DTS Magazine Summer 2022

Delivering Comfort in Times of Crisis.

Our world is full of hurting people who are going through pain and suffering. We all know someone who desperately needs spiritual care. God calls us in such as time like this to serve and come alongside the brokenhearted. Fulfill His calling and be equipped through Dallas Theological Seminary’s Master of Arts in Chaplaincy and Ministry Care (MACP) and deliver God’s presence in someone’s life.

Learn more about DTS’s chaplaincy program.

FROM THE EDITOR

I first read Kindred Spirit, the name of the DTS Magazine in the mid-1980s, while working on my MDiv at another seminary. It has always been one of my favorite resources for nurturing my spiritual growth. Little did I imagine that nearly forty years later I would be at DTS, serving as Executive Director of Marketing & Communications! One of my responsibilities is to provide senior editing oversight for DTS Magazine.

With the upcoming DTS centennial celebration in 2024, I decided last year that our magazine deserved a new design—an “extreme magazine makeover.” We’ve given it a fresh look and a renewed purpose. We hope you’ll find the new look more engaging and pleasant to peruse in anticipation of our upcoming centennial—which you will begin to learn much more about in the coming issues. So grab a cup of coffee and spend some quality time with the content.

What can you expect from DTS Magazine? It will champion relevant biblical exposition for the challenges of twenty-first-century ministry, whether we’re in vocational ministry or professional service outside of typical ministry settings. Second, DTS Magazine will provide practical, helpful resources to equip active ministry workers and people in mainstream vocational contexts, domestically and globally. We also want the magazine to visually inspire our readers’ hearts, minds, and souls. Finally, we want to celebrate how God faithfully continues to accomplish his work in and throughout the DTS community around the world.

The theme of this first redesigned issue is Wisely Engaging Outsiders. In Colossians 4:5, Paul implores us to “conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.” Our motto at DTS is “Teach Truth. Love Well.” We’ll explore this in a variety of ways in this issue. As you read these articles, you will see our lives as Christians in a challenging world as an opportunity!

Kraig W. McNutt Executive Director of Marketing & Communications

DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Our mission is to glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide.

DTS Magazine® Summer 2022 Vol. 8, No. 2 ISSN 1092-7492

©2022 Dallas Theological Seminary. All rights reserved.

Published three times a year by Dallas Theological Seminary 3909 Swiss Avenue Dallas, Texas 75204

Dr. Mark M. Yarbrough, President

Kraig W. McNutt, Editor in Chief

Neil R. Coulter, Editor

Jason Fox, Creative Director

Design by Brand Innovation Group

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SUBSCRIBE

Subscriptions are free of charge to addresses in the United States. Go to voice.dts.edu/magazine or call 800-DTS-WORD and ask for the DTS Magazine subscription office.

FEATURED CONTENT

PG 5

Synagogue at Capernaum: We are His Workmanship

As the poiema (“handiwork”) of God, all believers evidence the process of His working in our lives in many ways, including in solid, tangible works.

Neil R. Coulter

PG 6

Lewis Sperry Chafer: A Song of Evangelism and Education that Continues to Resound

Lewis Sperry Chafer’s life was a song that resounds through his enduring legacy, from Dallas, Texas, to the world.

Neil R. Coulter

PG 8

POIEMA: An Interview with Dr. Darrell L. Bock

Let’s consider what it means that “we are His workmanship (poiema), created in Christ Jesus for good works,” to lay a foundation for how we engage outsiders to the faith.

Staff

PG 12

Dr. Scott Horrell Retires after Serving 25 Years on the Faculty at DTS

“Inside the classroom and around the world, Dr. Scott Horrell has been an enduring example of the DTS motto: Teach Truth. Love Well.” – Dr. Mark M. Yarbrough

Staff

PG 16

FEATURE ARTICLE

Engaging Wisely with Outsiders to the Faith

What does it mean to live as children of light? “For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.”

Kraig W. McNutt

PG 20

The Fruit of the Light in Corrie ten Boom

When we live as children of light, the way we live invites outsiders to the faith to experience the new life found in Christ.

