Covenant Magazine - [Spring 2007] by Covenant Theological Seminary

The Magazine of Covenant Theological Seminary

Covenant

Vol. 22, No. 1

Spring 2007

Saved by Grace, S e nt to S e rv e

FROM THE PRESIDENT

SPRING 2007 Saved by Grace, Sent to Serve

FEATURES

2Developing Servant-Leaders

I am always amazed at how the men who traveled with Jesus during His earthly ministry could often be so oblivious to what He was trying to teach them. Sometimes they just didn’t get it. Take, for example, the time when James and John asked Jesus if they could sit at His right hand and at His left when He came into His Kingdom. Not only was this a somewhat impertinent request to make, given who He was, but it also incited indignation in the other disciples, who began to argue with the sons of Zebedee about this. Jesus’ response was, first, to ask them whether they could bear the kind of suffering He would bear, and, second, to affirm yet again that in the Kingdom of God, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43–45). Service was at the heart of Christ’s mission. From beginning to end, His selfless giving of His time, energy, and ultimately His life for the sake of others was the highest expression of God’s grace to sinful creatures who deserved only His wrath. As sinners saved by that same grace, we believers—but most especially those who are training for positions of leadership in Christ’s Church—are called to display the same heart for service that our Lord Himself so perfectly exemplified. Our redemption is not for our sake alone; rather, we are saved so that we might be sent forth to serve others, in gratitude for what we have received, by bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who have not heard it, and by building up the body of Christ wherever we happen to find it. In this issue of Covenant, you will find beautiful examples of how our students and alumni are doing exactly that. Ranging from life-changing experiences during field education opportunities to fruitful long-term ministries overseas, from growing in grace through personal suffering to nurturing faith through grace-filled discipling of other believers, these stories—and many others that could be told—illustrate perfectly the goal of all the prayer and preparation that goes into the spiritual formation of each graduate of this institution: learning to love the Lord more by serving His people well. As you read through this issue, please pray for the people you meet in these pages. Pray also for the many more like them who come to Covenant Seminary each year to answer the call to ministry out of love for the God whose grace has saved them. And pray that their lives and ministries may, like those of even the most thick-headed of Jesus’ original disciples, have a lasting impact that will turn the world upside down and prove the point all over again that he who would be great in the Kingdom of God must first be a servant of all.

Jesus Christ has set before us a leadership model that is counterintuitive, proving that the most effective leaders are ones who lead out of humility rather than glory.

10 Teaching Gospel-Centered

Worship Around the World In a span of 10 months, Dean of Students Dr. Mark Dalbey visited three countries where he spoke to international ministry leaders about conducting Gospelcentered worship services.

13 By His Grace, For His

Glory Capital Campaign The public phase of Covenant Seminary’s campaign has begun, and we are almost ready to begin work on the new building to continue academic excellence.

18 Learning and Loving By Doing

Earning an MDiv or MAEM from Covenant Seminary includes a field education component. In this article, students share about their experiences and the value of hands-on ministry.

CONTENTS

Alumni profile

Louis Zeigler 8 CORE VALUE Church Leadership 17 alumni news

Bryan Chapell, President

22 PERSPECTIVES the Saturation of Cynicism

27 COVENANT | Spring 2007

Seminary news & events

B AC K

student Profile

COVER

T. J. Wolters

COVENANT COMMUNITY In a Student’s Words

Meditations on My n u Master of Divinity

aster of Divinity is an auspicious title—one to which I aspired for years. Since enrolling at Covenant Theological Seminary three years ago, I have labored to obtain mastery of the biblical text, theology, preaching, and church history—to name a few— all to be equipped for life and ministry among God’s people. The more I have labored to obtain a mastership of divinity, however, the more I have discovered my “unmastery.” Indeed, working on a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree at Covenant Seminary has trained me to be an apprentice of divinity rather than a master. God simply cannot be mastered, so as a student of His Word and a minister of His Gospel, I am a perpetual apprentice. In this role, the ultimate goal is to be mastered by God rather than to gain mastery of God. If there is any element of mastery, it is in depending on God. The MDiv degree has not trained me to be an expert in the professional field of ministry. On the contrary, my seminary studies have equipped me to engage in amateur Christian ministry. If professionalism in ministry boasts expertise that showcases competency and credentials, then amateurism in ministry entails “unmastery”—not in the sense of lacking skill or experience but in acknowledging submission to and love of the Master. As an aspirant of the things of God, learning is a lifestyle not a lifestage. Rather than passing a certain number of tests, the only test we must pass to be equipped for ministry seems to be the test of love. For the novice minister, love for the Messiah and His mission is paramount—the chief credential, even above competency. Claiming apprenticeship of divinity and amateur status in ministry is both easy and difficult in our contemporary context. On one hand, the pundits of postmodernism have long since debunked modernism’s mirage of mastery. We live in a masterless milieu: Many people are cynical of anyone becoming an expert. Boredom, apathy, and sloth permeate much of our interactions, institutions, and ideologies. Claiming “unmastery” of divinity, in this sense, is a reflection of a cultural malaise. On the other hand, postmodern culture resists submission. To assert an apprenticeship that requires being mastered by God is courageously countercultural. To claim that God cannot be mastered requires honesty; to submit to being mastered by God requires supernatural courage. Consequently, to be an apprentice—an amateur minister—to the Master, demands more courage than competency and credentials. Through this understanding, my MDiv studies have been a formative training ground, helping me grapple with my “unmastery” of God—in all His mystery—and submit to being mastered by His will. Wesley Vander Lugt Wesley Vander Lugt is pursuing an MDiv degree and will graduate in May.

ServantD eveloping

Leaders

number of years ago a friend shared with me some memories about her freshman year at Wheaton College. She recalled her first day of class when she saw an older man in a suit walking along a campus sidewalk, pausing every now and again to pick up trash. Later in the week, even though she had no idea who he was, that same man stopped her between classes. Calling her by name, he asked specific questions about her family, her courses, and how she was adjusting to college life. After the conversation, a classmate told her the man was Dr. V. Raymond Edman, then-president of the college. Many years later, Edman continued to stand out to my friend as a shining example of a servant-leader.

“ But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17 : 7 – 8

What is a servant-leader? The description of a leader being a servant is popular today in business literature. It was popularized in 1970 by an article titled “Servant as Leader” by Robert Greenleaf. The theme of Greenleaf’s work was that true leadership emerges from those whose primary motivation is a deep desire to help others. This is a wonderful, altruistic idea that many seek to employ in their corporate and personal lifestyles. However, there is a problem with Greenleaf’s theory— it fails to take into account the brokenness of our human nature. As the apostle Paul records in Romans 7:21–24, it is difficult to maintain such high and virtuous standards when our sin nature constantly pulls us down. Enter the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When the Spirit of God transforms our broken souls by the power of His redeeming love, we suddenly discover a new motivation in our lives. No longer burdened by this exalted standard of becoming a servant-leader, we discover that we can serve others because He first loved us (1 John 4:10–11). As we grow in our understanding of God’s love, we discover that Jesus expected His people to be servant-leaders. In Mark 10:42–45, Jesus contrasted the leaders of this world who “lord [their power] over” others with the expectation that His followers “must be slave of all.” Then He concluded, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Later, in John 13, Jesus explained, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (vs. 13–15 esv). Because servant-leadership is God’s expectation for us, it is reasonable to ask the question: How does God form us into servant-leaders? What does He do to transform a busy college president into a man who willingly stops to pick up trash and know specific facts about new students? (Edman and his wife would read the student records and rise together at 5 o’clock every morning to pray for students.)

Or Romans 5:2–5, where Paul explains a process that begins with suffering, produces character, and ends with mature hope. Or even 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, where Paul states that his own thorn in the flesh caused him to learn God’s grace and exhibit God’s power. Perhaps the passage that impacted me most in this reflection was Hebrews 5:8. Here the author makes this profound statement: “Although he [Jesus] was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” The context of this passage makes it clear that Jesus is the unique and only Son of God. This forced me to ask the question: How could the eternal Son of God learn anything? Puritan John Owen helped me here. In his commentary on Hebrews, Owen explains that Jesus did not learn new knowledge because He already knows all things. Furthermore, He did not need to learn to obey because He was always prepared to obey the Father. Rather, Jesus’ suffering was learning through experience. Just as we learn the sweetness of ice cream by actually tasting it, so Jesus learned the experience of obedience by His suffering. Indeed, the hallmark of Jesus’ life was suffering—he was described as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3 esv).

As we grow in our

understanding of God’s love,

we discover that Jesus expected

His people to be servant-leaders. But what I found most interesting was how Jesus learned. His learning took place through hardship. And what is true for Jesus is true for us as His disciples. Look, for example, at the aforementioned passages from James and Romans. These verses say that God uses adversity to form the character of His followers. Traits such as steadfastness of faith and maturity of hope are formed in the crucible of hardship. When difficulties pushed him to move beyond his own capabilities to cry out for God’s intervention, Paul learned the availability of God’s grace. His discovery—learned only by facing his own limitations through hardship—was that God’s power is magnified in weakness. Sometime after returning from Russ Moxley’s seminar, I read a chapter he wrote on hardships. In it Moxley says: “People seek to minimize the possibility of experiencing hardships…[but] comfort is the enemy of growth. Hardship experiences unfreeze people, by which we mean open them up to new awareness…. How people respond drives learning.” If our response to hardships drives our learning, I wondered what kind of experiences would form a man into a servant-leader who, as president of a college, would mark a freshman’s life by picking up trash and praying for students. In his book titled

The Shaping of a Servant-Leader

As we explore the Bible, the ways in which God shapes servant-leaders are surprising. I was recently reminded of one of these methods while attending a seminar led by Russ Moxley (former senior fellow at the Center for Creative Leadership). Moxley pointed out that, of all the aspects of leadership development researched by the center, the single most important element was that of hardships. Hardships. These are rarely referenced in books or training curricula. Yet as I heard Moxley talk about the role of hardships in leadership development, my mind raced to verses in the Bible. Take, for example, James 1:2–4, where the brother of Jesus tells us to “count it all joy” when we meet trials because this testing of our faith produces steadfastness and makes us complete.

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They Found the Secret, Dr. Edman shares that it was his response to three specific hardships that shaped his life and service for God: serving as a soldier in World War I, a near-death experience as a missionary in Ecuador, and a crisis of faith while returning from missions service. In each instance, God used hardships to form in Dr. Edman a servant spirit. In my work at Covenant Seminary’s Center for Ministry Leadership, I have had the privilege of meeting with 30 pastors three times a year over the past two years. As we have shared our lives and ministries together, a consistent theme has been the way in which God has used hardships to shape our lives. Among these pastors are those who have faced personal rejection, physical trauma, accusations against their leadership, and even church splits. Yet, in each case, these pastors have not responded in bitterness and anger; each has allowed his experiences to mature him in his calling. How will we respond to hardships? Our answer plays a critical role in our development as servant-leaders.

