| NEW INSTITUTE OF THEOLOGY AND PUBLIC LIFE | | RTS/Washington DC has implemented the Institute of Theology and Public Life. The first class will be held June 5-6 entitled "Engaging Cultural Questions about Sexual Identity: Theological, Relational, and Practical Issues for Churches and Ministries"
with Rosaria Butterfield, Eric Kniffin, Jennifer Marshall, Howard Griffith, and Scott Redd. For more information, click here. | | | | DR. FRAME'S APOLOGETICS UPDATED AND RELEASED WITH NEW NAME | ![]() June 12 is the release date for the 20th anniversary edition of Dr. John Frame's Apologetics to the Glory of God, now renamed Apologetics: A Justification of Christian Belief.
The description says, "Two subjects of particular note are Frame’s fresh look at probability arguments and a stimulating investigation into the problem of evil.
"Some of the most valuable elements of this book are Frame’s extensive use of Scripture and his presentation of specific lines of argument. " | | | | RTS INTERACTIVE BOOK SALE | | RTS is having a sale on their interactive notebooks from now until May 31. All are now half price at $4.99! This includes History of Christianity I,History of Christianity II, Covenant Theology and Hebrews-Revelation. Designed to complement the RTS Distance Education courses, these interactive books allow the student to engage with the course content like never before featuring videos, charts, striking images and more. Purchase
yours today! | | | | STEVE HALVORSON RETIRING | ![]()
Steve Halvorson (pictured right), vice president of administration, has served at RTS/Charlotte for 15 years. He will retire May 31. Dr. Mike Kruger bid him farewell in chapel. A tree was planted in his honor on the front lawn of RTSC. | | | | RTS/JACKSON HIRES NEW DIRECTOR OF HOUSING | | Emily Diffenderfer has been hired as the new director of housing and campus events coordinator at RTS/Jackson. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.S. in Higher Education Administration from Mississippi College. She also worked
there as coordinator of student affairs for the Doctor of Professional Counseling Program and enrollment specialist to the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. Prior to that she worked at Belhaven as administrative assistant to Aspire Student Services.
Current housing director Heather Hunt leaves on May 22 to start a new opportunity as an office manager. | | | | PICS FROM DR. REGGIE KIDD'S RETIREMENT | ![]() Dr. Don Sweeting, president of RTS/Orlando, jokes with Dr. Reggie Kidd during a retirement luncheon at RTS/Orlando in May. RTS alumni Jeremy Jobson and Lindy Davidson spoke at the event, and several students and alumni came up to share their experiences
with Dr. Kidd as their professor. He was presented with an inscribed clock from Dr. Don Sweeting and then Leigh Swanson, associate dean of students, presented him with a book of written remembrances from alumni. Dr. Kidd has served as professor of New
Testament at RTS for 25 years. | | | | DR. CURRID CONTRIBUTES NOTES TO NIV STUDY BIBLE | ![]() The NIV Zondervan Study Bible, edited by D.A. Carson will be released August 25, 2015. Dr. John Curried, the Carl W. McMurray Professor of Old Testament at RTS/Charlotte, is a contributor of
the notes on 1-2 Samuel.
A digital sampler of the Bible can be found here.
The description says, "An ambitious and comprehensive undertaking, Dr. Carson, with committee members Dr. T. Desmond Alexander, Dr. Richard S. Hess, Dr. Douglas J. Moo, and Dr. Andrew David Naselli, along with a team of over 60 contributors from a wide
range of evangelical denominations and perspectives, crafted all-new study notes and other study tools to present a biblical theology of God’s special revelation in the Scriptures. To further aid the readers’ understanding of the Bible, also included
are full-color maps, charts, photos and diagrams." | | | | READ REV. MIKE GLODO'S BLOG ON REF21 | | "Recently I was presented with a question about preaching," wrote Rev. Glodo. "Given that contemporary communication studies show that people learn better with a Q&A format, should we abandon the traditional form of the sermon? The stated premise
behind the question was that the sermon form as we know it is a 'relic of the Reformation' for which there is no biblical sanction." Continue reading here. Read Part 2 here. | | | | CHANCELLOR INTERVIEWED BY EXPOSITOR MAGAZINE | | Read the interview here that appeared in the March/April issue of Expositor magazine,
of Dr. Ligon Duncan by Dr. Steven Lawson on "Preaching in a Postmodern World." | | | | AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE END-OF- YEAR DINNER | ![]()
In this picture, new RTS graduate Jemar Tisby is presented with the first annual AALI Christian Unity Award for his work in loving the other (as in Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer in John 17) and bringing believers who are different together. The
presentation was held during the AALI end-of-year dinner. During his time at RTS Jackson, Tisby co-founded AALI, co-founded RAAN, and was named to the list of 15 Black Christian Leaders You Should Know.
