Covenant Magazine - [March 2004] by Covenant Theological Seminary

The Magazine of Covenant Theological Seminary

COVENANT

Vol. 19, No. 1

Just a Touch and Overflowing Compassion

Spring 2004

Reaching Out in the Marketplace of Ideas

Unpack the Heart With Words

Major Grant Funds Seminary Initiative

Volume 19, No. 1

From the President

Spring 2004

2 Who wants to feel desperate? The moment of desperation, for most of us, is what we strive to avoid. But as we trace the path

Climbing Rainbows BY DR. DAVID CALHOUN

of Jesus’ life here on earth we must readily acknowledge that the ones who are in touch with their own desperate condition are the ones Jesus deems most often the faithful. The desperate ones are those who have come and are coming to the realization of their own finitude, of their own need for a Savior. Consider Mark’s Gospel alone. Here we meet Simon’s mother-in-law who lay ill with a fever. Others are ill and oppressed by demons. The leper implores Jesus on his knees to

6 Just a Touch and Overflowing Compassion BY DR. NELSON JENNINGS

be healed. And the paralytic is involved in the outrageous scene of ripping a hole in a roof and being lowered through a ceiling to come before Jesus. The Gospel accounts do not only show people who were desperate physically, they also show people who were desperate spiritually. There was no shortage of unwanted tax collectors and sinners eating with and following Jesus. Even the disciples, when asked by Jesus if they would turn away, said no – they had no one else. The disciples knew they had no other hope. In this issue of Covenant magazine, two faculty members point us to the desperate and the faithful. Dr. Nelson Jennings brings before us the account of the woman who

14 Reaching Out in the Marketplace of Ideas Alumni Lead College and University Ministries Through RUF

Ringing in the New Year in Ghana

From December 26, 2003, to January 11, 2004, a group of Covenant Seminary professors, alumni, staff, and friends traveled to Ghana, West Africa, to offer a weeklong training workshop for worship leaders, singers, and musicians of the Global Evangelical Church of Ghana. While in Ghana, the group also participated in the church’s three-day, year-end prayer festival, witnessed the installation of its new moderator, and visited the homes and churches of pastor and current Covenant student Prince Tefe and recent graduate and pastor Seth Gbewonyo. In addition, the group spent three days visiting museums, a rural village with an all-bamboo orchestra, a national forest, and the Cape Coast Slave Castle, where African slaves were confined and sold before boarding slave ships.

U.S. team with Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Seth Gbewonyo and the Very Rev. (Cdr.) and Mrs. Ferdinand Gbewonyo. Rev. Seth Gbewonyo graduated from Covenant Seminary this past December with a Master of Arts in Theology. He also heads the Biochemistry Department at the University of Ghana. He was granted leave from the university to study at Covenant Seminary and endured an 18 month separation from his family during that time.

ABOVE:

touched Jesus’ robe to be healed of her bleeding. And Dr. David Calhoun, teaching on Genesis 9, tells us of the life of a 19th-century saint who cried out for God’s mercy. Both of these people have faith that we find admirable, yet their suffering contributed to their reliance on their Lord. So why do we so avoid the place called desperation? Partially because desperation often is caused by evil and painful things that happen in this world that we should

18 Capital Project for Community Expansion

lament. But we also loathe being desperate because we realize we are not the masters of our own destiny and once again we must relinquish our own idolatry of self-control. Desperation alone does not bring faith, but rather desperation infused and interrupted by the grace of God brings faith. We grow in faith when, by God’s grace, we seek not to turn to idols of our own control in our desperation, but rather turn to the One who truly is able to be the master of our destiny and work for good in the midst of suffering. Desperation is never the desire of biblical saints, but rather its fruit: healing, relief, and

22 Unpack the Heart with Words – FRANCIS SCHAEFFER INSTITUTE – BY PETRA BLUM

growing faith.

Worship workshop participants and leaders after wrapping up a fruitful week.

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May we learn to cry “Jesus, Master have pity on us!” and in doing so serve the Church by the example of our faith as do the saints of this issue of Covenant magazine.

27 Major Grant Funds Seminary Initiative

COVENANT MAGAZINE

Dr. Nelson Jennings, Professor of World Mission, learns to play the bamboo drums.

Spring 2004

Rev. Jonathan Seda, (D.Min.’02) Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Bear, Del., teaches during worship workshop. RIGHT:

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Climbing Rainbows

BY DR. DAVID CALHOUN Professor of Church History

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you – the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you – every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth...”

O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee: I climb the rainbow in the rain And feel the promise is not vain, That morn shall tearless be. – G. MATHESON 1882

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making

with multicolored layers: red, orange, yellow, green, blue,

between me and you and every living creature with you, a

indigo, and violet.

covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in

The rainbow I saw in Stornoway had a secondary

the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me

rainbow – more delicately colored arches rising slightly

and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the

above the primary rainbow, with its colors reversed, now

rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant

from violet to red, the result of more refracting and reflecting

between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never

going on among the raindrops – the reflection of a reflection.

again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever

Rainbows do not occur after every rain. The presence

the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the

of a rainbow is determined by the size of a storm’s raindrops.

everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of

Larger raindrops are more spherical in shape and do not

every kind on the earth.” – GEN. 9:8-16

reflect the light as do smaller, oval-shaped raindrops, each

of which becomes a tiny reflecting mirror.

t was a sight I will never forget. My son and I

Extremely small raindrops produce the rarest of all rain-

were visiting the Western Islands of Scotland in

July. We were in the town of Stornoway on the

bows – white ones. White rainbows resemble a great stream

island of Lewis. After the Sunday evening service

of rising fog – intense, white light, sometimes with smudges

at the Free Church, we were invited to the home

of orange dressing their upper edges and a blue sash below. Now that I’ve told you more than you really wanted

of some church members for “tea” and a second

to know about rainbows, I want to tell you – or rather

service of family worship. Again we sang the

remind you – of one more thing. This, of course, is by far

psalms, read scripture, and prayed. And then

we walked out into the late evening, at ten o’clock still

the most important thing of all. Not only are rainbows a

quite light in those northern latitudes. And there it was –

fascinating scientific phenomenon and one of the most

a splendid rainbow with great ribbons of color arching

majestic and luxurious spectacles in nature, but rainbows

through the Hebridean sky, one end extending down into the

make a theological statement, setting forth one of the most

sea and the other upon a hill dotted with the Scottish sheep.

important truths of the Bible. Rainbows tell us about God, and they tell us something

When sunlight strikes the upper walls of a raindrop at

COVENANT MAGAZINE

Spring 2004

just the right angle, the light is bent, or refracted, and

very specific about God. Do they tell us about God’s majesty?

escapes at the bottom of the raindrop. When this happens

They certainly do cause us to realize God’s greatness and

to millions of raindrops at the same time, there is a rainbow

the wonder and beauty of His creation. But according to

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Training Servants of the Triune God

Genesis, the rainbow has another message. It tells us that

and in our lives. Rainbows do not happen without rain.

woman to whom he had become deeply attached. It was said

God made a covenant with every living creature for all

A storm is the prerequisite for a rainbow. There is darkness

that her refusal to marry him was because of his blindness.

generations that never again would “the waters become a

before light; there is gray dullness before triumphant color.

flood to destroy all life.” The rainbow tells us – in the words

The darkness and the storm may temporarily obliterate the

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

the blind poet saw, as never before, the spiritual and the

of an ancient Jewish book – that God’s “mercy is as great as

sun, but the light will prevail, the sun will come out again,

I cannot close my heart to Thee:

invisible. He saw the rainbow. He saw it not as something

His majesty” (Ecclesiasticus 2:18). Every time we see a rain-

and there will be a rainbow. That’s the divine order: rain,

I trace the rainbow through the rain

interesting and beautiful; he saw it as something real. He saw

bow, we have a sermon in color stretched across the sky with

then rainbow. It’s never the other way. The rainbow doesn’t

And feel the promise is not vain,

it as a promise of mercy, and he believed the promise. That

the proposition: His mercy is as great as His majesty.

tell us that a storm is coming; it tells us that it’s over – or

That morn shall tearless be.

is why he wrote the line that made the hymnal committee

almost over.

The rainbow, God said, was the sign of the covenant that

with his tears as they ran down his cheeks. But he was not overwhelmed because he saw the sure promises of God. When he could not see anything else,

In our hymnals, the third verse of Matheson’s hymn reads:

squirm. He was not safely inside tracing the rainbow through

But this is not what George Matheson originally wrote.

He was establishing with Noah and his

So it is in our lives. God doesn’t

sons and with every living creature for

promise us that there will be no storms.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

on, groping for something to hold. And

all generations. Throughout the Old

He does promise us that the storms

I cannot close my heart to Thee:

he felt that his only hope was to touch

Testament, God develops and enriches

that strike our lives – as devastating as

I climb the rainbow in the rain

the rainbow with his fumbling fingers –

His people’s understanding of His

they sometimes are – are His storms.

And feel the promise is not vain,

and to take hold of it, and to climb and

covenant. In Genesis 9, God makes a

“Whenever I bring clouds over the earth

That morn shall tearless be.

climb and climb!

covenant in which He sets forth what

(and into your lives), look for the rain-

Sometime later a committee was

He will not do. He will not destroy all life

bow,” He tells us. Not all meteorological

choosing hymns for a church hymnbook

with floodwaters. Then, in Genesis 12,

storms produce rainbows; but every storm

and read the words of verse three as

that strikes our lives will have its rainbow,

Matheson wrote them. I can see them

reminding us that God’s mercy is as great

as they smiled and said in effect, “This

as His majesty.

will not do, Mr. Matheson. This will

God makes a covenant with Abraham and with his descendants in which He sets forth what He will do. He will bless them and all people on earth through them. The covenant in Genesis 9 promises that we will not receive what we deserve. Our sins say “death.” God’s rainbow says “mercy.” The rainbow tells us that sin is not the end of the human story. It should have been the end of the story. Eve’s sin, Adam’s sin, the sin of mankind in Genesis 6 – it would have been right for this to be the end of the story. But the rainbow promises that there is more to

The rainbow tells us – in the words of an ancient Jewish book – that God’s “mercy is as great as His majesty.”

come. In Genesis 12 God tells Abraham

The hymn “O Love that Will Not

not do at all. We cannot possibly ask

Let Me Go” was written on a summer

dignified Presbyterian elders and proper

evening in 1882 by George Matheson.