Kraig W. McNutt

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Unless noted otherwise, Scripture quotations are taken from NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

About two years ago, I had the distinct privilege of officiating the wedding of our oldest daughter, Kayla, to her husband, Garrett. It’s easy for us to look back on that day as one of those never-ever-forget moments in life. It’s also easy to forget the countless daily choices that led to that day. Kayla and Garrett built their relationship hour by hour—talking, laughing, and learning together. Family members listened to, coached, and prayed for them. Together, these seemingly small acts of faithfulness, these little kairos

moments, culminated in that landmark day when these two hearts united before God.

The Greek word kairos can refer to an appointed time for a special purpose. These times often refer to big moments in the story of Scripture, as in the time that Saul encounters our resurrected Lord on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Other kairos moments happen when God’s divine providence intersects the seemingly simple acts of obedience offered by his people. The collection of these divine moments in common everyday

life climaxes in God’s masterpiece of grand events that His followers can recognize as life landmarks.

Consider Joseph in the book of Genesis. It’s tempting to look at him at the end of the story, when he is second only to Pharaoh, having saved nations. Yet his faithfulness in the earlier parts of his life set the scene for the great ending. Joseph gained Potiphar’s favor through the faithful execution of his household duties as a slave in a foreign land. Those duties were not glamorous: they were tasks saved for a slave. Still, he attended

kairosTHE Moment

BY DR. MARK M. YARBROUGH | PRESIDENT, DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

them with such excellence that he rose to manage all of Potiphar’s house. Despite withstanding temptation and suffering unjustly, he responded with obedience. It all started in the way that he embraced the daily kairos moments, often in the darkest of places, and usually serving those who were outsiders.

Likewise, Queen Esther embodied living in the light, “for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Eph 5:9).

Long before this queen announced decrees for the good of Jews and Persians throughout the empire, she embraced her kairos moments: winning favor through winsome gentleness, seeking good for others through prayer, and planning strategic dinners that God used for divine protection. Her behavior was so persuasive that many of the story’s Persians became Jews.

Finally, faithful ones took the spotlight as they brought their paralyzed

friend to Jesus in Luke 5. Before their landmark act of faith that refused to take “no” for an answer, these friends grasped their own kairos moments: they provided for this paralyzed friend the simple and mundane tasks for basic survival. This caregiving mindset led them to the prized opportunity to bring their friend, in what seemed to be his greatest need, to Jesus. These dear friends sought only the healing of his paralyzed body, but the crowd that day witnessed something much more: the glorious display of grace in Christ.

RAT DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, OUR MISSION EMBRACES THESE INTERSECTIONS OF THE DIVINE AND THE SEEMINGLY ORDINARY. FAITHFUL CHOICES AND COMMON SERVICE LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR US TO CONTINUE TO TEACH TRUTH AND LOVE WELL.

SYNAGOGUE AT CAPERNAUM

BY NEIL R. COULTER

WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP

EPH 2:10

As Professor Darrell Bock says in this issue, “good works are part of what God is hoping for from us as He reshapes us. The fruit of the Spirit is nothing but the good works of a solid character.” As the poiema (“handiwork, workmanship”) of God, all believers evidence the process of His working in our lives in many ways, including in solid, tangible works. In Luke 7:1–10, a centurion requests healing from Jesus—not for himself, but for his servant. Jewish representatives from Capernaum describe the centurion’s respect for their community and his regard for his servant: “This man deserves to have you do this.” The Jewish elders also tell Jesus that the centurion “has built our synagogue.” The centurion modeled countercultural living. He turned away from Rome’s scorn for Jews; and his compassion for his servant went beyond the expected attitude toward servants as mere property. His character was manifested in a costly way—a building, something that could not be hidden or denied. This outworking of poiema catches Jesus’s attention, who heals the servant and praises the centurion’s faith.

