| FIVE PROFESSORS APPOINTED TO ESTABLISHED CHAIRS Reformed Theological Seminary's Board of Trustees has appointed five faculty members to fill vacant faculty chairs at the recommendation of Chancellor Ligon Duncan and Dr. Bob Cara, chief academic officer. They are as follows (left to right): Dr. Mike Kruger, Dr. Derek Thomas, Dr. Guy Waters, Dr. Richard Belcher and Dr. Chuck Hill.
Dr. Derek Thomas, professor at RTS/Atlanta, and the senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC, has been designated the Robert Strong Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology. Read more here. | July 22, 2014 | Issue #156 DATES TO REMEMBER Aug. 2 - Preview Day at RTS Washington DC - RSVP to gsackett@rts.edu. Aug. 25 - President's Forum with Dr. Don Sweeting and Dr. Kelly Kapic, professor of theological studies at Covenant College discussing "Doing Theology as Human Creatures"at RTS Orlando in the fellowship hall at noon. Sept. 9 - Missions Conference with Ken Temple at RTS Jackson at noon, then Sept. 10 at 11am. Sept. 10 - Women's Bible Study on Wednesdays with President Mike Kruger at RTS Charlotte 9:30-10:45. Oct. 2 - Inauguration of Dr. Ligon Duncan at FPC Jackson, MS at 7:30pm. | |||||
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| RTS MOBILE AVAILABLE ON THE AMAZON APPSTORE FOR ALL KINDS OF DEVICES! RTS Mobile, the official RTS App, is also available on iOS, Android, and Windows Phones. Download the App today to have free access to more than 25 distance education courses, chapel and commencement messages, special spotlight lectures, a yearly Bible reading plan, and more! WORLD MAGAZINE NAMES ANDERSON AND FRAME AMONG THE RECIPIENTS OF THEIR BOOK AWARDS
Dr. James Anderson, associate professor of theology and philosophy at RTS/Charlotte, was the winner in the popular theology category for his book What's Your Worldview?: An Interactive Approach to Life's Big Questions (Crossway, 2014). Dr. John Frame's book Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief was the 'spotlight' winner. Read more here. Link to the World story here with subscription only. DR. CHILDERS WILL BE A PLENARY SPEAKER AT THE DESIRING GOD CONFERENCE The annual Desiring God National Conference for Pastors will be held in Minneapolis, Minn., Feb. 2-4, 2015. Dr. Childers, associate professor of practical theology at RTS/Orlando, will speak on "The Guilt of the Nations and the Gospel of Repentance." The other plenary speakers will be John Piper, Bryan Chapell, Sam Storms and Conrad Mbewe. Registration opens later this summer. CHANCELLOR'S NEW WEBSITE  Dr. Ligon Duncan, chancellor of RTS, has a new website. Visit www.ligonduncan.com to hear Dr. Duncan's sermons and podcasts, read articles and view social media posts. This new website will be a resource for expository sermons, articles on key theological matters, biblical commentary, and links to material addressing current issues and historical theology.2014 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY COUNSELING CONFERENCE RTS Jackson is pleased to announce that Diane Langberg will speak at the MFTC Conference on Counseling Survivors of Sexual Abuse to be held on the campus of RTS Jackson. She will be joined by RTS Jackson MFTC faculty, Jim Hurley and Bill Richardson, on October 9-10, 2014. The conference will be offered for 4 ethics credits. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Diane Langberg, a practicing psychologist whose clinical expertise includes 35 years of working with trauma survivors and clergy. Read more info and register here. PREVIEW DAY COMING UP AT RTS/WASHINGTON DC  Would you like to take a look at our Washington DC campus on Aug. 2 from 10am-11:30am? RSVP to Geoff Sackett at gsackett@rts.edu and hear from a panel of students and then meet President Scott Redd, and the faculty and staff, students and alumni over a free breakfast. DR. RICHARD BELCHER'S NEW COMMENTARY Dr. Richard Belcher has written a commentary on Ecclesiastes (Evangelical Press, June 2014). In this book, "the struggles of Solomon are laid out as a warning to all that even someone as wise as Solomon can operate on the wrong basis. Of course, the answer to the struggle comes back at the end of the book." REGISTER NOW FOR THE FALL SEMESTER Have you thought of auditing a course at RTS? Call the registrar on the campus of your choosing for more information. Our chancellor, Dr. Ligon Duncan is teaching two classes in Jackson in the fall and one class in Orlando. Check out the lineup here and select your campus