| THE INAUGURATION OF DR. J. LIGON DUNCAN, III | | Oct. 2, 2014 | ![]()
On October 2, 2014, Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III was installed as Reformed Theological Seminary's fifth chancellor in an inauguration ceremony hosted at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Miss. The next morning at Grace Chapel on the campus
of RTS Jackson, Ligon Duncan, Al Mohler, and Derek Thomas discussed "The Direction of and Trends in the American Church." Links to the inauguration audio can be found here. Read more about the ceremony here. See more pictures on Facebook here. |
| October 16, 2014 | Issue #161 | | | | DATES TO REMEMBER | October 17-20 - Dr. Ligon Duncan will speak at the London Presbyterian Conference
Oct. 18 - Preview Day at RTS Washington DC
Oct. 21-22 - Dr. Ligon Duncan will speak at the Berlin Presbyterian Conference
Oct. 29 - President's Forum at RTS Orlando at noon with Rev. Kevin Twit, RUF Campus Minister at Belmont University and Producer of Indelible Grace.
Nov. 4 - The Current Read at RTS Orlando with Dr. George Marsden, 7-830pm, RTS Pamplin Chapel.
Nov. 5 - President's Forum at RTS Orlando at noon with Dr. George Marsden.
Nov. 11-13 - The John Reed Miller Lectures with speaker Dr. Tim Keller at RTS/Jackson.
Nov. 13 - RTS Washington DC Reforum at Foley & Lardner in Georgetown at 7:30pm. |
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| PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH | | October is Pastor Appreciation Month. How can you appreciate your pastor this month? Send a card, make a meal, create a skit, or send a gift card. There are many ways to appreciate your pastor. The pastor chair is not an easy chair. Celebrate your pastor! | | | | JOHN REED MILLER LECTURES WITH TIM KELLER | ![]() Dr. Tim Keller will deliver the John Reed Miller lectures at RTS/Jackson Nov. 11-13. During Q&A he will answer questions both on his preaching lectures and on his forthcoming book, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God. The
schedule is as follows:
Tuesday 3:00-4:30pm Preaching Lecture/Q&A 1- Grace Chapel; 6:00-7:30pm Prayer book launch event at Lemuria Bookstore
Wednesday 9:30-11:00am - Preaching Lecture/Q&A 2 - Grace Chapel; 12:00-2:00pm - lunch with Q&A on Prayer book - Patterson's Porch; 3:00-4:30pm - Preaching Lecture/Q&Q 3 - Grace Chapel
Thursday 9:30-11:00am - Preaching Lecture/Q&A 4 - Grace Chapel | | | | WATCH VIDEOS OF DR. KRUGER'S WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY | ![]()
On Sept. 10, Dr. Mike Kruger, president of RTS/Charlotte began a Bible study for women on the Charlotte campus on Wednesdays, 9:30 - 10:45a.m. Watch the first few videos on Romans here. | | | | RSVP FOR THE RTS/WASHINGTON DC REFORUM IN NOVEMBER | | RTS Washington/DC will hold their annual Reforum on Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Foley & Lardner, 3000 K St., NW, Ste 600, Washington, DC. Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn will give a message on "Confessing Christianity: Yesterday's Reformation for Today's
Public Life," followed by a faculty panel discussion. The evening is free and open to the public and also includes spectacular views, heavy hors d'oeuvres, and fellowship. RSVP to nherndon@rts.edu. If street parking
is unavailable there are multiple parking garages within a block of Foley with a cost of $10. | | | | WATCH DR. SWEETING'S INTERVIEW ON TV45 ON YOUTUBE | | Dr. Don Sweeting and his wife Christina were interviewed on TV45's Welcome Home program. The program aired on Sept. 29. Watch the interview here. | | | | DESIRING GOD CONFERENCE FOR PASTORS 2015 | ![]() Register now for The Desiring God Conference for Pastors Feb. 2-4, 2015 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Plenary Speakers include John Piper, Bryan Chapell, Conrad Mbewe, Steve Childers and Sam Storms. Register and view the conference videohere (and scroll down) where Piper uses his new "Look at the Book" video format where you see the text and hear his voice. Register early and save. Find them on Twitter at #DGPasCon. | | | | THE CURRENT READ | ![]() RTS/Orlando is reading The Twilight of the American Enlightenment (February 2014, Basic Books) for the Current Read event, where the author, Dr. George Marsden will give a lecture on his book along with a book signing on Tuesday, Nov. 4
from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Pamplin Chapel. Dr. Marsden is the Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History Emeritus at Notre Dame. For more info go to rts.edu/orlando/thecurrentread.
