Issue #129 | October 23, 2012 |
NEW PRESIDENT AT RTS/CHARLOTTE
RTS announced on October 4, 2012, the appointment of Dr. Michael J. Kruger as president of RTS/Charlotte effective January 1, 2013. RTS also expressed its sincere thanks to Dr. Rod Culbertson for stepping in as the campus executive director to oversee operations when Dr. Milton began his transition into the chancellorship of RTS. We are grateful for Rod's selfless service. He will now return to the classroom to teach.
Dr. Kruger is currently professor of New Testament and academic dean at RTS/Charlotte. He will continue his teaching responsibilities, but a new academic dean will be appointed. Dr. Kruger received a B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary in California, and a Ph.D. from University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Read more here.
GOSPEL COALITION 2013 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
This conference will be a five-day event running April 6 to 10, including a weekend world missions conference and three-day main conference focused on the mission of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. Both events will be held at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla. You are encouraged to attend both conferences but may also register for them separately. Overall the event features 80 speakers from around the world aiming to stir your affections for Jesus Christ, equip you to live faithfully in this world, and spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. Eight plenary addresses and one panel will re-introduce you to Jesus as recounted by Luke and explore together the dramatic progression from Jesus' birth to ascension. Register here.
PROFESSOR CHUCK HILL'S BOOK NOW IN PAPERBACK
Who Chose the Gospels? Probing the Great Gospel Conspiracy by Dr. Chuck Hill, professor of New Testament at RTS/Orlando, is now available in paperback. The description states, "The Bible contains four Gospels which tell the story of Jesus of Nazareth. And yet, many more Gospels once existed. Who, then, determined which Gospels would, for the next two thousand years, serve as the main gateways to Jesus and his teaching? Who Chose the Gospels? examines the great (and ongoing) controversy about how to look at ancient books about Jesus. How the four Biblical Gospels emerged into prominence among their competitors is a crucial question for students interested in understanding the historical Jesus and the development of the Christian church." click here to order the book.
RTS FACULTY, STUDENT AND FORMER STAFF PUBLISHED IN THE WASHINGTON POST
Articles by several of our RTS/Washington D.C. folks have recently been published in the Washington Post. President Scott Redd's article on the D.C. governor debacle titled "Vincent Gray Drama Has Become About Ethics" is posted here and his article on the value of ancient texts titled "The Bible Museum and the Importance of Appreciating Religious Textual History" is posted here. RTS/Washington student John Bourgeois' article on debt and morality titled "Presidential Debate: Morality, the Deficit and Jim Lehrer" is posted here. Hugh Whelchel, former executive director of Washington/DC wrote an article on jobs and the Christian theology of seeking welfare of community, titled "Presidential Debate: Obama, Romney Job Rhetoric Misses True Value of Work" is posted here.
NEW STATION TO BROADCAST FAITH FOR LIVING
WZKR-FM (103.3), a station on the Mississippi News Network will be airing Faith For Living on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. Faith For Living is an outreach ministry of Reformed Theological Seminary with host Dr. Michael Milton.
OPEN HOUSE AT RTS/WASHINGTON D.C.
An open house for prospective students will be held Nov. 9 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at RTS/Washington DC. Learn about campus life and meet with President Scott Redd, the faculty and staff. Visitors are welcome to stay for our "Missions" course with Dr. Sam Larsen starting at 7:00 p.m. Contact Geoff Sackett via email or call 703-448-2293 to reserve a spot. We look forward to meeting you!
BREATHEcast REVIEWS MILTON CHRISTMAS ALBUM
Neshell Hogan, of BREATHEcast, recently reviewed Dr. Milton's new Christmas album When Heaven Came Down, and said, "It's refreshing to see a Christmas album that is completely original lyrically and musically." Read the complete review here. Purchase a copy for yourself or a friend here and support scholarships for RTS students at the same time.
RUNNING 26.2 FOR STUDENTS
Jim McAlhaney, (M.A.R; M.S.), director of admissions/student services for the RTS/Virtual campus will run the Kiawah Island Marathon in South Carolina on December 8. This is a 26.2 mile race to raise additional scholarship funds for RTS/Virtual students. He calls it the 26.2 Virtual Campus Scholarship Fundraiser. Jim is an RTS/Virtual alumnus and staff member. He says, “When I was a student with RTS/Virtual, I was also the recipient of a scholarship to help lower my tuition cost. Without this, I could not have finished seminary.” If you are interested in supporting Jim in this effort, he is hoping to have many pledge $1 per mile for a total contribution of $26.20 per supporter, but a larger pledge is welcome, of course.
Also, Jim is seeking to qualify for the 2014 Boston Marathon by running better than a 3:25 at Kiawah. If Jim does qualify for the Boston Marathon, would you consider an additional $10 or more donation to the RTS Virtual Scholarship fund?
If you can commit to the 26.2 Scholarship Fundraiser, email Jim at jmcalhaney@rts.edu. If you would like to mail your contribution, make the check payable to: Reformed Theological Seminary and mail to Reformed Theological Seminary Virtual Campus, Attn: Jim McAlhaney, 2101 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226. Note: Please put: 26.2 Virtual Scholarship in the memo line of your check.
If you choose to make a contribution for this cause online, you can do so here, and be sure to put 26.2 Virtual Scholarship in the notes area of the online form. Your donation is tax-deductible and you will receive a receipt.
INAUGURATION PICTURES NOW AVAILABLE ON RTS FACEBOOK
Click here to view pictures from the inauguration of Dr. Michael Milton on September 14, 2012.
