Issue #126 | August 30, 2012 |
CHANCELLOR'S CHRISTMAS CD NOW AVAILABLE
You may remember the song, "When Heaven Came Down," that Dr. Michael Milton composed and we sent out as our "gift" to you during Christmas last year. Now, Milton's first Christmas CD featuring that same song is available for sale here. Milton said, "'When Heaven Came Down' came as an encouragement from a colleague at RTS to write a song about the Incarnation. That one song led to a wonderful time of reflecting and composing 14 other new songs for Advent and Christmas." This is Milton's third CD.
RTS ALUMNUS BOOK FEATURED ON STEVEBROWNETC.COM
Chris Probst (MABS '02), who recently wrote Demonizing The Jews: Luther and the Protestant Church in Nazi Germany (published in June 2012, Indiana University Press), was interviewed on SteveBrownEtc. Luther wrote, "If we wish to wash our hands of the Jews' blasphemy and not share in their guilt, we have to part company with them. They must be driven from our country."- Martin Luther (Jews and Their Lies). This aided the Nazis in justifying the Holocaust.
Probst poses a question and answer, "Are you aware of the anti-semitism in this world? We should be gracious and loving by opening up dialogue with Jewish friends." You can listen to the full interview here, Click on the start button in the paragraph below where his book is listed on the Web site. Dr. Probst is a professor at Saint Louis University where he teaches courses in modern European history, including Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. In 2008 he was a Charles H. Revson Foundation Fellow at the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
FALL LECTURES WITH DR. MARK NOLL - RSVP BY SEPTEMBER 18
The Fall Lectures with Dr. Mark Noll will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Charlotte campus of Reformed Theological Seminary, located at 2101 Carmel Rd. in Charlotte. Dr. Noll will speak on "The Enduring Contribution of Charles Hodge, BB. Warfield, and their 'Old Princeton' Colleagues."
Two lectures will be given. Lecture 1 is titled "The Historical Importance and Theological Weaknesses of 'Old Princeton.'" Lecture 2 is titled "The Enduring and Edifying Example of 'Old Princeton.'"
Noll is the Francis A. McAnaney professor of history at the University of Notre Dame. He has written a number of books and articles on the history of Christianity in the United States and, more recently, around the world. His works on the theologians of “Old Princeton” include the edited collection, The Princeton Theology 1812-1921: Scripture, Science and Theological Method from Archibald Alexander to Benjamin Warfield (Baker, 2nd ed. 2001); an edition of Charles Hodge’s The Way of Life and Other Writings (Paulist Press, 1987); two books edited with David N. Livingtstone, Charles Hodge’s What is Darwinism?And Other Writings on Religion and Science (Baker, 1994), and B. B. Warfield: Evolution, Science, and Scripture—Selected Writings (Baker, 2000); and several articles, including the entries on Joseph Addison Alexander, Charles Hodge, and B. B. Warfield in American National Biography.
The cost of the lecture is $20 and includes lunch. To reserve your spot, please contact Tari Williamson by email or call 704-366-5066. Please RSVP by September 18.
RTS/JACKSON CAMPUS CLOSED TODAY
There are no main issues at the Jackson campus, but our maintenance crew is keeping an eye on our buildings there due to the storm. RTS/Jackson will be closed today as the other schools in the area are also closed. Please keep them in your prayers as well as our friends in Louisiana and those along the Gulf Coast as the storm (Isaac) moves through.
CHANCELLOR'S BLOG
Dr. Milton posted his convocation message "Opportunities and Adversaries" today. Click here to read his message.
FAITH FOR LIVING STUDIO AUDIENCE CALL
You have the opportunity to participate as a live audience member for Dr. Mike Milton’s TV program Faith for Living. If you are interested, please arrive at Westminster Presbyterian Church (1300 India Hook Road, Rock Hill, SC) at 9:15 am on each of the dates below. The filming will start promptly at 9:30 am. There will be a light breakfast and coffee provided. You should be finished with the filming by noon. Dates: Aug 31, Sept 10, Oct 22, Oct 26, Nov 12, Nov 30.
JONI AND FRIENDS CONFERENCE
The 2012 Southeast Disability Ministry Summit will be held at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC, on October 5-6, 2012. Joni will be one of the keynote speakers! Register online here or call 704-841-1177. You will learn practical training designed to equip churches for disability ministry. They plan to have over 25 workshops.
NEW BOOK BY CHANCELLOR MILTON
Dr. Milton has written Silent No More (Tanglewood Publishing, US, Evangelical Press, UK) due September 2012. The publisher writer, "Pastors have an obligation to speak prophetically to the culture by identifying national sins and sounding forth the warning of national judgment. If a pastor does not warn the people, and if any die without repenting, God says: "I will hold the Watchman responsible for the bloodshed of the unwarned sinner." (Ez. 33:6, The Message). Dr. Mike Milton is saying to all pastors that they cannot remain silent. Their solemn duty is to be that Watchman whatever the cost."
COMING UP SOON - 2012 RTS JACKSON ANNUAL WORLD MISSIONS CONFERENCE
The RTS/Jackson Annual World Missions Conference will be held Sept.11-12. The keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Jack Chinchen, founder and chairman of the board of African Bible Colleges. Dr. Chinchen will give a message during lunch at Sam Patterson's Porch at RTS/Jackson on Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. His message on Wednesday will be given in the chapel from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with lunch to follow.
