/ORLANDO CONVOCATION

As the co-author of Things That Cannot Be Shaken, (Crossway Books, Spring 2008) he also currently teaches Pastoral Theology and Counseling at RTS/Charlotte and will be an adjunct there. Dr. Mays has taught Pastoral Ministry, Pastoral Counseling, and a specialized class for the Institute for Reformed Campus Ministry called  Pastoral Ministry: Local Church and College Campus.   Going forward he will regularly teach Pastoral Counseling and Pastoral Ministry: Local Church and College Campus.

His wife Debra serves on the staff of Mitchell Rd. Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC as a counselor to women and families. Dr. Mays and his wife have a daughter, Morgan, who is married.

Dr. Milton remarked, "Dr. Rod Mays has been an outstanding teacher for RTS/Charlotte in the recent years and has made an enormous impact in our department, in particular through biblical and pastoral counseling courses. His contribution to the Institute for Reformed Campus Ministry at RTS/Charlotte, along with his godly mentorship to our students and relationships with our faculty, have all pointed to this event, which we have prayed for: that Rod would be a part of RTS in an official faculty relationship. We praise God for his labors in the PCA and at RTS and look forward to many years of laboring together in the Gospel of Jesus Christ." 

Dr. Mays was interviewed in a ByFaith article in June. Click here to read the article.

RTS/HOUSTON 
Classes began Sept. 3. Contact admissions.houston@rts.edu for more information about the spring semester, or call 800-752-4382.

RTS/WASHINGTON D.C.
Oct. 15-16 - A conference “The Church and Islam”, hosted by the CS Lewis Institute and RTS Washington DC, will be held at McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, Va., with speaker Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo. For more information, click here.

RTS/ORLANDO
Sept. 14 – Women in Ministry (WIM) Connections Luncheon at 12:00p.m.
Sept. 16 – WIM Coffee House (Q&A with Ted Sinn (M.Div. 02) and his wife Tricia) on “Doing Seminary Well” from 7-9p.m.
Oct. 7 - A Conversation with Arlene Richardson: "Lessons Learned in Ministry" from 7-9p.m.

WIM small groups meet the 3rd Thursday of each month.

Nov. 3-4 - James Davison Hunter will discuss his book, To Change the World; The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World, at RTS/Orlando. His book is the RTS/Orlando “One School One Book” title that the entire Orlando campus will read for the 2010-2011 academic year.

RTS/CHARLOTTE
Women in Ministry (WIM) event – Mondays with the Olivers (Sept 13th & 27th) & Fortsons (Oct. 11th & 25th)  at 7:00 p.m. in the dining room on campus. The topic of conversation with Dr. and Mrs. John Oliver will be on “Personal Sanctification and Transformation.” Dr. and Mrs. Don Fortson will talk about “Church History and a Christian Worldview in Today’s Culture.”

Psalm Breakfasts - Fridays 7:30 a.m. in the dining room on campus.

Newlywed Women’s Breakfast & Support Group - Saturday mornings with Tom and Tari Williamson.

Sept. 28 - The Fall Lectures at RTS/Charlotte will be led by one of America's most famous church historians, Dr. George Marsden, retired professor of American Christianity at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Marsden will give a series of lectures on Jonathan Edwards at RTS/Charlotte.

Oct 1-3 (DATE CHANGE) Women of RTS will hold a retreat at Bonclarken, on “Resting and Waiting on God” with speaker Elizabeth Garn (MATS ’09).

RTS/JACKSON
Sept. 7-9 - A missions conference will be held on campus. The main speaker will be Rev. Doug Nichols (http://www.dougnichols.org/), founder of Action International, highly recommended by Dr. John Piper. 

Sept. 16-17 - Sharon Hersh will be conducting a series on Addictions for the Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling (MFTC) annual conference.  Lectures will be held in the RTS/Jackson Biblical Studies Building.  
 
Nov. 9-11 - The John Reed Miller Lecture Series will be held on campus. The speaker is Dr. Steve Lawson (D.Min. ’90), senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala.
 
ALUMNI SNIPPETS
(Joseph) Hong (Ph.D. ’10) – will relocate to Asia to work with Wycliffe International for the next five years and continue to work to engage Asian Diaspora churches into worldwide Bible translation movements. He will spend one year in South Korea from this July and the following four years in southeast Asia. Please pray for his relocation process and settlement in new locations.

Robert Rothwell (M.Div. ‘04), associate editor of Tabletalk magazine, and his wife Sarah celebrated the birth of their first child, Leah Margaret, on June 28, 2010. Congratulations!

Patrick Stefan (current RTS/Washington DC M.Div. student) recently published an article in a publication from the Edinburgh 2010 Missions conference (Edinburgh 2010: Youth Perspectives). Click here (scroll down to Youth Perspectives and download the article.

Tim R. Watson (M.Div. '01) was elected to served on the Board of Trustees for Erskine College and Seminary.
 
Mark Auffarth (M.Div. '03) and his wife  Anne, along with five of their six children, recently moved to Greenville, SC, where Mark is senior pastor of Shannon Forest Presbyterian Church.  For the past six years he was senior pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana Cristo Rey in Santiago, Chile.  Their oldest son Robbie married Natalia Figueroa in Chile and is pursuing a PhD in math at the Catholic University in Santiago.

Scott G Davenport  (M.Div. ‘08) is raising support to join the Peru Mission team. Once in Peru, they’ll attend language school for 4-6 months and then plant themselves in Trujillo (mission headquarters). He will work chiefly with the little seminary the mission has established, but will also do what is needed in the church planting/revitalization initiatives. He asks for prayer that the Lord would speed them to Peru and speed their transition to the people, language and culture! Read more here or on his blog here.
  
David Donovan (M.Div. ‘08) completed a year-long internship at Grace OPC in Sewickley, Pa., and was recently ordained by the Tennessee Valley Presbytery of the PCA and installed as senior pastor of Reformed Presbyterian Church of Lookout Mountain. Read more about David here.

Gordon Duncan (MAR ‘05) and his wife Amy founded Sovereign King Church in Garner, NC, in 2006. The church continues to grow as they have now moved into their fifth location since their beginning. The new facility seats 200 with the former only seating 80. Gordon was featured in an article recently in the Garner Citizen Newspaper. Click here to read the entire article.

Andres Garza (M.Div. ’06) and his wife Ruth are currently serving with Mission to the World (MTW) in Mexico. This summer they served with six short-term teams on VBS, construction and medical brigades and had around 690 children in VBS and around 20% of these families started attending their churches. Also, in response to Hurricane Alex passing through Monterrey, Andres’ team started a disaster response plan called Genesis--raising $35,000 among MTW and churches in Mexico. With two medical brigades they helped around 800 people and families. It was a “great privilege” for Andres, “to help them have hope.” They shared the gospel with these people and “trust the Lord who is the one working on their hearts.” Monterrey has also been the target of some gang-related drug cartels at the border of Texas. They ask for prayers for safety, that the Lord gives them boldness to keep praying the gospel of Jesus Christ in the middle of the violence they are witnessing in their cities. Their daughters Priscila and Lissete are attending college.

NEARLY 50 YEARS LATER, WIPF AND STOCK REPUBLISHES PROFESSOR'S DISSERTATION
Nearly 50 years after it appeared in print (Feb. 1961) in Amsterdam, Dr. Simon Kistemaker’s doctoral dissertation, The Psalm Citations in the Epistle to the Hebrews, has been republished by Wipf and Stock in Oregon. The back cover reads “Something which draws the immediate attention of the reader is the abundance of psalm citations in the Epistle to the Hebrews. In the first chapter, five of the seven quotations are taken from the Psalter. Also in the other chapters passages out of the book of Psalms represent an important share in the number of OT citations quoted.”

To order, please call the RTS Orlando Bookstore at 800-390-7426. They will be ordering sufficient copies for order fulfillment. The book lists for $19.00 and the RTS Orlando Bookstore will sell it for $14.99 (plus tax and shipping where applicable). Expected delivery date in the store is Oct. 4. You may also email the bookstore manager, Greg Thompson, at gthompson@rts.edu.

THE “NEW” RTS ON ITUNES U
RTS on iTunes U is all new with a brand new layout, some very cool new features, and tons of new content coming to the site over the next couple of months.  To experience what you can do with the new RTS on iTunes U, click here.

GLORIOUS REIGN: RETHINKING THE RETURN OF CHRIST CONFERENCE
Do you have questions about what will happen in the last days? There is still time to register for the Glorious Reign Conference which will be held October 1-3 at Poolesville Baptist Church in Poolesville, Md. Dr. Howard Griffith, associate professor of systematic theology at RTS/Washington D.C., will be speaking, along with Rob Dalrymple, academic dean of Koinonia Graduate School of Theology and pastor of Cornerstone Fellowship and Alan Bandy, assistant professor of New Testament and Greek, at Oklahoma Baptist University. Jace Broadhurst  (M.Div. ’99) is senior pastor of Poolesville Baptist Church.