RTS/JACKSON INTERNATIONAL POTLUCK
The annual international dinner at RTS/Jackson, sponsored by the Student Cabinet and coordinated by Christina Jeong, was held at Patterson’s Porch on Sept. 21. Students from around the globe brought home-cooked dishes from the countries they represent—Brazil, Canada, China, Guyana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, and Taiwan. There was singing of songs in a multitude of languages, led by Matheus Santos. A panel of international students fielded questions, both serious and humorous: What do you miss most about your country? What foods are eaten in your country that seem weird to Americans? How would you like the RTS family to pray for your country? Laughter, music, delicious and adventurous food, rich fellowship in Christ… a special evening for new friends and old.
VIRTUAL CAMPUS ORIENTATION SEMINARS
RTS/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's registrar. Upcoming dates for orientation seminars are October, 29-31 (RTS/Charlotte).
WOMEN IN MINISTRY VISIT WYCLIFFE
The Women in Ministry (WIM) of RTS/Orlando visited the Wycliffe Bible Translators headquarters on Friday for a Scripture celebration, where they celebrate many new translations of the Scriptures. Special guest speaker Jon Arensen, who has served Wycliffe mostly in Sudan and Kenya, spoke during the celebration. Wycliffe calls the celebration a beginning. "As the Word enters the hearts of people who begin to grasp its depths for the first time in their own tongue, the Holy Spirit used it to deepen the transformation process, first in individuals and then in whole communities." Several of the RTS Staff were also in attendance.
FORMER RTS FACULTY PASSES AWAY
Rev. Elmer Dortzbach, 90, of Penney Farms, Fla., passed away on September 16, 2012. He pastored at five churches over the course of 25 years (Franklin Square, NY, Park Hill in Denver, Redeemer in Atlanta, Immanuel in Thornton, Colo., and Grace in Fall River, Mass.) He was a former professor of pastoral care at RTS/Jackson from 1977 until 1984. His memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 2:30 p.m. at Penney Memorial Chapel.
PRESIDENT'S FORUM AT RTS/ORLANDO
RTS/Orlando will host Bob Creson, president of Wycliffe, who will speak on "Bible Translation for Muslim Cultures" on Oct. 24 at noon in the fellowship hall. Lunch will be served for a nominal fee, or you can bring your own. To RSVP for lunch email Kim Sutter at ksutter@rts.edu. The public is invited.
CHANCELLOR INTERVIEWED ON CORNERSTONE TV
Tom Hollis, director of broadcast service at Cornerstone TV, in Wall, Penn., interviewed Dr. Michael Milton on his testimony, the role of the church in the world today, his calling to ministry and how one knows when they are called to the ministry, his book Silent No More and the role of pastors and the cultural issues we face today. The interview will air in a few weeks across more than 120 affiliates throughout the U.S.
ALUMNI SNIPPETS
William Benjamin Gresham, Jr., (M.Div. '76, D.Min '93) 61, died on September 14, 2012. He started Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Auburn University, which now serves over 500 students, and was campus minister for nine years. He was a missionary in Belize for several years, and taught history at Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Ala. He served as pastor of McDonald Presbyterian Church, in Collins, Miss. A memorial service was held at Lake Crest Presbyterian Church on September 17 in Hoover, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to RUF, 1700 N. Brown Road, Suite 104, Lawrenceville, GA, 30043. Read the entire obituary here. Read an extensive reflection on the life of Bill Gresham from Teaching Elder Billy Joseph, in The Aquila Report, here.
Greg Joines (M.Div. '12) passed his exams and has been officially ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America. Also, he will be a church planter in Corvallis, Oregon. Follow their blog here.
Rob Maeder (MDiv, ‘12) received a job as youth director of Crossroads Community Church in Hillsborough, New Jersey. He will be working as their youth director and pursuing ordination in the Metro New York Presbytery. Crossroads is a church plant of the Presbyterian Church in America, located in an important area for gospel ministry due to predominantly Catholic surroundings.
James McManus (M.Div. '06), currently the associate pastor of White Oak Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Moreland, Ga., has accepted the call to be the pastor of Bethel Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Winnsboro, SC. His last day at White Oak will be November 11th and first Sunday at Bethel will be November 18th. They ask for prayers as they prepare for this move and begin to settle into a new ministry and town. He and his wife Beth have two daughters, Maggie and Hannah.
Steffen Mueller (M.Div.'05) sent in an update on their church launch in Munchen, Germany. He reports that nearly 120 people attended.
Harold B. Probes, Jr. (M.Div. '74), 74, of Wesley Chapel, died Oct. 2, 2012. Probes served as the minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Tampa for 25 years. His funeral was held on Oct. 6. Read more here.
Jason Tippetts (M.Div. '11), his wife Kara and four kids moved back to Colorado in January as Jason took a call to plant a church called Westside Church, a church plant for Village Seven Presbyterian Church, in Colorado Springs. In June they moved into their new house then were evacuated 10 days later because of the Waldo Canyon fire. Please keep his wife Kara in your prayers as she is dealing with a medical condition. Follow her blog here. Jason passed his ordination exams in Rocky Mountain Presbytery and will have his ordination service October 28th at Village Seven. Jason and Kara haver four children, Eleanor (11), Harper Joy (8), Lake (5) and Story (3). 
Willie Van Der Merwe (D.Min. '10) and his wife Caren are serving with GodSpeed Services in Swakopmund, Namibia, Africa, where they offer membercare services for those serving in that area of the world . He attended the 30th International Congress of Psychology in Cape Town during July. He reports there were over 5500 delegates from all over the world in attendance. He has also had meetings with groups of pastors from different denominations in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. In November he will attend the Global Leadership Summit. His wife Caren passed her physiotherapy/physical therapy board exam in July and has started to work part time helping people in need.
Brian Waters (M.Div. '08) is pastoring a new church plant, Providence Presbyterian Church, in Christiansburg, Va., which opened their doors on August 12. He and his wife Danielle have four children. Read an article on them here.