Physical evidence of the centurion’s contribution continues to speak today. Visitors to Capernaum can see glimpses of the seaside fishing village as it was at the time Jesus lived and taught there—but they must dig beneath the surface. Under the ruins of a Byzantine church lies a house that may have been Simon Peter’s residence. Near that house are the remains of a synagogue. Several times in the Gospels, we see Jesus in a Capernaum synagogue (Mk 1:21–28; Lk 4:31–37; Jn 6). Because of its probable connection to Jesus, the synagogue ruins in Capernaum hold great interest. It is the most significant of only a few remaining examples of first-century synagogues; others are identified at Masada, Herodium, Gamla, and Magdala. The history of its discovery, the road to finding and identifying Capernaum’s first-century synagogue, is a fascinating story.1

From several architectural fragments at the site, Edward Robinson first identified the synagogue in 1830. The site continued to attract interest—and looters. So, in 1894, the Franciscan Order purchased the site to prevent further

damage. From 1921 to 1926, a Franciscan friar directed the excavation of the synagogue, dating it to the early first century. Scholars later amended that estimate, suggesting that what’s visible on the surface must have been built later, sometime during the second through the fifth centuries.

In 1968, the Franciscans excavated again. Scholars agreed that the synagogue was not the building where Jesus preached. The surface-level building was constructed of white limestone blocks—a spectacular contrast to the gray or black basalt used in most of the town’s structures.

But the 1968 excavation revealed clues about something just below the surface of the limestone building: black basalt walls. These walls had been assumed to be the foundation of the synagogue, but some details didn’t fit. Along with the different material, the basalt walls puzzled researchers because of their occasional misalignment with the upper structure. If the walls were a foundation, then why didn’t they perfectly match the limestone building above?

Further work in 1981 brought answers. Several feet below the floor of the later synagogue, the team found a black basalt cobbled pavement—clearly the floor of the earlier building. The thickness of the basalt walls indicate that the earlier structure was a public building. The basalt walls don’t precisely line up with the synagogue structure above because they weren’t that building’s foundation, as previously assumed: they were a first-century synagogue.

A century after the first archaeological investigation, we now see evidence of two synagogues, and we can understand the earlier building not only as the site of several key moments in the Gospels but also as the ongoing workmanship—the poiema—of a faithful centurion.

1 Many of the details in this overview are indebted to the classic report by James F. Strange and Hershel Shanks, “Synagogue Where Jesus Preached Found at Capernaum,” Biblical Archaeology Review, December 1983.

Lewis Sperry Chafer:

A SONG OF EVANGELISM AND EDUCATION THAT CONTINUES TO RESOUND

BY NEIL R. COULTER

That melody began in humble surroundings in Rock Creek, Ohio, in 1871. Chafer was raised by a father who was a Congregational pastor. An early note of sorrow occurred with the death of Chafer’s father when Chafer was just eleven years old. His mother’s continued care of the family following that tragic loss affirmed a value for education and persistence that would remain with Chafer all his days. His schooling and talents led him to Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied for three semesters before leaving to pursue growing opportunities for evangelism through singing and preaching.

By age 25, Chafer had met and married the woman who would be his lifelong partner in ministry and his musical accompanist, Ella Loraine Case. Following their marriage, the Chafers took a series of ministry roles in churches throughout the northeast United States. Evangelistic and musical work with D. L. Moody’s conferences in 1901 introduced Chafer to C. I. Scofield, who was to become one of Chafer’s most significant father figures and mentors. Chafer’s work as a teacher with Scofield’s correspondence school took him on travels from his home area of New York to the southern states, broadening his perspective and further honing his skills as a communicator.

In 1922, Chafer moved to Dallas, Texas, and became the pastor of First Congregational Church (later renamed Scofield Memorial Church and now Eastside Community Church) and director of the Central American Mission, after Scofield passed away. At about this time, having long understood the benefits of a good education—and particularly for those called to serve in ministry—he began conceiving of an idea for a new kind of Bible training school. And so in 1924, he founded the Evangelical Theological College, twelve years later renamed Dallas Theological Seminary. Chafer’s vision for the school was to institutionalize the devotional, applied, and philological training methods of the Bible conference movement that had been so formative in his own development. He continued to serve at the seminary for the rest of his life as the school’s president and professor of systematic theology.