Catechism) moved from being rote answers I know to soulshaping refreshment in the midst of personal crisis. A third way to respond to hardships is to do an audit of past and current experiences, seeking to identify what God may be teaching us about ourselves, about others, and about His purposes for our lives. Pondering these lessons can teach us much about the way God is forming our character and shaping us into servant-leaders. Journaling is one way to do such an audit. Many have found that writing their thoughts and reflections provides a means of remembering difficult experiences and recalling how God was faithful to them during the trials. Occasionally revisiting these journal entries becomes a reminder of the lessons He has taught during difficult times. This kind of reflective introspection can be challenging for many of us. God has not called us to be isolated and without support—especially in times of hardship. We can find numerous resources within the Church to help us process the lessons learned in hardships. This can occur through talking with friends, sharing with a pastor, or even meeting with a counselor. This type of support aids us in both understanding our experiences and grappling with the implications stemming from them. God does not waste pain, and we must not squander the opportunity to learn from it. Josiah Henson was born into a slave family in 1789. Having come to faith through the ministry of John McKenny, an itinerant preacher in the early 1800s, Josiah led his family north from Maryland to freedom in Canada. There God does not waste pain, he learned to read and write and ultimately became a lay preacher. Known as Father Henson, he was an abolitionist and we must not squander leader who spoke across Canada and the Northern United States. In 1851 he the opportunity to learn from it. traveled to London, and through contacts within the church, he continued his fight against slavery. After one speaking engagement, Henson was introduced to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had been in attendance. Impressed by the presentation, the Archbishop asked Henson Three Responses to Hardships which university he had attended. With keen insight into God’s First, we can respond by viewing our hardships through the leadership development plan over his life, the former slave simply lens of Scripture. In Romans 15:4 Paul says, “For whatever was replied, “I graduated, your grace, at the university of adversity.” written in former days was written for our instruction, that God has called us to Himself in Christ, and part of that calling through endurance and through the encouragement of the is to be servant-leaders. One important aspect of our leadership Scriptures we might have hope” (esv). God designs our hardships development for this vocation is the experience of hardships. to shape our character as servant-leaders. This is seen in Paul’s Because His loving hand guides us into these learning experiencexperience of his thorn in the flesh. Examples similar to this are es, we must not allow the lessons to pass. Rather, with confidence found throughout the pages of the Old and New Testaments. placed in His grace, we can respond to these lessons with the Second, we can respond by viewing hardships through our knowledge that “he who [has begun] a good work in [us] will bring theology. When our second son was stillborn, I received great it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6 esv). comfort and encouragement by reminding myself that God, for Dr. Robert Burns His own glory, has foreordained whatever comes to pass. He was Bob Burns serves as adjunct professor of practical theology and director for the Center for Ministry governing all of His creatures and all of their actions—including Leadership at Covenant Theological Seminary. The Center is a continuing education and renewal ministry. A veteran of two church plants and ministry positions working with youth, singles, mine—through His holy, wise, and powerful providence. These families, adults, worship, and the arts, Professor Burns has a heart to nurture ministry leaders in words (which are responses to questions in the Westminster the application of the Gospel to cultural issues. COVENANT | Spring 2007

ALUMNI PROFILE

The

People

Who Didn’t

LEAVE Louis Zeigler and his wife, Ann, were missionaries in Palestine for more than 35 years.

n June 1967, during the turbulent times of the Six-Day War— fought between Israel and the Arab states—many expatriates abandoned life on the West Bank and returned to their own countries. Some stayed, for one reason or another, at great risk to themselves. For G. Louis Zeigler (BDiv/MDiv ’63) and his wife, Ann, the reason was simple: “The Lord had called us to the Middle East to share the Gospel with Arabs, and that work wasn’t done.”

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Louis was first exposed to Arab culture, language, and religion (Islam) while growing up in Houston, Texas, where a small community of Muslims lived nearby. Many years later, during his studies at Covenant Theological Seminary, the Lord used a man named Warren Myers (BDiv/MDiv, ThM ’63), who had been to the Middle East and knew of a retiring Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) missionary in that area, to speak to Louis. “Warren encouraged me to consider the position,” Louis says, “and I thought seriously about it.” After graduation, the Lord did call the Zeiglers to the Middle East. “The year was 1965, and we were the last C&MA family who traveled by boat,” Louis recalls. “We traveled on a freighter —a dirty ship with people we didn’t understand and didn’t know—for 14 days. The morning we arrived in Beirut, a gentleman picked us up at the dock and immediately took us to Sunday morning worship. That was our introduction to our new lives.” The Zeiglers were living in Bethlehem (West Bank, Palestine)—then under Jordanian control—when the Six-Day War broke out. “We clearly remember what happened and the trauma that came, not only to us but to so many other people.” That trauma, Louis says, continues to this day. Almost overnight, the entire West Bank came under Israeli control. “We lost many conveniences,” Louis remembers. “We didn’t have mail, fuel, electricity, or gas, and we were under curfew, so our movement was greatly restricted. But we found out very quickly that we didn’t need these things to exist—either for our happiness or our contentment.” The Lord blessed the Zeiglers’ willingness to stay despite the danger and turmoil. “Most foreigners left when they got the chance,” Louis says. “We had the opportunity to leave but chose not to. Our decision solidified our relationships with hundreds of people. For weeks and even years afterward, older Arabs introduced us to younger Arabs as ‘the people who didn’t leave in 1967.’ ” While living in Bethlehem, Louis served as pastor of a C&MA church. “The church we were working with was a very small congregation located inside the walls of the old city of Jerusalem—a city every pastor should visit in his ministry. The congregation was mostly older people, and there were hardly any children. Although there were only about 25 people in the church at that time, they loved the Lord and were committed Christians.” As the Zeiglers faithfully served in the church, nominal Christian families living in the neighborhood— from Catholic, Coptic, Greek Orthodox, and Syrian backgrounds—sent their children to the church’s newly launched Sunday school program. “These children and their families were Christians in name, boasting that their heritage went back to the apostles,” Louis explains. “But for the most part, they had no basic understanding of Jesus and what He did when He died on the cross for our sins.” Though the families were wary of the protestant missionaries, the Lord continued to move. When the Zeiglers crossed geographical barriers to minister in the Middle East, they also crossed generational boundaries. Today, nearly 70 percent of the adults in that COVENANT | Spring 2007

Jerusalem church were once children in the classes of Louis and Ann—believers who have committed their lives to Christ and have become committed to the church. During their years of service, the Zeiglers gained insight into the Arab culture and developed an appreciation for and understanding of it that is often lost to Westerners. Arab culture, Louis explains, is marked by hospitality and a desire for education. “If you come to their village, they will welcome you quickly. And they will do just about anything for their children to get an education,” he says. “Their culture is very advanced, and many of them are very well educated. These are people who would like to succeed in life and develop their homes and country.”

above: Louis holds a copper cup that is at least 150 years old. It was purchased at a market days after the Six-Day War. right: Ann shows a hand-stitched throw pillow, decorated with intricate patterns and colors. Such pillows take months to complete and are quite costly. This one was given to her as a gift by one of the women to whom she ministered.

Such commitment is not without costs, as the Zeiglers fully know. Louis often visited neighboring Arab villages to distribute Bibles and books, an act which won friendships and opened up opportunities to talk about the Christian faith. “Convincing Muslims of the divinity of Jesus was and is a humanly impossible task. We couldn’t explain the authority of the Scriptures to people who believe the Bible has been superseded by the Qur’an. But we challenged them to read the

Scriptures.” Some did read the Bible and had questions. After numerous conversations, one such young man—who Louis described as “close to faith”—said, “If I believe what you are telling me, I am signing my death warrant.” Certainly, that is the case, as Arabs who make professions of faith in Christ are ostracized, rejected, and often killed for rejecting Islam. “In North America,” Louis says, “we can’t begin to understand or comprehend the price a Muslim pays for following Christ.” Though it was difficult in that cultural context to present Christ as the resurrected Son of God, the Zeiglers were given innumerable opportunities to do so—a task they approached eagerly despite resistance. “People often asked me if I was trying

Arabs and Evangelism Islam remains one of the fastest-growing religions in the world—including in the US. Thus, more and more Christians are finding themselves challenged to share their hope in Christ with Arab Muslims at work, in the marketplace, and in neighborhoods. How do we begin to make inroads of understanding and witness effectively to these people? Louis Zeigler shares these insights.

Offer Hospitality “If you invite an Arab into your home, that person will be skeptical of why you’re inviting him or her. But as you host Arabs again and again, you demonstrate respect for them. Sometimes we have Muslims in our home seven or eight times before we talk about religion. If you are going to work with Muslims, you have to know that it’s

We seem to forget that Palestinians are living people with eternal souls, people who need to be redeemed by the blood of Christ.

going to be a long, tedious process. Only the Spirit of God is going to open their hearts and minds to an understanding of who He is.”

Learn Some Basic Arabic “The Arabic language is beautiful. Many things you say to a Muslim in way of compliments have responses. These are very polite and eloquent phrases.” For example, one might hold open a door and say to an Arab, “Please, go ahead.” The response might be, “Oh no, beauty before age.” “Learn to say ‘hello,’ ‘good-bye,’ ‘after you,’ and ‘excuse me.’ Also, learn to ask how someone is doing. Learning these everyday phrases shows your interest in their language and culture.”

to change their religion,” Louis recalls. “I could honestly say no because I knew that if they came to understand who Jesus was, their lives would change.” During 36 years of ministry, the Zeiglers lived through half a dozen military conflicts between Israelis and Arabs. “We were there through lots of turmoil,” Louis says, quickly adding, “but we know people 50 years old and older who have known only war their entire lives.” And the turmoil of the Middle East is far from over. On June 27, 2006—39 years after the Six-Day War—Israel Defense Forces, in a new military campaign called Operation Summer Rains, pushed into the Gaza Strip in response to the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. “Palestinians are a very misunderstood people, by their own doing,” Louis notes. “Since 9/11, we tend to see them only as terrorists. We seem to forget that Palestinians are living people with eternal souls, people who need to be redeemed by the blood of Christ. We can’t solve their political problems—that’s in the hands of God. But we must not forget that we are called to help them understand that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Pray “If we Christians want to have a ministry to our Muslim neighbors, we must pray for them. So many times we want to have a ministry and witness to our Muslim friends, but we forget to pray. We need to ask God to open a door for us. I’ll tell you, the door is tightly closed, and only the Spirit of God can open up the hearts of these people so that His Word might take root.”

The Zeiglers are now back in the US and are mostly retired. They have two grown children—Jennifer and Christopher— and three grandchildren.

Joel Hathaway Joel Hathaway (MDiv ’04) serves Covenant Theological Seminary as the director of alumni and church relations.

www.covenantseminary.edu

Core Value #6 Church Leadership We believe that, as the Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), it is our responsibility to provide intellectual training and ministry models that are true to the Westminster Standards and the historic distinctives of Presbyterian orthodoxy, while equipping the next generation of Christian servants for effective church leadership in a changing world. At the same time, because we recognize that a seminary alone can never fully equip students for these tasks, we seek to work in partnership with local churches to accomplish our purpose.

