| RTS IS CELEBRATING 50 YEARS! | | This fall during the 2015-2016 academic year, RTS celebrates 50 years of God's faithful provision. | | | ![]() Erskine Wells was fond of telling the story of the beginning of RTS. "As Rev. Samuel C. Patterson, pastor of French Camp Presbyterian Church, explained his dream for a new seminary, Wells quickly dismissed the idea: 'Sam, you are a preacher. You
live in an ivory tower, and you are not in touch with reality. I'm a layman, and I can tell you that it's just not practical.' Wells never forgot what followed: "Sam leaned back in his chair and asked, 'Erskine, how big is your God?' 'Well, Sam,' I responded,
'when do we start?'" For Erskine Wells, that moment was the beginning of Reformed Theological Seminary." (The First Forty Years, 2006).
Stay tuned for events happening this academic year. |
| July 30, 2015 | Issue #177 | | | | DATES TO REMEMBER | Aug. 7 - RTS Orlando Storytime for ages 2-5 at 10am in the library.
Sept. 1 - RTSC Faculty Forum (noon) with Dr. Dick Belcher on "What is Wrong with Literal Interpretation?"Sept. 9 - RTSO President's Forum (noon) with David Mathis about his book "How to Stay Christian in Seminary" (2014). Sept. 10-12 - RTSJ hosts From Embers to a Flame Conference September 15-16 - Missions Conference at RTSJ with Dr. Joel Beeke Oct. 1-3 - RTSO hosts From Embers to a Flame Conference Nov. 4-5 - The Current Read author events at RTSO with Dr. Todd Billings |
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| NEW BOOK COMING IN APRIL BY DR. SWAIN AND DR. ALLEN | ![]() Christian Dogmatics: Reformed Theology for the Church Catholic (Baker
Academic) is due April 2016. "This one-volume introduction to systematic theology draws deeply on the catholic and Reformed heritage to present the major doctrines of the Christian faith, displaying the power of theological retrieval for the church's
renewal." Author, Dr. Scott Swain, is the professor of systematic theology and academic dean at RTS Orlando. Co-author, Dr. Michael Allen is the associate professor of systematic and historical theology and dean of students at RTS Orlando. | | | | CLARION LEDGER ARTICLE INCLUDES INFO ON RTS'S AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE | ![]()
The July 18th edition of the Clarion-Ledger contained an incredibly encouraging article by Katie Eubanks titled "All Are Welcome" - about the "4 R's" that have fueled the resurgence of Reformed African American (and multi-ethnic) ministry in
Jackson: Redeemer Church PCA - Jackson; Reformed African American Network (RAAN); RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) at Jackson State University (under Elbert McGowan Jr.); and RTS Jackson's African American Leadership Initiative. Read more here. | | | | NEW COUNSELING STUDENTS AT RTS ORLANDO FEED THE HUNGRY | ![]() In July, Dr. Jim Coffield's Group Theories and Practice class of 19 students packed over 1500 meals together for Feeding Children Everywhere.
The meals were given to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, and will be distributed locally.
"When the new cohort comes in, I'm trying to build them into a community. Shared mutual common tasks and doing new things together, and feeling like you're doing something with purpose - all of which are incorporated in that task - helps create
camaraderie and intimacy and connection," said Dr. Coffield, professor of counseling and clinical director of the MAC Program at RTS Orlando. | | | | DR. KRUGER BLOGS ON EARLY CHURCH RULERS | | "There is a (seemingly) never-ending debate amongst theologians and pastors about the proper form of government for the church. For generations, Christians have disagreed about what leadership structure the church ought to use. From the bishop-led Anglicans to the informal Brethren churches, there is great diversity." Continue reading the blog here by Dr. Mike Kruger, president of RTS Charlotte. | | | | DO YOU BROOD OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO BROODS? | | Dr. Scott Redd shares a story from the New York Times about brooding. "A recent study shows how walks in nature can have an observable effect on a person’s negative thoughts, including anxiety and brooding." Read the entire post here on his blog. | | | | DR. SWEETING BLOGS ON THE JOY OF MEATY CHRISTIAN BIOGRAPHIES | | Sweeting writes, "It is counter cultural, anti-twitteral, and to many people simply a colossal waste of time. But not to wise people. For them it’s a joy and sometimes a feast! I am talking about reading meaty biographies. "Do you read? Do you read biographies? Do you ever read meaty biographies, where you literally immerse yourself in someone’s life?" Read the post here on his blog. | | | | DISTANCE STUDENTS AT RTS ORLANDO WITH DR. MARK FUTATO | ![]()
Thirty-six Distance M.Div. students were on campus last week for the residential portion of their summer hybrid courses. To learn more about how you can earn an RTS MDiv with a combination of online courses and at least six weeks in residence, visitrts.edu/hybrid. | | | | FORMER RTS STAFF MEMBER GOES HOME TO THE LORD | | J.D. Lawson, who just celebrated his 69th birthday in July, passed away on July 29, 2015, from a battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. He served in various positions at RTS Charlotte and RTS Virtual (now Global) between 1999 and 2013, including business manager. He had a servant's heart and was willing to take on any task he was asked to do. He loved the students, and he and his wife Sandy had them in his home frequently. He also served in the Vietnam War as a helicopter pilot performing medical evacuations--as part of the "Dust-Off" group.