THE FALL LECTURES AT RTS/CHARLOTTE
The Fall Lectures at RTS/Charlotte will be led by one of America's most famous church historians, Dr. George Marsden, retired professor of American Christianity at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Marsden will give a series of lectures on Jonathan Edwards at RTS/Charlotte on Sept. 28, 9a-12p. He has written several books including Jonathan Edwards: A Life (pictured left).

TOUR SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, NORMANDY AND PARIS IN THE SPRING
Sign up now for a tour with Professor of Church History Dr. Don Fortson March 19-22, 2011 to Scotland, England, Normandy and Paris. To see pictures of similar previous tours, register-on-line or view the daily itinerary, go to www.rts.edu/cht. The deadline for registering at the listed price of $3398 is Nov. 23. After reviewing the information, if you have questions, e-mail Luther Bigby at cht@rts.edu.

NEW RTS VIRTUAL ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
The following courses are now available via the online virtual classroom: History of Christianity I and II, Systematic Theology I, II and III, Pastoral and Social Ethics, Apologetics, History of Philosophy and Christian Thought, Introduction to Theological Studies, C.S. Lewis, Gospels, Acts and Romans, Genesis to Joshua, Judges to Esther, Poets, Isaiah to Malachi, Hebrew I and II, Greek I and II.
You can check out the syllabi for these online courses by clicking here.

NEW IT HELP AT RTS ORLANDO
Welcome new M.Div. student Nate Meyer who has been hired as part-time staff for RTS Orlando as IT administrator. Nate grew up in Orlando but just moved back from Washington, D.C., where he worked as an IT consultant at Community IT Innovators (specializes in non-profit technology). He has a B.A. in English from the University of Florida and also worked at the UF Computing Help Desk and supported the IT infrastructure of the university. Nate hopes to become a chaplain in the US Army.

A big thanks to Adam Boesl of TradeWeb, for serving as interim IT administrator.

NEED A BOOK? TRY MINDANDHEART.COM
Purchase a new or used book on our Amazon Associate Web site, Mindandheart.com and a portion of the sale will go to RTS. You’ll find our professor’s library of books and you can even create a wish list. Click here to get started.

CAMPUS EVENTS
RTS/HOUSTON 
Classes began Sept. 3. Contact admissions.houston@rts.edu for more information about the spring semester, or call 800-752-4382.

RTS/WASHINGTON D.C.
Oct. 15-16 - A conference “The Church and Islam”, hosted by the CS Lewis Institute and RTS Washington DC, will be held at McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, Va., with speaker Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo. For more information, click here.

RTS/ORLANDO
RTS Women in Ministry small groups are starting today. The groups will meet once a month on the 3rd Thursday of each month.
• Day group led by Sarah Baker meeting in the RTS parlor from 12noon-1p.
• Night group led by Jennifer Redd meeting at the Redd’s home from 7-8:30p.
Both groups are using the book Bravehearts by Sharon Hersh.

Oct. 7 – Women in Ministry - A Conversation with Arlene Richardson: “Lessons Learned in Ministry”, 7-9pm, Fellowship Hall.

Nov. 3-4 - James Davison Hunter will discuss his book, To Change the World; The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World, at RTS/Orlando. His book is the RTS/Orlando “One School One Book” title that the entire Orlando campus will read for the 2010-2011 academic year.

RTS/CHARLOTTE
Women in Ministry (WIM) event – Mondays with the Olivers (Sept. 27th) & Fortsons (Oct. 11th & 25th)  at 7:00 p.m. in the dining room on campus. The topic of conversation with Dr. and Mrs. John Oliver will be on “Personal Sanctification and Transformation.” Dr. and Mrs. Don Fortson will talk about “Church History and a Christian Worldview in Today’s Culture.”

Psalm Breakfasts - Fridays 7:30 a.m. in the dining room on campus.

Newlywed Women’s Breakfast & Support Group - Saturday mornings with Tom and Tari Williamson.

Oct 1-3 Women of RTS will hold a retreat at Bonclarken, on “Resting and Waiting on God” with speaker Elizabeth Garn (MATS ’09)

RTS/JACKSON
Sept 27 - Brown Bag Lunch With Dr. Ligon Duncan of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson at 12:00pm in Patterson's Porch

Student Cabinet Hosts Annual "Game Night" on Fri, Sept 24, 7:00pm

New "Tradition" at RTS: Ultimate Frisbee on Mon, 4:45pm
Volleyball to Move to Tue, 8:00pm
Clothes Closet Begins Fall Schedule on Sat, Sept 11, 10:00am

Nov. 9-11 - The John Reed Miller Lecture Series will be held on campus. The speaker is Dr. Steve Lawson (D.Min. ’90), senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala. 
 
ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Do you have an alumni snippet to share? Send it to the editor, here.

Jim Adams, III, former RTS student, has served the past year as the youth, marriage and family director at Jackson's New Hope Baptist Church, a congregation of about 2,500 families in Mississippi. He told the Clarion-Ledger newspaper, in Jackson, that he has been a millionaire and he has been bankrupt. Read the article here, titled “What if…you had a second chance?” 

Leonard Bailey (MABS ‘04) is the senior pastor of Hope of Christ Church in Stafford, Va.  He and his wife, Amy, have three daughters and one son.

Jim Carter (MAMFT ’85, M.Div. ‘88), a chaplain in the U.S. Army, was called by The New Presbyterian Church in Pompano Beach, Fla, on Aug. 29, to be their senior minister. Chaplain Carter was serving as the senior protestant pastor and deputy garrison chaplain at the U.S. Army War College Memorial Chapel where he served as pastor to strategic military leaders and family members. He served over 22 years in the Army chaplaincy and has held numerous ministry leadership positions. He served in two combat tours: Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (August 1990 to March 1991), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (December 2007 to February 2009). While in Iraq, he was the senior U.S. military chaplain in Multi-National Division Baghdad, where he oversaw 70 other U.S. military chaplains, and supervised the religious support program for 33,000 service personnel. He is also working on a Doctorate of Ministry Degree at Erskine Theological Seminary. Chaplain Carter is married to Terri Carter (MAMFT ’85) and they have two children, Sarah (17) and David (14). Terri has worked within the Army education system, teaching college courses for soldiers stationed at West Point.
 
Philipp Gollner (M.Div. ‘09) graduated with an M.A. in the Social Sciences from the University of Chicago recently and will be teaching history and religion as a visiting professor at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill., this year. His wife Sarah and daughter Eleonora are doing well. They will stay in Chicago for at least one more year. He sends greetings to Oviedo and “all the dear folks at RTS.”

Douglas Graham (D.Min. ‘10) is the senior pastor of Knox Presbyterian Church in Harrison Township, Mich. He is married to Lesley and they have three sons Andrew, George and Mac.

Andrew “Reid” Jones (M.Div. ‘10) received a call to minister with Jordan Presbyterian Church in West Jordan, UT, a church which is a part of the Mission Utah church-planting network. Mission Utah is a church-planting and campus ministry (RUF) movement seeking to reach disenfranchised Mormons and nonbelievers. Reid has been there for about a month with his wife Kelli and new baby girl Lucy Jones. They ask for prayer that they would lean heavily upon the Lord in this period of transition for their family, and for their ministry work and for opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Read more about their ministry here. http://utahjones.org/

Ron Lively (M.Div. ’83, MAMFT ‘87) is the newly appointed international director of Society for Education and Economic Development (SEED, Inc.), which is “a marketplace and community outreach ministry focused on building strategic alliances and training leaders to change lives and transform communities,” which is helping Liberia. Ron is also the executive director of Healthy Initiatives Ministries (HIM) and works part time for the BUV Ministry (basic utility vehicles).
  
Sean McCann (M.Div. ‘07) (pictured right) and his wife Lindsey are currently serving with Mission to the World in La Ceiba, Honduras with daughters Lucy and Ellie, and another on the way. They recently finished hosting a three-day medical clinic with work teams and a big medical group from Pennsylvania, consisting of many medical professionals. Over 200 patients were seen. This fall they are teaching the 10 Commandments to the kids in their weekly Kids Club. Their teammastes, the Pettengills, left for their Home Missions Assignment in the U.S.  Also, since January, they have been constructing a two-acre ministry center in Armenia Bonito.  Click here to watch a video of the project, put together by their team leader. Click here for more info on the McCanns.