One aspect of faculty mentoring and pastoral care is weekly meetings with Covenant Groups, a requirement for MDiv students.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP S

Presbyterians reacted to top-down rule in the Church (whether by popes or kings), which they believed led to the corruption of the Church. The solution that Presbyterian leaders proposed returned the Church to the biblical teaching Jesus gave—the authority for His Church to select representatives who would mediate and execute His rule to the entire congregation. These representatives

even core values amplify and clarify how Covenant Theological Seminary understands its purpose. In the sixth installment of our series on these core values, Vice President for Academics and Assistant Professor of Church History Dr. Sean Lucas expands on Covenant Seminary’s commitment to train and mentor future church leaders.

were called elders. This position was hinted at in the Westminster Standards but was fleshed out fully in the Form of Presbyterial ChurchGovernment—a document written at the same time as the Standards, but which the English Parliament did not adopt. In this the Westminster divines taught that the “ordinary and perpetual” offices of the church were “pastors, teachers, and other church-governors, and deacons.” Every church was to have at least one pastor, and others with “gifts for government” were to “join with the minister in the government of the church, which officers reformed churches commonly call Elders.”

What does it mean for Covenant Seminary to provide ministry models that are true to the Westminster Standards? Can you explain how historical Presbyterian distinctives offer a secure and communal view of church government?

One thing I often point out is that you can tell a lot about what people value by how they label themselves. If Lutherans value the teaching of Martin Luther, Baptists the principle of baptism by immersion, and Methodists the importance of a regulated piety, then Presbyterians value the importance of churches ruled by elders (or presbyters). There are historical reasons for this: COVENANT | Spring 2007

At Covenant Theological Seminary, we train future pastors who will work primarily in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). As a result, we teach our students that the Presbyterian pattern of Acts 15, 1 Timothy 3 and 5:17, Titus 1, and 2 Timothy 2:2 still holds true today—ministry is not a one-man show. Rather, the plurality of elders, who are gifted and granted by the resurrected Jesus, is His great gift to the Church as well as a great benefit to the local church pastor (Eph. 4:7–13).

This mentoring commitment is utterly unique in theological education. It arises from the belief that a seminary education that doesn’t shape the whole person—including one’s leadership manner and ethos—will not fully display the riches of Christ’s Gospel to the world. What do you think are the greatest challenges to church leadership in and throughout culture?

I think the greatest challenge that our culture presents is authority. In a world that embraces a “no rules, just right” approach to life, the idea of a pastor proclaiming “thus says the Lord” is absolutely abhorrent to many people. People think, “Who are you to tell me what God wants me to do?” All too often students come to Covenant Seminary recognizing the authority problem but struggling with how to be authoritative in a culture that rejects authority. As a seminary, we tell our students that authority doesn’t come through Machiavellian maneuvering; rather, people respect and listen to someone who loves them well. Often that may mean laying down our very lives so that another person will know that he or she is our (and God’s) friend; it is what ministry often demands. The surprise to many of our students is that this posture of weakness is the place of greatest Gospel influence.

How does Covenant Seminary prepare church leaders to interact with the changing world? Can you give us some examples?

Throughout our curriculum, we focus the attention of future pastors and ministry leaders on our rapidly changing world: What does it mean to be a minister in a relatively small Presbyterian denomination in a world dominated by global Pentecostalism? How does the prediction that by 2050 only one in five Christians worldwide will be Anglo and North American shape the way we think about our future ministry? Which questions raised by the postmodern climate of our culture are good questions that drive to the heart of the Christian Gospel? Though we raise awareness about this ever-changing world, one of the benefits of having church historians around is to remind our students that the world has often known times of similar religious pluralism, political unrest, and seeming cultural unity. In addition, if you boil it down, in every age the problem is, at its root, always the same—sin. And the solution is always the same—the Gospel of Jesus. Convincing future pastors and ministry leaders that in the Gospel of God’s grace they have everything they need to answer the questions of the changing world may not land us on the front page of ministry magazines, but it does produce men and women who are well-equipped for a lifetime of Gospel-focused ministry—which makes a real impact for Christ’s Kingdom.

It seems that this generation is afraid of taking on leadership roles, although people are excited to serve. Have you seen this to be true, and how is Covenant Seminary addressing this issue?

I think the most difficult issue that the current seminary generation faces is the realization that leadership entails risk. Our students have been raised either in atmospheres that are incredibly risky and alienating or in ones that are incredibly insulated and protective. Both backgrounds make the idea of leading and exercising authority—and being criticized for it—extremely unattractive. Often students come to Covenant Seminary believing that they have been called to serve as pastors in Christ’s Church, only to experience ministry firsthand and find that ministry involves thorns, difficulty, and suffering. The result is that some question whether they are even called to ministry. As a seminary faculty and administration, we help students through this fear of leadership by pointing them to the grand adventure of God’s Kingdom to which Christ is calling them. We remind them of the Gospel of grace that teaches us that God sees us not in our own insufficiency but in Christ’s full and utter sufficiency, and we encourage them to see the Christian life as one of patient endurance under God’s gracious hand. We also urge them to recognize that it is as we willingly take up Christ’s cross in our weakness that we find His grace to strengthen us. In other words, it may be that in the thorns of ministry, God intends to transform us into the very image of Jesus.

In a generation of fatherless children—or children from broken homes—what is Covenant Seminary doing to model biblical servant-leadership to its students?

As a faculty and staff, we model servant-leadership in at least a couple of ways. First, students see that the faculty views itself as intentionally modeling how elders who may disagree on various issues can live together and genuinely love each other for the sake of the Gospel. Students aren’t used to this—they come from churches or university settings where leaders may snipe and criticize each other. But the Gospel of grace demands that I view my colleagues first out of the indicative of our common union with Jesus; the communion of saints is not simply a good idea but a biblical mandate that arises from the Gospel itself. Second, in our curriculum, we have mandated the importance of faculty mentoring and the modeling of pastoral care through our Covenant Groups. Each first-year Master of Divinity student is grouped with other students and a faculty member who views his ministry in terms of pastoral care and ministry modeling. The result is often a powerful time of caring and interaction that serves as a model of how these men should pastor in the future.

Dr. Sean Lucas Sean Lucas is vice president for academics and assistant professor of church history at Covenant Seminary. His passion for students who study church history is that they understand that Jesus Christ is the hero of the Christian story in every generation.

www.covenantseminary.edu

T EACHING G OSPEL - CENTERED

WORSHIP

AROUND THE wORLD

In a span of 10 months, Dean of Students Dr. Mark Dalbey visited three countries to teach international ministry leaders about conducting Gospel-centered worship services.

ne of the great privileges of serving at Covenant Theological Seminary is the opportunity God gives us to come alongside a few of our graduates in their contexts of ministry and serve with them. Between November 2005 and September 2006, I visited three of our graduates who live outside of the US to teach their local pastors and ministry leaders about Gospel-centered worship. I traveled to Italy, Bulgaria, and Mexico. An additional blessing was teaming with current students or graduates who traveled and co-labored with me. I appreciate the opportunity to take the Christian Worship COVENANT | Spring 2007

clockwise from top: Covenant Seminary student Ryan McMillen in Venice, Italy. Dean of Students Mark Dalbey (left) and missionary Joel Rinn. Mark Dalbey preaching and Pastor Reno translating. St. Mark’s Square in Venice.

course I teach at the Seminary to faraway places where pastors and ministry leaders eagerly desire to grow and learn. I also appreciate worshiping and interacting with brothers and sisters in Christ who are culturally very different from me—it helps shape the way I teach the Christian Worship class to our students at home. In each of these three contexts I presented material under the general heading of “Understanding, Planning, and Leading Gospel-Centered Worship.”

BOLOGNA and SICILY, ITALY November 2005

Dean of Students Mark Dalbey and student Ryan McMillen (MATS expected May ’09), worship and music director at Chesterfield Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. Hosts: Joel (MDiv ’03) and Jessica Rinn, serving with Presbyterian Mission International (PMI). What: Weekend worship seminars for 25 (Bologna) and 75 (Sicily) church leaders. I taught on worship, and then Ryan and I role-played the planning of a worship service, which we then conducted. The trip was arranged through Anchored Music Ministries, a ministry that facilitates the equipping of church leaders throughout the world. It was founded by alumnus Bryan Thomas Schmidt (MATS ’01). Guests:

BOLOGNA Background: Only about 1% of the population of Italy is evangelical in this largely Roman Catholic nation. Highlights: Visiting the city of Ferrara, where I preached on Sunday. Ferrara is the birthplace of pre-Reformer Girolamo Savonarola and was a city that gave refuge to Italian Reformers escaping persecution. -------------------------------------------Visiting Pomposa Abbey, where a Benedictine monk invented the modern musical notation. -------------------------------------------Traveling to Venice and to Florence with Ryan to visit cathedrals and museums with incredible works of art. We discussed how magnificent it would be to have loud praises sung in some of the grand cathedrals and what a blessing congregational singing is to the edification of believers in worship.

SICILY Sicily is an island that was controlled in part or whole by a wide range of groups over the centuries, including the Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals from North Africa, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, and Spanish Muslims. Ancient ruins and temples to various gods at Agrigento reflect some of this amazing history. The conference in Sicily was held in Catania, home of Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano (10,990 feet). Highlights: Touring the city of Syracuse, a city Paul where stopped for three days on his way to Rome (Acts 28:12). -------------------------------------------Visiting catacombs where Christian symbols and frescos indicated the likelihood of early Christian worship. -------------------------------------------Preaching on Sunday at Evangelical Christian Church (Reformed Baptist) in Caltanissetta. Ryan gave his testimony and sang “Before the Throne of God Above” at this service. Background:

Mark and Beth Dalbey in Bulgaria in January 2006

The enthusiastic and joyful singing of the 50 or so attendees (a large church by Protestant standards in Italy) sounded more like 500 people lifting their voices in praise. Pastor Reno’s enthusiastic and intense translation of my sermon on Hebrews 2 generated a higher-than-normal level of enthusiasm and intensity from me as well!

VELINGRAD, BULGARIA anuary 2006 J

Mark and Beth (MATS expected ’08) Dalbey. Jonathan (MDiv ’92) and Katherine Taylor, serving with Mission to the World (MTW) in Sofia, Bulgaria, and Pastor Immanuel (a Bulgarian who fled to the US to escape communist persecution and connected with Orthodox Presbyterians in Pennsylvania before returning to Bulgaria). What: Weeklong conference on worship for pastors and their wives. Over five days (for a total of 25 hours) I taught leadership couples from 30 churches about Gospel-centered worship. Background: This former Soviet Union nation is about 12.2% Muslim, 82.6% Bulgarian Orthodox, 1.2% other Christian, and 4% other. The pastor of the church we attended in central city Sofia had been imprisoned by the communists and later returned to his church. The Evangelical Congregational Church is the denomination the MTW missionaries are connecting with in Bulgaria. Guests: HOSTs:

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JuAREZ, Mexico September 2006

Highlights: Celebrating New Year’s Eve with the MTW team, then attending church in the oldest evangelical Protestant church in Bulgaria. -------------------------------------------Touring Sofia and visiting St. Sofia Church, the second-oldest in Sofia and the basilica from which the city eventually took its name. -------------------------------------------Enjoying the beautiful mountain setting at Velingrad. -------------------------------------------Team-teaching with my wife, Beth, on ministry and family one evening and having several opportunities throughout the week to follow up with several couples. -------------------------------------------Teaching with Beth modern hymns such as “In Christ Alone,” “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,” “Before the Throne of God Above,” and “Wonderful, Merciful Savior,” which had been translated in to Bulgarian. -------------------------------------------Singing in a choir in a Gospel-presentation program to hotel staff members who wanted to hear more about what we believe. -------------------------------------------Watching four teams of 10 people each plan a worship service based on my sermon outline for Psalm 30. They were so excited and enthusiastic for these 90 minutes, after which we took their ideas and planned and led a glorious worship service.