Dr. Marsden will also be the special guest of the President's Forum on Nov. 5 at noon in the fellowship hall. RSVP to larmstrong@rts.edu. | | | | LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE | ![]()
Keep up with RTS in your Facebook feed. Click here and like our page. | | | | MONERGISM LISTS OVER 150 FREE CHRISTIAN EBOOKS | | Click here to start reading. The list is alphabetized by author. | | | | PRESIDENT'S FORUM VIDEO WITH DR. HILL | ![]()
Dr. Don Sweeting spoke with Dr. Chuck Hill for the President's Forum on Sept. 24 about a book he and four others authored, titled How God Became Jesus - which was a response to Bart Ehrman's book. Here he explains the view that is
being claimed, how the response book came about and responds to student questions. Watch the forum here. | | | | DISABILITY MINISTRY CONFERENCE - REGISTER EARLY | ![]() Mission to North America and Joni & Friends-Jackson are excited to present The Accessible Kingdom Disability Ministry Conference Nov. 7-8 at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Ala.
Learn how to minister to and alongside those touched by disability. The keynote address will be given by Emily Colson, author and speaker, (daughter of Chuck Colson) and Stephanie Hubach, author, speaker and Director of MNA Special Needs Ministries.
There are 44 workshops to inform and inspire churches to develop outreach ministries in this area. Registration early and save. Student rate available! Visit www.accessiblekingdom.org. | | | | JIM COFFIELD INTERVIEWED FOR MENTAL HEALTH ARTICLE | | Amy Simpson, senior editor for Leadership Journal interviewed Dr. Jim Coffield for Christianity Today's SeminaryGradSchool.com article on the mental health challenges of ministry leaders. Read the article titled "Pastor, Heal Thyself?" here. Dr. Coffield is an associate professor of counseling and clinical director of the MAC degree program at RTS/Orlando. | | | | STAFF PROFILE: TARI WILLIAMSON | ![]() Tari is an M.Div. graduate of RTS/Charlotte ('05) and has been the dean of women at RTS/Charlotte since 2005. She enjoys using her love for people, teaching, and learning to mentor other women in pursuing their own gifts, while providing avenues for
using those gifts to build Christ’s kingdom. Some of her most recent pursuits include directing the Brookstone Camp (one week out of the year) with a team from the RTS community; and orchestrating an RTS women’s conference in the spring. Her
husband Tom (MABS '94, MAMFT '94) is the counselor at their church in Gastonia. Tari also has a blog at tariwilliamsonblog.com. |
| | Michael Aitcheson (M.Div. '11) | | Michael has found meeting space for his church plant, Christ United Fellowship. They will begin worshipping at Reformation Lutheran Church in Orlando. Please keep them in prayer for their first soft launch on Oct. 25. | | | | Jason Berl (MAC '14) | ![]()
Jason is serving as executive director of Sojourn Church and director of the Sojourn Counseling Center in Warner Robins, Ga. He is also finishing up his MABS degree through RTS Global. Jason is married to Bonnie and they have two sons, Bryce, 2 1/2 and Blake was born on June 9. Congratulations! | | | | Elahe Hessamfar (MABS '09) | ![]() Dr. Elahe Hessamfar (MA '09), who did Ph.D. studies at the University of Aberdeen, has now published her research. Her book In the Fellowship of His Suffering: A Theological Interpretation of Mental Illness--A Focus on "Schizophrenia" is now available
to be purchased here. "'Schizophrenia' is by many accounts the most devastating illness of our time. In this book, Elahe Hessamfar
uses her personal encounter with her daughter's illness to bring the reader to experience the pain and anguish of those who suffer so intensely. She candidly discusses the gripping and dark realities her family has faced in the midst of this journey and
exposes that the ride isn't easy, but it can be fruitful and purposeful, and it can be a journey of joy and peace if understood from the intended perspective." | | | | Robert Hill (M.Div. '04) | ![]()
Rob and Megan Hill celebrated 10 years of ministry with their congregation on Oct. 5 at Pinehaven Presbyterian Church in Clinton, Miss., where Rob is pastor. Megan is a
regular contributor to Her.meneutics and to The Gospel Coalition and
is the author of articles for Focus on the Family, Christianity Today, byFaith, The Aquila Report, The Clarion-Ledger, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, reformation21, and The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
and keeps a blog at www.sundaywomen.com developed to challenge and encourage other women in their place of ministry. The Hills are pictured here with RTS Chancellor Ligon
Duncan. | | | | Justin Holcomb (MACT '97, MATS '97) | | October is domestic violence awareness month. Visit the landing page for Justin's new book, Is It My Fault? here. It offers 5 free chapters and a 40% discount
on the book. | | | | Tim Pitzer (M.Div. '14) | | Tim and his wife Steph have been thrilled being in youth ministry for the first time at Hilton Head Presbyterian Church. They are also excited to be expecting their first child
March 18th. Tim begins the process of ordination, hopefully finishing with Palmetto Presbytery by January. They have enjoyed a wide range of friends and fellowship at the church and appreciate the support of the RTS community and look forward to continuing
to be involved. | | | | Joshua Rieger (M.Div. '10) | ![]()
Josh is serving with Mission to the World (MTW), and moved 9 months ago to Hexham, UK, where he is the church planter for a new work. He is serving as a minister with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales (EPCEW).