ladies in their Sunday best to stand up

During his studies at the University of

in church and sing about climbing a

Glasgow, Matheson’s poor eyesight failed

rainbow. Children, perhaps, would like

and he became totally blind. Despite

it and think it a glorious adventure, but

this handicap, he graduated from the

with mature people we must avoid the

university and, assisted by a devoted

ridiculous at all costs. No, this won’t do,

sister, completed ministerial studies and

Mr. Matheson.”

became a pastor. Seventeen years later,

the rain. He was in the storm, stumbling

He wrote:

So, we are told, they wrote to the

while serving the church at Innellan,

blind minister pointing out their very

Matheson wrote his famous hymn.

reasonable objections to his fanciful line,

There are two ways in which we can approach the promises of God. We can,

Don’t stand far off, looking at the promises, tracing the rainbow through the rain, timidly hoping for something but hardly daring to believe. Take hold of the promise.

as in the committee’s version, trace God’s promises through the rain. We read them, memorize them, copy them in beautiful letters, and frame them. But we may come far short of actually grasping them, believing them, casting ourselves upon them. The other way is Matheson’s way. We can believe that God’s promises are no less real than God Himself. We can boldly reach out in faith and take hold of the promises and grip them and grasp them and never let go – and climb. Whenever the rainbow appears in the sky, God says, “I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant.” God doesn’t need the rainbow to remind himself of

and his descendants of faith that we will receive what we

He tells the story in his own words: “It was composed with

and suggesting that he might agree to change the words

His promise, but we need it. And so God accommodates

don’t deserve – as grace is added to mercy.

extreme rapidity; it seemed to me that its construction

to “I trace the rainbow through the rain.” With regret

Himself to our weakness and makes us a rainbow. When we

What does the rainbow promise? It does not promise that

occupied only a few minutes, and I felt myself rather in the

Matheson agreed to cut out his powerful image and

see a rainbow, we can know that Someone else is looking at

there will be no clouds and no rain; it does not even promise

position of one who was being dictated to than an original

substitute the tame line that we find in our hymnbooks.

it. God sees it. He remembers His covenant. He will never

that there will be no floods. Remember the great flood of

artist. I was suffering from extreme mental distress, and the

1993? Shirts were sold in this city with the words “St. Louis

hymn was the fruit of pain.” Many conjectures have been made concerning the cause

forget it. And whenever we read a promise in the Bible, we

You see, of course, the great difference. You understand what was lost. It’s one thing to be in a safe and secure place

can know that God already has seen it. We can stake our

and “trace the rainbow through the rain.” It’s another thing

lives on it, because God already has staked His life on it.

The rainbow does not promise that there will be no floods;

of the “mental distress” from which George Matheson

altogether to be out in the storm – as Matheson was. He was

“For no matter how many promises God has made,” Paul

it promises that “never again will there be a flood to destroy

suffered. Because of the opening line – “O Love that will

not sitting by the window in a cosy house. He was out in the

tells us, “they are ‘yes’ in Christ” (I Cor. 1:20).

the earth.”

not let me go” – it has been suggested that Matheson had

greatest storm of his life. O God, he was out in the storm!

been bitterly disappointed in his hopes of marrying a young

And the storm hit him with full force and the rain mingled

– A River Runs Through It, and Around It, and Over It!”

There will be clouds and rain and floods – in the world

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Spring 2004

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Go out into the thunder and lightning and rain (it is a dying storm anyway) and seize the rainbow. ■

Training Servants of the Triune God

Just a Touch

BY DR. NELSON JENNINGS Associate Professor of World Mission

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care

Just a TOUCH and Overﬂowing Compassion

of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering... these problems people are out for their own good, not caring

At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

about what is right or what happens to others around them. This is a desperate world of pain and confusion. And it is into this very world that Jesus stepped. The account of Mark 5:24-34 reminds us that Jesus is deeply aware of this pain and confusion and is able to extend healing to the weary and broken in the midst of painful situations. Jesus is in the middle of a crowd and a woman touches him. This woman has been through a tremendous amount of agony. The passage says she had spent all she had trying to find a cure for her illness. She may have faced many who attempted to help her out of good will, but undoubtedly she has been oppressed and abused. She is perhaps the least

– MARK 5:24b-34

likely person in the crowd to receive the sort of attention

that this text gives her – that Jesus gives her.

hen Mikhail

Yes, this woman is a very unlikely candidate. She is

Gorbachev was asked

not exactly the key person upon whom to build a ministry

about his philosophy

of life, he said, “People

or a movement. But we see, in the midst of the pain and

are born, they suffer, and

confusion, that Jesus has a special concern for her. Indeed the entire Biblical picture of Jesus is that he has a bent

they die.” And it is not only

towards helping those who are poor, oppressed, and sick.

Mr. Gorbachev who holds to

In both the Old and New Testaments we see that God has

his opinion. Gautama Buddha

a special concern for those who are marginalized – the poor,

taught his followers, “Life is suffering.”

the orphan, and the widow.

Such assessments of life do reflect truth. Life can be a

Jesus exhibits a particular concern for and availability to

quicksand of confusion and self-absorption. Surely you see

COVENANT MAGAZINE

Spring 2004

difficulties in your own life. You work and live around people

those who are in desperate, multi-faceted, real-life need for

who are facing their own difficulties. Often in the midst of

Him. And rightly so, the apostles carried on His concern.

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Training Servants of the Triune God

We need to extend care and concern on a macro, world-

At the outset of his Christian ministry, the Apostle Paul

saw her 401k retirement plan disappear. All of her stocks

desperation this woman comes and falls down in fear before

records his meeting with the apostles in Jerusalem (Gal. 2).

wide scale and a micro, neighborhood-wide scale. The Lord’s

bottomed out. She had been under the care of many doctors

Him. Then she just lays it all out in full honesty as we might

In the midst of the apostles’ encouragement and admonition

people should be concerned about international debt and

and instead of getting better she got worse. She knew how

say today, “before God and everybody.” She tells him the

of Paul they say, “We encourage you to remember the poor.”

the effect of this debt in the poorer countries of the world.

desperate she was for the mercy of Jesus.

“whole truth.” And Jesus responds with grace. He addresses

Paul says that was the “very thing he was eager to do.”

We indeed need to be concerned about the problem of

her for her good, for her ongoing discipleship and healing.

Do you know how desperate we all are? Utterly desperate!

AIDS around the world. And we need to be concerned

We are helpless apart from the Lord’s mercy and grace. This

I would venture to say that most of us know what it

God who comes close to the very small and insignificant

about the economically and physically needy in our own

is not to imply that we should, can, or will walk around con-

means to be utterly honest before God. At the same time,

people of Israel. Moses said, “The LORD did not set his

cities. Globally, locally, personally, we need to be concerned

stantly conscious of how desperate we are for God’s mercy,

because of the deceitfulness, hesitancies, lies of our own

affection on you and choose you because you were more

because God is concerned about special needs of those who

but there need to be times and occasions when we are

hearts, it is difficult to come to terms with the “whole truth.”

Throughout the Old Testament, we see that God is a

are poor, oppressed, and sick.

numerous than other peoples, for you

Some people want to take God’s spe-

were the fewest of all peoples. But it was

extremely aware of this truth. And we, as

Maybe it is difficult to come to terms

God’s people, are to assume a posture of

with what is happening in your marriage,

because the LORD loved you and kept

cial care and concern for those who are

being absolutely desperate for His mercy.

with friends, at work, or with other fac-

the oath he swore to your forefathers

poor and disadvantaged and oppressed

Jesus was indeed this woman’s last

tors in your life. Scripture teaches us that

that he brought you out with a mighty

and sick and to say that this is God’s

hope! She heard about this man walking

our hearts are so very deceitful. I do not

hand and redeemed you from the land

exclusive concern. Such teaching either

around, doing “strange” things. And she

think any one of us has that quite licked.

of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh

explicitly or implicitly implies that if you

thought, “If I can just touch his clothes,

Reading this text in recent days, I have

king of Egypt” (Deut. 7:7,8).

are not in the category of being poor and

I will be healed” (Mark 5:28).

been reminded of the deceitfulness of my

Yahweh is the great Creator God, and it is for the greatness of His name and display of His compassion and mercy that He comes to those who need Him and know that they need Him. In doing so He also judges those who oppress. God opposes the proud and those who take advantage of others, whether those people are in political responsibility, like the Pharaoh of Egypt, or ecclesiastical, economic, social, or any sort of responsibility with respect to others. If there is unfair treatment and gaining of personal advantage at someone’s expense, God

oppressed, you are outside the scope of

Throughout the Old Testament, we see that God is a God who comes close to the very small and insignificant people of Israel.

God’s mercy. This is not true to Scripture.

Jesus displays His special concern for the poor and

Mark 5 is able to maneuver her way

The Lord says, “This is the one I

through this throng of people and come up

esteem, he who is humble and contrite

from behind. She touches the very edge of

in spirit, and trembles at my word”

His outer garment. Feel it with her. The

(Isaiah 66:2). Jesus displays concern for

text tells us that at that moment she feels

all sorts of people. Nicodemus, Jairus, and

herself being healed. Can you imagine?

others were in positions of high responsi-

Something had happened. Jesus had

bility and Jesus came to them. Yet He

indeed come through. He proved Himself

obviously shows special concern for those

to be the source of hope, for her, for her, a

who are weak and oppressed. It is not an

nobody whom no one had been able to

exclusive concern, but it is a special con-

help. Jesus healed her, simply by her com-

cern that reflects His justice and mercy.

ing up in total dependence upon Him.

Yes, Jesus gives hope and compassion to all who would come to Him in humble

holds them – He holds us – accountable.

Somehow this unnamed woman of

Many of us know instances of great

own heart. I desire to be transparent before

Do you know how desperate we all are? Utterly desperate! We are helpless apart from the Lord’s mercy and grace.

God and others, but it is not natural. As we see Jesus meet this woman with love and mercy, we can be encouraged in our own hearts to lay it all out before the Lord who has pursued and healed us. It is not necessary or particularly helpful to “spill your guts” before everybody around you. But certainly before God we must. He knows you better than you know yourself. It is only with His help, and strength, that you can be able to begin to be honest with yourself. This passage does not end with Jesus saying, “Woman, what are you doing?”

and deep awareness of God’s mercy and

faith. Doesn’t the woman of Mark 5:24-34 exemplify that

grace. Perhaps it has been physical healing, conversion, or

Jesus continues to be her source of hope and compassion. He

oppressed in the way He treats the woman we meet in

for us beautifully? The more I have had the opportunity to

other times when He has moved in your heart and life so

says, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and

Mark 5. The text tells us that she had used up all that she

ponder this woman’s situation, the more I have been made

very, very powerfully. In these moments we recognize deeply

be free from your suffering.” Jesus is fully worthy of her and

had paying those who might help her. Upon hearing of

aware of my own incapacity and unwillingness to come to

that He is all we have. And the Lord helps us grow in recog-

our trust and dependence.