Helen Qiu (Th.M. ‘07) has been admitted as a new Ph.D. student at Columbia University in NY, in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures.  Her major will be in Chinese Religion and History.  The question she will explore is "What kind of questions/categories do Chinese people ask when they encounter God or religion?"  She aims to use Systematic Christian Theology to let the Scripture answer the questions that concern the Chinese people/traditions. 

Cynthia Ruble (MATS ’00) is very excited that she has filed for adoption very recently for Micah.  Also she reports that her homestay, Keiko and Keiko’s daughter Rio has been taken off her heart medicine since the hole in her heart has stabilized and hopes that she will come home soon. Also recently a young man studying in her bible study group said “I want to take up my cross and follow Jesus.” Cynthia had never heard anyone say that in Japan before. She asks for continued prayers.
 
Jeremy Sink (M.Div. ’01), pastor of Grace Fellowship in Asheboro, NC, and his wife Gina and three sons are preparing for life in Japan. Read the article here. Read more about his ministry here.  
 
Tim Watson (MDiv '01), senior pastor of New Sterling ARP Church, in Stony Point, NC, was recently appointed to be a member of the board of trustees for Erskine College and Seminary.

IT’S CLERGY APPRECIATION MONTH!
Have you communicated your appreciation to your pastor this week? Of course no special occasion is required for that, but October is the month that is set aside for this. Dr. Don Sweeting, president of RTS/Orlando, has written a three-part series on pastors. Part 1 is called “In Praise of Pastors”. He writes “The call to be a pastor is a high and holy privilege; but the actual job is no piece of cake. It is one of the greatest callings in the world. Yet it is also one of the most challenging callings in the world. Peter Drucker, the late leadership guru, once said that the four hardest jobs in America are…” Read more here on his blog.

DR. DOUG KELLY WRITES INTRODUCTION TO INSTITUTES TRANSLATION
Dr. Doug Kelly, the Richard Jordan professor of theology, wrote the introduction to the second edition of the Chinese translation of The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin. This translation of The Institutes (due November 2010) is the work of one of Dr. Kelly's former students, Joseph Chien (MAMis ‘91). Read the introduction here.

RTS/ATLANTA IS ON FACEBOOK!
Visit the new RTS Atlanta Facebook page! What are they doing in this picture? Why it’s the letters R-T-S of course. Atlanta students can use this page to communicate, receive class updates, general news updates, and share stories about how the Lord is working in their lives through their experience at RTS/Atlanta.

VIRTUAL CAMPUS ORIENTATION SEMINARS
Virtual M.A. (Religion) students are required to complete an orientation seminar on an RTS campus near the beginning of their degree work. However, the orientation seminar is much more than just a requirement. Orientation is an opportunity for students to visit the RTS/Charlotte campus, hear lectures from RTS professors, visit top-notch theological libraries, meet with personal advisors from the RTS/Virtual staff, and network with other students. To register, contact Alice Hathaway, Virtual registrar. Upcoming dates for orientation seminars are: Oct. 25-27, Jan. 24-26, Feb. 21-23, April 18-20, June 20-22

DR. GUY WATERS’ POCKET GUIDE DUE OUT IN NOVEMBER
Dr. Guy Waters, associate professor of New Testament at RTS/Jackson, wrote A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Justification: Being Made Right With God? (Christian Focus Publications, due November 2010). The description reads: "Could you explain Justification if asked to? For many of us, the whole concept of justification is as mystifying as a foreign language, but yet Christians down the ages have fought to defend it - seeing it quite rightly as a vital element of how we are saved. But justification is not a relic of the past - it has direct relevance to us as Christians today. We often struggle with the thought of justification because of human pride; 'I can't be that bad' and so justification is often undermined, wrongly presented or just plain ignored. Scripture though, is brutally clear: we have a real problem - the prospect of our lives marred by wrong-doing being laid out before an almighty God who is pure and will not forever let wrong go unpunished. We can't earn our way out of our predicament - as this is just "rubbish" according to the apostle Paul. We need something else, someone who can take the hit we so richly deserve - leaving us to be declared innocent instead. This little book will help you grasp a truth that when understood correctly is explosive, transformational and utterly liberating."

MTW GLOBAL MISSIONS CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER
Interested in missions? Spend time and get to know missionaries from all over the globe at the Mission to the World Global Missions Conference November 5-7 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Rev. Joe Novenson and Dr. Paul Kooistra are the speakers at this event. For more information and to view videos from the speakers, click here. RTS will be there. Stop by our booth and say hello.  

RTS TO ATTEND THIRD LAUSANNE CONGRESS IN AFRICA
The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization begins next week and runs from Oct 17-24 in Cape Town, South Africa. It is for the cause of world evangelization that the Lausanne Movement started in 1974. Chancellor/CEO Elect Mike Milton and Dr. Don Sweeting, president of RTS/Orlando will attend. Dr. Elias Medeiros, Harriet Barbour professor of missions at RTS/Jackson, will also present "Ministering to the Scattered Peoples" in a multiplex session. They ask for your prayers. Read more here. See schedule here.

CAMPUS EVENTS
RTS/ATLANTA
Nov. 18 - Dr. Craig Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary, will lecture at RTS/Atlanta from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on “The Apparent Discrepancies in the Gospels Accounts and its Significance to the Doctrine of Inerrancy.”
 
RTS/HOUSTON 
Contact Houston Admissions  for more information about classes scheduled for the spring semester, or call 800-752-4382 or click here.

RTS/WASHINGTON D.C.
Oct. 15-16: A conference “The Church and Islam”, hosted by the CS Lewis Institute and RTS Washington DC, will be held at McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, Va., with speaker Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo. For more information, click here.

RTS/ORLANDO
Nov. 3-4: James Davison Hunter, Labrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professor of Religion, Culture and Social Theory at the University of Virginia and the Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, will discuss his book, To Change the World; The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World, at RTS/Orlando. In this thought-provoking book, James Davison Hunter argues that popular ways of conceiving of Christian efforts to “transform culture” have been fundamentally misguided, and he offers a bold new framework for rethinking Christian engagement with modernity. A reception will start at 7:00 p.m., followed by a lecture at 7:30 p.m. and a book signing at 8:30 p.m. The public is invited.

Preview Day at RTS/Orlando for prospective students will be held Saturday, March 12, from 10a-3p. Lunch is provided. Meet the president, Dr. Don Sweeting, who will speak, along with Mr. Scott Redd, assistant professor of Old Testament and dean of students. Register by emailing 

RTS/CHARLOTTE
Oct. 25 - Women in Ministry (WIM) event – Monday with the Fortsons at 7:00 p.m. in the dining room on campus. The topic of conversation will be “Church History and a Christian Worldview in Today’s Culture.”

March 10-22 - Christian Heritage tour to Scotland, England and France. Click here for a full itinerary, registration information and a pictorial tour from previous trips. 

RTS/JACKSON
Oct 29 - Mystery Dessert Theater in Patterson's Porch

Nov. 5-6 – Mrs. In Ministry Retreat at Twin Lakes Conference Center in Florence, Miss.

Nov. 9-11 - The John Reed Miller Lecture Series will be held on campus. The speaker is Dr. Steve Lawson (D.Min. ’90), senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala.

Oct. 18 - Brown Bag Lunch With Steve Lanier of Redeemer (PCA), 12:00pm in Patterson's Porch:

ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Tom Brainerd (current student in the Orlando MABS program) has been installed as pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Edgewood, NM, a mission church of the CREC.

Justin Coverstone (M.Div. ’10) received a call from Grace Fellowship Church in Freeport, Ill., to become their pastor and he recently arrived there with his wife Brianna and four children.

Peter Dietsch (M.Div. ’99) just published Living Stones: Why Church Membership Matters (CEP) Click here to order the book. His bio states: "Peter grew up in the church as the son of a missionary and then pastor. From his parents he learned a love for Christ and His people. A former army officer, Peter earned his Master of Divinity from RTS/Orlando, where he also met his wife, Stacie, who was earning her Master of Arts in Theological Studies. They have been blessed with four ‘living stones’ of their own: Stephen, Timothy, Lydia, and Titus. As an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America, Peter has experience as an army chaplain and local church pastor. His strong desire is that God would be glorified in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever (Eph. 3:21)."

Paul Flodquist (MABS ‘88) published Avoiding a Small Church Mentality (Resource Publications, April 2010). You can order the book here. The book is designed for pastors who want to see their congregation grow numerically and in spiritual maturity.