Mark Dalbey and Bryan Thomas Schmidt (MATS ’01), founder of Anchored Music Ministries. Hosts: Dan (MDiv ’84) and Becky Young, serving with Border Evangelism And Mercy Ministries (BEAMM), a ministry along the Mexico-US border that promotes church planting movements and emphasizes and assists with training and theological education. What: Weekend worship seminar for about 50 pastors and ministry leaders. At the end, we completed the actual planning of a worship service as pastor and musician who, through translators, then put into practice much of what we had been teaching about in the seminar. Highlights: Worshiping in a joint service of Tierra Prometida (loosely translated “Promised Land”) Church and Vida Nueva (New Life) Church led by Bryan. (The two congregations have permanently joined together and the new congregation is called Promesas de Vida [Life Promises].) -------------------------------------------Teaching a Sunday school class at Gracia y Paz (Grace and Peace) church where the fellowship was very encouraging. Guests:

SUMMARY As I reflect on these three trips, I am grateful for all the Lord did through us and for all He taught us. I was amazed at the passion for God reflected in the worship of small, struggling churches that are overshadowed by dominant religious groups that lack the freedom and joy of the Gospel of saving and transforming grace. I also appreciated the expressed desire to reach lost people winsomely. The relational encouragement with missionaries and their families as well as pastors and their families in the various countries was tremendous. Their eager, teachable spirits and expressions of gratitude humbled us. Worship brings together people who, despite differences in language and culture, find deep unity in Christ. We truly experienced a foretaste of the heavenly worship described in Revelation 5:9–10 where it says, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth’ ” (esv). Dr. Mark L. Dalbey

Thomas Schmidt g, Mark Dalbey, worship leader Bryan above: (left to right) Missionary Dan Youn COVENANT | Spring 2007

Mark Dalbey is the dean of students and assistant professor of practical theology at Covenant Theological Seminary. He leads chapel services and teaches worship classes at the Seminary as well as advises worship pastors/ leaders throughout the denomination.

capital campaign

By Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grace, we have been given an historic opportunity. We must make the most of it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for His glory.

Our Time in History An I n v itation F r om th e P r e si d e nt

Dear Friends, We are convinced that God is calling Covenant Theological Seminary to a new level of stewardship in preparing leaders for the Church who can engage and influence today’s world. At this time when family and faith values are rapidly eroding, Covenant Seminary has been blessed with an unprecedented opportunity to shape our church and our culture by training gifted leaders who will be faithful to the Scriptures, true to our Confession, and rooted in grace for a lifetime of fruitful ministry. In response to God’s calling, and believing that now is the time to seize the historic opportunity He has given us to make a difference for His Kingdom, we are in the midst of our By His Grace, For His Glory capital campaign, a threeyear effort to raise $12.5 million to fund a future of excellence at Covenant Seminary. By God’s grace, the campaign has thus far been greatly blessed by generous gifts from private donors and churches as well as grants from charitable foundations. Now, as we enter the public phase of this campaign—the home stretch, as it were—we need your help to raise the final $1.5 million that will enable us to reach our campaign goals. I invite you to consider being part of this exciting new chapter in the history of Covenant Seminary as we seek to be good stewards of the overwhelming blessings God has given us and seize this opportunity to pass those blessings on to future generations. May the Lord use us all mightily to achieve His Kingdom purposes.

Digital renderings of the new academic building Clockwise from top: The north entrance. Arcade connecting the chapel to the new building. Main lobby. Teaching chapel.

Yours in Christ,

Bryan Chapell President COVENANT | Spring 2007

Past Blessings and Future Responsibilities For the past 50 years, God has granted Covenant Theological Seminary a great abundance of His grace. Explosive enrollments, expanding influence, and an extraordinary faculty are just a few of the many evidences of His blessings. In fact, God’s grace has been so abundant that He has blessed us well beyond our present capacity. With such blessings come increased responsibilities to Jesus Christ, to His Church, and to those whom He calls into ministry. To whom much is given, of him much will be required (Luke 12:48). Together with our supporters, God is using Covenant Seminary to equip a new generation of pastors to reach our desperately secular society, making former enemies of Christ into children of the King—for His praise and glory. Therefore, we must make sure that we are wise stewards of what He has given and be bold to invite those whom He has blessed with resources to be generous. As previous missionaries challenged their generations, so we too have the opportunity to attempt great things for God while expecting great things from God. Our By His Grace, For His Glory capital campaign will enable us to better carry out our mission to prepare the next generation of leaders for Christ’s Church. Please join us as we steward the abundant blessings He has already provided and prepare responsibly for the next 50 years of blessing and growth—by His grace and for His glory.

Campaign Goal $12,500,000

www.covenantseminary.edu

NOW is Your Time H elp sh a pe th e futu re of chr ist’s chu rch

Make a Contribution By Mail Please use the enclosed

You are an essential element of this world-transforming mission to bring the joy and the beauty of the Gospel message to future generations. Your prayers for and generous assistance with this campaign will enable us not only to continue but also to strengthen our commitment to training pastors and ministry leaders for Christ’s Church.

reply envelope and send to:

CAPITAL goal: 12.5 million 12 million 11.5 million

By His Grace, For His Glory Campaign Development Office Covenant Theological Seminary 12330 Conway Road

Your Investment Matters

St. Louis, MO 63141

Every prayer is valuable, and every donation to the By His Grace, For His Glory campaign—no matter how small or large—makes a significant difference in the training and sustaining of future pastors and in the growth of Christ’s Church. Your financial support of Covenant Theological Seminary now will help ensure that the Gospel will be proclaimed boldly both today and for generations to come by pastors who are faithful to Scripture and rooted in grace for a lifetime of fruitful ministry. Please prayerfully consider how you might join with us in this historic opportunity to influence the world by shaping the future of Christ’s Church.

CAMPAIGN

Online Visit www.covenantseminary.edu and click on the

Make a Gift icon. To learn more about the campaign, visit the Seminary’s home page and click on the By His Grace, For His Glory campaign icon. There you will find more details about our plans for the future as well as a downloadable version of our campaign information packet. For more information, contact: James McCormick, Capital Campaign Director 1.800.264.8064 or james.mccormick@covenantseminary.edu

Only when grace and truth are modeled by professors, peers, and churches in coordinated community relationships do future ministry leaders truly learn how to shepherd the Church of today and tomorrow. COVENANT | Spring 2007

ALUMNI

news

We Want to Hear from you!

After graduating with a PhD in historical theology from Saint Louis University in 2003 and teaching there for a year as a visiting professor, T. Chris Crain (MDiv ’98) served at Providence Christian Academy in St. Louis as dean of dialectic and rhetoric. On August 20, 2006, he was ordained as assistant pastor of Christian education at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina. His primary duty is serving as headmaster of Covenant Christian School, a K–12 classical Christian school. Rev. Eric Dye (ThM ’94) and Dr. Phil Stogner (MDiv ’84) served on the ordination commission of Palmetto Presbytery.

Alumni, we consider you family, and we’d like to keep in touch! Please let us know where in the world God has called you, and fill us in on what you’re doing there. Update us about your family as well. Send e-mails to alumni@covenantseminary.edu and written correspondence to Alumni News, Attn: Joel Hathaway, 12330 Conway Road, St. Louis, MO 63141.

Joe (BDiv/MDiv ’68) and Adrai Ellis are in Moody, Alabama, where they have lived since 1990. The Ellises have two grown daughters, Rebekah and Rachel, and two grandchildren. Joe serves as a ruling elder of Community Presbyterian Church in Moody.

Albanian government, provides missionary care, and is involved in strengthening the Church and its leaders in Albania.

Kelley Hand (MDiv ’01) was installed as pastor of Desert Palms Church in Chandler, Arizona, on August 6, 2006. David Farbishel (DMin ’05) gave the questions to the minister and congregation as well as the declaration of installation. Previously, Kelley served for five years as associate pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Kelley, wife Vicki (MDiv ’01), and their children, Brock (age 5) and Evan (age 4), moved to Chandler in July of last year.

David T. Myers (DMin ’89) has retired after 40 years in the pastorate, first in the Bible Presbyterian Church (12 years), then in the Presbyterian Church in America (28 years). He served five Presbyterian churches at locations in Canada and the United States. David and wife Carolyn currently reside in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. They recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. In his retirement, David engages in teaching adults, serving on the parish council, and coordinating the visitation ministry for the Protestant Chapel at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. He is the author of Stonewall Jackson: The Spiritual Side.

Drew Kornreich (MDiv ’96) was installed as the senior pastor of Rose Hill Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, on August 6, 2006. A minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church delivered the sermon. Daryl Madi (MDiv ’97) delivered the charge to the pastor. Dr. John Harvey (professor of New Testament at Columbia International University) delivered the charge to the congregation. Drew and his wife, Penny (MATS ’96), have two children, Tory (age 7) and Toby (age 3).

Anne Reitsema (MAC, MATS ’03) recently returned to South Africa after spending 18 months in Angola with Medair, a Christian-based humanitarian aid organization overseeing projects that help refugees return after years of war. After receiving treatment for a neck injury sustained in the field, Anne plans to continue with Medair, serving as deputy country director in Uganda. She will also coordinate water and sanitation projects in refugee camps and psychosocial rehabilitation projects that help children who have fled the clutches of the Lord’s Resistance Army.

Brian Martin (MDiv ’05) was installed as the pastor of Wildwood Evangelical Free Church in Greencastle, Indiana, on June 4, 2006. Brian, wife Valerie, and their children—Caleb, Tobias, and Eleanor—moved to Greencastle in March of 2006.

John Roberts (MDiv ’99) has been serving as the assistant pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (CPC) in St. Louis, Missouri, since 2001. For his ordination service, Covenant Seminary professor Dr. Jack Collins gave the call to worship. The late Seth Dyrness (ThM ’92) gave the invocation. Covenant Seminary professor Dr. Sean Lucas preached, alumnus Andrew Vander Maas (MDiv ’99) gave the charge to the minister, and alumnus Jon Medlock (MDiv ’05) gave the charge to the congregation.

In June 2006, Steve (MDiv ’00) and Kelly (Wooden) (MAC ’00) Marusich left Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at the University of Maryland to serve with RUF at a university in England. Steve, Kelly, and children Jackson (age 7), Eli (age 4), and Savannah Grace (6 months) plan to move to England in August of this year. Austin (DMin ’00) and Beverly McCaskill are serving the Lord in Albania, where Austin has assumed a new position as director of the Albanian Encouragement Project. The project is an alliance of evangelical missionaries that represents Christianity to the

continued on page 28

www.covenantseminary.edu

Two Covenant Seminary degrees require students to fulfill a field education requirement. This provides future ministry leaders with invaluable practical ministry experience that often helps them more clearly discern their gifts and calling.

