Issue #127 | September 11, 2012 |
THIS WEEK: THE INAUGURATION OF DR. MICHAEL MILTON
This week on Friday, September 14, RTS will inaugurate a new chancellor. As part of the RTS Succession Plan, Dr. Michael Milton began leading the Seminary on June 1, 2012, upon Dr. Ric Cannada's retirement. Milton's office manager Wendy Simmons has been working hard on the ceremony and all of the details. We are grateful for her hard work and that of other staffers and students. The complete RTS faculty will be in attendance. A scholar's forum is also scheduled prior to the inauguration with these Christian leaders: Dr. Robert C. "Ric" Cannada, Jr., Dr. Bryan Chapell, Dr. Ligon Duncan, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, Dr. George Grant, Dr. Peter Lillback, Samuel T. Logan, Jr., Ph.D., Dr. Albert Mohler, Mr. John Muether, Dr. Mike Ross and Dr. Derek Thomas. Read more about the forum here. FALL PREVIEW DAYS : COME VISIT US
You’re invited to get a glimpse of RTS Charlotte on Tuesday, November 13th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. where you can discover how accessible graduate studies at RTS can be. During our Preview Day, you’ll have a chance to interact with faculty, staff and current students, worship, tour the campus, and hear from pastor-scholars about calling and God’s Kingdom and how you fit into it all. Best of all, the Preview Day is FREE! There is an optional event in the evening if interested. Location: RTS Charlotte, 2101 Carmel Rd Charlotte, NC 28226, RSVP: hgregory@rts.edu or call 800.755.2429, ext. 2101.
The RTS/Orlando campus will host their Fall Preview Days on October 2 beginning at 4:30 p.m. and ending October 3 at 3:00 p.m. By attending the Preview Days, you will enjoy dinner in your honor, meet the president and faculty, tour the campus, attend two classes, participate in the weekly chapel service, experience the weekly community lunch, and receive valuable information about the degree programs, financial aid, and seminary life. BONUS: All attendees will receive a $150 voucher to apply to their first semester’s tuition! For more information or to RSVP, contact Tim Trouten at 800-752-4382 (ttrouten@rts.edu). CHINA'S REFORMING CHURCHES CONFERENCE
A conference on “China’s Reforming Churches,” sponsored by Reformed Theological Seminary, will be held on January 2 - 4, 2013 at Wallace Presbyterian Church in College Park, Md. The conference is being organized by Bruce P. Baugus, associate professor of philosophy and theology at RTS and Dave Holmlund, organizing pastor of Pilgrim Presbyterian Church in Dover, NH. This conference will gather key ministry leaders from both sides of the Pacific, including representatives from Presbyterian and Reformed bodies across North America, Reformed scholars and experts on Christianity in China, among others. For further information, including a for-credit option, please contact Bruce Baugus at bbaugus@rts.edu.
RTS VIRTUAL PRESIDENT HAS A NEW BLOG
Dr. Andy Peterson, president of RTS/Virtual, has begun a new blog for students and supporters. It is titled "Biblical Life Today" and will deal with topics such as how the Bible transforms reality in education, counseling, seminary, business and healthcare. Beginning in September, the focus will be on Christian education topics. The blog is available on RTS on iTunes U here with the most recent messages at the top. Get started on RTS on iTunes U here. WOMEN IN MINISTRY (WIM) AT RTS
WIM in Jackson
The fall semester of Women in Ministry for the RTS/Jackson campus began with a brunch attended by over 50 women students, student wives, and faculty wives. In a festive atmosphere of food and fellowship, they were welcomed to the seminary by Melissa Ridgway, a Jackson, Miss., native, and wife of RTS Board Chairman Richard Ridgway. She blended scriptural texts, winsome wisdom, and urged the women to “buckle up,” hold on to each other in friendship, and together enjoy the God-given adventure of seminary life. Pictured left is The WIM Cabinet in Jackson.WIM in Orlando
RTS/Orlando Women in Ministry is excited to welcome all new and returning women to campus and to start this academic year off strong. Their first event of the semester was a brunch which provided an opportunity to meet and get to know others. Over 50 women attended and were encouraged by Leigh Swanson, RTS alumna and new associate dean of students in Orlando, who spoke about pilgrimage with God as seen in the Psalms. They have also started a women’s small group which will be reading The Pilgrim’s Progress this semester. Future events include a lunch on campus on Sept. 11 and a fall retreat Sept. 28-29. Their hope is that all women affiliated with RTS in Orlando will truly feel connected and grow here this year, becoming more equipped for the place God has called them to serve in his kingdom.