In his educational philosophy, Chafer favored a restrained, well-reasoned approach. Doctrinally, he aligned with fundamentalism, but he avoided the emotional or militant stances sometimes associated with other representatives of the movement. In his writing—numerous articles and books, including the multivolume Systematic Theology of 1948—and his teaching, he championed premillennialism and dispensationalism, assertions

that sometimes found him in conflict with other theologians who perceived discord between Chafer’s views and the Westminster Confession. These denominational conflicts reaffirmed Chafer’s basic belief in the nondenominational Bible training ethos of Dallas Theological Seminary.

Other early conflicts at the seminary centered on Chafer’s funding model. Chafer wanted to pursue the principle of missionary heroes such as George Müller and Hudson Taylor: waiting on God to provide finances as needed rather than directly soliciting funds from donors. Ongoing funding shortages and mounting debts resulted in strife amongst the seminary’s faculty and staff, bringing pressure on Chafer. He suffered ongoing health problems, eventually succumbing to heart failure that ended his life in August 1952.

By far the most lasting legacy of Chafer’s life is the influence that he had on the many students of Dallas Theological Seminary in the twentyeight years of his service to the school.

His effective, gracious character as a teacher and communicator is evidenced by the loyalty and love of his students. Today at Dallas Theological Seminary, now with four vibrant campuses, several regional locations, and a robust online education program that reaches all over the world, the song of Lewis Sperry Chafer’s life continues.

LEWIS SPERRY CHAFER’S LIFE WAS A SONG THAT RESOUNDS THROUGH HIS ENDURING LEGACY, FROM DALLAS, TEXAS, TO THE WORLD.

POIEMA BY STAFF

Dr. Darrell L. Bock is Executive Director of Cultural Engagement and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the author of more than forty books and serves on the boards of Wheaton College and Chosen People Ministries.

Our summer issue’s theme is engaging outsiders. Let’s consider what it means that “we are his workmanship, (poiema) created in Christ Jesus for good works,” (ESV) to lay a foundation for how we engage outsiders to the faith.

How is poiema, “workmanship,” used in the New Testament?

It refers to something shaped and crafted by someone—like a piece of art.

We are people whose rebirth is shaping us to be reconnected to the image of God. It’s an attempt to correct the defects that came because of sin. It’s important to tell the gospel story starting not from Genesis 3 but from Genesis 1. Genesis 1 tells us who we are, and salvation tells us where God is taking us. He is taking us back to an act of restoration. In the ancient Near East context, the idea of the image of God refers to the way a statue reflects a likeness of the person in whose image it was made. We are designed as the sons and daughters of God, to reflect the shape of God’s character. So poiema is a discipleship term. The shaping starts, and it doesn’t end until we get to eternity.

Can you unpack the phrase “We are his workmanship (poiema), created in Christ Jesus for good works”?

“Workmanship” is very good word. So is “craftsmanship.” God is shaping us into a different kind of person than what we were. But it’s a process. We are his poiema, created in Christ Jesus for good works. As evangelicals, we sometimes hesitate to talk about “good works,” but good works are part of what God is hoping for from us as he reshapes us. The fruit of the Spirit is nothing but the good works of a solid character.

Can you talk about this passage in Colossians that tells us we are to be heavenly minded?

WORKMANSHIP

Colossians 3:1–2 (NIV): “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Talk about the fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit is fundamentally relational. You can give short shrift to the relational side of all this. He is trying to get us to think correctly, but the goal is to be relationally robust and to reflect the character of God in our interactions with one another. The beauty of the gospel is that God approached us when our backs were turned to Him. We should never forget that—especially when we’re engaging with someone who has turned away from God.

We are to be so heavenly minded that we are earthly good. What is highlighted in this passage are the virtues of how I’m relating to people. We’re back in this relational place. This is the ethical core of the Bible. Go back to the Ten Commandments. The first tablet concerns how I’m relating to God, and the second how I’m relating to others. But let’s simplify it even further. Let’s go to the Great Commandment, a single commandment with two parts: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul. And love your neighbor as yourself. So the idea is that how I think about God and how I relate to God should affect how I’m relating to others.