Speakers for the night included Jemar Tisby, Brian Gault, Guy Richardson, Ligon Duncan and there were testimonies from three different AALI cohort members. A year-in-review was shared of the pilot year of the AALI Cohort, which was a focused
group of 18 students who were trained in multi-ethnic ministry for 9 months. See the RTS Facebook page here for more pictures. | | | | VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE FROM PRESIDENT'S FORUM WITH NANCY GUTHRIE | | Watch the video from the President's Forum at RTS Orlando with Nancy Guthrie and Dr. Don Sweeting in April on "Making Sense of God's Sovereignty in the Midst of Grief" here. | | | | PRESIDENT REDD REVIEWS FACULTY BOOK | | Hidden But Now Revealed: A Biblical Theology of Mystery by G.K. Beale and Ben Gladd was reviewed by RTS Washington DC President Scott Redd here on Ref21. Dr. Gladd is assistant professor of New Testament at RTS/Jackson. | | | | IS IT ARROGANT TO CLAIM TO KNOW GOD? | | Read a recent blog by Dr. James Anderson here. "In a debate with Rabbi David Wolpe in 2008, the
late Christopher Hitchens inveighed against Wolpe’s claim to have knowledge of God:
'By what right, rabbi, do you say that you know God better than they do, that your God is better than theirs, that you have an access that I can’t claim to have, to knowing not just that there is a God, but that you know his mind. You put it modestly,
but it is a fantastically arrogant claim that you make — an incredibly immodest claim.' "I was reminded of Hitchens’ objection, and similar ones in his exchanges with Douglas Wilson, when I saw the following tweet by proselytizing atheist Peter Boghossian (retweeted, presumably with approval, by Richard Dawkins):" Continue here. | | | | DIRECTOR OF VISUAL MEDIA HIRED | The RTS Office of Development and Communication announces the appointment of Matt McQuade as Director of Visual Media. His responsibilities will include the oversight of all RTS video production and distribution through our digital media outlets. Matt will work with the individual campuses and Distance Education in developing annual video development plans and assist them in shooting and editing their video projects.
Matt is an alumni of RTS Charlotte, having received his Master of Divinity in 2012. While a student at RTS, he worked as Charlotte's video producer for four years. Prior to graduation and following, Matt’s role at RTS expanded to full-time video production/media coordination for many RTS projects, including the Faith For Living Program with Dr. Michael Milton for airing on the NRB network.
Matt received a B.A. in Visual and Media Arts from Emerson College in Boston, Mass., in 2001. He then worked in many areas of production in the film and video business in Columbus, Boston, and primarily Los Angeles. He and his wife Amanda have two girls, Esther and Beatrice. Matt has a proven record of producing high quality videos. We are blessed to have his skill set to serve RTS in this capacity. | | |
| | ALUMNI & FRIENDS EVENTS: | June 10 - RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast at the ARP Synod, 7am,
Bonclarken Conference Center, RSVP not required.
June 11 - RTS Alumni & Friends Lunch at the PCA GA, 12 noon, Ballroom E&F, Chattanooga Convention Center. RSVP not required. Seating limited.
There will also be a gathering at the PCA GA for all RTS/Charlotte PCA alumni on June 10th at 8pm at the Chattanoogan hotel. If you would like to attend, please contact sjeanrenaud@rts.edu.June 26 - RTS Alumni & Friends Breakfast at the EPC GA, 7am, Citrus Club, 255 South Orange Ave., Ste. 1800, (18th floor) Orlando. RSVP at epc.org.
June 26 - RTS-Moderated Panel Discussion at EPC GA, 12 noon, RSVP at epc.org. | | | | Erick Erickson (RTS Atlanta student) | | Erik is a Fox News contributor and radio talk show host in Atlanta. He gave his first sermon last week at an apologetics conference at Lemont Calvary Church in Lemont, Ill. | | | | Thomas D. Frakes (MABS '10) | | Tom (with Pioneers in India) serves with BILD's Antioch School of Church Planting and Leadership Development as a bridge in India to equip national church planting network leaders with a US accredited educational training system designed to help
leaders develop leaders at all levels. In March he co-launched three master's degree level training cohorts. He and his wife also home school their children and tutor about 30 neighborhood kids after school, in addition to hosting fellowships
in their home. | | | | Justin Holcomb (MATS '97, MACT '97) | ![]() Justin and his wife Lindsey have published Rid of My Disgrace: Small Group Discussion Guide). Designed
to be used with Rid of My Disgrace (book), the small group discussion guide walks victims of sexual abuse along a biblical path of restoration, helping them to finally be rid of their disgrace.