Kelly Kapic (M.Div. '98), professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Ga.,  just published God So Loved, He Gave: Entering the Movement of Divine Generosity (Zondervan, October 2010), along with Justin Borger (current M.Div. student RTS/Orlando), and generostiy content director for the Maclellan Foundation.  Kelly is married to Tabitha and they have two children. The book's description notes, "By placing the practice of giving within the larger story of God's generosity, Kapic and Borger encourage us not simply to "give more," but to step into the powerful current of God's great gifts to the world." Click here to order the book.

Dan Layman (M.Div. '09) has officially accepted the call from Ambassador Presbyterian Church, in Apex, NC, to be the associate pastor of discipleship and outreach.  He will start Nov. 1.

Pedro P. Tarquino (MCE ’91, M.Div.M ’90, PhD, ICS ’04) is with the Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship (PEF) and is working on Bethel Educational Center (which will be a bilingual school), located on the west hillside of Cali, Colombia, in one of the poorest neighborhoods with high rates of violence and crime. His wife Cecilia counsels the children and their parents. A house has been donated to them and now they are close to a negotiation on the land purchase. They need volunteer teachers to help at the school. Colombian retired teachers will come and help them with middle school. Colegio Bolivar donated 10 used computers for their computer room, but they need more. Once they start the construction of the classrooms, they will also need groups of volunteers. They continue their work with The Christian Latin American University. Now they are in the last stage of the distance education certification by the Ecuadorian government. Click here for more info.

REFLECTIONS ON THE THIRD LAUSANNE CONGRESS ON WORLD EVANGELIZATION
Dr. Mike Milton, RTS chancellor/CEO elect and Dr. Don Sweeting, president of RTS/Orlando, blogged on their journey and lessons learned at the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, Africa. Read Dr. Milton’s blog here and Dr. Don Sweeting’s blog here. Dr. Sweeting has 14 "memos" altogether on his blog about this trip.  Dr. Milton has 8 lessons on his blog about the trip. Follow the thread at the top of the screen on each blog for succeeding messages.

DR. JOHN MUETHER WRITES ABOUT VIRTUAL FRIENDSHIP

Dr. Muether, professor of church history at RTS/Orlando wrote about virtual friendship and social networking. He writes, “I have a colleague who has 1,035 Facebook friends. By Facebook standards, that is probably unremarkable. At the same time, of course, it is also a lie. Friendship is humanly impossible on such a mass scale. What results is exhibitionistic too-much-information for most: your colonoscopy this morning is really not my business. Meanwhile, those who are genuinely close to you wonder why they learned of the death of your mother from your twitter that instantly informed untold masses. " Read more here.

REGISTER NOW FOR WINTER TERM AT RTS

Registration opened on Nov. 1 for all January-term classes. The winter term is an accelerated class term. Click here to see the listing of classes offered on our campuses.

DR. MACKENZIE RETURNS FROM THE HOLY LAND

Dr. Charles S. MacKenzie, distinguished professor of philosophy and theology at RTS/Orlando,and his wife Lavonne recently returned from a trip to the Holy Land. Dr. Mackenzie took his protégé, Jeff Crowe (M.Div. ’10) along for the experience of a lifetime. Some of the sights they toured were the Sea of Galilee and the Garden Tomb.

2011 TRUTHXCHANGE THINK TANK- FREE REGISTRATION

TruthXchange, directed by Dr. Peter Jones, scholar in residence at Westminster Seminary California, sponsors a think tank nearly every year. This year it will be held on Jan. 4-7 at First Presbyterian Church in Escondido, Calif. This year’s topic is “The Rise of One-ism: A Poison Pill for the Church,” concentrating on the changes brought about in churches because of the encroaching “new spirituality,” or what Dr. Jones is calling “One-ism” (the belief that All Is One and that there is no Creator who stands outside the creation). Click here for more info.

DR. PAUL HELM TO TEACH AT JACKSON DURING WINTER TERM
Ready to defend the faith?  Perhaps Dr. Paul Helm could help with new class on Apologetics, Jan 24-28 at RTS/Jackson. A conflict is often experienced between the study of the Bible and Christian theology on the one hand and the religious life on the other. This is sometimes expressed as failure to integrate "head" and "heart". This seminar-style course will address this issue using various models of integration drawn from notable figures in Christian history working in the Augustinian tradition. Students will read Augustine, Anselm, Calvin, and Edwards. Dr. Paul Helm is a teaching fellow at Regent College in Canada (since 2005). He also taught at Highland Theological College and was the J.I. Packer professor of theology and philosophy at Regent College. Prior to this he was professor of history and philosophy of religion at King's College, London, from 1993-2000. He earned his B.A. and M.A. from Oxford.

CHANCELLOR SPEAKS IN U.S. CITY--JUST ABOVE CANADA?
Chancellor & CEO Ric Cannada recently asked us a trivia question. “What city in the U.S. is north of the country of Canada?”  It is Detroit. He spoke at Knox Presbyterian Church, in Harrison Township, Mich. When he stayed in the hotel in downtown Detroit he looked south across the river to Canada!  The senior pastor of the church is Dr. Doug Graham (D.Min. '10) and the associate pastor is Ryan McVicar (M.Div. '07).

MRS. IN MINISTRY NAME CHANGE AT RTS/JACKSON
Mrs. In Ministry at RTS/Jackson has changed their name to "Women in Ministry."  This better clarifies those who are welcome to attend their meetings on campus. This ministry strives to help women become more equipped to enter the mission field in a variety of capacities. Carrie Mills, cabinet president of WIM at RTS/Jackson welcomes all to attend the meetings each Thursday night from 7:00pm to 8:45pm for fellowship, learning, and small groups.  

LEADER OF INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES TO TEACH AT RTS/ORLANDO THIS WINTER
Dr. Keith E. Johnson, director of theological education and development and leader of The Institute of Biblical Studies (part of the U.S. Campus Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, International), will teach “Doctrine of the Trinity at RTS/Orlando for the upcoming Winter Term. Trinitarian faith is vital to the life and health of the church. In this course you will explore the biblical/theological foundations, historical development and contemporary approaches to the doctrine of the Trinity. After surveying the twentieth century trinitarian revival, you will carefully trace the historical development of trinitarian doctrine from the second through fifth centuries and then move to developments in the Reformation. You will also explore recent attempts to relate trinitarian doctrine to the church (its worship, identity and mission), human personhood, salvation, and interreligious dialogue.

RTS/VIRTUAL ORIENTATION SEMINAR
The 5th orientation seminar for RTS/Virtual students was held on the campus of RTS/Charlotte Oct. 25-27. In addition to the regular activities in the syllabus, 14 M.A. (Religion) students discussed possible thesis topics, participated in individual advisement sessions, and got a better idea of the components of the M.A. (Religion) degree. Upcoming dates for the orientation seminars are Jan. 24-26, Feb. 21-23, April 18-20 and June 20-22.

RTS/HOUSTON 
Contact admissions.houston@rts.edu for more information about classes scheduled for the spring semester, or call 800-752-4382 or click here.

RTS/ORLANDO
Nov. 3 - James Davison Hunter, Labrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professor of Religion, Culture and Social Theory at the University of Virginia and the Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, will discuss his book, To Change the World; The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World, at RTS/Orlando. In this thought-provoking book, James Davison Hunter argues that popular ways of conceiving of Christian efforts to “transform culture” have been fundamentally misguided, and he offers a bold new framework for rethinking Christian engagement with modernity. A reception will start at 7:00 p.m., followed by a lecture at 7:30 p.m. and a book signing at 8:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 - Missions Luncheon with Rev. Dan Iverson, a missionary to Japan for over 20 years.

Nov. 10-11 Thank-a-Thon – letter writing from students to graciously thank those that give to RTS.

Nov. 11 – Women in Ministry - A conversation with Margi McCombs: “Working Well with Men in Ministry” from 7-9p.m.

March 12 - Preview Day at RTS/Orlando will be held for prospective students from 10a-3p. Lunch is provided. Meet the president, Dr. Don Sweeting who will speak, along with Mr. Scott Redd, assistant professor of Old Testament and dean of students. Register by emailing admissions.orlando@rts.edu or call 407-366-9493 and ask for Kim.

RTS/CHARLOTTE

March 10-22 - Christian Heritage tour to Scotland, England and France. Click here for a full itinerary, registration information and a pictorial tour from previous trips. 

Nov. 8 - Women of RTS - Women's Fall Seminar, "Light in a Post Modern World" will be held on campus from 6:30p.m. until 8:45p.m. This seminar will help to encourage and equip those who struggle to have dialogue with family and friends who have embraced the current new age philosophies. The speaker for the evening is RTS student, Katie Wright, a high school teacher in the inner city of Charlotte.

RTS/JACKSON

A new International Prayer Group is being held on campus Sundays at 8:00p.m.