and appropriate session. LIBERATE CONFERENCE 2015  This conference will be held Feb. 19-22, 2015 at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Speakers include Tullian Tchividjian (M.Div. '01), Ray Cortese ('89), Steve Brown, RTS Professor of Practical Theology, Emeritus, Justin Holcomb (MATS '97, MACT '97), and more. the theme is "It is Finished." Super early bird registration begins Aug. 1.FORMER PROFESSOR PASSES AWAY  Dr. Gerard "George" Van Groningen, 93, passed away on June 20, 2014. He taught at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss., from 1973-1980 with several titles: department chairman, professor of Old Testament and chairman of the faculty. He was a WWII US Army veteran, and served also at Reformed Theological College in Australia, Dordt College in Iowa, and Covenant Seminary in Missouri. He pastored churches in Borculo, Michigan and Geelong, Australia. He was the past president of Trinity Christian College in Palos, Heights, Ill., and was instrumental in establishing Reformed seminaries in Brazil and Latvia. He is survived by his wife Harriet, eight children, 34 grandchildren, and three brothers. The funeral was held on June 25 in Orland Park, Ill. A private family committal service and military honors was held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Ill. "George was a friend and colleague for a number of years at RTS," said Dr. J. Simon Kistemaker, Emeritus. "I also taught along with him in Brazil as the Jumper Theological Graduate School developed. George was a forceful man who put all his energy into ministry whatever it might be." NEW PROFESSOR APPOINTMENT  Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn, associate professor of church history at RTS/Washington DC has been appointed honorary research fellow of the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, for his work as a consultant for a project studying the development of Presbyterian identity and polity, entitled, "Independence in the Early Modern World." This is an Arts and Humanities Research Council grant directed by Dr. Polly Ha. The appointment ends in 2017.TAKE AN RTS COURSE IN RALEIGH, NC How do you deal with objections to Christianity? How do you show that the Christian worldview is the only worldview that ultimately makes sense of our lives and the world we inhabit? Dr. James Anderson will teach Apologetics at Vintage Church in Raleigh, NC, Sept 12-13, Oct. 24-25 and Nov. 7-8. Dr. Anderson is an associate professor of theology and philosophy at RTS/Charlotte. For more information, click here. RTS TRANSLATION OF COURSES RTS is partnering with Proyecto Nehemias in translating courses into Spanish. Jeff Stevenson, Ph.D. is the founder and president of this ministry and our executive director in Houston, Tim McKeown, as well as Dr. Richard Belcher, professor of Old Testament at RTS/Charlotte are also on the board of directors. The purpose of the ministry is to "serve society and the church in all manifestations of evangelical Christianity in Latin America with a particular focus on denominations that are Reformed in outlook." STAFF PROFILE: STEPHANIE HARTLEY  Stephanie Hartley, director of development support, has worked with the development office at Reformed Theological Seminary for almost 18 years. She oversees gift processing and supervises training on the Raiser's Edge fundraising database. She works with various solicitors, as well as our vice presidents and presidents for fundraising. Stephanie is also production and assistant editor of the Ministry & Leadership magazine. This central development office also handles address updates and records for alumni and students. Stephanie and her husband Ted, a sports video editor, have three grown children and five grandchildren. She is located in Jackson, Miss. | Joe Arnold (M.Div. '13) Joe was installed as the new pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church of Cheraw, SC in May. He was previously serving at Covenant Presbyterian in Rockingham, NC. They closed on their new house in June as their previous home was sold. His wife Loretta will be working part time at Northeast Technical College as an Allied Health (CNA) instructor. Dan Anderson (M.Div. '12) New City Orlando has been mentoring Dan towards church planting during his two-year residency and in early summer, he accepted a call from Hope Church in Saline County Arkansas to plant a church in Little Rock in the near future. They found a new home and arrived in Arkansas July 20. Dan will be studying for