In addition they have another book due out this fall entitled God Made All of Me: A Book to Help children Protect Their Bodies.
The book "helps families with 2 to 8-year-old kids speak openly and appropriately about the bodies God made and how other people should and should not touch them.
Justin is an adjunct professor of theology at RTS/Orlando, guest faculty at RTS/Washington DC and canon of vocations at the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. | | | | Rob Ilderton (M.Div. '07) | | The Ildertons arrived in London in March and have settled in Hanwell. Rob's role is to reach out to international students and young adults. He will also be working on building a new outreach to the University of West London and growing the
young adult ministry in the church. Rob's wife, Jenny, has gotten involved in the women's ministries in the church. They ask for prayer for the children (Miriam and Gus) as they settle into school and the community and also for the
youngest child, Lottie. | | | | Casey Johnson (M.Div. '10) | ![]()
Casey is co-planting Redeemer City Church in Madison, Wis., with Nathan Hobert (M.Div. '04). They launched last year and are now transitioning to a movie theater
just for the summer due to rules at the school with their summer programs. Casey also tutors homeless students two mornings a week to help them catch up on their studies and spend social time with them. Angela is teaching art and loves it. Casey
and Angela have three children: Westyn, Emmet and Clara. They will be in Florida for a conference in June and hope to connect with friends while they are there. | | | | Rocky McElveen (M.Div. '82) | | Rocky has a redesigned website. Check it out here. He is a professional Alaskan fishing guide and registered Alaskan hunting guide. | | | | Mantle Nance (M.Div. '10) | ![]()
Mantle is serving at Ballantyne Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC as of November 2014. He previously served as senior pastor of Newberry ARP in SC.
He is married to Sally and they have two boys. | | | | Matt Newkirk (M.Div. '08) | ![]() Matt and his family are raising support with Mission to the World to minister at Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya, Japan, where Matt will serve as professor of Old Testament. His PhD dissertation was also recently published under the title Just Deceivers: An Exploration of the Motif of Deception in the Books of Samuel (Pickwick,
2015). Follow the Newkirks and their work with Christ Bible Seminary here. | | | | Rick Pratte (M.Div. '12) | | Rick is the director of men's ministries and congregational life at Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, KS. He and his wife Kelli have three children. In addition, Ryan Mayo (RTS Global student) is married to Kristi and serves in college ministry and as the programming director of the Oread Center. Tyler Clements (RTS Orlando Distance student) and his wife Lindsay have four children. He serves as director of youth ministries. Ryan Randolph (RTS Orlando student) serves as middle school coordinator. He is married to Hannah and they have two children. | | | | H. Rondel Rumberg (D.Min. '92) | | Rondel has published Stonewall Jackson's Wife and Daughter: Mary Anna Jackson and Julia Jackson Christian, and Stonewall Jackson's Chaplain Beverly Tucker Lacy. | | | | TJ Schley (M.Div. '14) | | TJ has passed his final ordination trial. His ordination and installation service will be held June 14 at Calvary Reformed Presbyterian Church in Hampton, Va, where Jeff Ferguson (M.Div. '03) serves as senior pastor and K.W. "Pete" Hurst (M.Div.
'72) serves as associate pastor of Christian education and small groups. |
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RTS celebrates with the Class of 2015! RTS Board Trustee, Granville Dutton congratulates RTS Houston graduate, Matt Stahl at the first RTS Houston Commencement on May 1. More pictures will be available on our alumni web page in June or check out our
Facebook pages now.
June 12 is the release date for the 20th anniversary edition of Dr. John Frame's Apologetics to the Glory of God, now renamed 
Dr. Don Sweeting, president of RTS/Orlando, jokes with Dr. Reggie Kidd during a retirement luncheon at RTS/Orlando in May. RTS alumni Jeremy Jobson and Lindy Davidson spoke at the event, and several students and alumni came up to share their experiences
with Dr. Kidd as their professor. He was presented with an inscribed clock from Dr. Don Sweeting and then Leigh Swanson, associate dean of students, presented him with a book of written remembrances from alumni. Dr. Kidd has served as professor of New
Testament at RTS for 25 years.
The 
Justin and his wife Lindsey have published 
Matt and his family are raising support with Mission to the World to minister at Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya, Japan, where Matt will serve as professor of Old Testament. His PhD dissertation was also recently published under the title Just Deceivers: An Exploration of the Motif of Deception in the Books of Samuel (Pickwick,
2015). Follow the Newkirks and their work with Christ Bible Seminary