Women of RTS in Charlotte
On August 20, the Women of RTS Charlotte had their "Fall Kick Off" dinner. Student wife, Lauren Wenzler, spoke about her struggles and ultimate reliance on God during her first few months as a new wife, in a new city. Catrionia Anderson, wife of Dr. James Anderson, associate professor of theology and philosophy, encouraged the women with thoughts on Psalm 16. Tari Wiliamson, dean of women, closed the evening with an unveiling of the events for the coming semester. These events include monthly care nights, mentoring with faculty wives, the fall retreat to the mountains at the end of September, and a brunch and hike in November.
NEW BOOK BY CHANCELLOR MILTON
In October, a new book written by Dr. Milton titled Finding a Vision for Your Church: Assembly Required will be released. It will also include study questions.
RTS PHONE-A-THON RESUMES THIS FALL
Are you interested in partnering with RTS in support of scholarships for some of our needy students? Our students will soon begin calling on you to ask for a gift to support this effort. So many of you are supporting RTS in big ways and in small ways and we deeply appreciate each and every gift. If you would prefer to make your gift online, you can make a gift donation online here and specify "student scholarship gift" to direct your gifts to our students in need. Many of our students are also supporting their families and working multiple jobs to help out as well. Please give as you are led. We look forward to speaking with you. ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Hunter Brewer (M.Div.'03), minister of teaching at Madison Heights Church reports that on Sunday, September 16th, they will move into their new church home. They have been meeting in a Catholic school since their inception. On that day, they are commissioning Josh Kines (M.Div. '07) and Nathaniel "Nate" Bonham (M.Div. '11) to the mission field (they leave two days later to go to Colombia). Josh and Nate have been on staff at MHC from the beginning. Thus, the creation/building of the church and their call to the mission field involves three RTS graduates as Hunter is also currently working on his D.Min.
Robert Griffith (M.Div. '09) is currently serving as a church liaison officer at Third Millennium Ministries in Orlando, Fla. He and his wife Christi are the proud parents of a new baby boy named Caedmon (pictured right), who was born February 6, 2012. Christi homeschools their other two children and teaches voice lessons. Jake M. Hunt (M.Div. '07) and his wife Melissa, after recently visiting the States, have a special prayer request. They received a letter from the foreign police threatening to suspend Melissa's visa application due to "unresolved defects." They will have a visa attorney write a letter explaining their situation. Jake asks for prayer in this situation. Follow their blog here.http://huntsinprague.com/. Jake and Melissa had a new baby girl on August 20, 2012. Her name is Elizabeth Jenkins Hunt. Congratulations! Their son Sam is starting kindergarten and son Foard will start preschool this school year.
W. Wallace Hostetter (M.Div '79, D.Min '85), this past March, accepted a call to head up a mission agency in Detroit, Mich., called EACH (Everyone a Chance to Hear). EACH will attempt to give everyone in their region (over 3.5 million people) a chance to hear the message of Christ and to take the ‘next step’ in their spiritual journey. Hostetter was formerly at St. Giles Church in Charlotte. As the executive director of EACH, Hostetter works with a board of seven pastors. They are working with over 500 churches and have enrolled over 350 pastors in the EACH Pastor's Network. You can check out their work here. Also, check out the Web site they created called 2wordstory with videos of testimonies to help people share their faith.
Robert Jolly (M. Div. '11) was ordained and installed as pastor at Sardinia Presbyterian Church in Sardinia, SC, on Aug. 12, 2012.
Steffen Mueller (M.Div. '05) is currently serving in Munich, Germany, as pastor of Gospel Church Munchen. On September 9, they held their first worship service in Grunwald. They will have the official opening service on October 14. Keep them in your prayers.
Correction: Butch Barkman is stepping down as the JAARS president. Sorry for the incorrect spelling of his name in the last RTS E-Newsletter.