Issue #128 | September 25, 2012 |
FREE BREAKFAST AND KOREAN LECTURE AT RTS/ATLANTA
Our Korean brothers and sisters are cordially invited to the Atlanta campus of Reformed Theological Seminary, located at 1580 Terrell Mill Rd., Marietta, GA., on Friday, Nov. 2 at 8:00 a.m. for a free breakfast and lecture by Dr. Hyung Yong Park on "Paul's Theology of Resurrection and His Method of Preaching." Dr. Park received his Doctorate of Sacred Theology from Emory University, his Master of Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary, and his Master of Divinity from Chongshin Theological Seminary in South Korea. He is the former chancellor of Seoul Bible Graduate School of Theology and former chancellor and professor at Hapdong Theological Seminary. If interested, please RSVP to Soyon Kim by Friday, October 26 at skim@rts.edu or by calling 770.952.8884 (ext. 114). This event will be in the Korean language, as a service to our Korean-speaking Christian brethren, and as an expression of RTS’ global vision.
NEW VIDEO ON INTERNSHIPS AT RTS/JACKSON
Click here to view the new video on internships at RTS/Jackson.
REPORT ON AALDR WEEKEND AT RTS/JACKSON
The African American Leadership Initiative at RTS/Jackson partnered with Mission to North America (MNA) and Redeemer Church, Jackson, to host the African American Leadership Development and Recruitment (AALDR) weekend in Jackson, Miss., in late August. There were more than 80 in attendance from all over the U.S. even as far as London, England. Topics were addressed pertaining to ministry by and among African Americans in a Reformed and Presbyterian context. Speakers included Elbert McGowan, Roy Hubbard, Mike Campbell, Randy Nabors, Mike Jones, Carl Ellis, Reddit Andrews and Wy Plummer. The target audience for the weekend was African American seminary students and those who are considering ministry in the future to explore opportunities within the PCA. To listen to the sessions, click here. See pictures from the event here.
CHANCELLOR EMERITUS TO SPEAK AT FPC IN JACKSON
Dr. Ric Cannada will speak at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Miss., on Sunday evening, Oct. 7 on "The Great Invitation" from Matthew 11:25-30.
PROFESSOR SHARES HEBREW WITH FOURTH GRADERS
Dr. Miles Van Pelt recently spoke to an enthusiastic group in a fourth grade classroom at a Christian school in Ridgeland, Miss. The students learned about Hebrew, the origin of the Bible, and looked at the oldest complete Hebrew manuscript in existence. Van Pelt is the Alan Belcher professor of Old Testament and biblical languages, and academic dean at RTS/Jackson.
ONE SCHOOL ONE BOOK
The Orlando campus of RTS is reading The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross by Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour for their One School One Book event, which seeks to generate discussion and cultivate greater community life through corporate reflection on a book of mutual interest and benefit. Read more about the author and the book here. Dr. Jabbour will give a lecture on the book on Monday, Nov. 12, from 7-8:30 p.m. at RTS/Orlando. A book signing will follow. The public is invited. For more information, contact Laura Armstrong at 407-366-9493 or larmstrong@rts.edu.
DESIRING GOD NATIONAL CONFERENCE
RTS/Orlando student Dave Veldkamp and RTS/Charlotte admissions director Stephane Jeanrenaud will represent RTS at the Desiring God Conference in Minneapolis, Minn., Sept. 28-30 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Stop by and say hello! The theme of the conference is "Act the Miracle: God's Work and Ours in the Mystery of Sanctification." The mission of Desiring God is "celebrating the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him; we exist to produce and distribute resources that spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ."
RTS/JACKSON BEGINS THANK-A-THON
Scholarship recipients at RTS/Jackson will be calling donors during their Fall Thank-a-Thon, Sept. 24-26. RTS is grateful to all who give to the students scholarship fund to enable needy students to take classes at RTS while in many cases, also supporting their family. If you would like to give a gift toward this fund, click here and indicate your preferences in the special notes section.