ordination in the PCA and working with two church plants. Keep Dan and his wife Kim (MAC '12) and their young son Benjamin in your prayers as they make this transition. Hunter Brewer (M.Div. '03)  Last summer, after starting and leading Madison Heights Church in Madison, Miss., for eight years, Hunter resigned to start The Mid-South PCA Church Planting Network. The mission of the network is to assist churches and presbyteries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and west Tennessee in planting churches. Doug Domin (M.Div. '85) For those of you who have followed this story, Doug, who planted Christ Church in Concord, NH, was served notice to vacate their rented facilities before they could complete construction on their new church building. In March, they were able to get into their new building, dedicated on June 1, followed by a time of fellowship. The church is now located at 146 Sheep Davis Road (Route 106) in Pembroke, NH (across from John Deere and A&B Lumber). Marco Escalante (M.Div. '11) In March, Marco, his wife Diana, and Church Cordero de Dios (The Lamb of God) in Mexico City celebrated their one year church anniversary. They are averaging about 90 people on Sundays. They have started a married group class, and also recently served and helped Reformed University Fellowship as they worked with university students at the largest university in Mexico City. They ask for prayer for a new location to hold services since their facility is no longer up for rent. Also they will need a sound system and the budget to hire an intern. They also ask for prayer for the new believers. John Lehner (M.Div. '13) Congratulations to John for passing his exam. He will be licensed in October after preaching a senior sermon to his presbytery. John and his wife Judy also recently enjoyed talking to missionaries from all over the world at an Associate Reformed Presbyterian event called World Focus 2014. See the pictures here. Stephen Mirich, Jr. (M.Div. '11) Stephen was examined and approved by the Western Carolina Presbytery to be installed as the next pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC. Steve and his family relocated from Locust, NC to Hendersonville in June. Stephen and his wife Cassy and five children. Joshua Pegram (M.Div. '12) Joshua accepted a call as lead pastor of Morning Star Church in Rockford, Ill, a town of about 150,000. He and his wife Liz and their daughters have arrived there. Please keep them in prayer. Mike Pettengill (RTS Global student)  Mike and his wife Erin are celebrating six years of service in Honduras. With a mission team of 14 adults, they have "planted four churches, built a medical clinic, opened a Christian high school, launched a home for teenage moms, started a homeless kids program, built houses, fed the poor, clothed the naked, taught the Bible, discipled believers and so much more." Now they are working on building a "second medical clinic, a theological seminary and working toward more church plants." Follow Mike's blog here. Follow Erin's blog here. Fred Seay Fred has served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Sugar Land, Texas since 2011. Chris Sicks (MAR '10) Chris has been on staff with Alexandria Presbyterian Church since 2001. He works with the deacons and mercy committee to show compassion to those in the congregation and community. Chris and his wife Sara have three children: Lucy, Campbell and Ginger. Gerald Sseruwagi (MACE '96, MATS '96) Gerald, 45, president of Africa College of Theology (part of Africa New Life) in Kigali, passed away on June 28, 2014. A memorial service was held at New Life Bible Church in Kigali, Rwanda. He is survived by his wife Robina and four children. After studying at RTS, Gerald completed a Ph.D in Organizational Leadership from University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. He previously served as deputy to the vice chancellor of African Bible University of Uganda, and as a professor of Bible, ethics, and education. "Gerald was a humble and sweet spirited leader who, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, rose up from life as a street boy in Kampala, Uganda to become a giant among men." - Alan Hotchkiss, Africa New Life Tom Whetstone (M.Div. '85, Th.M. '91)  Tom has written Leadership Ethics & Spirituality: A Christian Perspective (Westbow/Thomas Nelson, 2013). | |||||
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RTS E-Newsletter iss.#156, July 22, 2014
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