Learning and Loving By D oing T

hough learning is very cerebral, it is also very experiential.

Women’s Ministry in Maryland

Recognizing that students can learn a lot about them-

When I heard about the opportunity to spend a summer in beautiful Annapolis, Maryland, for a women’s ministry internship at Evangelical Presbyterian Church (a church whose impact is clear), I didn’t hesitate. When Jenny Woodruff, the director for women’s ministry there, flew to St. Louis to talk at a ministry lunch at Covenant Seminary, I got to pick her up from the airport and spend time getting to know her. As Jenny discussed what the internship would entail, I believed this was the opportunity of a lifetime. Months later, I got the job; in late May, I drove to Annapolis. Because of the teaching at Covenant Seminary and at my home church in Alabama, I was very aware that to make an impact in this world, you actually have to live in it. Separation from the world in the physical sense is not only impossible, but it is unwise as well. To have a voice with nonbelievers, we are called to involve ourselves in their lives—with great wisdom and discernment, yet also with great boldness. I took this approach to my field education experience. My favorite places to explore and meet people were local coffee shops and the hot spots, such as Pusser’s Landing and Phillips Annapolis Harbor (a seafood restaurant). On one of my days off, I went to Phillips for an appetizer and beverage and

selves and ministry outside of the classroom, Covenant

Seminary established the Field Education (field ed) program to help students deepen their classroom knowledge and explore ministry options as they consider how God is calling them to serve Him beyond seminary. This integral approach to theological education affirms the relationship between preparation through coursework and application in supervised ministry contexts. Field ed is required for all Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Master of Arts in Educational Ministries (MAEM) students. I frequently encourage students to pursue ministry categories in which they are weakest. For instance, by far the area in which most MDiv students struggle is church administration. Because of this, I recommend that students gain experience in that area. Some students think creatively about how to get ministry experience outside of the traditional contexts, and many find that God meets them there in special ways and reminds them of great Gospel truths. In this article, three such students share their recent field education experiences. LUKE BOBO Luke Bobo is the field education director for Covenant Seminary and director of the Seminary’s Francis A. Schaeffer Institute.

COVENANT | Spring 2007

Field Education Categories The following are the areas in which students can earn their service hours. MDiv students need 300 hours, and MAEM students must acquire 150 hours. Ministry hours must be divided between at least two categories. w Preaching

(MDiv students only)

w Teaching w Discipleship w Worship

(MDiv students only)

w Counseling w Administration w Outreach

uth at ith the yo ent time w sp ) serving at er h m e it m h ent the su ht with w g sp ri e m ing sh o e fr d, wher sser’s Land ing third ents at Pu lis, Marylan ow (stand ar o D p ap e n er in n h st A d ri h in top: C n Church Christine an ove, left: Presbyteria credit. ab n Evangelical o ti ca u g field ed and earnin

to soak in the warm sun just off the harbor. As I was reading a book and enjoying the view, someone behind me said, “Hey, are you a local or a visitor?” I turned around to a group of people and told them that I had just moved to town. They invited me over to their table. During our conversation, we spoke of the Washington Nationals baseball team and the Washington Redskins and what both teams were going to do in their seasons. As the dialogue continued, Tom, one of the men at the table, asked why I had moved to the city. When I said I was doing a women’s ministry internship at a local church, eyebrows were raised and curiosity was heightened. “Well, what is it that you believe at that church?” Tom then asked. I asked him if he really wanted to know because I was not going to tell him just to tell him. “Please tell me what you believe,” he responded sincerely. I began to explain that all humans are born with a “crack”— a need, a “hole” in their souls. After intense discussion as to whether or not this was true, I told him that I believed that Jesus Christ is the answer to that hole. I said that Jesus is the One who is able to set the heart free from sin as well as forgive sin. I shared that we all need to remember what Jesus did for us and what He is doing in us. Tom did not walk away a new man, and there was no weeping and mourning over his sin, but I am certain that he was intrigued.

ANNAPOLIS, MD

Also last summer, I had the privilege of encouraging fellow believers. One opportunity arose in a discussion about the book The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Thankfully, we had discussed some of the issues surrounding the book and subsequent movie in Dr. David Chapman’s class, and I was able to calm fears and bring a better historical understanding to some of the women who were scared to go near the book. I was also able to discuss in Bible study one morning the significance of being a slave in the ancient Near East and how it is different from our twenty-first century American understanding of slavery. Over and over again in my field education experience, I had the opportunity to put into action things I’d been learning at Covenant Seminary. Being out in the world takes my education from my head to my heart to my feet. I consider this the great value of field education. We cannot simply fill our minds with knowledge; we must also allow the Holy Spirit to make use of our knowledge in this world. In Maryland, I saw anew that we are in a dying land with souls all around us who need to hear the Good News of Jesus and how that good news has affected our lives.

CHRISTINE DOW Christine Dow is pursuing the MATS and MAEM degrees, and she expects to graduate in the spring of 2008.

www.covenantseminary.edu

Why Field Education? Supervised field education experience is required of all MDiv and MAEM students for four main reasons.

The Seminary seeks to help students: w grow

in walking with God and

leading God’s people. w i ntegrate

learning in the classroom

with the practice of ministry. w

confirm or clarify their gifts and calling.

w i dentify

ministry-related strengths

and weaknesses.

ISSAQUAH, WA practical ministry experience by top: Shawn Honey (right) gained s through the work of Sacred rican Ame e serving the needs of Nativ n Reservation in Washington. Road Ministries on the Yakama India

Embracing Cross-cultural Ministry

If you’re like me, when you first think of foreign missions, you think of taking the Gospel across the ocean. If you ponder it more, you realize that foreign missions can take place in many of America’s large cities. In St. Louis, for example, there are thousands of people from Eastern Europe, West Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and East Asia. Consider it further, however, and you might realize that there is another foreign people group in our midst—a frequently forgotten people group, even though they called this land home long before Europeans settled and established the nation we call America. They are Native Americans. It would be wrong to lump all Native Americans together, given the great divergence of culture and language among them. Plus, I’m no expert on Native Americans. But I was privileged to take part in a weeklong mission trip last summer to the Yakama Indian Reservation in south-central Washington State. The reservation is located in one of the poorest counties in the nation and has a high unemployment rate as well. Many other negative statistics abound—ones regarding drug abuse, child abuse, alcoholism, single-parent homes, suicide, and low life expectancy. It might seem that in the midst of such hopelessness the Gospel would shine. But Christianity among the Yakama has traditionally been seen as solely a white religion. There are good historical reasons for this. In the past, for a Yakama man to become a Christian, it often meant not only embracing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but also changing his name, cutting his hair, dressing like a European, and speaking only English. So, how do we overcome decades of such baggage that is equated with Christianity? At Covenant Seminary, a theme woven into all of the courses is the truth that the Gospel is a multinational message. Going all the way back to when God focused His plan of redemption through Abraham and his seed, God made it clear that He had the redemption of all the rebellious nations of the earth in mind. He promised Abraham that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 17). On this side of the cross, we know that it is Christ Himself (the ultimate seed of Abraham) who was

COVENANT | Spring 2007

the blessing to Abraham that came to the nations (Gal. 3:14). So, when God called Abraham—at which time my own ancestors were worshiping idols in Northern Europe—His scope was larger than just one man. His scope was a great multitude that no one could count—from every tribe, tongue, and nation—standing before His throne and singing the praises of the Lamb (Rev. 7:9, 10). Another theme running through the courses at Covenant Seminary is that God’s plan of redemption entails more than just the salvation of souls. Of course, salvation is integral to the Gospel, but God doesn’t just want to save people so that they will enjoy eternity with Him. He wants to save people so they can be His instruments in transforming their environments and cultures to reflect God’s Kingdom values and point people to God’s salvation. I am grateful that through the Field Education program I was able to put Gospel truths that I’ve been learning into practice on the Yakama reservation. I was able to communicate, by God’s grace, that being a Christian doesn’t mean adopting a European heritage. I was also able to assist in transforming a house that was barely inhabitable into a beautiful and safe home, leaving a family with a miniature picture of God’s redemption. Of course there’s only so much that can be done in one week’s time, but I and my teammembers were able to help Chris Granberry and his family, who have been living and laboring among the Yakama now for three years with Sacred Road Ministries. I look forward to further field ed experience, possibly among the Yakama again. The Field Education program has impressed on me (and will, I’m sure, continue to impress on me) that all of what I’m learning at Covenant Seminary is meant to be applied to a world outside of academia—a world full of Americans, Nigerians, Slovaks, and Yakamas who need the saving work of Jesus Christ. SHAWN HONEY Shawn Honey is pursuing an MDiv and anticipates graduating in the spring of 2008.

Where and How They May Serve

Serving People With Special Needs

Several years ago, I was sitting on the floor of a special education classroom for kindergartners and musing over the education I would soon begin at Covenant Seminary. I concluded that if all of the deep and glorious things I was going to learn about God could not be brought back to these children, then it would be utterly worthless. I tried, in vain, to think of ways that I could teach the glorious content of our faith to these children, some with severe mental impairments. Months later, as waves of exams and papers began to mount up, my anxiety receded in the midst of the storm. I dove into my work, and my understanding of God’s truth expanded and was deepened and sharpened in ways that I could not have imagined. But still my concern for the mentally impaired haunted me. What good was it to write exegetical papers and mine the depths of Scripture if my students would never be able to understand language anyway? Does the capacity of the brain hinder one from being ministered to?

Here are just a few examples of places where students may gain ministry experience.

Sites w Prisons w

Nursing homes

Orphanages

Indian reservations and state parks

Summer camps

Boys & Girls Clubs

wH ospitals w

Churches (rural, suburban, urban)

Ministries w

Working at McDonald’s in the inner city

wV isiting

ST. LOUIS, MO above: (left to right) Stu dent Todd Voelkel; Ver n Trueblood (founder of a PCA church in St. Lou is); and Todd’s Mentor, chaplain Paul Woodard

My answer came during the Lord’s Supper at Friendship Village West County (a retirement community in St. Louis) where I have been doing my field ed. I was next to L. Vern Trueblood, founding pastor of The Kirk of the Hills (a local PCA church), when he asked me if I would take the cup and pour it into his mouth. You see, Vern suffers from Parkinson’s disease, and his hands shake. Wow! Here is a man who has been walking with the Lord longer than I have been alive. And was I to literally have a hand in a communion so sweet and so intimate between this man and the living God? I wanted to crawl under my chair. But instead, I watched as I put the cup to his mouth

(accompanying a pastor)

bereaving families (accompanying a pastor)

Ministering to widows, elderly, etc.

