Issue #112 | September 15, 2011 |
JOHN CURRID'S BOOK ON JOSHUA DUE OUT IN NOVEMBER 
Dr. John Currid, the Carl W. McMurray Professor of Old Testament, has written a book for the Welwyn Commentary Series (a series on the books of the Bible) titled Strong and Courageous: Joshua (Evangelical Press, due October 2011). Read more here.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR THE FALL LECTURES IN CHARLOTTE IN SEPTEMBER
Dr. Mark Ross is the speaker for the fall lectures on Sept. 20. Dr. Ross is the professor of systematic theology and dean of Erskine Theological Seminary's Columbia campus, where he is also the director of the Institute for Reformed Worship. From 2003-2008 he served as chairman of the Special Committee on Worship for the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (B.A.), the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and the University of Keele in England (Ph.D.). He and his wife Connie have two married children and seven grandchildren. He is the author of Let’s Study Matthew. Other writings include “Improving the Means of Grace: The Larger Catechism on Spiritual Growth” in The Westminster Confession Into the 21st Century, Vol. III, and “Baptism and Circumcision as Signs and Seals” in The Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism.
The cost of this lecture is free to the RTS Community. To reserve a spot, please email Tari Williamson at twilliamson@rts.edu.
ONE SCHOOL ONE BOOK AT RTS/ORLANDO IN OCTOBER
Sponsored during the fall semester, One School ∙ One Book is a program that seeks to cultivate greater community life at Reformed Theological Seminary/Orlando through corporate reflection on a recently published book of mutual interest and benefit. The program culminates each year with a “meet the author” event that includes a public lecture and book signing.
In honor of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, the 2011 book selection is The Legacy of the King James Bible by Leland Ryken, professor of English at Wheaton College. The book is available for purchase at the RTS bookstore or online here. Join RTS/Orlando as they read this book together and welcome the author to campus in October.
Schedule for the Event:
Monday, Oct. 17, 7:00p.m.
“Ten Fallacies about the King James Version”: lecture by Leland Ryken, followed by a book signing and reception
RTS Pamplin Chapel; book signing in the RTS bookstore
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 12-1:00p.m.
“Reflections on a Life with the King James Bible”: Q&A with Leland Ryken
RTS Campus during a community lunch.
RSVP to Laura at larmstrong@rts.edu.
ANOTHER NEW BOOK BY RTS CHANCELLOR-ELECT DUE IN NOVEMBER
On the heels of Songs in the Night, is yet another favorite coming out as a second edition in November called Hit By Friendly Fire: What to do When Fellow Believers Hurt You (Evangelical Press). This booklet turned full fledged book has grown from a mere 21 pages to 91 pages. The book has an intro by Dr. Derek Thomas, distinguished visiting professor of systematic and historical theology at RTS/Jackson.
CREATION CONFERENCE IN HOUSTON IN OCTOBER
The Vibrant Dance of Faith & Science presents "Creation: Biblical Options" at Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. Dr. J. Ligon Duncan, III is one of seven speakers participating. Duncan is the distinguished visiting professor of systematic and historical theology at RTS/Jackson and senior minister of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Miss. Click here for more information.
SEVEN RIVERS PASTOR SPOKE AT RTS/ORLANDO
Ray Cortese, senior pastor of Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church, in Lecanto, Fla., spoke in chapel at RTS/Orlando in September. He is pictured here with Dr. Simon Kistemaker. He also participated in a Q&A session with the president of RTS/Orlando, Dr. Don Sweeting, during a community lunch with students and members of the community on campus. The Orlando campus has several President's Forums (Q&A sessions) scheduled for the fall (see Campus Events).
SMART CLASSROOM IN P
LACE AT RTS/ATLANTA
The cutting edge "smart classroom" is now completed at RTS/Atlanta. The high speed data lines have been run and high quality cameras added, along with a mounted new projector and screen. This new classroom provides a virtual connection to smart classroom sites on three other RTS campuses (in Charlotte, Jackson and Orlando), and gives RTS/Atlanta a global digital reach. It also allows for high quality multimedia recording and other next generation educational abilities. Pictured left is Dr. Derek Thomas, distinguished visiting professor of systematic and historical theology, teaching in the smart classroom.
NEW RTS VIRTUAL ONLINE COURSE OFFERING
Church and the World (2 credit hours) is now available via our online virtual classroom. Contact Alice Hathaway at 800-227-2013 ext. 235 to register.
FAITH FOR LIVING (CORRECTED TIMES)
Faith For Living with Michael Milton, an outreach ministry of RTS, is available to view on DirecTV on Channel 378 on the NRB Network Mondays at 8:30a.m. and Thursdays at 3:30a.m. Several people call into the show every week and our most recent call came all the way from Hawaii. Tune in also online at www.FaithForLivingTV.com, on iTunes, accradio.com and sermonaudio.com. The program is also broadcast on the radio in many locations.
CAMPUS EVENTS
Fall classes are in session.
RTS/ATLANTA
Ministry Mondays - (beginning Sept. 12) - RTS Atlanta, situated in a global crossroads, is able to attract local, national, and international leaders to encourage and direct its students to potential ministry fields. This is exactly what will be happening during the lunch hour on many Mondays this fall. Please make plans to drop in or if you have one of the block classes that day, stick around and learn about what God is doing through a variety of works. The presenting ministries will be providing lunch for students as well. You can view a list of these ministries here.”