If we picture this as an arrow indicating direction of motion, the arrow ends up pointing not toward who I am and what

An Interview With Dr. Darrell L. Bock

WORKMANSHIP

I’m doing, but it’s an arrow that pushes outward. It’s directed out to God, and at the same time, it’s directed toward others. That redirection away from the self-focus we often have is fundamental to what God is doing with us when He saves us, and it’s preparing us for those good works because those good works are relational and aimed at other people.

If I think rightly, but relationally I’m off—then I’m off! The danger of “thinking rightly” is that if you’re not careful, it can cut you off from people. Right thinking should set you up to relate to people in a better way. So if it doesn’t have that dimension, then something’s missing.

How would you say this influences how we view evangelism?

One of the challenges of evangelism is that you’re trying to help people create categories they may not already have. A person who is an atheist or agnostic doesn’t have a category for God. So how will you create a category for that person which opens up an awareness of God? I can appeal to them at an intellectual level, but usually what happens is that they see something about your character and your life from the way you are relating to them, and that catches their attention.

And this is a spiritual battle, too, right?

Yes, this is a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6). Because it’s a spiritual battle and Satan is a master of deception, the people we are talking to—outsiders—are caught in a series of beliefs, with two things they don’t realize. First, they don’t realize that they’re caught in a misreading. And second, they don’t even believe in the forces that create that misreading.

There is a big difference between sitting across the table from an outsider to the faith and saying, “I need to crush what you believe,” and instead saying, “I actually understand why you are where you are, and it’s the result of forces you don’t even recognize.” Sometimes the way forward is not through the head, but through the heart. We’re trying to emphasize that, in the end, the gospel is an invitation to people to consider something that perhaps they haven’t thought about before. Our role as ambassadors is to plead with people that there is a different way to live and a different way to go about life. There is another place and another way of life that is different from what’s going on around you.

God is committed to restoration, because restoration is the way to life. Many people don’t understand this. When I care about people well, I’m doing pre-evangelism. I am standing up for the gospel. When we separate that activity from the living out of the gospel, we risk removing one of the most powerful witnesses we have. When estranged groups function together well, that stands out in a world of conflict.

Any advice for new DTS graduates today?

Develop the ability to invite. We need to be reminded, “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 Jn 4:4 ASV). You can be confident knowing that when you invite outsiders to the faith today, you are inviting people to a great experience they are not having yet.

“I am more excited about tomorrow than yesterday,” Stephen says, “and I remain convinced that our greatest step of faith is the next one.”

STEPHEN DAVEY (STM, 1986)

From the lavish luxury cars of the ecclesial elite to the simple sedans of suburban shepherds, preference influences our vehicle choices.

When Pastor Stephen Davey (STM, 1986) parks at The Shepherd’s Church in Cary, North Carolina, his decades-old pickup truck reveals his personality. His license plate reads POIMENAS: “Shepherd.”

Stephen has shepherded in North Carolina for over thirty years, modeling excellence and diligence as a representative of Christ. Based on his faithful service to the body of Christ, commitment to Scripture through expository preaching, and consistent Christian character, the Alumni Office at Dallas Theological Seminary is proud to present Pastor Stephen Davey the 2021–2022 Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

Born to missionaries, Stephen grew up in the love of Christ and the gospel. While in high school, he committed his life to vocational ministry and then studied Bible and world history in college. At Tennessee Temple University, Stephen met Marsha Gladney; they married in 1981.

Stephen earned his MDiv at Detroit Seminary before completing his Master of Sacred Theology at DTS in 1986.

A degree and twin infant sons later, Stephen and Marsha drove up to Cary, North Carolina, to plant Colonial Baptist Church in 1986. Twenty-eight people attended the first service in East Cary Middle School’s band room. From the beginning, Stephen preached expository sermons; Marsha created the nursery and children’s programs.

In 1991, growth required that they break ground for a new building, completed in 1992. The congregation quickly outgrew that location and voted to relocate again, holding the first services in their current location in 2001.

“Church growth was never our intention, and it still isn’t!” Stephen says. “We’ve simply responded to what God is doing.”