Tutoring inner-city youth

Mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters

Chaplaincy

Youth ministry in a local church

and he drank. It was palpable. I had just seen the Gospel—and my questions were answered. Yes, the great and glorious truths I have learned about God are directly transferable to the students I had with severe mental impairments—just as they are to people like Vern who know much more about God than I do. My ministry to Vern was not to teach him the information content of our faith. Rather, it was to serve him by holding the cup steady. This is what my mentor, chaplain Paul Woodard (MDiv ’81), taught me as “fleshing out the Gospel.” It’s not just about explaining the content, but also about living it out before the people you serve. Jesus Christ— the Word—became flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1:14). While His followers are meant to do much talking about it, they are meant to do much more. It is in this way that I can take those deep truths about God and teach them to those children. So when I finish doing an exegetical study of Psalm 1 or Leviticus 26 and one of the results is that I begin to delight more in serving one of those children by changing the child’s diaper promptly, then I know it is far from worthless. And that is just the beginning. Friendship Village has provided a place for me to witness the Gospel of Christ, unhindered. TODD VOELKEL Todd Voelkel is a chaplain intern at Friendship Village West County, a retirement community, and will graduate this May with a Master of Divinity.

www.covenantseminary.edu

THE

FSI PERSPECTIVES

This article is adapted from a Friday Nights @ the Institute talk hosted by the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute, a ministry of Covenant Theological Seminary. The Schaeffer Institute seeks to train God’s servants to demonstrate compassionately and defend reasonably the claims of Christ on the whole of life. Perspectives is published twice a year in Covenant.

Saturation of Cynicism Where does the deep pessimism that permeates society come from, and how can Christians counteract this spiritually deadly attitude?

eader’s Digest tells us that cynicism is “a scornful or mocking attitude; bitterly mocking; scornful or skeptical of the motives or virtue of others; believing that people are insincere and are motivated by selfishness; expecting the worst of human behavior.” A Webster’s dictionary defines cynicism as “morose, sarcastic, sneering; inclination to question the sincerity or motives of others; inclination to question the value of living.” Cynicism has existed in many human societies and at many points in history. The fundamental reason for a cynical attitude toward others is, of course, that every human person we meet is a person whose motives are sometimes insincere. Every person we meet is someone who sometimes lacks virtue. Every person is sometimes selfish. Therefore, the root reason for a cynical attitude towoard life is that life in this world is never free from problems or from events that seem to have no rhyme or reason. Three thousand years ago, the writer of Ecclesiastes was led to write about this apparent absurdity of life: “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Eccles. 1:2b niv) or “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Eccles. 1:2b esv). His reflections on the reality of our existence lead him to this cry. He thinks about the pursuit of wisdom, the giving of oneself to a life of pleasure, the striving after wealth, the commitment to live virtuously, the ambition to work hard and develop one’s gifts. He sees that, in this world, the same end comes to the wise and the foolish, the virtuous and the wicked, the hard worker and the lazy person. He concluded his reflection saying, “I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind” (Eccles. 2:17 esv). COVENANT | Spring 2007

This attitude of hating life because of its apparent vanity and absurdity has existed in many times and places, and, of course, it often leads to a questioning of the motives and sincerity of everyone around. If one’s heart becomes consumed by a sense of absurdity, by a questioning of the meaning and sense of life itself, it is very difficult to stop that attitude from affecting everything else one thinks and from souring and embittering one’s views of other people. In the book of Ecclesiastes, because the author believes in the one true God, he finds an answer to his problems and is saved from a life of cynicism. We will return later to the answer that he gives; but before we take another glance at Ecclesiastes, I want us to think a little about cynicism in our own culture and time. The tendency towards cynicism has become a great wave— like a tsunami—sweeping across the cultural landscape of our age. Why is this? Why is cynicism so much stronger in our time—and Western cultures in particular—when these cultures are the most prosperous, the most advanced medically, and the most leisured for more people than any other human culture in history?

How Did We Get Here?

I do not have the space here to give a history of Western thought, so I will summarize briefly. Modernism—or secular humanism, as it is often called—insisted that we do not need God or His revelation to us to understand the world in which we live or human life and human society. Rather secular humanism insisted that human beings alone (with the tools of human reason, human

moral consciousness, and human ability) could understand the origins and purpose of life, fathom the mysteries of human existence, decide on a better course for personal and social life, and build an enduring and greater civilization here in this world. Scottish philospher and historian David Hume wrote: “Reason appears in possession of the throne, prescribing laws and imposing maxims with an absolute sway and authority.” Although Hume acknowledged that this approach involved deep problems, he persisted in following this course. However, despite his own insistence that one must hold skepticism at bay, his doubts about the value of reason and his observation that nihilism was not far away have become commonplace today. Postmodernism has become much more skeptical about this human enterprise. It insists that human reason is inadequate to lead us to truth. It says there is no objective truth, no absolute truth. There is only personal truth. We live in a time when human reason is considered inadequate to lead us to the truth. Objective truth about the ultimate nature of reality and about the human condition is thought to be beyond human reach. Instead of objective truth, it is claimed that there is only personal truth—“You have your truth; I have mine.” There is nothing transcendent (neither God nor anything else) that understands everything, therefore there is no objective truth available to us. It is pointless to even ask the question whether or not there is an objective world, for we have no way of knowing the answer to such a question. All we have available to us is the language we use to describe what our senses perceive. It does not take much to see how this feeds the cynicism of our present time,

for in this view reality cannot be known. We need to add to this uncertainty about knowing truth the fact of our living in an increasingly pluralistic society. We have here in the US today the most religiously diverse society the world has ever seen. What does this pluralism of belief have to do with the growth of cynicism? Postmodernism teaches that this pluralism of belief is the way it ought to be. It insists that there is no one truth that describes reality, that our finite grasp on reality is so tenuous that there can be nothing but the belief systems of individuals or cultural groups, and that none of these can claim either the status of “truth” or even superiority over any of the others. Everyone’s claims to speak truth are greeted with skepticism—sometimes polite skepticism, but sometimes bitter, mocking, and abusive skepticism. In addition, postmodernism stresses that simply by knowing I am not free—ever. I come to every issue with prejudices, with beliefs, and with a background, and these “glasses” determine what I “see.” Some postmodernists emphasize the shared knowledge (or prejudices) of various communities, while others stress the isolation of the individual knower. Whichever of these approaches is espoused, the overall result is an increasing skepticism about any kind of truth claim. So, in this view, reason is a weak tool and can

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never lead us to true knowledge because it is constrained by our prejudices. Reason and the claim of knowledge are weapons that have been used by the powerful to maintain their power and interests at the expense of the powerless. Knowledge becomes a weapon in the culture wars for various groups to reinforce their already-held positions and to use against each other. This recognition that knowledge is sometimes used as a weapon to suppress others and their views feeds the drift to cynicism and the questioning of people’s motives. The consequence of this loss of confidence in reason and the existence of truth is that Western societies have raised a generation of skeptics and cynics. Think of much of the contemporary music produced for our entertainment! Just think of movies such as American Beauty, films made by Woody Allen, and the sci-fi series The Matrix (which at first was commended by many Christians). Consider the dwarves in C. S. Lewis’s book The Last Battle in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Lewis writes that the dwarves were so reluctant to be taken in that they could no longer be taken out of their skeptical and cynical attitude—hope was then impossible for them. In Western Europe this problem is far more advanced. The cynicism of Lewis’s dwarves is almost universal in France, Britain, and most Western European countries. Young people in particular are deeply pessimistic and cynical about what life holds for them. The deeper “philosophical” skepticism that is at the heart of our culture is made worse by the social and familial settings in which so many young people spend their early years. Many grow up in settings where there is little practical hope of escaping problems of poverty, unemployment, poor education, and social deprivation of every kind. In addition, many have the added burden of being raised in families where there is such betrayal of trust, such failure of commitment and parenting, such wounding of hope and love that deep alienation and a cynical attitude toward all people is not a surprising consequence.

Loss of hope, both for this world and for one’s own life— There is no story that gives us ground for hope for our solar system, for our planet, for the human race, for my own future, so there is no alternative but cynicism and apathy. -------------------------------------------Loss of respect for authority—There is no one and no thing that deserves my trust or obedience, so there is no one to whom I may turn with confidence that I will find answers or meaning. -------------------------------------------Loss of respect for everything sacred—Religions, like all other claims to truth, are simply power games; anything or anyone that a group has held to be sacred or precious should be scorned and held up for ridicule. Consequently there is a delight in shocking the viewer or listener. (I hardly need to give you examples here, for we see them repeatedly in our cultural setting.) -------------------------------------------Loss of moral certainty—There are no transcendent moral commandments. There is no “you shall” or “you shall not.” There are no commandments that come from above for this generation. No one individual, no group, no authority, no religion, no sacred book, no god has the right to tell anyone how they ought to live. In such a society, there is inevitably cynicism about claims to moral certainty. You may say, “This does not affect me or many of the other people that I know.” I want to challenge that claim. Cynicism is corrosive—it works like a cancer taking over all that is healthy and hopeful, and we are all impacted by it. -------------------------------------------Because cynicism is so pervasive in our intellectual and popular culture, it works its corrosive effect on us all. When I was a young person growing up in Britain, not only was much of the popular music I listened to deeply imbued with cynicism about the human condition but so were most of the talk shows and comedies on television and radio. While much of this was and is very funny, such cynical humor can impact us very deeply and shape us into people who automatically doubt the sincerity or motives of people with whom we disagree. There is much that is similar here in the United States. Our political discourse often encourages cynicism because it urges us to doubt the wisdom, sense, motives, and sincerity of those on the other side of every social, economic, and political debate. Having endured another election last November, I do not think I need to give you examples here. I read the cartoons every day, and political ones (written from both the Right and Left perspectives) are deeply shaped by cynicism and feed a cynical mentality in their readers. At a personal level, many of us are moved to cynicism by our own family backgrounds, so we are deeply skeptical about the possibility of happiness in marriage or in family life. Such skepticism actually works to undermine the possibility of marital or familial happiness because trust and vulnerability are fundamental to healthy relationships. These are necessarily undermined wherever there is the presence of cynical attitudes.