RTS/CHARLOTTE
Sept. 17 - Couponing Breakfast
Sept 19, Oct. 3 - Roundtable Discussions with the Culbertsons.
Sept. 20 - Dr. Mark Ross is the speaker for the fall lectures on Sept. 20. He is associate dean and associate professor of systematic theology at the Columbia campus of Erskine Theological Seminary and director of the Institute for Reformed Worship.
Oct. 28 - Fall Festival for RTS Community
RTS/HOUSTON
Oct. 9-11 - Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Houston) and RTS/Houston are sponsoring a Marriage Enrichment Weekend led by Dr. Jim Coffield.
RTS/JACKSON
Chapel is now on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesdays - Knitting and Needles - 7:00 p.m. at Mrs. Irwin's home.
Sept. 22 - Credentials Luncheon for all interested in ordination - Patterson's Porch.
RTS/ORLANDO
Mondays (beginning Sept. 12) from 9:00a.m. - 10:00a.m.- Free Workshop on "Logos Academic Training" - led by Dr. Mark Futato in Classroom 3.
Thursdays - Ultimate Frisbee at 4:00 p.m.
Sept. 21 - President's Forum (Q&A) with Dr. Greg Livingstone, founder of Frontiers and pioneering missionary to Muslims at community lunch in the fellowship hall at noon. Please RSVP for lunch ($5) and seating by emailing Heather at hdefrancisco@rts.edu.
Sept. 29: Preview Day for Prospective Students. Contact Tom Nelson at tnelson@rts.edu.
Sept. 30- Oct. 1 - Women in Ministry (WIM) Retreat - Deerhaven Retreat and Conference Center, Ocala National Forest.
Oct. 17-18 - One School One Book - RTS/Orlando welcomes Leland Ryken, author of The Legacy of the King James Bible: Celebrating 400 Years of the Most Influential English Translation.
RTS/VIRTUAL
Upcoming dates for the Orientation Seminars are:
October 24-26 (Charlotte), January 12-14 (Houston), February 27-29 (Charlotte), and April 23-25 (Charlotte).
ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Do you have an alumni snippet to share? Have you published a new book? Send it to the editor, here.
Jake Belder (MATS, '10) and his wife Robin have recently moved to the United Kingdom where Jake now serves as assistant minister at St John Newland Church in the city of Hull. In addition to sharing in the pastoral ministry of the church, he is responsible for developing and coordinating the church's work in the community. Hull is a particularly deprived city with high levels of unemployment and poverty. There are very few evangelical Christians, and church attendance in Hull is among the lowest in the UK. Pray for the church as they determine how best to meet the needs of the city and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God. You can follow Jake's blog here.
Jeany Budiman (MACE '04) has been teaching at Sekolah Pelita Harapan International (SPHI) Karawaci in Indonesia, for six years. She is currently teaching biblical studies for grade 9, and math for grade 10 to 12.
Sarah "Rachel" Butler (MAC '10) has joined City Church in San Francisco, Calif., as a counselor and faculty member of Newbigin Fellowship. Rachael desires to walk alongside those who are struggling in relationships, self image, spirituality, gender identity, vocation, marriage and a range of other issues. She enjoys incorporating a number of clinical techniques into her therapy to meet the specific needs of each of her clients.
Ryan Dean (M.Div. '09) (pictured right with his family) was ordained and installed as assistant pastor at Redeemer Church in Jackson, Miss., in August. Ryan leads the youth ministry. He and his wife Leslie now have two sons: Evan (2) and Levi (5 months).
Grady Crosland (M.A.R. '07) spoke to about 60 medical students in August on the significance of Genesis 1:1-3:15 on morality (ties in with the students medical ethics class), anthropology (why they should treat patients with dignity and compassion and are called to be competent), and soteriology (there is none in the atheistic world). Dr. Crosland also spent time on discerning the difference between science and philosophical speculation masquerading as science. Lastly, he noted the state of constant flux in which science is embedded rather than the empirically stable framework in which they have been taught to view it. Dr. Crosland stated that, "It was not nearly as difficult a project as I thought it might be because of the training, exposure to materials, and exercises in critical thinking that RTS Virtual helped imbue in this particular vessel."
Anthony Turner (M.A.R. '09) is serving as a bi-vocational teaching pastor and dean of students for Victory Trade School. This is a culinary school that works with men who have had drug/alcohol problems and are working toward the final stages of recovery. They are part of the Victory Mission which is an evangelical mission in Springfield, MO. Victory Mission has won the Hope Award by World Magazine, and currently World is conducting an online vote between 4 institutes in America. Victory Trade School is one of the 4. Tony is asking his fellow alumni to go online and vote for Victory Trade School. For more information and to vote, click here.
Arturo Terrazas (M.Div. '08) is finishing postgraduate studies at the University of Barcelona (Assyriology) in Spain. He assists in a Reformed church, preaching and teaching young adults. In the fall, he will start teaching Old Testament and Hebrew in an evangelical seminary.