Jesus’ goodness and compassion toward others in a similar

Jesus in humble faith the way that she did. I have reflected

nition of our dependence upon Him, upon His mercy for the

In this world of pain and confusion she finds healing.

situation, she comes to Jesus. And God works to show that

again on my own life, hurtling towards death and total

forgiveness of our sin, for the making good of our lives, and

And she finds freedom. As do we. Not all sickness is healed.

He is good. Likewise it is for the display of His mercy that

self-centeredness had not the mercy of God broken into my

ultimately for the redemption of the universe.

Not all injustice has been rectified. Not all wars have ceased.

God, in Jesus Christ, wants to use us as His people, to

heart. I have had to ask myself if I understand how desperate

care for those who are needy. We are to work on behalf of

my need has always been for the mercy of God.

What follows the healing is a seemingly strange occur-

But one day those will cease as well. For now He assures

rence. Jesus looks around and says, “Who touched me?” And

you and all who come to Him in humble desperation and

those who do not have homes, friends, family, health care,

This woman knew how desperate she was. She was sick

His disciples (like us, His modern-day disciples) are dense.

dependence that He is the One. He is hope and compassion.

adequate education, and financial means. It is for the glory

for 12 years. As she sought help to cure her suffering, she saw

The disciples do not get it. Essentially they say, “Everybody

Trust in Him today and be the means of His hope and

of God that we do so – to reflect His concern.

her financial resources dry up. In our day we could say she

is touching you!” But Jesus continued to pursue this specific

compassion to others. ■

person. Having been healed and sought out by Jesus, in her COVENANT MAGAZINE

Spring 2004

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Training Servants of the Triune God

lead God’s people, we recognize the importance of prayer to guide and continue the mission. While much of our training takes

SPRING2004

Heavenly Father,

Sat/Sun

My faith is in thee, My expectation is from thee,

students relocate for study, the mission continues in the lifetime of ministry that the Lord grants as people continue on from Covenant Seminary. Therefore prayer for the seminary and its mission comes with a local,

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? (Ps.113:5,6)

Pray for the annual meeting of the Presbyterian and Reformed Joint Commission on Chaplains (March 1-2) chaired by Library Director Jim Pakala. Pray for the Covenant graduates/ students who currently serve as military chaplains including Steve Prost (M.Div.’03, in Iraq) and Seth George (current Th.M., in Iraq).

Praise God for the pastors and ministry leaders who were able to come to campus for the Fall Pastors’ Conference. Thank the Lord for their service to congregations around the country. Pray that the conference time would continue to be a blessing to them and their congregations.

Pray for the Covenant Seminary faculty who are currently writing books including Dr. Robert Peterson (on predestination and free will) and Dr. Bryan Chapell (on prayer).

Pray for the efforts of churches to serve the poor, especially during the cold winter months. Pray for Desire Street Fellowship, pastored by Mo Leverett (adjunct faculty) in New Orleans, La. Give thanks to the Lord for the opportunity for students to learn from Mo during an Urban Ministry course this past January.

Pray for the restraint of sin across the world that peace may come to countries torn by war.

national, and global scope.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Lk. 24:5-6). Praise the Lord for His work in Christ, swallowing death in victory.

Pray for the Polish churches seeking to organize a Bible training school (see campus news). Pray that the plans for this school would progress and that wise, godly teachers would rise up to offer instruction.

Pray for students who began seminary studies this January. Pray for their integration in the seminary community at this mid-year point. Pray that they would quickly be able to take advantage of the training resources available in and out of the classroom through Covenant Seminary.

“He was…a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering” (Isa. 53:3). Praise the Lord for the many Covenant Seminary Master of Arts in Counseling graduates who are helping people turn to the Lord in grief and difficult life transitions. Praise Him for knowing our sorrows and helping us in the midst of trial.

Pray for the Global Evangelical Church of Ghana (see page 1) as a new moderator takes leadership in the denomination. Pray for wisdom for the moderator and for the denomination to serve as salt and light in West Africa.

Pray for the Lord’s provision of a New Testament professor to join the Covenant Seminary faculty. Pray for wisdom for faculty and administration involved in the search process. Pray for the person who will fill this position to be prepared in a special way to lead Covenant Seminary students as a scholar and pastor.

We are grateful for your prayers for Covenant Seminary. We hope that this prayer calendar that can be prayed through during the spring months will help focus your thoughts and prayers for the seminary, its students and alumni.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).

Pray for the ongoing ministries of Covenant Seminary professors as short-term instructors for Ukraine Biblical Seminary in Kiev. Pray that they would be used to strengthen the church of Ukraine and that many leaders would be raised up to care for a church that had long faced oppression.

Give thanks to the Lord for the recent grant of $2 million given to the seminary by the Lilly Endowment Inc., for the purpose of sustaining pastoral excellence. Pray for Dr. Bob Burns who has recently begun heading the seminary’s efforts in this area (see page 27).

Pray for all those graduating this academic year to be led to pastoral and other ministry positions that would best suit their gifts and serve God’s people. Pray that even in these final days of seminary that students would be rooted in grace for a lifetime of ministry.

Pray that the students who are and will be enrolled in the new bioethics courses at Covenant Seminary will serve as salt and light in the U.S., helping stand for the sanctity of life.

Pray for Covenant Seminary students and alumni currently preparing to serve overseas with Mission to the World, including Sarah Ingram (M.A.’04, Czech Republic), Jeremy (M.A.’02) and Amanda Ross (Peru), and Chris (M.A.’95) and Josephine Hatch (England).

“And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation’” (Rev. 5:9).

Pray for the staff of the Covenant Seminary Admissions office. Pray that the Lord would daily equip them to serve prospective students. Pray also for Eric Richards (M.Div.’96), Director of Admissions.

Pray for your local church. Ask that God move powerfully through the congregation, encouraging and strengthening His people through the teaching of His Word.

Pray for Dr. Nelson Jennings, World Missions Professor, who has regular speaking engagements around the nation and world to teach about the worldwide scope of God’s mission. Pray for the ears that hear his message to be encouraged to seek an ongoing role in serving as Christ’s witness around the globe.

Pray for the ministry of Reformed University Fellowship. Pray for campus ministers and staff people to rise up to help the ministry grow to reach 100 campuses in the next two years (see story on page 14).

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). Pray for those grieving the deaths of loved ones including the Korljan and Madi families (see alumni news). Pray for the congregation of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Mo., which was pastored by Doug Madi, as they grieve the loss of their pastor.

My love goes out toward thee. I believe thee, accept thy Word, acquiesce in thy will, rely on thy promises, trust thy providence. I bless thee that the court of conscience proves me to be thine. I do not need signs and wonders to believe, for thy Word is sure truth. I have cast my anchor in the port of peace, knowing that present and future are in nail-pierced hands. Thou are so good, wise, just, holy, that no mistake is possible to thee.

As the color key indicates, the dark purple squares share campus concerns, the medium purple national concerns, and the white international concerns.

Thou art fountain and source of all law; what thou commandest is mine to obey. I yield to thy sovereignty all that I am and have; do thou with me as thou wilt. Thou hast given me silence in my heart in place of murmurings and complaints. Keep my wishes from growing into willings, my willings from becoming fault-finding with thy providences, and have mercy on me.

✁

If I sin and am rebellious, help me to repent; then take away my mourning and give me music; remove my sackcloth and adorn me with beauty; take away my sighs and fill my mouth with songs; and when I am restored and rest in thee give me summer weather in my heart.

International

Monday

place in one geographic area as

Praise

National

Week 1

communicate God’s Word, and to

REPOSE A Puritan Prayer

Week 2

walk with God, to interpret and

Campus

Week 3

train servants of the triune God to

Week 4

INTERCESSOR the

As Covenant Seminary exists to

M.Div. Master of Divinity; M.A. Master of Arts; M.A.C. Master of Arts in Counseling; G.C. Graduate Certificate; Th.M. Master of Theology; D.Min. Doctor of Ministry Reprinted with permission from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1975, p. 164.

www.covenantseminary.edu

Training Servants of the Triune God

news

ALUMNI Bruce (M.Div.’72) and Judy Fiol celebrated 20 years of ministry with Marco Presbyterian Church in Marco Island, Fla., on Feb. 15, 2004. Dr. Bryan Chapell was there to celebrate with Marco Presbyterian Church and gave the sermon for the Sunday morning worship service. John Richardson (M.Div.’98) and Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church (Webster Groves, Mo.) have been awarded a National Clergy Renewal Grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. John serves as the church’s Senior Pastor and the grant will allow him to take a three-month sabbatical in 2004 which will involve rest, research, writing, and travel time with family. Dr. Bryan Chapell will serve as the supervisor for the writing portion of John’s sabbatical. Curtis Stapleton (M.Div.’98) was installed as Associate Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Johnson City, Tenn., this past January. He has served the church as Assistant Pastor since June 1, 2003. He formerly was Campus Minister for RUF at Eastern Tennessee State University and King College. Chrishon Ducker (M.Div.’00) began serving as Youth Pastor for Grace Presbyterian Church in Ocala, Fla., this past October. Chrishon and his wife, Danielle (M.A.T.’00), have one daughter, Charissa.

COVENANT MAGAZINE

James Thorpe (M.Div.’00) was installed as Pastor of Aimwell Presbyterian Church in Ridgeway, S.C., on Aug. 10, 2003, after serving for three years as Assistant and then Associate Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Ala. Jim’s wife Mary is teaching high school English. The Thorpes have three children: Steven (18), Julia (9), and David (6).

Doug Madi (M.Div.’93) passed away suddenly on Jan. 31, 2004, after collapsing while exercising. Doug was the pastor of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in South St. Louis County as well as Adjunct Professor of Homiletics at Covenant Seminary. Doug is survived by his wife Ginger and their three children, Jim (14), Melody (10), and Christy (8). His death is grieved by many in the seminary community. Doug’s brother Daryl (M.Div.’97) is also a Covenant Seminary alumnus and is featured in an article on RUF campus ministry on page 14.

Zack Carden (M.Div.’02) is serving Covenant Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., as Assistant Pastor to Family and Youth. Zack and his wife, Tennyson (M.A.’02), have two children, Seth (3) and Talbott (1) and they are expecting another child in July 2004.