Nov. 5-6 – Mrs. In Ministry Retreat at Twin Lakes Conference Center in Florence, Miss. After this conference, the name of the ministry will change to Women in Ministry.

Nov. 9-11 - The John Reed Miller Lecture Series will be held on campus. The speaker is Dr. Steve Lawson (D.Min. ’90), senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala.

ALUMNI SNIPPETS

Sean McCann (M.Div. ‘07) and his wife Lindsey announced that little Anna Hunt McCann arrived on Oct. 21 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Congratulations!

Charles “Scott” Pryor (MATS ‘97), professor at Regent University School of Law, led a workshop on natural law and the kingdom of God at the Christian Legal Society meeting in Orlando on Oct. 22. Professor Mike Glodo was a respondent to Professor Pryor’s paper while alumnus Dr. John Fulginiti (MACT ’09) attended and contributed to the questions asked.

Christopher Sicks (MAR ’10), was ordained as assistant pastor at Alexandria Presbyterian Church, by Potomac Presbytery, PCA, on Oct. 17. Pictured are (l to r) Dr. Howard Griffith, associate professor of Systematic Theology and academic dean at RTS/Washington D.C., and Chris and Sarah Sicks.

Scott Waters (M.Div. ‘01), TE in the EPC and pastor of The Village Church in Matthews, NC,  will begin posting his own 95 Theses, one at a time, on a blog called "Old Dogma New Matrix", on Oct. 31. He wrote them about seven years ago but never did much with them except discuss with a few trusted friends. Now he will spend the next year posting them for discussion, one at a time each Sunday evening and Thursday morning. He’d like to have as much discussion and comment as possible, especially from the RTS community.

Tim McKeown has been appointed as executive director of the RTS/Houston campus located at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He currently coordinates the Hispanic Ministries of Mission to North America of the Presbyterian Church in America and has been with MNA in various positions since 1980. Having received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of South Carolina and an M.Div. from RTS, he served as a church planter and associate pastor in Florida and as a church planter in Mississippi, Ecuador and Columbia. He served in the military and received his pilot training at Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas. McKeown and his wife Rebecca have four grown children.

Registration for the spring term at RTS/Houston will begin December 1. Dr. Derek Thomas will teach Scripture/God/Anthropology and Dr. James Anderson will teach Apologetics.

PICTURES FROM AUTHOR SPEAKING EVENT AT RTS/ORLANDO

Dr. John Fulginiti, III, (MACT ’09) (standing) a surgeon in Deland, Fla., shares a laugh with author Dr. James Davison Hunter (seated right) and John Muether (seated left), professor of church history and director of RTS libraries, during the book signing of Hunter’s new book, To Change the World; The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World. Dr. Hunter discussed his book with RTS/Orlando students, graduates, and the community in early November.

REGISTER NOW FOR WINTER TERM

Registration opened on Nov. 1 for all January-term classes. The winter term is an accelerated class term. Click here to see the listing of classes offered on our campuses. Registration for the spring term begins December 1.

VETERAN REUNION ON CAMPUS
Dr. Charles S. MacKenzie, (seated) distinguished professor of philosophy and theology at RTS/Orlando recently reunited on campus with three of the U.S. Services men that became Christians when he was a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force during/before WWII. This was their first reunion in 60 years. (From left to right) Dr. Michael (Mike) Ryan, professor of historical theology at Drew University (retired), Airman First Class – USAF WWII; Dr. Charles S. MacKenzie, Captain – USAF WWII; Mr. Sigmund (Sig) Decker, ordained Lutheran pastor (retired), Staff Sergeant – USAF WWII; Mr. John Robertson, Ordained PCUSA pastor (retired), Staff Sergeant – USAF WWII.

RTS/DC WINTER COURSE ON CHRISTIAN SUFFERING
Dr. Mark Talbot, associate professor of philosophy at Wheaton College, will teach “Unsought Gifts: Christian Suffering” at RTS/DC January 5-7 from 9am-5pm for the winter term. Come explore: “What is it about our agency that makes suffering affect us in the ways it does? What does Scripture say about God's role in our suffering? What are the goods that are likely to come to God's people as they suffer?"

CHUCK COLSON TO DELIVER ADDRESS AT ORLANDO PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION
Dr. Donald W. Sweeting will be inaugurated as the fourth president of the Orlando campus of Reformed Theological Seminary on Feb. 10 at 4:00 p.m. in the Pamplin Chapel. Chuck Colson, syndicated columnist, author international speaker, radio commentator, founder of Prison Fellowship and former aide to the late President Nixon, will deliver the address. The inauguration ceremony is preceded by a 1:00 p.m. Scholars Forum, with several noted scholars discussing “The Future of the New Calvinism and Evangelicalism in the 21st Century.” Dr. Bruce Ware, professor of Christian theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is the guest speaker for the February 9 inaugural chapel service, with Jeremy Casella of Indelible Grace serving as the worship leader.  Click here for more details. This site will continue to be updated as the date draws nearer.

RTS ADJUNCT PROFESSOR BARCLEY PUBLISHES TWO NEW BOOKS
The Secret of Contentment (P&R, Nov. 2010), a new book by Dr. William Barcley is described here by the editor: “Contentment is an essential Christian virtue but, especially in this age, it is one we often lack. William Barcley addresses the heart of the matter—the discontent that lies within. Based in the writings of Jeremiah Burroughs and Thomas Watson, he presents afresh these great Puritans' meditations on contentment for a modern audience. Above all, he seeks the wisdom of Paul, who declared that he had found the "mystery" or the "secret" of being content.” Buy it here and support RTS at the same time.

 
Dr. Barcley is the pastor of Sovereign Grace Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was previously Academic Dean at Reformed Theological Seminary, where he is still adjunct professor of New Testament. He has also taught at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. Dr. Barcley and his wife Kristy have six children.

Evangelical Press released another book by Dr. Barcley, due in December, titled Gospel Clarity.  The editor writes, “We pray that in the pages of this book God's people may again hear the gospel message, the good news that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Buy it here  and support RTS at the same time.

VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION CHOSEN FOR RTS/ORLANDO

Welcome Bob Emeott! Bob will begin working at RTS/Orlando as the vice-president of administration on Dec. 1. He comes to RTS from United Properties in Denver, working in capital markets, finance and administration. Prior to that, he was the CFO of Ascendant Development Corporation. He has worked as director of finance for Servicestar Development Co., LLC. Earlier in his career he worked for Shell Oil in a number of positions.

Bob received his bachelor's in business administration, and also in business management and marketing at Northwood University in Midland, Mich. His executive MBA coursework was done with Keenan Flagler Executive Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with emphasis in capital investment. He also has an executive MBA certificate from the Kellogg Business School Executive  Education, at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., with emphasis in finance.

Bob was also a ruling elder at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church where Dr. Don Sweeting, president of RTS/Orlando, pastored for 12 years.

DR. WILLIAM LARKEN LECTURED ABOUT LAUSANNE AT RTS/CHARLOTTE

Dr. William J. Larken, a New Testament scholar at Columbia International University, lectured in chapel at RTS/Charlotte about Lausanne, in Cape Town, South Africa. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and has served congregations in Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Dr. Larkin received his Ph.D at the University of Durham, England and has taught extensively in international settings. Listen here. Click on View on iTunes, and then select #8 on the RTS/Charlotte chapels.

 
RTS ADJUNCT FACULTY PUBLISHES BOOK FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
Justin Holcomb (MACT ’97, MATS ’97,), PhD (Emory University), is on staff at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Wash., overseeing Christian education work with the counseling pastors. He is also adjunct faculty for RTS. His wife Lindsey is a deacon at Mars Hill, where she provides counseling for victims of sexual assault and trains leaders to care for victims of sexual assault.

Justin and his wife Lindsey have written Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Sexual Assault Victims (Crossway, Jan. 2011). Available here when published.  The editor writes “The church needs compassionate and wise resources to care for those living in the wake of this evil. Other books attempt to address the journey from shame to healing for victims of sexual abuse, but few are from a Christian perspective and written for both child and adult victims. In Rid of My Disgrace, a couple experienced in counseling and care for victims of sexual assault present the gospel in its power to heal the broken and restore the disgraced.