Consequences of Our Intellectual And Social Climate

The cynical view of life produces numerous results that are manifest in loss. Loss of belief in truth—There is nothing that can make sense of the human condition, so the conclusion is “meaningless, meaningless…everything is meaningless” (Eccles. 1:2). ------------------------------------COVENANT | Spring 2007

This also impacts any depth of relationship with God. I think of the British sitcom Fawlty Towers and John Cleese as Basil Fawlty shaking his fist heavenward and crying out to God, “Thank you, bloody much!” Many of us, I am afraid, suspect that God cannot be trusted to care for us or answer our prayers or show us abiding and faithful love. We doubt His motives and the sincerity of His promises to us in Jesus Christ. For all of us, cynicism will destroy us. For those of us who claim to be Christians, cynicism is forbidden. Cynicism’s Antidote

First, we are indeed called to be realistic about the world in which we live, about all human persons, and about ourselves. A biblical response to cynicism is not naive optimism, but rather sober realism about the broken and fallen condition of human life in this world. This is where all of biblical teaching—and Ecclesiastes in particular—is helpful. We are taught that this world is indeed abnormal. We are not to pretend that things are the way they should be; nor are we to suggest that this world

victory that He won in His death and resurrection will one day fill this whole earth when He comes to make everything new. Fourth, we are called to be signs of hope in a cynical age. People around us need to be able to enter our homes, observe our marriages, join in our family lives, delight in our friendship, and be encouraged by our integrity and kindness in our places of work. They need to experience the reality of God’s healing and hope-renewing power in all we are and all we do. For many people it is only as they enter into the life of another—a life that creates and fosters hope, trust, and love—and see it at close quarters that will put an ax to the root of cynicism that pervades their being. Fifth, we are to resist the attraction of cynicism and its cancerous hold in our hearts. Cynicism is the very opposite of love. Think of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13. As he describes love, he describes what cynicism undermines and resists. Paul does not

destroy us. will cynicism , us For all of

For those of us

who claim to be

cynicism is forbidden. is in any way the best of all possible worlds. Rather, because of angelic and human rebellion against God, everything is awry. The Christian should never be surprised by the misery and absurdity of much that happens in this world; for God declares to us that this is indeed the way things are now, and He Himself weeps at our wretched condition. Because all things in our world are abnormal now, we are called to weep with God at the abnormality rather than to pretend things are okay and everything is right with the world. Second, we are to rejoice that there will one day be a judgment—when all folly, injustice, and wickedness of every kind will be exposed for what it is and will be rejected and punished. This is good news! Third, we are to be thankful that God has intervened in the brokenness of this world to set things right, to heal the world, and to overcome the absurdity and misery of human existence. This is what our celebration of Jesus coming into this world is all about—God’s intervention in this world to overcome evil, sorrow, misery, death, and absurdity. This work that Christ began and the

Christians,

call us to be naive—Christ was not naive. Rather, He was utterly realistic about the state of the human heart, and yet He loved in the way that Paul describes love in those wonderful words in Corinthians. Such love is of course costly in this broken world. But this is the way forward to destroy cynicism in our own hearts and in the hearts of those around us. Love is clear-eyed; but love is also full of hope, for it sees the way that Christ’s love has already begun to change us. Love is clear-eyed and full of hope even when it means we have to count the cost of disappointment and even betrayal. Only love will arm us against cynicism in all its ugliness and destructive power.

Jerram Barrs Jerram Barrs serves as professor of Christian studies and contemporary culture as well as resident scholar of the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute. He brings to his teaching a special sensitivity toward those outside the Christian faith and is in great demand as a speaker in the United States and abroad.

www.covenantseminary.edu

Resources for You If you enjoyed this Perspectives article and would like to learn more about the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute or the work of Francis Schaeffer, we invite you to visit Covenant Worldwide online and download some of the free classes (audio lectures and PDF materials) taught by Professor Barrs.

If you are interested in listening to more on the topic of postmodern thought, cynicism, and our response as Christians, we recommend you download the following audio messages from the Ministry Resources section of our Web site. wC ontentment:

What God Intends for Us to Both Lose and Gain From Contentment Dr. Bryan Chapell

wF inding

Your Place in This World: Living and Loving Authentically Dr. Zack Eswine

wA ll

Things Are Yours Dr. Tim Keller

wB uilding

By the Mercy: What Is the Motivation for Serving God? Dr. Bryan Chapell

w Longing

to See Him Dr. Jay Sklar

w Whatever

Happened to Heaven?: The Hope of Heaven Dr. Bryan Chapell

wT he

Wisdom of a Humble Life: Pursuing the Wisdom of Humility Dr. Dan Doriani

w Why

These Things Happen Rev. Scotty Smith

wT he

Fruit of the Spirit (3): Joy Dr. Zack Eswine

Log on to www.covenantseminary.edu and click on the Covenant Worldwide icon on the right side of the screen.

COVENANT | Spring 2007

SEMINARY NEWS (CONT.)

SEMINARY

PROFESSOR NEWS

news

Events

FSI NEWS

Calendar

To find out about Seminary happenings and events, visit our Web site at www.covenantseminary.edu.

Bioethics Conference Last October, Covenant Theological Seminary’s Francis A. Schaeffer Institute (FSI) joined with Central Presbyterian Church in St. Louis to host an evening lecture by Dr. C. Ben Mitchell on bioethics. Because the event addressed the essence of what it means to be human in an age of bioethics issues, it was especially relevant locally with the November vote in Missouri regarding the stem cell research initiative. For more information about recommended resources on this topic, contact FSI Director Luke Bobo at 314.392.4945.

The Central Faith and Public Life Lectures and The Francis A . Schaeffer Institute present

Being Human in a Biotech Culture A lecture and question and answer time with

Dr. C. Ben Mitchell

New Vice President for Academics In January, Dr. Sean Lucas began his new appointment as Covenant Seminary’s vice president for academics. Dr. Lucas joined the Seminary as adjunct professor of church history and coordinator of candidate relations in 2004. He was made assistant professor of church history in 2005 and dean of faculty in 2006. He has authored two books on Presbyterian history and identity and has served as the coeditor of two other books, including Covenant Seminary’s 50th Anniversary volume, All for Jesus. J. Nelson Jennings, associate professor of world mission, has written a book on Americans and missions titled The Real Superpower: “Us to Them” becomes “Jesus to the World.” Publication is expected this fall by P&R Publishing.

Dr. Robert A. Peterson has written Election and Free Will, the first book in the Explorations in Biblical Theology series that he is editing for P&R Publishing. Publication for his book is expected in September 2007. After an introduction and chapter on church history, the heart of the book traces the Bible’s teaching on election from the Old and New Testaments. The book concludes with chapters on free will, the Bible’s story of election, and objections to and applications of election. Dr. Peterson is currently on sabbatical writing Preservation and Apostasy for P&R Publishing (publication date undetermined).

Director of the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity and Associate Professor of Bioethics and Contemporary Culture at Trinity International University

Sunday, October 22 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Central Presbyterian Church

corner of Hanley Road and Davis Drive in Clayton

CP CGlorifying God

ENTRAL RESBYTERIAN HURCH

Opera Event This past November, FSI and Student Services partnered to host Opera: A Window to the Soul. Inspiration from the event came from theologians and scholars who have said that the book of Psalms takes the reader on a dramatic journey of emotional highs and lows that is eminently characteristic of our human existence in a fallen yet redeemable world. The musical genre of opera can also take people on such a dramatic journey— providing a “window to the soul.” Through the art of music, we can experience the depths and heights of the human condition.

Opera

A Window To The Soul

Covenant Theological Seminary Rayburn Chapel, 7 p.m. Friday, November 17

Admission is Free

Featuring:

Elisa Roberts Dr. Jeffrey Heyl Dale Zarlenga, MDiv ‘08 Claudia Wootton, MATS ‘08 Jay-Thomas Hewitt, MDiv ‘07

LIBRARY NEWS Last October, the J. Oliver Buswell Jr. Library at Covenant Seminary celebrated Theological Libraries Month, sponsored by the American Theological Library Association (ATLA). Library festivities included displays highlighting facets of theological librarianship, bookmarks for students and patrons, and a contest featuring a special title from the library’s Tait Rare Book Collection.

www.covenantseminary.edu

SEMINARY NEWS

(CONT.)

de co T St vel urt he s ev op ro en me om prin so g n n. ts just 20 Lec ice 07 tur Pl in ea t se he hav Fran es C sta sch e a c y t ed bee is A nce Conference on Abuse lle un ule n . March 2–3 ed of can Sch d for ou ce aff Covenant Seminary’s Counseling department, along with the Francis in r m lled er L for a A. Schaeffer Institute, will host Behind Closed Doors, a conference about ma in s due ectu r t i the abuse of power in marriage, the church, and other relationships. The on peak to u es o n e ab e n featured speaker’s are Diane Langberg, a psychotherapist and nationally ou r, at xpe t tt c known author and speaker on domestic abuse, and Dr. Barbara Shaffer. he orne ted fal y B ll cost: $30. Free for Covenant Seminary students, alumni, faculty, and staff. ec ryan tu res Register online at www.covenantseminary.edu/news by February 26. .

Upcoming Events

Missions Week: Global Issues in World Mission

Archeology Conference

March 6–10

John Monson, associate professor of archaeology at Wheaton College, will speak in morning chapel and at a special lecture on Friday evening. He will discuss the excavations at the city of Dothan in northern Israel. Artifacts from these excavations have come to the W. Harold Mare Institute for Biblical and Archaeological Studies at Covenant Theological Seminary. The late Dr. Mare, a founding trustee and longtime professor at the Seminary, was one of the original excavators at Dothan.

March 30 (9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.)

Student Mission Fellowship will host its annual missions conference this March. On Tuesday, March 6, Debbie Dortzbach, director for HIV/AIDS, World Relief, will speak with the seminary community at several on-campus events about the increasingly global issue of AIDS. Tuesday evening she will speak to the wider St. Louis area about this worldwide crisis and how we can take part. This event will be held at Memorial Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. Jonathan Bonk, executive director of the Overseas Ministries Study Center, will be on campus Friday and Saturday to teach a weekend World Mission course called World Mission in Global Issues, held 7–9 p.m. on March 9 and 8 a.m.–5 p.m. on March 10.

ALUMNI NEWS

(CONT. FROM PAGE 17)

Jon and Katrina (Buch) Hostetter (MAC ’97) welcomed second child Helen Ruth into their family on March 31, 2006. Helen joins 2-year-old brother Micah. The Hostetters live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where Katrina continues her private counseling practice one day a week.

Dave Vosseller (MDiv ’98) married Allegra Smith, daughter of Ron (MDiv ’72) and Grace Smith, at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Roselle, Illinois, on August 26, 2006. Duane Otto (MDiv, MAC ’98) served as the best man, and Tom Kernan (student ’97–’98) was a groomsman. Dave currently serves as associate pastor for ministry development at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church.

John (MATS ’06) and Kristen Kincaid rejoice at the birth of their first child, Natalie Autumn, born August 1, 2006. Natalie is the first grandchild for Mark (DMin ’99) and Beth Dalbey. Mark currently serves as dean of students at Covenant Seminary.

BIRTHS

David and Kelly (MAC ’06) Richter celebrated the birth of Samuel David, born August 20, 2006. Samuel weighed 6 lbs. 15 oz. and was 19½ inches long.

Chris (MDiv ’98) and Carol (Bilbo) (MATS ’98) Clark joyfully welcomed Mae Sheraton into their family on May 9, 2006. Mae’s older brothers, Bennett (age 3½) and Wilson (age 2), are enjoying having a little sister. The Clarks reside in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, where Chris is teaching and working in the film industry.

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BRIEFLY STATED Easter Meditation

“S trick en,

Smitten, and Afflicted”

Executive Editor David Wicker Managing Editor Stacey Fitzgerald Editor Jackie Fogas Assistant Copy Editors Rick Matt Nicolle Olivastro Photographers and Image Contributors Mark Dalbey Shawn Honey Chirstine Dow Bailey Mohr Joel Hathaway Kelly Park Lisa Hessel Todd Voelkel Design and Production 501creative, inc. Circulation Nicolle Olivastro Editorial Contributors Jerram Barrs Luke Bobo Bob Burns Mark Dalbey Christine Dow Joel Hathaway

Shawn Honey Sean Lucas Rick Matt Nicolle Olivastro Wesley Vander Lugt Todd Voelkel

Covenant Theological Seminary 12330 Conway Road St. Louis, Missouri 63141 Tel: 314.434.4044 Fax: 314.434.4819 E-mail: covenantmagazine@covenantseminary.edu Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (esv) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Volume 22, Number 1. ©2007

Covenant is published by Covenant Theological Seminary, the Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America. The purpose of Covenant Seminary is to train servants of the triune God to walk with God, to interpret and communicate God’s Word, and to lead God’s people.