In 2020, the church became The Shepherd’s Church, reflecting the congregation’s heartbeat: they belong to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

Around 4,000 people now call this church home. Vibrant ministry programs, generous missions support, and intentional volunteer engagement characterize the congregation.

“I am more excited about tomorrow than yesterday,” Stephen says, “and I remain convinced that our greatest step of faith is the next one.”

In 2003, a great step of faith was starting Shepherds Theological Seminary (STS). Stephen is president of the seminary and teaches pastoral and practical theology. Over 250 students have graduated from STS and serve around the world. All this, Stephen says, testifies to God’s blessing.

Some pastors may hide harshness or impatience behind their onstage presence, but Stephen exhibits care and wisdom everywhere—whether preaching on Sunday morning, talking with coworkers, or having coffee with his wife.

He and Marsha enjoy a loving marriage and have close relationships with their four children and six grandchildren. One son is a pastor in Charlotte; another son and a daughter serve with Stephen’s radio ministry, Wisdom for the Heart.

Les Lofquist, STS professor and pastoral staff member at The Shepherd’s Church, has known Stephen for ten years. He writes, “I cannot commend him with strong enough words. There are no skeletons in his closet. He is genuinely beloved here by those who know him best.”

David Burgraff, STS professor and executive pastor at The Shepherd’s Church, sees Stephen’s ability to maintain integrity amid difficulty as growing from his daily physical perseverance.

While at seminary, Stephen developed a neurological disease that limited his walking. He lives with pain yet seldom mentions it.

Doctors told him he would likely be in a wheelchair by age thirty-five. Stephen threw himself into building a sustainable ministry as long as the Lord gave him strength to stand.

Now over sixty, Stephen is still walking; it appears the Lord has plans for him.

For now, those plans include driving to The Shepherd’s Church in his decadesold pickup truck and pastoring those the Lord has given him.

Congratulations to Stephen Davey, recipient of the 2021–2022 Alumni Distinguished Service Award. We recognize his dedication, perseverance, and love of God that drove his ministry from the early days of church planting to a thriving community of the Good Shepherd.

You can tell a lot about a pastor from his vehicle.

PHOTO

DAN RIDDLE/THE

25 YEARS

ON THE FACULTY AT DTS

BY STAFF

The DTS Magazine staff sat down with Dr. J. Scott Horrell recently and talked with him about his life and career. Dr. Horrell retired on July 1, 2022, after serving on the DTS fac ulty for twenty-five years.

Scott Horrell was born in 1949 and grew up in the fairly small town of Ephrata, Washington. Dr. Horrell held leadership positions during his high school years and later at Seattle Pacific University, including serving as president of the youth movement of the

Pacific NW Baptist General Conference (now Converge). Experiences in college and engaging in street preaching and door-to-door evangelism with YWAM in Trinidad and Tobago in 1968 stretched him toward world missions.

As a literature major, the study of existentialism, along with the anti-war, racial, and ecological tensions of the time, raised significant questions for Dr. Horrell, even continuing into his brief tenure as an interim pastor in

Bellevue, Washington. Doors opened for him to live in the L’Abri community in Switzerland for several months in late 1971. He listened to hundreds of lectures, on cassette tape and in-person, by the prolific Christian apologist and L’Abri founder, Francis Schaeffer. At L’Abri, Dr. Horrell was challenged to understand and affirm belief in the Holy Trinity, an awakening that he attests transformed his life.

DR. SCOTT HORRELL RETIRES AFTER SERVING

Dr. Horrell’s experience at L’Abri, followed by a return to Tobago “to live by faith” as witness to the gospel, was life-shaping. Complemented by other influences, “Schaeffer’s theology led me to Dallas Seminary because of his stress on inerrancy and the importance of knowing the original languages.”

In 1972, Dr. Horrell began attending Dallas Theological Seminary. The next year, he met a lovely young lady named Ruth while attending Scofield Memorial Church. They married in 1974. In his remaining seminary years (1975–77), he represented InterVarsity Missions, visiting schools across the south, something he greatly enjoyed. He graduated with his Master of Theology degree in 1977, with an emphasis in Systematic Theology.