Filling the Quiver Wes Alford (M.Div.’93) and his wife, Elizabeth, are the proud parents of James Gibson, born Sept. 13, 2003. Wes was installed as Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Sweetwater, Tenn., on November 16, 2003. John Stone (M.Div.’92) gave the charge to the congregation.

Tom Savage (M.A.C., M.Div.’03) was ordained and installed on Sept. 28, 2003, as Assistant Pastor of Adult Discipleship at Valley Springs Presbyterian Church in Roseville, Calif. Dr. Donald Guthrie, Vice President of Academics, gave the sermon. Tom preached for the ordination service of Tim Hererra (M.Div.’02) on December 14, 2003. Tim serves as a Church Planting Pastor for the Missouri Presbytery.

Ryan (G.C.’98) and Glenda (G.C.’98) Bowles greeted baby Daniel on Oct. 21, 2003. Daniel joins big sister Amber (22 mos.). Ryan will finish his orthodontic residency in May 2005. The Bowleses live in Memphis, Tenn. Darden (M.Div.’98) and Belinda Caylor celebrated the birth of Hope Caroline on Dec. 16, 2003. Hope joins her two brothers Joshua and Jonas. The Caylors are residing in San Antonio, Texas, where Darden is Associate Pastor of Hope Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

With the Saints Jayne Korljan, wife of Bob Korljan (M.Div.’84), passed away on Jan. 2, 2004, following a long valiant battle with several illnesses. Jayne is survived by four children: Scott, Lisa, Dawn, and Kristine, as well as countless others who cherished their time with her. The Korljans live in Phoenix, Ariz., where Bob serves as a CPA and financial planner.

Spring 2004

Robert (M.A.C.’99, M.Div.’02) and Kimberly Cook welcomed their third child, Alison Barkley, into their family on July 17, 2003.

Robert serves as Assistant Pastor for Pastoral Care and Counseling for Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. Caleb Jeffery was born to Daniel (M.Div.’99) and Debbie Legters on Jan. 10, 2004. Caleb joins sister Alyssa (21 mos.). Daniel teaches Spanish at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis and coaches the boys and girls varsity soccer teams. He also helps lead the Jr. High Sunday School at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Colin (M.Div.’99) and Mary Peters greeted William Elster and Ansley Katherine on Oct. 18, 2003. The twins were born in Macon, Ga., where Colin serves as Campus Minister for RUF at Mercer University. The twins’ big brother, Carson, is two years old. Ethan Daily was born to Colin (M.Div.’00) and Kathleen Campbell on Dec. 1, 2003. Colin serves as Director of Family Ministries for Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Parker, Colo. Luciene (M.A.T.’01) and Luciano (M.Div.’02) Pires welcomed baby girl Mila into their family on January 15, 2004. The Pireses serve with Presbyterian Mission International in Goiania, Brazil, where they lead a ministry of outreach and discipleship called Colloquium. Bryan (M.Div.’01) and Jennifer Stewart celebrated the birth of Riley Keith on January 19, 2004. Riley joins big sister Eowyn (2). Bryan is a Ph.D. candidate in New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of Virginia.

New Books by Faculty

Robert Wildeman, Jr., (M.Div.’69) retired from active duty as a United States Army Chaplain on Sept. 1, 2002, after 27 years of commissioned service. He now serves as Pastor of Christ Community Church (PCA) in Fairmont, W.Va.

New Books by Alumni

If you have information for Alumni News, please mail it to Covenant Magazine or e-mail Alumni News: alumni@covenantseminary.edu William Barker (M.Div.’60) has edited a book with Samuel Logan, Jr., titled Sermons that Shaped America: Reformed Preaching from 1630 to 2001. This anthology of 18 sermons with both historical and spiritual significance was released by P&R Publishing this past January. Will Barker has served at Covenant Seminary as Professor of Church History, Dean of the Faculty, and President. He currently serves as Professor of Church History emeritus at Westminster Theological Seminary and Adjunct Professor of Church History at Covenant Seminary.

This past January, Crossway books released a book by Udo Middlemann (M.Div.’67) titled The Market-Driven Church: The Worldly Influence of Modern Culture on the Church in America. Udo is President of the Francis Schaeffer Foundation and a long-time worker at the Swiss L’Abri Fellowship.

Diary of a Cancer, a book by Rodney Stortz (M.Div.’77) was recently released by Hardbound Books (Florissant, Mo.). The book shares Rodney’s journal entries written after he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Rodney passed away in March of 2003. Daniel: The Triumph of God’s Kingdom, a commentary on the book of Daniel by Rodney Stortz was released by Crossway Books in January of 2004. The book is part of the Preaching the Word commentary series. Rodney was Pastor of Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Mo.

Doug Serven (M.Div.’00) has written a book with Craig Dunham titled TwentySomeone: Finding Yourself in a Decade of Transition. The book, released by Waterbrook Press this past December, is written for people in their twenties and encourages young adults not only to ask “What will I do?,” but also “Who will I be?” Doug serves as the RUF Campus Minister for the University of Oklahoma.

Each of these resources is available through Covenant Seminary’s on-line store: www.covenantseminary.edu

Sunday School Resource from the Francis Schaeffer Institute Science and Faith Friends or Foes?

Why I am Not an Arminian

Building Up Bridges, Tearing Down Walls

By Dr. Robert Peterson,

A 10 part video course by Prof. Jerram Barrs

By Dr. C. John “Jack” Collins,

Professor of Systematic Theology,

Professor of Old Testament

and Dr. Michael Williams, Professor

Many believers worry that science conflicts with Christian faith. Dr. Jack Collins believes that Christians should study the natural world and that God’s truth will stand against any challenge. Collins investigates specific topics of “conflict” between faith and science, including the age of the earth and evolution. Written for parents concerned about their children’s studies, for students feeling their faith challenged by scientific inquiry, and for anyone interested in the interplay between science and faith, this book provides accessible and comprehensive answers. www.covenantseminary.edu

of Systematic Theology

This book explores the Biblical, theological, and historical background to the Calvinist-Arminian debate. In doing so they explain why they see aspects of Arminian theology troubling both Biblically and theologically. The irenic nature and keen insight of this book will be appreciated by laypeople, pastors, and scholars alike. This book is the companion volume to Why I Am Not a Calvinist by Jerry L. Walls and Joseph R. Dongell. Available mid-April 2004.

This video series is designed specifically to build a sense of confident concern in Christians for those around them in need of hearing the Gospel. People will learn to build bridges to their neighbors and to tear down the walls that obstruct the path of faith. Each 30-minute session is presented in a way that involves viewers and is easy to discuss. The series is appropriate for adult Sunday School, Bible Study, small groups, church leader training, and retreats.

Correction for the Winter 2003/4 edition of Alumni News:

Beth Cooley Smoak (M.A.T.’97) and her family live in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Training Servants of the Triune God

Reaching Out in the Marketplace of Ideas

REACHING OUT

In recent years, many college and university students who have been involved in RUF have gone on to become students at Covenant Seminary. A special scholarship has been funded to enable these individuals to gain seminary training. Over the past five years more than one-half million dollars in RUF scholarships have been awarded to Covenant Seminary students.

Alumni Lead College and University Ministries Through RUF

Many Covenant Seminary graduates have left the seminary campus only to arrive on another campus – the college campus. These graduates serve a number of college and university ministries and seek to reach the hearts and minds of young people facing their early adult years.

in the Marketplace

Kevin Teasley (M.Div.’96)

point people to Christ and show people the relevance of

Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C., private

God’s Word for their lives. He passes on this teaching and

3,748 full-time undergraduate students

encouragement today, in Tuesday night large group meetings,

www.wake.ruf.org

in every small group Bible study, and through his individual

Kevin Teasley would not describe what he and other RUF

meetings with students throughout their college careers.

campus ministers are doing as revolutionary. In fact, when

Kevin gives thanks as he sees the Good News of the

he describes the RUF large group meeting at Wake Forest

Gospel ministering to the whole person in the lives of Wake

University, some scratch their head and wonder why 100

Forest students. “I recently ate lunch with a student who a

plus students would show up to sing hymns and listen to

few semesters ago was failing out of school,” Kevin says.

Bible teaching every Tuesday night.

“He arrived at an RUF large group meeting knowing little of Christianity. Later he came to faith in Christ, and God has been putting him back together. During our lunch I

serve in non-ordained ministry posi-

couldn’t help but think of the demoniac in Mark 5 whom

stories of four such campus ministers

tions with RUF. These individuals are

Jesus healed and was then described as being ‘dressed and

who serve with Reformed University

putting the wisdom and experience

in his right mind.’ The Lord heals the whole person. This

Fellowship (RUF), the campus min-

they gained at Covenant Seminary

student even looks different.”

istry of the Presbyterian Church

into action. Steve Marusich, one of

Kevin also ministers to students with strong church

in America. The four men profiled

the campus ministers interviewed,

backgrounds. One of those students recently wrote in her

represent many who are serving with

put it this way, “I am doing all the

church newsletter, “[RUF] has been the bridge that I needed

the growing ministry of RUF. Today

things we were taught to do while

in reconciling my life at home under my parents (with a

RUF serves 80 college and university

we were at Covenant – preach and

The following article shares the

strong PCA background) with my new, independent, The Teasley family

teach the Word, listen to and counsel

campuses in the United States and

people, deal with their angers and

seeks to expand that number to 100

making-my-faith-my-own life here at Wake…each week I

Sometimes Kevin wonders too, but then he remembers

find myself eagerly awaiting this mid-week oasis of strength

campuses over the next two years.

fears, and have a vision that God is

the students who are searching for truth, guidance, and the

Currently 32 of the 80 RUF ministries

sovereign in the midst of it.”

life-giving Word of God. “People walk up to me after a large

the midst of the

group meeting and kind of nervously say, ‘You know, Kevin,

rigors of college

it’s great to come to a Bible study and actually study the

academic life.” ■

We are delighted to introduce

are led by men trained at Covenant

you to them.

Seminary. Other seminary graduates

and renewal, in

Bible,’” Kevin says.

of IDEAS COVENANT MAGAZINE

Spring 2004

Kevin was also searching for truth in college and came to faith in Christ during those pivotal years. Not too many years later he entered the Master of Divinity program at Kevin and Wake Forest students cook out

Covenant Seminary where he says that he learned how to

www.covenantseminary.edu

Training Servants of the Triune God

Alumni Lead College and University Ministries Through RUF

Covenant Seminary were always putting before us.”

