Plowing Concrete RTS Alumni Plant Churches in the Spiritually Hard Ground of New England
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FALL 2011 www.rts.edu Plowing Concrete RTS alumni plant churches in the spiritually hard ground of New England. Scripture and Science 6 • Dietrich Bonhoeffer Revisited 14 Chancellor’s Message Dr. Robert C. Cannada Jr. e in the RTS fam- pel voices in New England such as Jon- ily have received athan Edwards have become objects of a sacred trust — to irrelevance if not outright ridicule. preach the gospel of However, RTS alumni such as the ones light to those lost in featured in “Plowing Concrete” (see spiritual darkness. This is the same page 8) are among those helping rein- historic gospel with which the Apostle troduce the historic gospel to one of the Paul himself was entrusted (Galatians birthplaces of the American church. In 2:7, 1 Thessalonians 2:4, 1 Timothy so doing, they help us understand that 1:11) and that alone is “the power of while our missional focus takes us to the God for salvation to everyone who be- ends of the earth, some of the places we lieves” (Romans 1:16). reach along the way land closer to home Our commitment to proclaiming than we might imagine. “Re-evangeliz- this good news has been a hallmark of ing” the United States is a formidable RTS from its founding in 1966 to this task requiring significant attention. Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer very day. “Standing firm but not stand- In addition, new fields of spiritual ing still” remains our focus in that we harvest are sprouting up all over the remain anchored to the truth of the globe, whether they are near military Contents gospel even while we actively take that bases in Germany or among the mil- truth to the ends of the earth and to lions of Muslims in Indonesia. People very different cultures and settings. both stateside and worldwide need to 3 RTS AT WORK With that in mind, we at RTS labor to receive the grace of God in Jesus Christ 4 CONFIDENCE IN THE MIDST OF CHANGE produce graduates prepared to fill pul- through the preaching and teaching of by Dr. Charles Frost pits, plant churches, serve as evangelists the inerrant Word of God. and otherwise carry out the callings to We recognize that gospel ministry SCRIPTURE, INTEPRETATION AND SCIENCE 6 gospel ministry that have been placed on comes with a cost — many believers by Dr. John Yeo and Dr. Bruce Lowe their hearts. These students and alumni around the world face persecution for 8 PLOWING CONCRETE enter diverse mission fields around the confessing faith in Christ. Some pay RTS alumni plant churches in the spiritually world and even various cultural land- the price of martyrdom, as did Dietrich hard ground of New England. scapes here in the United States. Bonhoeffer when he led the resistance 12 RECEIVING NEW ORDERS One prime example of the type of against the co-opting of the German A Marine Reserve pilot awaits the fulfillment field for which we prepare our students church by the Nazis in the 1930s and of his calling to pastoral ministry. is New England. This region is often 1940s (see “Bonhoeffer Revisited” on identified as “post-Christian,” refer- page 14). In whatever persecution we 14 BONHOEFFER REVISITED ring to the gospel heritage in which co- may encounter for the sake of the gos- Interview with Eric Metaxas lonial America was rooted but that was pel, however, we know that “light mo- 16 FROM MOUNTAINS TO MONDAYS later abandoned in the drift toward mentary affliction is preparing for us by Dr. Mike Milton theological liberalism and then full- an eternal weight of glory beyond all scale secularism. Today, original gos- comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17). WHO WE ARE Lyn Perez, Editor in Chief Copyright 2011 Reformed Theological Seminary. Reformed Theological Seminary exists to serve the church All rights reserved. For reprint permission, please call Paul Schwarz, Managing Editor by preparing its leaders through a globally accessible pro- 407-366-9493 gram of theological education based on the authority of Bill Henderson Design, Graphic Design or e-mail [email protected]. the inerrant Word of God and committed to the Reformed faith. This program promotes biblical fidelity, confessional Stephanie Hartley, Dawn Kilgore, Editorial Assistants All Scripture references from the integrity and academic excellence, and seeks to prepare Ministry & Leadership promotes RTS through articles designed to edify its English Standard Version except where noted. students marked by “A mind for truth. A heart for God.” readers through solid biblical instruction, and through reports that focus Visit us online at www.rts.edu/MandL. primarily on the national and global impact of RTS students, faculty and As such, Ministry & Leadership exists to show how alumni. Our goal is that readers will become partners with RTS through Reformed Theological Seminary God is working through the ministries of its graduates, prayer, financial