SUMMER REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Register now for a class on one of our campuses in Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Houston, Washington DC, Jackson, Memphis, or take an online class with RTS/Virtual. Click here, select your campus, select the term and explore the classes being offered. Most classes begin the first week of June so register now!
NEW BOOK BY DR. DAN TIMMER
Dr. Dan Timmer, associate professor of Old Testament, has a new book out, released as part of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series titled A Gracious and Compassionate God: Mission, Salvation, and Spirituality in the Book of Jonah. It discusses the biblical text in detail, including historical backgrounds, yet (as Timmer always does) pays special attention to redemptive history and its Christocentric orientation. Buy the book here and a portion of the sale of the book will go towards RTS.
SIGN UP FOR RTS ON TWITTER
Sign up for the RTS Twitter page on the front page of the RTS Web site at rts.edu. Look for the "T" for twitter sign in the right bottom corner and click to find us. Or, search for us directly on Twitter by searching ReformTheoSem.
RTS CELEBRATES “DR. K. APPRECIATION DAY” ON MAY 4
RTS Orlando President Dr. Don Sweeting announces May 4 as Dr. K (for Kistemaker) Appreciation Day for all of RTS. Dr. Simon Kistemaker, a beloved senior faculty member of Reformed Theological Seminary, is retiring from his teaching ministry (for the second and final time) at the end of this semester on the Orlando campus. Sweeting will honor Dr. K during the Chapel service at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4, with a few comments. Sweeting will also interview him during the President’s Community Forum Lunch in the Fellowship Hall at noon the same day. Anyone who wishes to write a note to Dr. K or has pictures during his 40 years at RTS can send those to Professor Mike Glodo at mglodo@rts.edu. Any alumni and friends wishing to attend the lunch, are invited to do so. Please RSVP to Heather DeFrancisco at hdefrancisco@rts.edu. Pictured (left to right) is Dr. Michael Milton, "Dr. K", and Chuck Colson at Dr. Sweeting's inauguration. Click here for more info.
FAITH FOR LIVING HOST DR. MICHAEL MILTON CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF NEW TELEVISION SHOW AT NRB CONVENTION
Dr. Michael Milton got together with NRB Network executives during the recent National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention in Nashville to celebrate the success of Milton's brand new NRB Network television program, "Faith for Living," which launched in January 2011. The show can be seen on Mondays at 8:30 a.m. ET, Thursdays at 3:30 a.m. ET and *Fridays at 7:30 a.m. ET on DIRECTV channel 378, Sky Angel channel 126 or via online streaming at www.nrbnetwork.tv
*The Friday slot will be changing to Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. beginning May 1.
"We are delighted to have Dr. Milton on our channel," comments Troy A. Miller, NRB Network President & CEO. "Our viewers want solid biblical teaching that helps them in their daily walk and 'Faith for Living' delivers that. The program has quickly become an integral part of our morning devotional lineup."
While at the convention, Milton also performed songs from his new CD, Through the Open Door, at the NRB Network Reception and met with media outlets from around the world to discuss the new CD.
Pictured (L to R): NRB Network President & CEO Troy A. Miller, Dr. Michael Milton and NRB Network Director of Programming Bob Allen.
CMF CENTRAL FLORIDA MATTERS POSTED PODCAST OF DR. SWEETING COMMENTARY
Dr. Don Sweeting, president of RTS/Orlando, wrote a commentary titled “How Jesus Has Not Failed Me,” and recorded it for CMF Central Florida Matters. The commentary starts, “There’s an ad appearing on one of our city’s electronic billboards—it provocatively asks: How has Christianity failed you? When I see it, I want to shout—sure, Christians fail and churches fail. I am a realist…” Listen here or read the transcript here.
DAN TIMMER’S LILLY GRANT – INCLUDE LINK TO ATS LETTER AND NEWS RELEASE
Dr. Dan Timmer, associate professor of Old Testament at RTS/Jackson, has been selected to receive a Lilly Theological Research Grant for 2011-12. The grant is for the "Synchronic-Diachronic Quandary in Biblical Studies: Toward Integration of Polarized Methods." The release states, "Professor Timmer asserts that the field of biblical studies continues to labor under significant methodological uncertainty..."Click here to read the ATS letter and press release.
RTS DISABILITY COURSEWORK AVAILABLE ONLINE VIA RTS/VIRTUAL
RTS/Virtual offers a class titled “Disabilities and the Church” taught by Dr. Andy Peterson, president of RTS/Virtual. Click here and look under the Christian Education heading and select OCE655 for more information. It is offered as an elective selection for MAR students as well as residential students.