Steve Marusich (M.Div.’00) University of Maryland, College Park, Md., state school

Steve’s goal for these students is to start them on the

25,446 full-time undergraduate students

road of believing the Gospel at a deeper level and continue

www.rufmaryland.org

to remind them that the Christian

Daryl Madi (M.Div.’97) Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., private school 6,509 full-time undergraduate students www.wustl.ruf.org

A few days after Steve (M.Div.’00) and

faith is reasonable, thus preparing

During the past nine months Daryl Madi has been learning a

Kelly (M.A.C.’00) Marusich graduated

them for the ups and downs of life

lot of new names. After serving for six years as RUF campus

from Covenant Seminary, they were

that are sure to come. In doing so he

minister at the University of South Carolina in Columbia,

in a truck heading toward College

is nurturing their faith so that they

Daryl has recently moved with his wife, Merry, and three

had a desire to see RUF established on this campus. Now

can be a “city on a hill” before their

children to St. Louis, Mo., to begin a RUF chapter at

Daryl has an opportunity to be a part of that work again.

fellow students at UM and wherever

Washington University.

Park, Md. Steve had been called by the Potomac Presbytery to begin a new RUF chapter at the University of Maryland, a place that Steve describes

their post-college years take them. ■ The Marusich family

Daryl and Stephen Dryer, a Washington University student who has recently become involved in the new RUF group

Washington University is a leading educational institu-

Daryl served in campus ministry at Washington

tion in the U.S., particularly in the fields of medicine and

University during his time in seminary and always has

social work. Students are accustomed to academic pressures

as very post-modern and post-Christian.

from without and within. “It’s a decidedly secular place,”

The University of Maryland is inside the Washington

Daryl says. “It’s a place that really needs the Gospel.” Tom Becker (M.Div.’99)

D.C. beltway in a fairly urban and very diverse setting. There was a revival of people coming to faith in Christ on that campus in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but

As a native of Pennsylvania, Tom feels that he has a real affinity with the Millersville student population. “Like me,” he says,

5,763 full-time undergraduate students

the importance of spirituality among students has made it

“many of the Millersville students are the first generation in their

more possible for RUF to be not only allowed but also

www.rufville.org

families to get a college

Tom Becker describes the students he serves at Millersville

welcome on the campus of this university. And Daryl is

education.” Many are also

University as hard-working, very practical people. Millersville U.

now setting the groundwork for a more established ministry.

from, what is commonly

is located a few miles outside of Lancaster, Pa., where Tom and his

Some of the highlights from the last semester include:

termed, the Bible belt of

family live in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The Beckers moved to

a Bible study that started on Monday nights with a group

Pennsylvania. “About 80

Lancaster five years ago. After completing an internship with

of Christian students; growing partnerships with churches in

percent come from homes

Wheatland Presbyterian Church, Tom began heading up the first

the St. Louis area; and a discussion group (focusing on topics

with some type of church

RUF group on the campus of Millersville U. “Starting an RUF

such as the existence of God, morality, values, and death)

background,” Tom says.

that is attended by students who would probably never come

“But that does not mean

to a Christian meeting.

now that time has passed. Today many Christian students are hoping to keep their faith intact and are timid about sharing the Gospel with others. Like all RUF staff, Steve and Melissa Carder (M.A.’03) (who recently joined the RUF staff at UM) are trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit and the sovereignty of God to reach the campus. And as they remind themselves of God’s faithfulness they remind the students they serve.

The Becker family

group takes

Specifically, Steve says he continually tells the students,

several years

both in large group teaching and individually, that they

they are really rooted in their faith.”

of just slug-

are completely accepted in Christ and adopted as God’s children. “I try to remind them regularly of God’s love for them as a Father and our acceptance in Christ; that is our only motivation and power for living the Christian life,” Steve says. “It’s the same truth that the professors at

says Tom.

also serving other Christian ministries and their staff people

The ministry’s teaching is exemplified in the questions they

RUF campus

at Washington University. “It is a wonderful thing to see the

explored in this year’s mid-Atlantic fall retreat including: “If the

ministers

transforming power of the

Bible is God’s Word to humanity, then why did He choose to com-

meet with

Spirit as people come together

municate this way? What does it mean to read, study, understand

many stu-

who would not normally be

and apply the Bible? What is the main theme of the Bible? And,

dents one on

together,” Daryl says. “This

what does it all mean for you as a 21st-century college student?”

one before a

is encouraging for Christian

Tom hopes that the students he serves will complete their

large group

students and a witness of the

time in college more grounded in their faith and living out that

Lord’s work for those who do

faith in a local church. “My hope for students is that they are really

not yet believe. And as these

gripped by the love of God, the love of Christ and that they love

students work out their faith in

Tom and Becky Becker and Millersville University students

Tom rejoices that this school year is the first year when a core

Spring 2004

an energizing vision of the ministry serving the campus and

truths which are communicated in common language,” Tom says.

begin. It is a time when a lot of networking takes place.

COVENANT MAGAZINE

As RUF continues at Washington University, Daryl has

“RUF is a ministry where students can learn deep theological

ging it out,”

meeting can

Steve and Kelly (M.A.C.’00) with University of Maryland students at their 2003 Christmas party

The current trend in higher education toward promoting

Millersville University, Millersville, Pa., state school

the Church,” Tom says. “So many Christians are tentatively

student group has arisen. “This year the Lord has brought some

the way they serve vocationally, join with the local church,

involved with a church, but the ones who are involved have

students who have really begun to take ownership of the ministry,”

and care for the disenfranchised, they will be a blessing in

the means of grace available to them in a greater measure.” ■

St. Louis, the nation, and the world.” ■

Tom says.

The Madi family

www.covenantseminary.edu

Training Servants of the Triune God

Capital Project for Community Expansion

Linking the Past to the Future Due to time considerations and other potential buyers, Covenant Seminary’s Board of Trustees approved the purchase of the nine neighboring acres in December 2002. The land was purchased through a $1 million mortgage note and by using $2 million from the seminary’s endowment. Both must be repaid as soon as possible. Additionally, a tract of land that helps to better connect the properties has been offered for sale. Together, the new property and the additional land will link Covenant’s past to its future.

Building a Covenant Community A Field of Dreams

Will you help Covenant Seminary at this pivotal time in its

Nearly 50 years ago, a 21-acre plot in St. Louis County

history? Depending on the Lord to provide financial partners

was the field of dreams for Covenant Seminary’s founders.

according to His desires, the seminary respectfully seeks your

Today, that 21 acres has been built out in nearly every

prayers and support.

direction, and the seminary has a “once in a lifetime”

A needed gift of $10 will purchase one square foot of land,

opportunity to continue its building process. Covenant has

while 100 gifts of $30,000 will complete the entire project.

acquired an additional nine acres adjacent to the current

If you would like to arrange an individual meeting to hear

campus. This new field of dreams will provide space to:

more about this dream that is quickly becoming reality, call 1.800.264.8064 and ask to speak with Dave Wicker, Vice

OFFER more housing to allow families and

“What is learned in the classroom is reinforced through conversations and experiences outside of class... with students, professors, and others on campus.”

President for Advancement.

singles to live on campus and grow together. CREATE a retreat center for pastors in need

I would like to support Covenant Seminary’s Capital Project

of renewing their vision for ministry. (see page 27)

for Community Expansion

INCREASE green space to help meet city requirements for developing the existing campus.

Please send me more information I am sending a $10 gift, funding the purchase of one square foot of land

– Heather Laughlin, wife of Ryan Laughlin (M.Div.’04)

I am sending a gift of $_____________.

1000

When Covenant Seminary was founded in 1956, it was difficult to imagine the day its student body would exceed

800

1,000, but by God’s grace, Covenant Seminary is now the

Name 600

12th largest seminary in North America. With today’s breakdown in family systems and community

City

State

Day phone

E-mail

2003

COVENANT MAGAZINE

Spring 2004

Zip

Please cut out this coupon, place in envelope, and mail to: Covenant Theological Seminary

✁

2002

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even among a growing student body.

Covenant Seminary Enrollment

1987

world requires a strong grace-filled community –

Over 500% increase in student body in recent years

200

1993

have never experienced. The task of training individuals to serve our information-rich, relationally-poor

Address

400

life, many students eagerly seek pastoring and training they

www.covenantseminary.edu

12330 Conway Rd., St. Louis, MO 63141

Training Servants of the Triune God

EVENTS Gatherings, Conferences Mark Your Calendars

Yimi Summer Conference ’04

Fall 2004 Pastors’ Conference DATE: October 19 to 20, 2004

View Please join us.

DATE: June 22 to 26, 2004

This summer The Covenant Seminary Youth in Ministry Institute (Yimi) will bring together high school students from across the nation to help them gain a growing Biblical view of God, themselves, others, and the entire world. The conference will take place on the campus of Covenant Seminary and will include intense thinking, serious questions, fun, small group interaction, and ministry trips to learn through experience. A special Youth Leader track (staff or volunteer) will also be offered. For more information, log on to www.covenantseminary.edu.

These events are open to the public and are offered free or for a minimal charge. To learn more about any of these events please log on to www.covenantseminary.edu or call 1.800.903.4044.

COST: FREE for pastors, ministry leaders, and spouses SPEAKERS: ALISTAIR BEGG and others from the Covenant Seminary faculty

Francis A. Schaeffer Institute

On Human Dignity Who Gets a Seat at the Table? Jointly sponsored by Covenant Seminary’s Francis A. Schaeffer Institute and the St. Louis Center for Bioethics and Culture. DATE: February 27 to 28, 2004

Upcoming

FRIDAY

NIGHTS THE

Building

FAMILIES God’s Way

The Covenant Family Conference

(free for alumni and current students) SPEAKERS: NIGEL M. DE S. CAMERON, PH.D., Chairman of The Wilberforce Forum and internationally renowned bioethicist; RICHARD WINTER, M.D., Professor of Practical

Francis Schaeffer Institute Summer Study

Spiritual Formation and the Holy Spirit DATE: July 12 to 16, 2004

Theology, Covenant Seminary Prof.; JERRAM BARRS, M.DIV., Professor

INSTRUCTOR: John Armstrong, Director of Reformation and Revival Ministries

of Christianity and Contemporary Culture, Covenant Seminary

Some of the most critical cultural issues of the 21st-century all lead to one question: What does it mean to be human? Is a human being defined by productivity or contribution to society? Or age? Or race? Or intellect? Scientific advances, while offering benefits, can also strike at the core of what it means to value and protect human life in whatever form it comes. Is the Church prepared for an era when what it means to be human is called into question? Interact with scholars in medicine, theology, and ethics to become more prepared to confront one of the most pressing apologetic issues of our day. To learn more or register to attend, log on to www.covenantseminary.edu/fsi.