Please keep his family in prayer. For more about JD and his life with Sandy, click here. | | | | MELISSA KRUGER WRITES A LAMENT AFTER WATCHING A VIDEO OF A DOCTOR SELLING ABORTED BODY PARTS | | Read the lament titled "Witness" here on her blog Wit's End. Melissa is an author, and wife of Dr. Mike Kruger, president of RTS Charlotte. | | |
| | Richard Aguilar (M.Div. '97) | | Richard was experiencing fever and chills, and developed a condition thought to have resulted from drinking contaminated water. Richard is the pastor of Christ the Redeemer in Ecuador. Please keep him in prayer. | | | | Joshua Fairbaugh (M.Div. '15) | | Josh is the connections associate at Carmel Baptist Church in Matthews, NC. He will assist church members and guests in getting connected with small groups, service positions and leadership opportunities. He is also providing support and teaching to the student ministry team while they are without a student pastor. | | | | Carol (Scriven) Griffiths (MAC '11) | ![]() Carol and her husband, Livingstone live on Abaco island in The Bahamas. Carol is a guidance counselor at Sherlin C. Bootle High School (grades 7-12) within the public school system. Livingstone is a customs & revenue officer with the Bahamas Customs Department, posted at Treasure Cay Airport on Abaco. They are both active members of the music and drama ministries at their church, Full Gospel Assembly, an Assemblies of God church. They also assist with the youth ministry from time to time. | | | | Matt Koehn (MABS '09) | ![]() Matt, formerly the admissions director at RTS/Atlanta, was married in May to Tiffany. They are serving with Cru--Matt on campus at Georgia Tech, and Tiffany--the Ethnic Field Ministry's national director for the southeast region. They recently returned from a summer in Fort Collins, Colo., where Cru hosted its national
staff conference and where Matt coached 8 Cru staff members in a course designed to "help us experience the gospel and discover how the Scriptures expose our brokenness and point our hearts to true life in Christ." | | | | Alex Mark (M.Div. '13) | | Dr. Kruger interviewed Alex here on his 'Where Are They Now?' blog. | | | | Valery Morozov (MABS '99) | | Valery, who founded Wycliffe Russia in 1999, has returned to the director role as the previous leader stepped down in April. He says, "Today, in partnership with numerous churches and individuals, the mission has more than 50 members: over 40 missionaries (including short-term members) actively involved in Bible translation projects in Africa, Asia and the CIS, six members of the board and eight staff workers in the St. Petersburg office." | | | | Tezar Putra (M.Div. '15) | | Tezar and his wife Tatiana (MAC '15) recently arrived in Tezar's homeland of Indonesia and will begin planting a church. They plan to spend a week in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore meeting with local church planters and pastors. Tezar was featured along with two other Indonesian students in the winter issue of RTS' Ministry & Leadership magazine, here. | | | | Elbert McGowan, Jr. (M.Div.M. '08) | | Watch this video of Elbert talking about his ministry as the RUF campus minister at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss. | | | | Andy Stager (M.Div. '08) | ![]()
Andy, former pastor of Hill City Church, in Rock Hill, SC, is now with the Network of International Christian Schools, providing pastoral care and developing spiritual community among the staff and teaching Bible and theology at Yongsan International
School of Seoul. His church send-off was on July 14. | | | | Barton Swaim (M.Div. '98) | ![]() Barton has published The Speechwriter (Simon & Schuster, July 2015), described as "An intimate and hilarious
look inside the spin room of the modern politician: a place where ideals are crushed, English is mangled, people are humiliated, and the opportunity for humor is everywhere." The book has been reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Christianity Today,
and many more. | | | | Kathryn Wilkins (MAC '15) | | Kat and Colby Wilkins (M.Div. '15) are excited to announce the birth of their son Oliver "Olly" Grey Wilkins on July 24, 2015. | | | | Glen Wilkins (M.Div. '15) | | Glen was licensed in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church in June and was approved by the presbytery to plant a church in Johnson City, Tenn., starting in August. He will start as an intern at another ARP plant in Asheville. Once they are familiar with Johnson City in about a year, he will be ordained to plant the church. |
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Erskine Wells was fond of telling the story of the beginning of RTS. "As Rev. Samuel C. Patterson, pastor of French Camp Presbyterian Church, explained his dream for a new seminary, Wells quickly dismissed the idea: 'Sam, you are a preacher. You
live in an ivory tower, and you are not in touch with reality. I'm a layman, and I can tell you that it's just not practical.' Wells never forgot what followed: "Sam leaned back in his chair and asked, 'Erskine, how big is your God?' 'Well, Sam,' I responded,
'when do we start?'" For Erskine Wells, that moment was the beginning of Reformed Theological Seminary." (The First Forty Years, 2006).
In July, Dr. Jim Coffield's Group Theories and Practice class of 19 students packed over 1500 meals together for Feeding Children Everywhere.
The meals were given to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, and will be distributed locally.
Carol and her husband, Livingstone live on Abaco island in The Bahamas. Carol is a guidance counselor at Sherlin C. Bootle High School (grades 7-12) within the public school system. Livingstone is a customs & revenue officer with the Bahamas Customs Department, posted at Treasure Cay Airport on Abaco. They are both active members of the music and drama ministries at their church, Full Gospel Assembly, an Assemblies of God church. They also assist with the youth ministry from time to time.
Matt, formerly the admissions director at RTS/Atlanta, was married in May to Tiffany. They are serving with Cru--Matt on campus at Georgia Tech, and Tiffany--the Ethnic Field Ministry's national director for the southeast region. They recently returned from a summer in Fort Collins, Colo., where Cru hosted its national
staff conference and where Matt coached 8 Cru staff members in a course designed to "help us experience the gospel and discover how the Scriptures expose our brokenness and point our hearts to true life in Christ." 
Barton has published