EPCEW and MTW have had a partnership for almost two decades. The plan is that what began as a Bible study in his home in February will begin Sunday services, February 1, 2015, as Hexham Presbyterian Church. Josh and his wife Gina have two children, and
they are expecting a third in November. He is attending the London Presbyterian Conference this weekend where Dr. Ligon Duncan will be speaking. | | | | Geoff Sackett (MAR '05) | | Geoff serves as the director of student services, dean of students and visiting lecturer in theology and philosophy at RTS/Washington DC. He was recently interviewed about apologetics. Read the interview here. | | | | Peter Smith (D.Min. '10) | | Pete is the executive director of Wilkinsburg Christian Housing in Pennsylvania. WCH is an affordable housing initiative of Covenant Fellowship Reformed Presbyterian Church. They are now officially a non-profit corporation. They have added two new board
members. The electrical wiring on the Princeton Blvd. project is complete and awaiting inspection. Soon they can close up the walls, turn on the power and begin weatherizing the windows. They will have a fall fundraiser on Oct. 25 at 7pm at Covenant Fellowship
Church. | | |
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Dr. Tim Keller will deliver the John Reed Miller lectures at RTS/Jackson Nov. 11-13. During Q&A he will answer questions both on his preaching lectures and on his forthcoming book, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God. The
schedule is as follows:
Register now for The Desiring God Conference for Pastors Feb. 2-4, 2015 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Plenary Speakers include John Piper, Bryan Chapell, Conrad Mbewe, Steve Childers and Sam Storms. Register and view the conference video
RTS/Orlando is reading The Twilight of the American Enlightenment (February 2014, Basic Books) for the Current Read event, where the author, Dr. George Marsden will give a lecture on his book along with a book signing on Tuesday, Nov. 4
from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the Pamplin Chapel. Dr. Marsden is the Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History Emeritus at Notre Dame. For more info go to 
Mission to North America and Joni & Friends-Jackson are excited to present The Accessible Kingdom Disability Ministry Conference Nov. 7-8 at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Ala.
Learn how to minister to and alongside those touched by disability. The keynote address will be given by Emily Colson, author and speaker, (daughter of Chuck Colson) and Stephanie Hubach, author, speaker and Director of MNA Special Needs Ministries.
There are 44 workshops to inform and inspire churches to develop outreach ministries in this area. Registration early and save. Student rate available! Visit 
Tari is an M.Div. graduate of RTS/Charlotte ('05) and has been the dean of women at RTS/Charlotte since 2005. She enjoys using her love for people, teaching, and learning to mentor other women in pursuing their own gifts, while providing avenues for
using those gifts to build Christ’s kingdom. Some of her most recent pursuits include directing the Brookstone Camp (one week out of the year) with a team from the RTS community; and orchestrating an RTS women’s conference in the spring. Her
husband Tom (MABS '94, MAMFT '94) is the counselor at their church in Gastonia. Tari also has a blog at 
Dr. Elahe Hessamfar (MA '09), who did Ph.D. studies at the University of Aberdeen, has now published her research. Her book In the Fellowship of His Suffering: A Theological Interpretation of Mental Illness--A Focus on "Schizophrenia" is now available
to be purchased 