This summer take a week of study with the Francis Schaeffer Institute to consider how the Holy Spirit works to conform Christians to Christ’s image through various means including spiritual reading, prayer, soul friendships, fasting, worship, and the sacraments. In doing so, consider the means of the Spirit’s work throughout the history of the Christian Church and see how these means are available in your life today. To find out more about registration, call the Francis Schaeffer Institute (1.800.864.8064) or log on to www.covenantseminary.edu.

TALKS

RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted until April 20

or until space is filled.

of the Francis Schaeffer Institute which includes

Take a trip to the Emerald Isle and learn how a very

talks in St. Louis-area bookstores throughout the year. To learn more about FN@TI or the locations

dark and needy land of the 5th century became

and times for these presentations, please log on

known as the “Island of Saints and Scholars” in the

to www.covenantseminary.edu.

6th century. Your Irish journey will include stops in Dublin, Limerick, and Kilkenny. Discover the real life

Biotechnology and a Truly Human Future

of St. Patrick, see the Book of Kells, visit Blarney Castle, and more. The trip will continue on to

Senior Fellow of The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity and Professor at Trinity International University March 5, 2004

CO-SPONSORED BY: Covenant Theological Seminary

and Ridge Haven Conference and Retreat Center

Scotland where you will explore landmark locations including the Iona Island and St. Andrews.

JULY 26 TO 30, 2004

Cultivating Eden: Lessons From the Soil

SPEAKERS: Dr. Robert Peterson and Dr. Michael Williams

Speaker: CHRIS BAKER (M.DIV.’91), Principal at Wildwood Christian School March 12, 2004

Popular Apocalypse: Some Thoughts on the Left Behind Series Speaker: JERRAM BARRS,

Plan your family vacation in the North Carolina mountains, surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation and immersed in delightful Bible teaching by Covenant Seminary professors. This conference

Francis Schaeffer Institute Resident Scholar

provides an opportunity for Covenant families, both

March 26, 2004

parents and children, to explore God’s gracious covenant

Coltrane on Constraint and Contingency: Human Freedom Through the Eyes of a Jazz Musician

and what it means for daily living as a family today.

Speaker: MARK ROBINSON, Westminster Seminary Student

As you take this tour of church history you will be

April 2, 2004

Songwriters and September 11: How Americans Cope With Terror Speaker: ZACK ESWINE, Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program,

Tour of Ireland and Scotland

Friday Nights @ the Institute (FN@TI) is a ministry

April 30, 2004

Spring 2004

HERITAGE JUNE 21 TO JULY 2, 2004

reminded that the greatest need of the Irish and

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE TRIPS CALL 1.800.264.8064 OR LOG ON TO WWW.COVENANTSEMINARY.EDU

Covenant Seminary

COVENANT MAGAZINE

EMERALD ISLE

HOSTED BY: Dr. and Mrs. Bryan Chapell

INSTITUTE

Speaker: C. BEN MITCHELL,

CONFERENCE FEE: $15.00

Our

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION WITH THE ATTACHED REPLY CARD.

Scottish heart – is the greatest need of the human heart today. Dr. Bryan Chapell will lead the group in exploring the history of the Church in this part of the world and in Bible teaching that will expand your vision for the Church today.

Unpack the Heart

WITH WORDS

Unpack the Heart With Words

experience, by telling us which emotions we should have

PETRA BLUM (M.A.C.’96)

and which ones we need to rid ourselves of if we are to

Clinical Therapist Children’s Advocacy Center of St. Louis

attain a higher level of holiness or Zen. It is helpful to explore those historical philosophical

Emotions equate to expectations,

perspectives in order to understand as a culture how we have

which just set us up to get hurt,

been influenced and to look at the extent to which we have

A Historical Look at Philosophical and Scientific Views on the Heart

As a clinical therapist, my day is filled with stories. Mine is the great joy and burden of hearing stories of the heart. They are stories of joy, pain, anger, betrayal, sadness, grief, reconciliation, loss, and redemption. Hour after hour, day after day, the stories are replete with intense emotions, primarily in the context of relationships, drawing me into the scenery of their emotional landscape.

and so the modern response to the

adopted them.

problem is: don’t expect, don’t feel.

As I share a sketch of some philosophical perspectives, Middle Ages (300-1400 A.D.)

keep in mind two ideas present in various historical perspec-

During the Middle Ages the study of emotion was central

tives. One is a pervasive mistrust of emotions in philosophi-

to certain religious philosophies and the study of sin. Sins

cal thought. The second, probably derived from this first

such as greed, gluttony, and lust were analyzed and labeled

belief, is a master/slave metaphor pertaining to emotion and

as dangerous emotions. Those such as Thomas Aquinas held

cognition. In this paradigm, reason must master emotion.

that the higher virtues of faith, hope, and love were not Plato and Aristotle

classified as having any connection to emotion but were

Beginning with Plato (427-347 B.C.) and Aristotle

elevated to what was considered the higher status of reason.

(384-322 B.C.), we see that there is a lack of focus on

The old master/slave metaphor remained alive and well.

emotions, (especially from Plato.) Aristotle, however,

Emotions and desire were linked to sin. The higher virtues

did officially define emotion as “that which leads one’s

had to be equated with reason.

However, quite often, much of this scenery

attempt to draw out their hearts, I encounter very

condition to become so transformed that his judgment is

exists in the imagination of my mind, for I see

firm belief systems that say emotions are the enemy;

affected, and which is accompanied by pleasure and pain.”

much denial in the landscape of the heart. The

emotions are dangerous, and feeling them is wrong.

Overall, Aristotle did feel that emotions were central to the

facts are told, the evidence presented, yet the

And we know this is a dilemma we all face.

good life, and even insisted that “only fools don’t get angry.”

Many of us have come to believe that there are good

heart is not allowed to give it color. “I’m not hurt, I’m just disappointed.” “I don’t feel mad because I don’t like the way

emotions and bad emotions; the good can stay, but the bad

it makes me feel.” “I’m not going to cry, because that means

must go. The problem is that the emotions we thought were

that I care, and I don’t care about him.” There has been an

good often lead to feeling the ones that we think are bad.

injury, and damage has occurred, but a second layer of dam-

For example, trusting and loving can bring betrayal, anger,

age is being done as a person shuts off his or her emotions,

fear, and pain. So now, by association, even the good ones

checks out and has no words.

are tainted, and we despise that we set ourselves up again and again to feel the bad ones. So, why even feel the good

In my observations as a therapist, I see a microcosm of what we all tend to do with pain. Quite often, I see people

emotions? However, the heart cannot be suppressed; the feel-

who deprive themselves of living life fully, loving, and

ings remain. And so we seek to use reason to control and

receiving love, because they do not allow themselves to live

suppress emotions because they are foolish, dangerous, and

through the heart. First there is the strong desire that resides

sinful. We think, “I need to start thinking with my head and

within each of us to avoid pain (that is another lecture topic

not with my heart.”

in and of itself.) And secondly, as I meet with people and

Historical Perspectives on Emotion

History, philosophy, and oftentimes psychology and religion

This article is adapted from a talk that Petra Blum gave for Friday Nights@the Institute, a ministry of Covenant Seminary’s Francis Schaeffer Institute. It also appeared in the Fall 2003 edition of Perspectives, the Francis Schaeffer Institute newsletter. Due to interest after the article’s initial publication, it has been republished in this issue of Covenant magazine. For an unabridged version of this article, please email covenant@covenant seminary.edu.

COVENANT MAGAZINE

Spring 2004

teach just this: in order to live the good life, we must master mind over mood in order to rid ourselves of the foolishness or sinfulness that emotions bring. Certain perspectives take it a step further by demonizing or moralizing our emotional

Decartes (1596-1650 A.D.)

Descartes, known as the father of modern philosophy, had some difficulty in knowing what to do with emotions.

He insisted that body and mind were separate. He had a Roman Stoics

disdain for the body but was enamored with the mind.

The Stoics analyzed emotions as conceptual errors, con-

The problem came with the question of emotion, and so he

ducive to misery. Two such stoics, Chrysippus (c. 280-207

decided the place at the base of the brain where the mind

B.C.) and Seneca (3 B.C.-65 A.D.), developed a cognitive

and body meet is where emotion is located. He stated that

theory of emotions. As the stoics saw the world they lived

emotions are what render judgment “confused and obscure.”

in as out of control, they regarded emotions or emotional Hume (1711-76 A.D.)

expectations as misguided judgments. And the world they

It was actually David Hume, a Scottish philosopher of the

lived in was not a happy or particularly rational place.

Enlightenment, who rallied to the defense of emotions,

For example, Seneca served under Emporer Nero and was

putting reason in the service of emotion. There was, howev-

forced to commit suicide. Basically, for the Stoics, emotions

er, still a need to place one as a master over the other, and

equate expectations, which therefore make us miserable

Hume tended to greatly moralize emotions, rendering some

and frustrated. They believed in a higher reason; what they

good and some bad. Nietzsche, a Romantic philosopher,

saw as “the good life” is accomplished through realizing the

had similar views, placing emotion over reason, and highly

pointlessness of emotional attachments and involvement.

moralizing which emotions are good and which are bad.

It was for this reason that the Stoics aspired to what

Interestingly, Hume rendered pride to be a good emotion

was considered a “psychic indifference” known as apathy.

and humility to be bad, naming it a “monkish” emotion

And we know that stoicism is very much alive today.

due to his disdain of religion.

R. Mckeon, ed., The Basic Works of Aristotle (New York: Random House, 1941). 2 Ibid.

www.covenantseminary.edu

3 R. Descartes, On the Passions of the Soul (Indianapolis, Ind.: Hackett, 1989). 4 Davidson, D. “Hume’s Cognitive Theory of Pride,” Journal of Philosophy, 73, (1976), 733-757.