RTS/WASHINGTON D.C. PROFESSOR PASSES ORAL DEFENSE OF HIS DISSERTATION
Rev. Peter Lee, assistant professor of Old Testament at RTS/Washington D.C., recently passed the oral defense of his dissertation. He is earning the Ph.D. The title of his dissertation is “Aramaic Poetry in Qumran.” He is appreciative of everyone’s prayers.
DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURE SEMINARS AT PCA GA
The Presbyterian Church in America presents “Six Scholars. Three Seminaries. One Very Important Issue,” at the general assembly at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Va., June 7-10, 2011. Two RTS professors will participate in the seminars. Click here to read more.
TORNADO DAMAGE TO RTS/JACKSON TOWNHOMES IN CLINTON
On Friday, April 15, at approximately 11:04 a.m., a tornado heading east touched down in the seminary townhomes in Clinton, just off of Clinton Blvd. Though the damage to the seminary townhomes was extensive, no one was hurt.
The seminary townhomes were just one of the many places in the path of this tornado in Clinton. The tornado, videoed here on YouTube destroying a BankPlus building near Springridge road just south of I-20, was massive. It did significant damage in Easthaven, the neighborhood just west of the townhomes, and approached the townhomes from the west. The first two rows of townhomes closest to Clinton Blvd. took the brunt of the damage before the tornado continued east to Lakewood Memorial Park where many trees were uprooted or simply twisted off.
M.Div. senior Matthew Elliott had met to pray with M.Div. middler Tyler Goodwin in Tyler’s townhome on the front row, when they noticed that the rain had stopped and the lights were flickering. They walked out the door on the railroad side of the unit and noticed that the trees were blowing in two different directions. They went back through the unit, opened the south-facing door on the carport side, and looked right. Click here to read more.
FAITH FOR LIVING RADIO EXPANDING TO OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY
Listen to Faith for Living with Dr. Mike Milton Anytime, anywhere 24/7:
Faith for Living on ACCRADIO.COM
Faith for Living on iTunes U
Faith for Living on SermonAudio
Through Television:
Faith for Living Television is broadcasted nationwide to an estimated reach of 18 million viewers on the National religious Broadcasters TV/DIRECT TV. Mondays at 0830 EST; Fridays at 0730 EST.
View anytime/anywhere at FaithforLivingTV.com; or on SermonAudio.
CONVICTED FELON TURNED MASTER’S STUDENT REQUESTS BOOKS FOR PRISON LIBRARY
Brandon Warren was a convicted felon who listened to Dr. Frame’s lectures on iTunes U, and is now a master’s student at Southwestern Baptist’s (SWBTS) Houston Campus. Warren began contacting Dr. Frame a few years ago. SWBTS offers bachelor’s degrees in one of the maximum security prisons and they hired Brandon as an administrative assistant to work for them in the prison. He is teaching an introductory course on critical thinking to 40 men. One of his tasks is putting together a theological library for the prison. They only have 10 books. He is asking for donations of books to their new theological library in the prison. RTS/Orlando sent a boxful. If you are interested, send books to:
Brandon Warren
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
J. Dalton Havard School for Theological Studies
4105 Broadway St., Houston, TX 77087
DR. MILTON KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PREACHING
Dr. Michael Milton, chancellor and CEO elect of RTS, will be the keynote speaker at the National Conference on Preaching to be held in Spartanburg, SC, on May 9 - 11. RTS/Atlanta Guest Lecturer Dr. R. Leslie Holmes, Sr. Pastor of Reid Memorial Presbyterian in Augusta, Ga., is also scheduled to speak. The theme of this year's conference is “Preaching the Power of the Cross.”
DR. ROD CULBERTSON – NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT RTS/CHARLOTTE
Dr. Rod Culbertson has been appointed as executive director of the RTS/Charlotte campus. He will be responsible for the day to day operations of the campus effective May 1, 2011. Rod will fill this position until a new president is named for the Charlotte campus, which is not expected for at least another year. The transition of Dr. Milton to Chancellor requires him to be released from his responsibilities as interim president of the Charlotte campus so he can focus his attention on important institutional matters.
Dr. Milton said, "The call to become the chancellor elect of our beloved seminary has led me now to increased responsibilities across the campuses, as well as my ongoing outward work for the cause of this ministry. Thus, I found it necessary to obtain leadership help for RTS Charlotte. I approached a man who is a natural 'go-to' man to help in this interim season of RTS Charlotte and that man is Dr. Rod Culbertson. He is an experienced and tested leader and one who knows Charlotte and the RTS system very well. More than that, Rod is my friend and trusted colleague in the Gospel who will lead through prayer and with great wisdom and insight. I am so thankful that he has heard and answered the call to help lead Charlotte in these exciting days of growth and outreach. I am also thankful to Tari Williamson, who reports to Rod and will be an integral part of making this interim leadership work well. Thank you both!"