DR. MILTON'S DISSERTATION AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING

Dr. Mike Milton's PhD dissertation from the University of Wales titled “The Application of the Theology of the Westminster Assembly in the Ministry of the Welsh Puritan, Vavasor Powell (1617--1670)” is available in the RTS/Charlotte library in the non-circulating collection. It will soon be available at the Jackson and Orlando campuses. It is also available for purchase here.  Here is a summary:

The Seventeenth Century Welsh Puritan, Vavasor Powell (1717-1670) has, when considered at all, been either excluded from the Puritan worthies of that era or relegated to the radical fringes of Welsh anarchism. This dissertation aims to examine the life, ministry and works of Vavasor Powell, the theological core of the Westminster Assembly which sent him out to establish churches in Wales according to their confessions, and to observe, through historical analysis of primary sources in both Westminster and the life of Powell and his contemporaries, whether Powell (and thus the more radical, Welsh, left wing movement of Seventeenth Century British Puritanism) should be considered one of the greater lights of that era.

RUN JIM, RUN! 

Jim McAlhaney, (M.A.R; M.S.), director of admissions/student services for the Virtual campus of RTS, will run the Charleston “Riverfront” Marathon  in South Carolina on January 15. This is a 26.2 mile race to raise additional scholarship funds for RTS/Virtual students. We call it the 26.2 Virtual Campus Scholarship Fundraiser. Jim is an RTS/Virtual alumnus and staff member. He says, “When I was a student with RTS/Virtual, I was also the recipient of a scholarship to help lower my tuition cost. Without this, I could not have finished seminary.” If you are interested in supporting Jim in this effort, he is hoping to have many pledge $1 per mile for a total contribution of $26.20 per supporter, but more is welcome of course.

If you can commit to the 26.2 Scholarship Fundraiser, email him at jmcalhaney@rts.edu. If you would like to mail your contribution, make the check payable to: Reformed Theological Seminary and mail to Reformed Theological Seminary Virtual Campus,

Attn: Jim McAlhaney, 2101 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226. Note: Please put: 26.2 Virtual Scholarship in the memo line of your check. 

If you choose to make a contribution for this cause online, you can do so here, and be sure to put 26.2 Virtual Scholarship in the notes area of the online form. Your donation is tax-deductible and you will receive a receipt.

CAMPUS EVENTS

RTS/HOUSTON 
Contact admissions.houston@rts.edu for more information about classes scheduled for the spring semester, or call 800-752-4382 or click here.

RTS/ORLANDO

Dec. 14 – RTS Christmas Party

March 12 – Register now for Preview Day at RTS/Orlando. This event will be held for prospective students from 10a-3p. Lunch is provided. Meet the president, Dr. Don Sweeting who will speak, along with Mr. Scott Redd, assistant professor of Old Testament and dean of students. Register by emailing admissions.orlando@rts.edu or call 407-366-9493 and ask for Kim.

RTS/CHARLOTTE

March 10-22 - Christian Heritage tour to Scotland, England and France. Click here for a full itinerary, registration information and a pictorial tour from previous trips. 

RTS/JACKSON

Dec. 13-14 — Flavien Pardigon, currently serving in a ministry reaching out to Muslims in France, will be visiting with faculty and students on campus.

ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Edward "Harris" Bond (M.Div. '05) is currently serving as pastor of Knollwood Presbyterian Church in Sylacauga, Ala. He and his wife Laura Beth are the proud parents of a new baby boy! Thomas Edward Bond was born Sept. 7th in Birmingham, Alabama. His father-in-law is Rev. Thomas Shields (M.Div. '80), pastor of Collins Presbyterian Church in Collins, Miss. 

Scott Davenport (M.Div. ‘08) stepped down as headmaster of Greyfriars Classical Academy in Charlotte, NC, this summer, and accepted a call from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Peru to be the registrar and dean of curriculum in the Reformed Biblical Seminary in Trujillo, Peru.  He will be working as a member of the Peru mission team.  Scott and his wife Julie have raised over half of their support. The Davenports have six children. If you are led to support their ministry, click here. 
 

David Dorst (MAR ’09) was ordained by the Potomac Presbytery on November 7 as the associate pastor at Potomac Hills Presbyterian Church in Leesburg, Va., where he has been the assistant pastor of youth and worship at that church for the past 8 years.

Jeffrey Ferguson (M.Div. ’03) is the campus minister of Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. This fall, they had a record number of freshmen guys get connected to RUF and start leading. Jeff says, “This has been a work of the Lord, and we are grateful to Him for His providential care. We are grateful to you for your earnest prayer on our behalf. Keep it up!”

Omari Hill (M.Div. ’09) is the Reformed University Fellowship campus minister at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. This month, they will serve the city of Charlotte through Habitat for Humanity and a local PCA church. They will also co‐sponsor a campus‐wide blood drive in
January with other student clubs. Click here to view their website.  Omari's wife Cherise leads the dance program at Garinger High School.  They have one daughter named Mia and another child due to arrive in May! 

Danton “Danny” Ketchum (M.Div. ’74, ThM ’78, D.Min. ’87) taught Reformed theology during the last month of September at Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. They appreciate RTS alumni in ministry visiting them in India if they are able to commit to a minimum of 3 weeks. (Pictured from L to R: Roshyama Hrangchal, Mohan, Danny Ketchum).

John D. McGowan (M.Div. ’97), a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, was appointed in July, by the board of Greyfriars Classical Academy in Charlotte, NC, to serve as full-time headmaster of the school.

Lauren Spiewalk (MATS ‘10) is in the homestretch of her training and is expected to depart for North Africa to serve with World Evangelization for Christ (WEC) in July of 2011. She will help establish safe-houses providing counseling, trade skills training, and Bible study to women and children who have been rescued out of human trafficking.

DR. ROGER NICOLE TURNS 95 THIS WEEK
Dr. Roger Nicole, former visiting professor of theology at RTS, is turning 95 on Dec. 10. He is currently in the hospital. Ceci Helm, assistant to the academic dean at RTS/Orlando said, "I just returned from a visit with Dr. Nicole. I feel that I have been in the presence of a great saint so eager to meet his Savior." She reports that Dr. Nicole said to her “I’m ready to go, I’m actually quite comfortable, nothing hurts, I’m not hungry. I actually thought dying was going to be a lot harder. I’m thankful to be in the hospital. Whether I die here or at the Village is inconsequential. It’s a lot more important where I lived and how. I’m not afraid of judgment because all my sins have been wiped out completely by the blood of Jesus Christ. All I look forward to is the joy of the life to come.”

If you would like to send him a card, please send them to the Village on the Green Health Center, 500 Village Place, Longwood, FL  32779. RTS/Orlando is home to The Nicole Collection, a 25,000 volume library accumulated by Dr. Nicole over his years of collecting books.

DR. MIKE MILTON HAS A HERO
Dr. Mike Milton blogged about his friend and fellow student from seminary that went to Haiti and came back very ill. He begins, “Brian Kelso is my friend. He is now my hero.” Read the story here titled "My Friend, My Hero, Who Walked Through the Valley of Death." 

YAZOO CITY HIT WITH MORE TORNADOES 
Yazoo City, a city just north of RTS/Jackson was hit hard this past spring with tornadoes and this same area is feeling the heat yet again. Stephanie Hartley, director of development support, who lives in Yazoo City said, “We heard it go by and missed it again. Most of the damage was downtown and [happened] at night.” Click here for more information.

SEVERAL STAFF ATTEND SACS MEETING IN LOUISVILLE
Dr. Mike Milton, Mr. Steve Wallace, Dr. Robert Cara and Mrs. Pollly Stone attended a SACS Meeting in Louisville, Ky, this week.
RTS is in process of preparing for a 10-year reaffirmation of acccreditation that will culminate in a campus visit in 2012 by ATS and SACS.

ADVENT SERIES POSTED ON CROSSWALK.COM
Dr. Milton's Advent series begins with Zechariah's song. One message posted each week. Click here to view the message.

FACULTY SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS POSTED ONLINE
In January Dr. Doug Kelly will lead a retreat in Edinburgh and Dr. Guy Waters will teach in the Ukraine. Please click here to view our calendar of faculty speaking engagements.

CAMPUS EVENTS
Register now for Winter and Spring Terms at RTS.

RTS/ATLANTA
This spring, the class “Acts & Romans” will be held at the historic First Presbyterian Church in Rome, GA. Dr. Bruce Lowe will teach on four Saturdays: Feb. 5, 12 and April 9, 30.

Jan. 22 - Seminar on Islam – (8:30a.m.-4:45p.m.) - Join friends of RTS for a one-day seminar that will examine Islam in light of the Word of God. Taught by a former practitioner of Islam, the seminar will consider the history, beliefs, and strategies of Islam, and will help you to develop a personal ministry for introducing your Muslim friends to the Lord Jesus Christ. The instructor will be Dr. Atif Debs (Ph.D. from M.I.T.), who became a Christian after years of comparative study of both the Bible and the Qur'an. The registration cost $35/person, or $65/couple which includes lunch and a notebook with all presentation materials and supporting documents. RSVP by January 19 as registration is limited. For more information visit this link.