Training Servants of the Triune God

Unpack the Heart With Words

Modern Views

Modern philosophical views of emotion come in all shapes

on unhealthy fears and also experience a healthy fear of

emotion, Nico Frijda, a psychologist from the University

become unable to adequately extinguish the fear response.

harmful people who will reject her.

of Amsterdam, states, “Will the perennial problems in the

not as able to stop that heightened fear or anger response.

influence of the master/slave paradigm in which actions

This is how scientists are understanding more about anxiety

are judged as being either thought-based or emotion-based,

disorders and what can be considered “out of control” anger.

and secondly, good decisions and good actions are those that

This may seem to point back to the problem of people

are thought-based and not emotion-based. Emotions are

not being able to control emotions. The difficulty with

dangerous, not to be trusted. Think with your head and not

this perspective is that oftentimes when we speak of

your heart. Ultimately you need to suppress emotions and

controlling emotions we mean that we are to “shut down,

not let them get in the way. According to Peter Stearns of

turn off, don’t feel, and avoid.” On the contrary, researchers

George Mason University, “The dominant theme is a new aversion to emotional intensity.”

can actually cause the prefrontal cortex to malfunction and Basically, it is like the brakes are going out, and a person is

and sizes. Unfortunately, we are still under the strong

are finding, through brain research, how powerful avoidance

is in contributing to certain emotional dysfunctions such

At the same time, shifts have occurred in the past ten

as anxiety disorders.

years, which have shed increasing light on beliefs and

Unpack the Heart With Words

psychology of emotion be truly perennial? Perennial prob-

Anger

lems are often not resolved because they reflect particular

With regard to anger, many studies are showing the healthy

world views.” And to this, I whole-heartedly agree. 6

function of anger. Rather than only seeing anger as negative,

In the volumes of writings I have read on emotion, it

we need to see that anger organizes and regulates internal

has become quite evident to me that one’s beliefs about

physiological and psychological processes, regulates social

emotions flow directly from one’s personal beliefs on what is

and interpersonal behaviors, and makes us ready for action.

true regarding who we are, how we are made, and what it

Anger signals something important about the individual’s

means to live the good life. If you are a stoic or a cynic, then

relationship to the environment, typically the social

emotions are misguided, making one miserable, and so the

environment. Quite a bit of research on the development

“good life” is found in apathy.

of anger in infants is showing that anger is an essential

If you are a Darwinist then you value the adaptability

component of infants’ attempts to master the physical

and functionality that emotions serve as the human species

environment and to problem solve.

fight to survive. The “good life” is found in functioning well, Sadness

managing well, and being at the top of the game.

With regard to sadness, there has been no research to date

As for me, my worldview is that of a Christian. My belief

that has been able to show a neurological difference between

is in a relational God who shows love to us and asks for us to

sadness and anger. In all the studies, the neural activities

love Him and each other. From there I begin to consider a

(located in the temporal lobe) that occur with sadness and

perspective on emotions. There are many facets involved in

anger look exactly the same. Neurologically, they have not

the Christian perspective, informed by Scripture, and I will

been able to differentiate anything between the two, even

share a few.

though the expression of those feelings can look quite differmisunderstandings about our emotional make-up. Exciting

Anxiety or Fear

ent. So it will be very interesting to see what is further

and fascinating findings have had and will have a profound

This is complex, so I’ll explain it very basically. Think of

uncovered with this.

impact on our theories and beliefs on emotion. Let me share

a person with heightened or irrational fears or a person

a few examples from recent research:

with destructive anger. In this type of person the prefrontal

With regard to fear, scientists are able to locate an emo-

cortex is not braking well. Current research indicates that

tional “center” for the emotion of fear, called the amygdala,

avoidance is not only ineffective in reducing unwanted fear

which is a very small almond-shaped part of the brain that

responses, but it achieves the reverse in that avoidance

receives signals of potential danger and is responsible for

actually perpetuates the anxiety. For example, a person with

setting off the series of reactions that will help protect you.

an irrational fear of rejection never communicates her true

The prefrontal cortex, which is a cognitive processing

feelings, so that irrational fear is never put to the test and

part of your brain right behind your forehead, is considered

is perpetuated. Research indicates that it will not get better

to play the role of the brakes on emotions such as fear and

if she does not practice feeling the feeling without the

anger. So if something triggers your amygdala (your child is

expected undesirable outcome occurring.

about to run out in the street), the amygdala jumpstarts the

Whole People

First, humans are not solely thinking beings or solely feeling people; we are both. Both are involved in who we are, how

Joy

we live, and how we make decisions. In the Bible you will

With regard to joy (or happiness or pleasure) scientists are

see that in both the Old and New Testaments, the heart is

finding that there are certain pleasure centers in the brain,

used to describe the holistic center of a person, the inner

such as the nucleus accumbens, which is associated with the

core of who we are. Intellect, reason, will, and emotions

pleasure that occurs in laughter. Secondly, it appears the

are consistently all valued. We are whole. More and more

left frontal lobes are involved in joy and positive emotional

scientific research is revealing just that and has moved to

experiences in general. Current studies find that those with

view our inner workings much more holistically. We need

increased left prefrontal cortex activity are those who are

to do away with such severe dichotomies that separate our

greater optimists, have a greater positive outlook, and handle

emotion and our reason. Foolishness, greed, lust, pride are

stressful events better.

In layman’s terms, in order to train the brain to heal,

just as cognitive as they are emotive.

Where We Stand When We View Emotion

Designed People

fear responses in your body. Stress hormones are released;

which it can do, we need to actually feel the feeling. If the

So where does this bring us in our exploration? Many opin-

Second, emotions are a God-given part of our design and

the emotional parts of your brain are communicating with

person allows herself to be in that situation which will make

ions and perspectives stand side by side. Science is revealing

are as natural to who we are as is our eyesight or pulse.

the cognitive parts. In healthy processing, when the threat

her feel that feeling of fear of rejection, and she can be

so much, and yet there is much that has yet to be uncovered.

To think a person can cut out his or her anger is the same as

is gone, the prefrontal cortex tells the amygdala, “everything

affirmed, then over time she will be able to put the brakes

After exploring the multitudes of current perspectives on

thinking a person can stop having eyesight by just deciding

is back to normal,” and all systems calm down.

P. N. Stearns and T. Haggerty, “The Role of Fear: Transitions in American Emotional Standards for Children, 1850-1950,” American Historical Review, 96(1), (1991), 63-94.

But scientists are finding that exposure to stress or trauma

COVENANT MAGAZINE

Spring 2004

N. Frijda, A. Manstead, and S. Bem. Emotions and Beliefs: How Feelings Influence Thoughts (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2000). 6

www.covenantseminary.edu

so. Emotions are part of who we are. While I agree with Darwinists that emotions are natural, and even those we

Training Servants of the Triune God

Unpack the Heart With Words

Rooted in Grace for a Lifetime of Ministry

consider to be negative can actually be positive and healthy,

use each to communicate our God-given hunger for relation-

I greatly differ in that I do not believe the purpose or mean-

ship. So, not only is each good, but each is necessary for the

ing of our emotional make-up just stops there. According to

good life. Here is a brief synopsis of what each provides:

the Darwinist view, there is no healer and no power other

The experience of feeling hurt is what leads us to seek

than that which our fragile bodies can muster. There is no

healing from wounds.

mystery in our lives and nothing further to gain through

Feeling lonely acknowledges the need for love and

love beyond procreation. In contrast to this view, I believe

intimacy and pushes us to seek to be known.

emotions lead us to ask the important questions of life.

Sadness is the feeling that speaks to how much you value

Emotions lead us to a quest for God.

what is missed, what is gone, and what is lost. Sadness

From Scripture comes the most passionate, poetic

speaks to our need to honor our losses with grief.

Major Grant Funds Seminary Ministry for Sustaining Pastoral Excellence

writings reflecting an emotional relational God and His

Anger shows our yearning and hunger for life; it exposes

emotional relational people, genuinely expressing the full

the desires of our heart. It gives us vitality and alerts us

gamut of emotions. In the Psalms of David we read: “I am

that something isn’t right.

bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about

Fear awakens us to danger and is the beginning of

mourning. My back is filled with searing pain; there is no

wisdom. Fear offers us the opportunity to trust God.

Covenant Seminary is pleased to announce that this past

sents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the seminary to

health in my body. I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan

It is through shame that we maintain humility and

November the seminary was awarded a $2,000,000 grant

expand within its suburban St. Louis location.

in anguish of heart. All my longings lie open before you O

mercy. Shame recognizes our capability to do wrong and

from Lilly Endowment Inc., to be devoted to Sustaining

Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.” (Psalm 38:6-10)

prepares us to accept love as a gift.

Pastoral Excellence. The goal of the grant is to nurture

home that will be used to house

Without guilt, I would not see my need for forgiveness.

pastors through three programs: renewal retreats (and

a retreat center for pastors and

pastors’ conferences), vocational discipleship retreats

their spouses. This purchase was

(and elder training), and a pastor-in-residence program.

made prior to the award from

Psalm 108 says: “My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake harp and lyre!

It offers the opportunity to face truth and change.

I will awaken in the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among

And finally, gladness proves hope of the heart to be true.

the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.”

I am continually drawn back to the room where I have had

Third, through emotions we connect and have relationship

the privilege of sharing with some of the most courageous

with each other, not only for self-gain, but for the better-

people I know. If these four walls could speak they would

ment of the other. Think back to when the Roman Stoic

tell you of a father fighting for the heart of his 15-year-old

Seneca so miserably shut down and settled for apathy.

daughter who has been raped and saying to her, “I know

During the same point in history the Apostle Paul, under

you’re hurt, please don’t tell me anymore that it’s nothing.”

the emperor Nero and in the midst of great suffering,

Or a mother and daughter who have both been sexually

writes a letter to the Corinthians saying, “For I wrote you

abused and both refuse to cry, but are very slowly and very

out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many

awkwardly seeking life. It is these stories which lead me to

tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my

explore more.

love for you” (2 Cor. 2:4).

By my sharing a little bit of a perspective on the heart,

The Value of Emotion

my hope is that you will be encouraged to begin your journey

And fourth, given that emotions are a natural part of our

of asking questions and seeking answers regarding emotion

God-given design, they are also valuable and all serve a good

in your life. This is a difficult and complex issue, but one of

purpose. That purpose is to live life fully in relationship with

such vital importance. On the value of the heart, Chip Dodd

others and with God. Chip Dodd, in his book The Voice of

writes, “When we begin to experience life through the heart,

the Heart, distinguishes what he believes to be eight core

we begin to experience the heart of God.” ■ C. Dodd, The Voice of the Heart (Franklin, Tenn: Providence Publishing Corp, 2002). 7

healthy expression of that emotion and the impaired or

two important events in the

in their seminal stages. One mile-

seminary’s recent history, work-

stone has already been achieved

ing together to support pastors

with the hiring of Rev. Dr. Robert

in a lifetime of ministry. Upcoming issues of Covenant

Burns to direct the effort for

Rev. Dr. Robert Burns

Covenant Seminary. Bob joins

magazine will share more details

the seminary administration after

on the development of the

serving for 34 years in pastoral

Sustaining Pastoral Excellence

ministry, most recently as

program and the opportunities

Associate Pastor for Perimeter Church (PCA) in Atlanta,

extended to pastors and ministry

Ga. Dr. Burns earned a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

leaders through this effort.