INAUGURATION MESSAGE AND SCHOLAR'S FORUM
Dr. Michael Milton was inaugurated on Sept. 14, 2012. Please click here to read the inauguration message from Dr. Milton. Click here to listen to the message and to listen to the speakers from the scholar's forum.
FORMER RTS FACULTY PASSES AWAY
Dr. Rev. Samuel F. Rowen, Sr., 78, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, September 21, 2012 in Ft. Myers, Fla. Rowen, an ordained EPC minister, served at Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral, Fla., and most recently attended New Hope Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers. He spent most of his life in missions serving primarily in Michigan, China and Argentina. He was also a former professor of missions at RTS/Jackson. He will fondly be remembered for never letting the truth stand in the way of a good story! Rowen is survived by his wife Ruth, three children, Lisa Seay and her husband Chris of Houston, Texas, Pam Rowen – Herzog and her husband Robert of Penngrove, Ca., and Sam Rowen, Jr. and his wife Soon Hee of North Palm Beach, Fla; a brother, David Rowen of Cape Coral; as well as eight grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3825 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL, on Oct. 27 at 10:00am, followed by a light reception. Memorial contributions can be sent to Global Outreach International, PO Box 1, Tupelo, MS, 38802, for the ministry of Marcelo Robles in Argentina. Friends are invited to send condolences via the on-line guest book which can be found at www.MullinsMemorial.com.
ALUMNI SNIPPETS
Lalzuala Khiangte (MAMIs '86), director of Set Free Ministries (SFM) in India, reports that they are counseling and preaching to inmates. He says, "The main purpose of visiting jail inmates is to share Christ with them, and by God's grace more than 1000 inmates have accepted Christ." According to the prison superintendent, suicide rates are down since they have been working in the system. Recently, three ex-prisoners are newly appointed as missionaries outside the Mizoram state. He asks that we pray for Set Free Ministries India, so that the true Light may shine among the inmates.
Josh Kitchen (M.Div. '12), currently in Dallas, Texas, will be seeking ordination in the Presbyterian Church of America. He has begun studying for the six written tests and two oral exams. He and his family plan to go to Papua New Guinea in January serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators for a 16-week orientation course. Josh will be serving as a field coordinator for The Seed Company. Follow their blog here. See the Seed Company video showing the reaction of the Gamo people when the Jesus Film was translated into their language here.
Edna Robfogel, wife of Bill Robfogel (M.Div. '76) working with Serving in Mission (SIM) updated us on the flooding situation in Niger (Western Africa) after the devastating rainfall within 24 hours in late August. She tells us that official reports estimate that "over 12,000 households were affected and over 9,000 homes destroyed. For SIM, the floods have resulted in two compounds now being part of the Niger River: Sahel Academy, international school for MKs and community children and The CBN compound (Centre Biblique de Niamey) - home to ESPriT (the Bible school), a church, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Emmaus Bible Correspondence School, and the Navigators. All these ministries need to find new locations from which to work.
"Predictions indicate the river will not return to its boundaries until March or April 2013 – which means temporarily relocating both schools, as well as finding housing for 53 missionaries and children who lived on those two compounds. The folks there have worked long, hard hours salvaging books, computers, and other valuable supplies as well as helping numerous Nigerien staff, Bible school students, colleagues and friends, many of whom have lost their homes and livelihoods." You can see some of the photos here. Since this report, you can see some of the positive things that have come out of this disaster by clicking here.
James Kim (M.Div. '11) is serving as the executive director of Pioneers Canada. In June 2012, he was ordained by the Evangelical Church Alliance. Since January, he has learned a lot about Canadian culture. Some studies say that Canada has between 6% to 12% evangelical Christians, but a prominent pastor in the area says it could now be as low as 3%. Secularism is growing rapidly. There are about 9,000 Tibetans living in a section of Toronto. There is only one known believer among them. Also, they have connections back in China and Tibet, not to mention countries like the U.S., India, and other places that have taken in Tibetan refugees. Reaching a particular unreached people has truly become a global endeavor. Please pray for James, his family, and Pioneers as they seek to reach the unreached people around the world.