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, See Him dying on the tree! ’Tis the Christ by man rejected; Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He! ’Tis the long-expected prophet, David’s Son, yet David’s Lord; By His Son, God now has spoken: ’Tis the true and faithful Word. Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning, Was there ever grief like His? Friends through fear His cause disowning, Foes insulting His distress: Many hands were raised to wound Him, None would interpose to save; But the deepest stroke that pierced Him, Was the stroke that Justice gave. Ye who think of sin but lightly, Nor suppose the evil great, Here may view its nature rightly, Here its guilt may estimate. Mark the Sacrifice appointed! See Who bears the awful load! ’Tis the Word, the Lord’s Anointed, Son of Man, and Son of God. Here we have a firm foundation, Here the refuge of the lost. Christ’s the Rock of our salvation, His the Name of which we boast. Lamb of God for sinners wounded! Sacrifice to cancel guilt! None shall ever be confounded Who on Him their hope have built.

— Hymn by Thomas Kelly, 1769 – 1854 — written 1804

CAMPUS

“ Your word, O Lord, is eternal; It stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.” – Psalm 119:89 – 90

Praise God for our December graduates! During this period of transition, pray that God would clearly lead their paths and give them encouragement for the next stage of their lives.

Pray that students will enjoy rest and relaxation

with loved ones as they leave for spring break. Also ask for recharged endurance for the rest of the semester. Continue to lift up the capital campaign efforts.

Pray that as construction begins for the new academic building, our campus community can engage in lifechanging conversations with the construction team. Remember to pray for student wives this semester. Ask God to daily confirm their residency here as well as their calling and how it relates to their spouses’.

Pray for the men and women risking their lives to bring peace and harmony to Iraq. Remember their families and ask God to comfort them in their loved ones’ absence.

INTERNATIONAL

Praise God for his faithful servant, Rev. Dr. David T. Myers (DMin ’90), who recently retired after 40 years in the pastorate. Pray for a smooth transition for him and his wife, Carolyn.

Intercede for Covenant Seminary alumni and others who are serving as missionaries around the world. Pray that the Lord would feed them and provide encouragement during times of struggle and loneliness.

NATIONAL

Remember to intercede for the churches around the nation dealing with internal conflict. Ask for God’s Spirit to be evident as His children struggle and attempt to resolve their disagreements.

As Dr. Chapell prepares to travel to North Africa this May, intercede on his behalf and ask the Lord to make him sensitive to the Spirit’s leading as he prepares to teach seminary students there.

Praise God for the obedient hearts of Seminary professors. Ask God to give them peace as they travel to make His name known among all the nations.

Continue to pray for the AIDS epidemic around the world. Approximately 8,500 people die daily from this disease, and it is the fourth leading cause of death globally. Ask the Lord to call servants to treat and care for the victims of this deadly disease (www.usaid.gov).

“ I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.” – Isaiah 41:9

Pray for our nation’s leaders as they govern our cities and states. Ask God to continue giving them courage when they face political expediency and unrest.

Lift up brothers and sisters in Christ who are obeying the call of church planting. Pray that God would provide strength and encouragement to these pastors and their families.

Praise the Lord for the speaking opportunities our professors have around the nation and the world. Pray that these men would continue to be godly role models for their friends, families, and communities. In their international work, pray that God would use them in mighty ways to assist ministry leaders in expanding His Kingdom.

“ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

INTERCESSOR

Pray for Dr. Chapell and other board members

as they prepare to meet in April. Pray the Spirit would lead them to make wise decisions regarding the institution.

Spring 2007 A Quarterly Calendar of Prayer Requests for the Covenant Seminary Community

Jerram Barrs w

A pril 15 Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church; Davidsonville, MD. World missions conference. A pril 21–22 Grace Presbyterian Church; Indianapolis, IN. Missions conference.

Florida. Central Florida Presbytery meeting. Speaking.

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church; Columbus, GA. Preaching.

F ebruary 1–3 Covenant College; Lookout Mountain, TN. WIC LECTURES : Do Christians Have Anything Good To Say About Science?: Science, the Bible, and the Christian Worldview.

Professor of Old Testament

C. John (“Jack”) Collins

M ay 19–26 Algeria, Africa. Teaching seminary students.

w M ay 6

w M ay 1

M arch 9–11 Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church; Asheville, NC. Marriage enrichment retreat. Preaching on Sunday.

The Covenant Presbyterian Church; St. Louis, MO. Sunday school. TOPIC: Missions.

January 21, 28; March 4, 11 Old Orchard Church; St. Louis, MO. Sunday school. Missions. TOPIC:

February 16–17 The Kahler Grand Hotel; Rochester, MN. L’Abri Fellowship conference: A Place To Stand—Biblical Authority in a World Adrift. WORKSHOPS: “Sex, Body, and Bible: A Conversation About Sexuality” and “Food, Body, and Bible: A Conversation About Eating Disorders.”

Professor of Practical Theology

Richard Winter

April 29 Hope Presbyterian Church; Olathe, KS. Worship conference.

Vice President for Academics and Assistant Professor of Church History

Sean Lucas

M arch 4 St. Louis Chinese Gospel Church; St. Louis, MO. Preaching at joint service. TOPIC: “Joseph, the Sophomore.”

Assistant Professor of Hebrew and Educational Ministries

Daniel L. Kim

w February 11, 25; March 18, 25; April 1, 15, 29

Associate Professor of World Mission

J. Nelson Jennings

Covenant Comes to You… Professors’ SPRING Speaking Schedules

arch 3–4 Christ Presbyterian Church; Tulsa, OK. M “Building Bridges and Tearing Down Walls.” TOPIC :

February 16–17 The Kahler Grand Hotel; Rochester, MN. L’Abri Fellowship conference: A Place to Stand—Biblical Authority in a World Adrift. workshop topics: C.S. Lewis. Islamic terrorism. Speaking with a prophetic voice into our political setting, which is polarized between Republicans and Democrats.

Professor of Christianity and Contemporary Culture and Resident Scholar of the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute w

M arch 16–18 Hope Reformed Presbyterian Church; Shippensburg, PA. Seminar. “Living In Grace.” TOPIC:

David Calhoun Professor of Church History w

S undays, February–March Central Presbyterian Church (epc); St. Louis, MO. Sunday school. “The Book of Jonah.” TOPIC:

Zack Eswine Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Director of the

Memorial Presbyterian Church; St. Louis, MO. Men’s retreat.

Bryan Chapell

w A pril 20–22

Christ Presbyterian Church; Richmond, IN. Annual Bible conference.

M arch 9–11 Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church; Birmingham, AL. Men’s retreat and preaching at new building dedication service.

w F ebruary 24

DMin Program

February 18 Covenant Presbyterian Church; Chattanooga, TN. New sanctuary dedication service.

President and Professor of Practical Theology w

F ebruary 27 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; South Hamilton, MA. Pastor’s forum. THEME: The Cross and the Crown: The Future of Grace in Evangelical Preaching.

Redeemer Presbyterian Church; Overland Park, KS. Preaching. w M arch 4

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STUDENT PROFILE

A Tool Shaped

God by

In the lunchtime bustle of the Covenant Theological Seminary Community Center, one may not easily recognize the depth of trials affecting those preparing to lead God’s people. Yet, behind the happy faces lies a tension. A calling to church leadership for most seminarians does not develop apart from spiritual and physical struggles. Successes and victories are often interspersed with failures and setbacks. It is on the road of personal difficulty that classroom theology meets the sufficiency of Christ. The lives of T. J. (MDiv, MAC expected May ’07) and Martha Jane Wolters testify to this common reality. “I came to seminary straight out of college,” says T.J., as he sits with Martha Jane in the Community Center. “Quite different from undergrad studies, what the Seminary does beyond academics is mature you as a person. One of the greatest parts of seminary has been understanding who I am as a person in Christ, as a man, as a husband, as a potential minister—what that even looks like—and growing in maturity. I have been forced to grow here in ways I haven’t been before.” T.J. and Martha Jane first met in Greek class at the Seminary. They married in August 2003, at the start of his second year. As if that transition was not enough, the Wolters suffered a miscarriage during their first year of marriage. “We lost our first baby, and that is a huge part of our story here,” T.J. shares. “Being in this community—people who weren’t even in our church, but who came around us—is something for us to reflect upon. These people really showed us love. We didn’t plan to go through so much in such a short time, but this is a great place to grow through suffering.” And yet the chastening of the Lord for those whom He loves never comes in isolation. Grace as comfort flows in community as well—a community which, for the Wolters, was both spiritual and familial. Martha Jane has three brothers, all of whom are studying theology in St. Louis, two at Covenant Seminary. Martha Jane says, “We’ve had the opportunity to be around family while in St. Louis. Britton (current MDiv student) came

shortly after John Halsey, and now Lanier (current MDiv student) is here. I’ve been comforted in marriage because of the close proximity of my family.” T.J. describes becoming a brother-in-law as another key facet of his ministry preparation. He says, “I have learned just as much from being with them as I have in school. We have developed vital friendships.” As he talks, two of Martha Jane’s brothers pass through the room and stop to chat. One can immediately see a natural camaraderie in the lives of the siblings and brother-in-law T.J. Though laughter sprinkles the lives and narrative of T.J. and Martha Jane, it is not the laughter of naivety but of experience that births a great dependence upon the Lord. With graduation just months away, the Wolters look forward to their service in the Church with great anticipation. “Lately my personal philosophy has been ‘If you’re struggling with your call to ministry, you are probably called to ministry,’ ” T.J. says. “Many of the great men of faith struggled with their call to ministry. It pushes you back to reliance upon God. That dependency has sustained us through seminary.” Counter to the worldly view of success, the failures experienced by the Wolters have confirmed their calling. “I have done four internships and made mistakes in all of them,” T.J. explains. “But each church’s session affirmed our call, and we know that we are supported by so many people. We still struggle with doubt, but wavering doesn’t really do us a lot of good.” Martha Jane adds, “The affirmation of our call has been a witness to T.J.’s gifts. He’s great at preaching. He’s great with people. He learns very quickly. Being in the pastorate is going to look different than other people’s roles in the community, but hearing from friends in the ministry helps me be more confident in what we’re doing. It is going to be a challenge, and we will be on our knees asking the Lord for the grace and strength to do the work.” In December 2005, the Wolters were blessed with son William James. When encountering the pain of miscarriage and then the joy of birth, one cannot help but grow in grace and maturity. And though tension remains an aspect of the pastor-in-training, through God’s unmerited and abundant grace, the Wolters are able to face what lies ahead—and be tools shaped by God. Joel Hathaway Joel Hathaway (MDiv ’04) is the director of alumni and church relations at Covenant Theological Seminary.