CAMPUS EVENTS
RTS/ATLANTA
The campus family is excited to hold the first commencement in its new building on Saturday, May 21, at 10 a.m. Rev. Steve Wallace, RTS chief operations officer, will speak.
Dr. Steve Brown will teach “The Christian Life” at RTS/Atlanta this summer. Register now.
RTS/HOUSTON
Summer Class - Register now for ST504 “History of Philosophy & Christian Thought,” taught by Dr. Robert Ferguson, pastor of Faith Fellowship Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Tomball, Texas. The class begins June 3, 2011. Classes meet at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Houston. Contact Tim McKeown here admissions.houston@rts.edu for more information about classes, or call 800-752-4382.
RTS/ORLANDO
Preview Day was held at RTS/Orlando on March 12. Tom Nelson, admissions director (pictured left at podium), along with Kim Trouten, office coordinator, helped organize the event.
President’s Reception – May 19 at 5:30 p.m. on campus.
Senior Banquet - May 19 at 6:30 p.m. on campus.
Commencement – May 20 at First Presbyterian Church in Orlando at 7:30 p.m. Chancellor Ric Cannada will speak.
2011 Summer Elective has a Special Feature - "A Theology of Work" is a two-credit course elective that will be taught by our RTS Orlando alumnus, Orlando Rivera (1992/M.Div.). The special feature of this course is that it ends with a 9 am - 5 pm seminar on Saturday, August 20. As a service to the Orlando community, this seminar will also be open to the general public at no cost. Click here for more info.
Women in Ministry – End of Year Brunch, April 30, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Contact Heather DeFrancisco for more information at hdefrancisco@rts.edu.
RTS/CHARLOTTE
Commencement - May 21 at 11 a.m. at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, N.C. Marvin Olasky, senior editor and publisher of World magazine will speak.
RTS/VIRTUAL
Upcoming dates for Orientation Seminars are:
June 20-22, 2011
Summer Course – Hebrew Basic I and II will be offered this summer online with Dr. Mark Futato. Please contact Alice Hathaway at 800-227-2013, ext. 235, to register for these courses.
Hebrew I/Basic - May 30 - June 10
Hebrew II/Basic - June 20 - July 1
RTS/JACKSON
Clinton Townhomes Garage Sale (rescheduled), now Saturday, May 7, 7:00 a.m.
Senior Banquet - May 20 in Miller Hall at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson at 6:30 p.m.
Commencement – Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Miss. Dr. Paul B. Long, Sr., professor of missions emeritus at RTS/Jackson will speak.
ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Do you have an alumni snippet to share? Have you published a new book? Send it to the editor, here.
John Easter (MABS ‘00) will receive his Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Congratulations!
Steve Cavallaro (M.Div. ’94, MAC ‘99) is the pastor at Desert Springs Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Ariz. He and his wife Amie have a four-year-old daughter named Jadon, and a three-year-old son named Elijah.
Esaïe Etienne (M.Div. ’04) and his wife Natacha are serving in Haiti with Mission to the World. They share these facts:
1. Unemployment was 70% before the earthquake and now is about 80%.
2. Before the earthquake there were about 500,000 school age children that did not go to school, but now the number is between 500,000 and 800,000.
3. The earthquake has created 1,500,000 homeless and more than a year after January 12, 2010 there is still close to 1,000,000 people living in tent cities because 105,000 homes were destroyed and 208,000 damaged.
They ask for prayer for a sponsorships for children to attend Dociné School, for the new president elect in this period of transition as he awaits to swear in on May 14, 2011, for Natacha, who had two medical procedures the end of last month, and everything is fine, for safe travel every month, for the continuing maturity of the leaders and the new Christians in both churches, Gonaives and Dociné and for Esaie and Natacha as they seek to raise support for the ministry center in Gonaives.
Scott G Davenport (M.Div. ’08) – We last reported in November that Scott had stepped down as headmaster of Greyfriars Classical Academy in Charlotte, N.C., 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. Now, he has two new announcements: Scott was ordained to the Gospel ministry on Friday, April 15. The ordination service was held at Matthews Orthodox Presbyterian Church, in Matthews, N.C. ; Also, he and his family will be moving to Peru on Tuesday, May 10! After arriving there, they will travel down to Arequipa in southern Peru and attend language school for several months. They appreciate your prayers.