RTS/HOUSTON 
New executive director Tim McKeown is in process of making his transition to Houston. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Contact admissions.houston@rts.edu for more information about classes scheduled for the spring semester, or call 800-752-4382 or click here 

RTS/ORLANDO
Church Planting Brown Bag Lunch began Dec. 2. Dr. Bob Orner will lead the discussions on the first Thursday of each month.

RTS Christmas party for students, faculty and staff was held December 2.


Feb. 10 - Presidential Inauguration
Dr. Don Sweeting will be inaugurated as president of the Orlando campus of Reformed Theological Seminary on Feb. 10. Click here for more details. This site will continue to be updated as the date draws nearer.

RTS/CHARLOTTE
Dec. 10 – Open House Christmas Party for students, faculty and staff at the Milton home.

April 1-2 - 4th Annual Women's Conference

RTS/WASHINGTON D.C.
Dr. Mark Talbot, associate professor of philosophy at Wheaton College, will teach “Unsought Gifts: Christian Suffering” at RTS/DC January 5-7 from 9a.m.-5p.m. for the winter term. Come explore: “What is it about our agency that makes suffering affect us in the ways it does? What does Scripture say about God's role in our suffering? What are the goods that are likely to come to God's people as they suffer?"

RTS/VIRTUAL
Jim McAlhaney, (M.A.R; M.S.), director of admissions/student services, will run the Charleston “Riverfront” Marathon  in South Carolina on January 15. This is a 26.2 mile race to raise additional scholarship funds for RTS/Virtual students. If you are interested in supporting Jim in the 26.2 Virtual Campus Scholarship Fundraiser, email him at jmcalhaney@rts.edu. If you would like to mail your contribution, make the check payable to: Reformed Theological Seminary and mail to Reformed Theological Seminary Virtual Campus, Attn: Jim McAlhaney, 2101 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226. Note: Please put: 26.2 Virtual Scholarship in the memo line of your check. 

If you choose to make a contribution for this cause online, you can do so here, and be sure to put 26.2 Virtual Scholarship in the notes area of the online form. Your donation is tax-deductible and you will receive a receipt.

RTS/JACKSON
Dec. 13-14 — Flavien Pardigon, currently serving in a ministry reaching out to Muslims in France, will be visiting with faculty and students on campus.

ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Chris Donato (MATS ‘03), senior associate editor of Tabletalk, edited Perspectives on the Sabbath: Four Views (B&H, April). Contributors to the volume include Skip MacCarty, Joseph A. Pipa, Charles P. Arand, and Craig L. Blomberg. He also wrote the article “Against the Law: Milton’s (Anti?)nomianism in De Doctrina Christiana” for Harvard Theological Review (Jan.). Follow his blog here.

Sam Kim (MATS ‘06) is the pastor of Ocala Korean Presbyterian Church. He and his wife Mijeong live in Ocala, Fla with their three children.

Matthew Mitchell (M.Div. ’84), 54, who taught school and owned a cleaning business, died on Tuesday, Nov. 30, when a tree fell on his vehicle and killed him. The story was covered on the news here. Matt leaves behind his wife Betsy, four sons, four brothers and a sister.  Two of his sons, Jeremiah and Daniel, were just preparing for their final college exams.  The funeral was held Dec. 4 at Belmont Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family will be accepting donations to a Matt Mitchell fund set up at Wells Fargo Bank in Conyers, Ga.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to this family in their time of need. The complete obituary can be found here.

Jolly Rimai (DMin. ’05) Jolly is now working back in his country of India. He sent in an update on his Saturday program among the Muslim Mission. He says, “God, in His great grace, has added 10 new believers in our neighborhood (Muslim) fellowship on Saturday.” Jolly will lead a missionary training in December. Also they are reaching the Guwahati street children with the Christmas message. They plan to distribute 50 blankets to children so they will be warm this Christmas.
 
Cynthia Ruble (MATS ‘00) reports that Little Rio, four months old, continues to do very well against all the predictions of the doctor.  Cynthia has had a sudden increase of clients, especially abortion-minded ones.  She expects a new homestay to be coming through the local government. Her last homestay, who gave her baby up for adoption, was baptized a month ago. Also, both young men in the couples' Bible study have decided to get baptized. The Family Court case worker came recently, and after only 30 minutes said he was satisfied and left.  He said the adoption should be complete by April or May of next year.

Danny VanZant (M.Div. ’87), 55, passed away on Nov. 5. He was the former pastor of Freedom Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, and a member of Providence Presbyterian Church, in Gastonia, NC. Survivors include his wife, Terry VanZant of Gastonia; son, Adam VanZant of Gastonia; sisters, Margaret Ann Bradshaw, Anita Taylor and Deborah VanZant of Gate City, Va; Donna Eads of Kingsport, Tenn.; brothers, Garry and Donnie VanZant of Gate City and Lyton VanZant Jr. of Kingsport. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Providence Presbyterian Church, 2850 Union Road, Gastonia, NC, 28054. Please keep this family in your prayers.

SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
The RTS/Jackson Summer Institute for Biblical Languages (SIBL) has been created in order to provide thorough, intensive introductions to all three biblical languages. Hebrew and Greek will be offered each year during the summer, five days a week, three hours per day, for seven weeks. During this seven week period, students will complete a full year of language study (Hebrew 1 and 2 or Greek 1 and 2). Aramaic can be offered every other year or as needed by request (two hours a day, five days per week for three weeks – 2 credit hours). Read more here.

CHUCK COLSON TO SPEAK AT RTS/ORLANDO PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION
Dr. Don Sweeting, former pastor of Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Colorado, will be inaugurated on Thursday, February 10, at 4pm at RTS/Orlando, 1231 Reformation Drive, Oviedo, Fla, 32765. Chuck Colson, syndicated columnist, author international speaker, radio commentator, founder of Prison Fellowship, former aide to the late President Nixon, and former employer of Dr. Sweeting, will deliver the address at his inauguration. For more information click here for the inauguration Web page. 

DR. MICHAEL MILTON’S NEW CD JUST RELEASED
Through the Open Door, Dr. Michael Milton's latest CD, has just been released. His music blends folk, bluegrass, rock and gospel music together. On this new album, for the song "God is Calling Faithful Men," Michael Card sings on lead and backup vocals.The album can be purchased through Music for Missions. Dr. Milton has directed 2/3 of the proceeds of the sales to go to RTS. Click here for more information.

DR. NICOLE - PROFESSOR EMERITUS - PASSES AWAY
Just one day after his 95th birthday, Dr. Roger R. Nicole passed away on Dec. 11, 2010. He was ready to meet his Savior. Dr. Nicole was a former adjunct professor of theology at RTS/Orlando from 1989 to 2000 and emeritus beginning in 2000. Born in 1915, he was a native Swiss Reformed theologian with an M.A. from Sorbonne, a Th.D. from Gordon Divinity School and a Ph.D. from Harvard University, Dr. Nicole has long been regarded as one of the preeminent theologians in America. He is predeceased by his wife, Annette who passed away on Feb 8, 2008.

FAITH FOR LIVING – JOIN THE STUDIO AUDIENCE!
Do you live near the Rock Hill, SC area? Dr. Michael Milton invites you to be a part of the taping of the Faith For Living television program series. The program is being filmed at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 India Hook Road in Rock Hill. You are invited to join the audience for any or all of the tapings. The tapings are done in the church parlor next to the sanctuary. The dates (all Mondays) are as follows: January 31, February 7, February 28, March 7, March 21, March 28. Please call Linda Dixon, receptionist at RTS Charlotte, at 704-366-5066 if you would like to attend any or all of the tapings. Click here for more information.

KISTEMAKER ACADEMIC LECTURE SERIES WILL BE HELD IN ORLANDO IN FEBRUARY
The annual Kistemaker Academic Lecture Series (KALS) is scheduled February 22-23 in the Pamplin Chapel at RTS/Orlando. The speaker is Dr. Richard Bauckham, a biblical scholar and theologian who was the New Testament scholar and professor of New Testament studies at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, until 2007. He is the author of numerous books, most recently Bible and Ecology – Rediscovering the Community of Creation (June). The lectures will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, from 11-11:50a.m. and from 1-1:50p.m., on both days. The public is invited.

DR. SAM LARSEN TO SPEAK IN KOREA
Dr. Sam Larsen, professor of missions emeritus, will be one of five plenary speakers at the Two Wings International Conference in Busan, Korea, being held February 22 - 24. This is an interdenominational missions conference with a regular attendance of 20,000. South Korea is second only to the U.S. in the number of foreign missionaries it sends out to the nations.