This grant not only will support the ministry of Covenant

Please join the seminary

Seminary, but will also include Reformed Theological

community in giving thanks

Seminary and Westminster Seminary as partners in this

for the Lord’s provision for

effort. These institutions will work together with the goal

this important and growing

of creating lifelong learning and renewal opportunities for

part of the seminary mission.

pastors and refining seminary education. purchase of nine acres of property to the south of campus. The property is connected to the current campus and repre-

destructive expression. The value of each feeling is that we

Spring 2004

this grant are currently developing

Coinciding with Lilly Endowment’s gift is the seminary’s

feelings, looking in depth at each one. He considers both the

COVENANT MAGAZINE

Lilly Endowment, but represents

The programs funded through

In my own journey, as I have reflected on these concepts,

People Who Need Connection

The new property includes a

www.covenantseminary.edu

Training Servants of the Triune God

news

CAMPUS For a campus calendar, log on to www.covenantseminary.edu. New Partnership with Oaks of Righteousness Radio Ministry This past December, sermons from Dr. Bryan Chapell began airing on the Oaks of Righteousness radio ministry. The radio program, which is heard in six U.S. states, was founded as an outreach ministry of Twin Oaks Church and hosted by the late Rev. Rodney Stortz (M.Div.’77). Following Rev. Stortz’s death, the church determined to have the radio ministry continue and today that is happening, in part, by airing Dr. Chapell’s and Rev. Stortz’s messages in rotation. Dr. Chapell answers questions from listeners on select Fridays. A listing of radio stations that air Oaks of Righteousness as well as on-line audio streaming is available through www.bottradionetwork.com.

Moon traveled to Poland this past January to serve three young Reformed churches. The first week was spent teaching a conference in Warsaw. Dr. Eswine taught on studying and communicating the Scripture and Joshua taught an introduction to covenant theology. A second conference was held in Poznan for a group of leaders and elders. The church in Poland stands on the frontier for Reformed teaching. Nearly every member of these churches is a first-generation believer. Dr. Eswine and Joshua felt privileged to serve these men and women who are hungry for the Word of God. The trip also served, in part, to help establish ties in order for these Polish churches to begin a school for the study of the Bible from a Reformed perspective, which would be the first of its kind in the nation.

Faculty Itinerary Mark Dalbey, Dean of Students and Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology, in Martinez, Ga., Mar. 12-14, speaking for the Westminster Presbyterian Church Worship Conference. Nelson Jennings, Associate Professor of World Mission, in Dalton, Ga., Feb. 27-29, teaching for Grace Presbyterian Church; in Chicago, Ill., Mar. 27, attending the Evangelical Missiological Society; in Chattanooga, Tenn., Apr. 30-May 2, teaching for Chattanooga Valley Presbyterian Church. Jerram Barrs, Professor of Christian Studies and Contemporary Culture, in Tulsa, Okla., Mar. 5-7, teaching for Christ Presbyterian Church’s Mission Conference; in Birmingham, Ala., Apr. 25, preaching at Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church; in Kiev, Ukraine, May 24-June 4,

Fifty Days of Prayer Mission to North America is once again providing devotional messages and a prayer guide for the 50 days prior to the Presbyterian Church in America’s General Assembly (June 15 to 18 in Pittsburgh, Pa.) The devotional and prayer requests can be found online at www.pcanet.org/cep and www.pcanet.org/mna starting in late March 2004. The prayer/ devotional guide is designed to mobilize the whole PCA in concerted, concentrated prayer for the whole ministry of the whole church.

Trip to Poland Dr. Zack Eswine, Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, and student Joshua

COVENANT MAGAZINE

Transformational Missions Symposium Covenant Seminary and Presbyterian Mission International (PMI) jointly organized a world mission symposium which was held on the campus of Covenant Seminary from Feb. 11-12, 2004. The symposium focused on the power of the Gospel as it affects communities and cultures through ordinary people who demonstrate the love of Christ in word and deed. Several experienced missionaries, including Dr. Kit Flowers and Rev. Lian Thombing shared their stories of word-deed ministries. Discussion focused on how a new or established congregation can facilitate a balanced mission program. For more infor-

Spring 2004

mation on upcoming gatherings such as these, please e-mail covenant@covenantseminary.edu.

First Class Taught for Bioethics Certificate The first class for Covenant Seminary’s new Bioethics Certificate is being taught at the seminary this Spring semester. Dr. Nigel M. De S. Cameron, Dean of the Wilberforce Forum and Executive Chairman of the Center for Bioethics and Culture, is the instructor for the initial

lecturing on apologetics; in Budapest, Hungary, June 4-11, lecturing for the European Leadership Forum; in Cambridge, England, June 21-26, lecturing for the Cambridge School of Theological Studies; in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12-23, lecturing on Jesus the Greatest Evangelist, for Regent College. James Pakala, Library Director, in Atlanta, Ga., Mar. 1- 2, attending the annual meeting of the Presbyterian and Reformed Joint Commission on Chaplains. Robert Peterson, Professor of Systematic Theology, in Florissant, Mo., Apr. 22-23, speaking for Personal Freedom Outreach’s Conference on Biblical Discernment at Parker Road Baptist Church; in St. Charles, Mo., June 4-5, teaching on adoption for Grace Presbyterian Church men’s retreat.

course titled Introduction to Bioethics. The seminary is offering this certificate in partnership with The Center for Bioethics and Culture in order to equip Christians to respond to some of the most critical cultural issues of the 21st century involving medicine, technology, and related public policy issues. To learn more, log on to www.covenantseminarty.edu.

Briefly Stated

Covenant is published by Covenant Theological Seminary, the National 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. Volume 19, Number 1. ©2004

Times of

SELF-PITY Because we easily imagine ourselves in want, we imagine God ready to forsake us.

Executive Editor David Wicker Managing Editor and Writer Eileen O’Gorman

– Rev. George MacDonald, 19th century Scottish pastor (from George MacDonald; 365 Readings, (Macmillan Publishing Company: New York, 1947), p. 33.).

Copy Editors Huntley Cooney Betty Porter Circulation Paul Rawlins

It is when we begin to feel sorry for ourselves and think we have been deprived of something that we turn to some sin we really love. Think of Adam and Eve in the garden. It was their self-pity that turned them to the fruit. They thought that God was denying them something good – something they would enjoy. So they ate the fruit out of self-pity.

Photography Robin Dawson LaCour-Niesen Visuals, Inc. Ed Eubanks Laura Muckermen Nelson Jennings Design and Production 501creative, inc. Covenant Theological Seminary 12330 Conway Road St. Louis, Missouri 63141 Tel: 314.434.4044 Fax: 314.434.4819 E-mail: covenant@covenantseminary.edu Visit Covenant Seminary on the Internet at www.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. PR0402-002

What must we do when we are in times of self-pity? We must take ourselves by the napes of our necks as the psalmist does in Psalm 42, and say, “Why are you downcast, O my soul?...Put your hope in God...” Turn your eyes from yourself and turn them again to the Lord Jesus. Confess your unbelief and rest in His good promise that He has given you everything necessary for life and godliness. – Rev. George Robertson (M.Div. ’91), Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church and Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology (from a sermon on Besetting Sin)

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Student Profile

COMFORTABLE

It is a daunting task to from the body of Christ. move yourself and four All of this left Clay other family members to a and Renae with big new city, leave behind a decisions to make. stable career, and become What would it take to a student again. So why leave behind the comdo so many choose this route, the fortable life they had grown to love route to seminary training, when less in Kansas City? Seminary brought challenging paths are at hand? For with it many unknowns. “God’s Clay (M.Div.’06) and Renae Johnson trend with us and maybe His trend it was not an easy decision, but once with all Christians is driving us to they made it they became “comfortdependence,” Clay says in reflecting able in the uncomfortableness” of on that decision. And so with trust their new journey as Renae says. in the Lord to take care of tomorMaybe it wasn’t a new journey. row, the Johnsons sold their house, Clay had desired to go to seminary Clay resigned from his job, and they for 10 years or more, but following came to Covenant Seminary. college graduation he took what “We decided that we didn’t want seemed to be a logical path to law to look at our lives 30 years from Clay (M.Div.’06) and Renae Johnson and family school. Later he began a law career now and wonder ‘what if’we would that taught him a great deal and helped him grow to understand have taken this step to go to seminary and pursue pastoral ministry more of the way God made him. Yet the nagging question of as a vocation,” Clay says. “It is actually very out of character for us seminary, and more importantly pastoral ministry, remained. to do something so drastic, but we felt we left with a sense of call.” In his late 20s as a newly practicing lawyer in Kansas City, Mo., For the past year and a half, as Clay has studied at Covenant Clay asked his pastor what it looked like to be called into pastoral Seminary and the Johnsons have joined a new church community ministry. Clay’s pastor, Rev. Bill Vogler of Grace Evangelical in St. Louis, they are increasingly encouraged about their decision. Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, Kans., gave him some advice “I am being pastored by Covenant Seminary professors as I am packed with wisdom. Rev. Vogler said, “Get involved in the church taught,” Clay says. “The sense I get from all of the professors is that doing the types of things a pastor does. If you see no fruit in your we are on ‘the road to Emmaus’ together. Professors essentially say, efforts, it is probably not your area of calling. If you get involved in ‘Let’s open Scripture together and see what we find out about God this way and enjoy it deeply, but are satisfied as a lay leader, remain there.’ We explore together.” serving as a lay leader. But if you get involved in a ‘pastoral’ way “It seems that God’s people find Him outside of their comfort and feel compelled to be more involved, this is an indication you zone often,” Clay says in summing up their journey thus far. “I think may be cut out for pastoral ministry.” the process is as important as the end result, and I hope that we can Clay took that advice seriously. The Johnsons had recently live life faithful to God in the process.” ■ moved to Kansas City, where they became a part of West Hills Please pray for Covenant Seminary students like Clay Johnson Community Church (PCA). There they found themselves serving and their families who are in the process of learning how to be pastors, and enjoying relationships in a newly found church body. When counselors, and lay leaders. And pray for the students who will graduate Clay was asked to be a ruling elder at West Hills, it seemed his this May, for fruitful places of service to Christ’s Church – as one process internal desire to serve as a pastor was given external affirmation ends and another begins.

Uncomfortableness

COVENANT MAGAZINE

Spring 2004

www.covenantseminary.edu

Training Servants of the Triune God