Dr. Chinchen was a missionary to Africa for over 40 years. He established the first evangelical Christian colleges in Liberia in 1976, in Malawi in 1989, and in Uganda in 2005. He has a doctorate from Biola University and is an ordained minister in the PCA. He and his wife Nell have seven children, three of whom are serving as missionaries in Africa.
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 invaluable opportunity for students to visit an RTS campus, hear lectures from RTS professors, visit a top-notch theological library, meet with personal advisors from the RTS/Virtual staff, and network with other students. To register, contact Alice Hathaway, RTS/Virtual registrar at ext. 235. Upcoming dates for orientation seminars are: Monday-Wednesday, October 29-31 (Charlotte).
NEW PRESIDENT AT JAARS
President Butch Barkman will be stepping down on September 1, 2012, from JAARS, a nonprofit that provides technical support services—such as aviation, information technology, and media —to advance Bible translation and literacy programs worldwide. Their work impacts teams with SIL International, the Wycliffe Global Alliance, and many related organizations. The new president will be Woody McLendon.
ALUMNI SNIPPETS 
Esaie Etienne (M.Div ’04) and his wife Natacha, MTW missionaries to Gonaives, Haiti, hosted a week long summer camp at the school in Docine in July. They built a two room house for a girl in the church with nine siblings. (Her old house is the first picture and her new house is the second picture.) They also hosted the second annual family retreat for two churches in the Docine School. They had 110 people attend. He says it was a refreshing time of worship and teaching for children, youth, women and men. Please continue to pray for their efforts in Haiti.
James T. Griffin (MAR '11), on July 20, was ordained to the transitional deaconate in the Episcopal Missionary Church (a continuing Anglican denomination that separated from the Episcopal Church a couple of decades ago) by its presiding bishop, the Most Reverend Council Nedd, II, at Hillsdale, Mich. It is "transitional" in that he will be a deacon for about a year before being ordained a priest.
John Hartung (M.Div.CE '94) has written Truth in the Flesh: Introducing Apologetics to the Local Church.
L. Reid Hensarling (D.Min. '10) has written a new book titled The Biblical Gospel that comes from his dissertation. You can purchase the book here.
Simon Konecny (MAMis '97) shared that his wife Alena Konecna wrote a new book titled Don't Shine Into My Speaker!, summarizing their current ministry caring for abandoned children and encouraging other parents to become foster parents.
Kellie Lorish (MATS '07) shared new information about Northside Church where her husband Matt Lorish (M.Div. '08, MAC '08 ) is the church planting pastor. She tells us that Northside Church of Richmond , Va., began it's first membership class this summer. They also host a gathering of middle school boys with a couple of men from the church each Thursday evening. Additionally, they are encouraged that there continues to be individuals and families that show interest in joining various aspects of the Northside Church community. She asks for prayer that they would have the eyes of the Lord to see and hear each other even when they struggle to find words, the power of the Spirit to communicate His presence when they are tempted to move toward isolation, and the hope of rescue through Christ's death and resurrection.
Curtis McGown (MAC '00) and his wife Lisa left on August 19 for Chiang Mai, one of the largest cities in Thailand. Curtis, a licensed mental health counselor and qualified supervisor, will be counseling at The Well Member Care Center, speaking at retreats and conferences, consulting and team building. He previously worked in these capacities in Florida. The Well is "a Christian member-care center that promotes the well-being and effectiveness of Christian workers and organizations serving in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Asia by caring for people’s spiritual, emotional and relational needs." Lisa will be assisting the missionaries and helping out in the children's school. They ask for prayer about househunting and finding transportation while they are there. They have two children. Learn more about The Well here. Click here to see a slide show about The Well Member Care Center in Chiang Mai.
Anthony Pizzuti (M.Div. '12) and his wife Susan are preparing for a one-year missionary assignment in the Middle East starting early next year. They have been approved by the sending missionary organization and have received an external call from a team in the Middle East. They ask for prayer for: the preparation process; for them to be able to rent their house;to find housing for their dog; to sell some property they own, that Anthony can complete the ordination process before they leave, for them to withstand the “fiery darts” of the enemy, to not waiver from God’s calling, that their support raising would be blessed by the Lord, and that they would reflect the love of Christ and that God would be glorified through their ministry.
Greg Salazar (M.Div '12) is assisting Dr. Livingstone at a Frontiers conference in Nairobi, Kenya, where Dr. L is the plenary speaker to missionary leaders working in the Middle East. Greg is increasingly seeing how God has strategically placed him in this role of assisting Dr. L and how this plan bears such incredible fruit in not only his heart, but the Kingdom. Specifically, as Greg takes logistics and the plans for research off of him, this frees Dr. L to do incredible things for the kingdom, that only he can do! They have now moved into an apartment. Keep Greg and Christie in your prayers.
G. Michael Saunders (M.Div. '83), founder and director of A New Beginning Ministries, in Eliot, Maine, has published a book on marriage enrichment, titled The Marriage Makeover: Making Your Marriage The Best It Can Be Based on God's Promise for Marriage. Click here to order the book.