WHERE ARE OTHER RTS FACULTY SPEAKING?
This week, Dr. Steve Childers, associate professor of practical theology and director of the D.Min. program, will speak at the national Global Church Advancement (GCA) Church Planting and Renewal Conference in Orlando. Dr. Bob Cara, Hugh and Sallie Reaves professor of New Testament and RTS chief academic officer will speak at Grace Presbyterian Church in Cookeville, Tenn. this weekend. Also, Dr. Don Sweeting, president of RTS/Orlando, will speak at the Mid-Winter Conference at Sycamore Presbyterian Church in Richmond, Va. this weekend on "Why the World Desperately Needs the Church". Click here for the latest information on where the faculty will be speaking in the U.S. and overseas this spring. 

DR. KISTEMAKER’S BOOK THE CONVERSATIONS OF JESUS ALSO PUBLISHED IN SPANISH
The Conversations of Jesus, by Dr. Sam Kistemaker, (Baker Books Nov 2004), has also been published in Spanish. Click here to order the book. Both versions are available for purchase on MindandHeart.com.  (A portion of the proceeds will go to RTS when purchased on MindandHeart.com.)

HE FINISHED THE RACE! AGAIN!
Jim McAlhaney, (M.A.R; M.S.), director of admissions/student services, ran the Charleston “Riverfront” Marathon in South Carolina on January 15. This was a 26.2 mile race to raise additional scholarship funds for RTS/Virtual students. He finished with a chip time of 3:45:09 which is an average of 8:37 a mile. Way to go Jim!

DR. KIDD ON SABBATICAL
Dr. Reggie Kidd, professor of New Testament at RTS/Orlando, will take a sabbatical from January through August 2011, to work on a new book, Theology of the Pastoral Epistles.

RADIO INTERVIEW WITH DR. JOHN FRAME
Listen Feb. 2 to a radio interview on KSIV, St. Louis (David Vaughan) with Dr. John Frame, at 12:00p.m. EST, on his book Doctrine of the Word of God.  Listen here

ESV ATLAS GETS ANOTHER TOP RATING FROM A FAN
Matthew Miller of Christianbook.com picked out his top ten list for his choice on books of the year for 2010. No surprise here he has chosen Dr. Currid’s ESV Atlas as one of his picks. The RTS Orlando Bookstore is currently selling the ESV Atlas for $31.99. Also chosen was the RTS/Orlando One School One Book choice, To Change the World. Click here to see the rest.

NEW MATERIAL FROM DR. KNOX CHAMBLIN NOW ON RTS ON ITUNES U
Two courses to check out this month on RTS on iTunes U come from renowned New Testament scholar, Dr. J. Knox Chamblin.  In his course on Gospels and Acts, Dr. Chamblin gives a thorough exposition of the first five books of the New Testament, with particular emphasis on the literary art, theological teaching, and historical context of each book.

Also from Dr. Chamblin is a course on the Pauline Epistles.  In this course, Dr. Chamblin explains how Paul develops a mature and inspired theology grounded in the Old Testament and Paul's knowledge of the redemptive work of Jesus. 

The final highlight from this month's newsletter is a collection that has long been on RTS on iTunes U is Faith for Living with Dr. Michael Milton.  In this weekly radio program, Dr. Milton looks at various pastoral, theological, and cultural issues and shares what the Bible has to teach us about them.  In addition to being a radio program, RTS is pleased to announce that Faith for Living is debuting this month on the NRB Network, found on channel 378 on DirecTV. 

DR. PAYNE'S BOOK NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH
Dr. Jon D. Payne's (M.A. '98, D.Min. '04) book on Reformed worship titled In the Splendor of Holiness: Rediscovering the Beauty of Reformed Worship for the 21st Century (Tolle Lege Press, 2008) is now available in Spanish. Dr. Payne is also a guest lecturer in practical theology at RTS/Atlanta. To obtain copies of "Esplendor" for your ministry please contact Mr. Brandon Vallorani at brandon@reformationbookstore.com

CAMPUS EVENTS
Spring Semester begins Feb. 1

RTS/ATLANTA
This spring, the class “Acts & Romans” will be held at the historic First Presbyterian Church in Rome, GA. Dr. Bruce Lowe will teach on four Saturdays: Feb. 5, 12 and April 9, 30.

RTS/HOUSTON 
Two classes will be offered for the upcoming Spring Term:

Scripture/Theology/Anthropology (5ST508/01 ST I) will be taught by Dr. Derek W. H. Thomas for 3 credit hours.  This class will meet on Friday evenings (7 to 9pm) and on Saturdays (8am - 4pm): Jan.  28-29, March 11-12, Apr. 15-16 and May 6-7.

Apologetics (5ST530/01), taught by Dr. James Anderson, will be offered for 2 credit hours. This class meets on Friday evenings (7 to 9pm) and on Saturdays (8 am - 4pm): Feb 4-5, March 4-5, and Apr. 8-9.
Contact Tim McKeown here admissions.houston@rts.edu for more information about classes scheduled for the spring semester, or call 800-752-4382 or click here.

RTS/ORLANDO
Feb. 1 - Spring Picnic at RTS
Feb. 9 - Worship Seminar with Jeremy Casella
Feb. 10 - Scholar’s Forum
Feb. 10 – Presidential Inauguration - Dr. Don Sweeting will be inaugurated as president of the Orlando campus of Reformed Theological Seminary on Feb. 10. Click here for more details.

The RTS Orlando Bookstore will have books available for purchase from many of the speakers including two of Dr. Sweeting’s father’s books. His father, Dr. George Sweeting was the president of Moody Bible Institute from 1971-1986.

Feb. 22-23 Kistemaker Academic Lecture Series with Dr. Richard Bauckham.
March 4-6 – Women in Ministry Retreat held at SynergyToday 2011.

RTS/CHARLOTTE
Feb. 25 – Talent Show
April 1-2 - Fourth Annual Women's Conference: “Women to Women: Ministering to Women’s Hearts, Minds and Souls” will be held at RTS.

RTS/VIRTUAL
Upcoming dates for Orientation Seminars are:
Feb. 21-23, 2011
April 18-20, 2011
June 20-22, 2011

RTS/JACKSON
March 7-8 - Marriage conference hosted at Grace Chapel. Dr. John Cox (MAMFT '84), a practicing psychologist, will host and teach on "Marriage and Character: Grounding Your marriage in the Image of God."  There will be three sessions for the conference:

Session 1: March 7, 6:30pm: Becoming the kind of spouse you wish you were married to (or hoping to find)
Session 2: March 7, 8:00pm: Needs and marriage
Session 3: March 8, 6:30pm: Leadership and submission

Dr. Cox received his B.A. in psychology and English from Ole Miss, an M.A. in MFT from RTS, and Ph.D. from Rosemond School of Psychology in Los Angeles.  He now has a clinical psychology practice here in Jackson and serves as a deacon at First Presbyterian church in downtown Jackson.

The Summer Institute for Biblical Languages (SIBL) has been created in order to provide thorough, intensive introductions to all three biblical languages. Hebrew and Greek will be offered each year during the summer, five days a week, three hours per day, for seven weeks. During this seven week period, students will complete a full year of language study (Hebrew 1 and 2 or Greek 1 and 2). Aramaic can be offered every other year or as needed by request (two hours a day, five days per week for three weeks – 2 credit hours). Read more here. 
 
“Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” will be taught Monday evenings, Jan 17 - Apr 24. Professors from Belhaven College, Mississippi College, Wesley Biblical Seminary, and Reformed Theological Seminary (our own Elias Medeiros and Ligon Duncan) are teaming up to offer this course that has been taught all over the world in the last 20 years. For more information on what the course has to offer, visit www.perspectives.org  or contact Joe Martin (Belhaven Biblical Studies Professor) at jmartin@belhaven.edu.

ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Do you have an alumni snippet to share? Have you published a new book? Send it to the editor, here.

Dan Claire (M.Div. '99) is a Rwandan missionary to Washington D.C. through AMiA. He started the Church of the Resurrection on Capitol Hill and is planting other churches in the DC area through what he calls the RenewDC movement. (Dan was also the executive director of Washington, D.C., back in 1999.) He and his recently celebrated the birth of their fifth child, Eden Renee, born January 16, 2011, at Georgetown.  Mom & baby are well. Click here to read more.
 
Roddey Caughman (M.Div. '09) and his wife, Becky, served as missionaries among the deaf in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 1999 to 2001. In 2009, they moved to Zambia to work with a Christian orphanage and met Paul and Ann Rachel who worked with the deaf in Kabwe for Grace Ministries International (GMI). Roddey plans to take a short-term missions trip to Zambia, Africa, in April, 2011, in order to meet the deaf and to explore the possibility of a long-term ministry there in the future.