giving, educational experience and student referral, as Atlanta • Charlotte • Houston • Jackson faculty members and students. well as providing placement opportunities. Orlando • Virtual • Washington, D.C. 1-800-543-2703 • [email protected] • www.rts.edu RTS at Work ... TRAVELS Dr. Chuck Hill will speak at the Oxford Dr. Don Sweeting will attend the National Dr. Mike Milton’s commentary “On the XVI International Conference on Patristic Association of Evangelicals board meeting, Road to Sainthood” (a Reformed take Dr. James Anderson taught a one-hour Studies, Aug. 8-13, on “‘The Writing Oct. 12-13, Washington, D.C., and on the beatification of John Paul II) course on natural law and its application Which Says …’ The Status of the the Colorado Christian University board was published by the Gospel Coalition, to legal ethics on May 25 at the Shepherd of Hermas in the Writings of meeting, Oct. 20-21, Lakewood, Colo. his article “I Am the Living Legacy Charlotte City Club. The course was Irenaeus.” of the Faith of Our Fathers” by Third accredited for continuing legal education Dr. Derek Thomas will be the keynote Millennium, and his sermon “What God by the North Carolina State Bar. On Dr. Reggie Kidd will teach “NT Theology speaker at the ARP First Presbytery Has Done to Death” by Preaching.com. Nov. 18 he will speak at the national and Language” for Acts 29’s ReTrain Spiritual Life Conference at Back Creek meeting of the Evangelical Philosophical program, Seattle, Nov. 11-12. Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, John Muether Society, San Francisco, on “Positive Charlotte, Aug. 28, on “Preaching Christ co-edited the Mysterianism Undefeated.” Rev. Tim McKeown will attend the from the Old Testament: Some Guiding anthology Confident Northern Mexico Partnership Meeting, Principles” and “Things That Only the of Better Things: Dr. Steve Brown Sept. 12-14, Rock Hill, S.C.; officiate a Old Testament Will Tell You.” During Essays taught “Radical funeral in Arlington National Cemetery, this event, four RTS professors will Commemorating Grace” at RTS- Sept. 30: and travel to Monterrey, give lectures: Dr. Robert Cara on “King Seventy-Five Years Orlando, July Mexico, for the Mission to the World David’s Life as a Foreshadowing of Christ of the Orthodox 25-29. On Sept. 4 Monterrey Vision Trip, Oct. 7-10. and an Example for Us,” Dr. John Currid Presbyterian Church and contributed the he will preach on “Does the Fourth Commandment essay “The Significance of Paul Woolley morning services at Dr. Mike Milton was the keynote speaker Apply to Us Today?”, Dr. Michael Kruger Today.” Willow Creek at the fall 2011 Army Chaplain Career on “Heresy, Orthodoxy, and the Role of Presbyterian Church, Winter Springs, Fla. Course service, Fort Jackson, S.C., July the Old Testament in Early Christianity”; Dr. Scott Swain has On Sept. 17 he will speak at a pastor’s 18, on “Resting Before Running: A and Dr. James Anderson on “Old written Trinity, conference at Hanmaum Associate Biblical Call for Spiritual Reflection in Commandments for a Brave New World.” Revelation, and Reformed Presbyterian Church, Madison, Order to Know Spiritual Protection in the Reading: A Ala. He will preach at the morning Battle.” He will present the paper “In Theological worship services at Coral Ridge Jesus Name I Pray: Exclusivity in Public PUBLICATIONS Introduction to the Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, Prayer and the Restrictive Contours of Bible and Its Fla., Oct. 9, and teach a seminar at The Civic Pluralism,” at the annual meeting Dr. John Currid has written a book for the Interpretation (T&T Billy Graham Training Center, Nov. 7-9. of the Evangelical Theological Society, Welwyn Commentary Series (a series Clark, Sept. [UK)], Nov. [USA]), “The San Francisco, Nov. 17. He will preach on the books of the Bible) titled Strong Trinity in the Reformers” for the Oxford Dr. Steve Childers spoke at the national at the World Mission Conference and Courageous: Joshua (Evangelical Handbook of the Trinity (Oxford Global Church Advancement church at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Press, Sept.). University Press, Nov.), “In Defense of planter training conference, July 19-21, Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 21-23 on “A Proof-Texting” (co-authored with R. Due West, S.C. He is also scheduled to Word From Another World: Messages on Dr. Don Fortson wrote Presbyterian Story: Michael Allen) for the Journal of the be the plenary speaker for the annual the Witness of the Church in the World Origins and Progress of a Reformed Evangelical Theological Society (Sept.), Covenant College mission conference Today.” He will preach at the Christian Tradition (Reformation Press, due fall). and “God’s Lordly Son: Mark 12.35-37 Nov. 8-11, Lookout Mountain, Ga. Heritage Conference at Christ Covenant and Trinitarian Christology” for the Church, Charlotte, Oct. 28-29 on “Music Dr. Chuck Hill wrote “Intersections of Theological Commentary: Evangelical Dr.