After an interim pastorate in Dr. Horrell’s home church in Ephrata, the Horrells entered the churchplanting ministry of World Team in southern Brazil. Ruth’s parents had founded Faith Press International in Brazil, and Ruth already spoke some Portuguese. Soon the Horrells helped establish a church in Porto Alegre, the largest city in the far south. Dr. Horrell fondly recalls that this period of developing young leaders was “one of the most blessed times in my life. We were all learning.”

DTS’s own Dr. Charles Ryrie visited Brazil in 1983 and invited Horrell back to DTS to pursue his doctorate. Dr. Horrell graduated in 1987. In the ten years before joining the theology faculty at DTS, Dr. Horrell taught at several schools in

Brazil, including Word of Life Biblical Seminary and Servants of Christ Theological Seminary. He was chair of theology and coordinator of graduate studies at the Baptist Theological Seminary of São Paulo. Along with writing several books, he was cofounder and coeditor of Vox Scripturae, which became the largest Protestant theological journal in Latin America.

Talking of his missionary work in Brazil, Dr. Horrell says, “You eventually gotta get out of the way as a missionary. You need to replace yourself. Don’t try to be the center.” Taking his own advice, the Horrells left Brazil in 1997 and came to Dallas, where he joined the DTS faculty. His coursework focused on trinitarianism, angelology, humanity, sin, soteriology, world religions, and global Christian theology.

One of his former students, writing on a website, says Dr. Horrell is “a master theologian as well as former missionary . . . . He is respectful and his true spirituality shines through.” Another student said, “I feel equipped to take what I’ve learned and boil it down for others.”

Dr. Horrell’s plans for retirement include writing projects, teaching as an adjunct at DTS and overseas, and reflecting further on how he and Ruth might be used by the Lord, especially with their grandchildren. The Horrells’ two daughters (Rachel and Krystal), sons-in-law (both DTS grads), and eight grandchildren reside in greater Dallas and Houston.

“

THE MINISTRY OF DR. SCOTT HORRELL HAS BEEN A CONSTANT EXAMPLE OF THE DTS MOTTO: TEACH TRUTH. LOVE WELL.”

– Dr. Mark M. Yarbrough

COMMENCEMENT

WERE AT ONE TIME DARKNESS, BUT NOW YOU ARE LIGHT IN THE LORD. LIVE LIKE CHILDREN OF LIGHT—FOR THE FRUIT OF THE LIGHT CONSISTS IN ALL GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND TRUTH.

Engaging Wisely

with Outsiders to the Faith

BY KRAIG W. MCNUTT

A challenge we face as believers is discerning how to engage with outsiders to the faith without participating in aspects of their lifestyle that we know are dishonoring to God. Our own inimitable “Prof” Howard Hendricks often said, “Jesus was able to companion with sinners without becoming complicated by their sin.” But where can we turn in the Bible to get a better grasp of this subject? One place is Ephesians 5, where Paul explains what it means to be children of light. In verses 8–9, Paul says, “You were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light—for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.”

THIS BRIEF ARTICLE EXPLORES WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT AND HOW THE FRUITS (VIRTUES) OF LIGHT—GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND TRUTH—BECOME FOUNDATIONAL FOR BELIEVERS IN LEADING OUTSIDERS TO A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD (JOHN 8:12).

THE FRUIT OF LIGHT: GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND TRUTH

Ephesians 5:8 calls believers to walk, live, and maintain a lifestyle as children of light. The fruit of light, we’re told, consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. On the surface, Paul’s choice of the metaphor of darkness and light might appear somewhat odd. But one of his main points in Ephesians 5:6–14 is that believers have been called out of darkness, and because of Christ we are now the light in the Lord. Therefore, Paul admonishes us to live as children of light. When we do, outsiders to the faith will see (aided by the power of the Holy Spirit) virtues in us: goodness, righteousness, and truth. God often uses the fruit of the light to draw attention to the light of the world—Jesus!

These three virtues are not intended to be exhaustive, as the fruit of the Spirit is again outlined in Galatians 5 with eight more virtues. The fruit of the Spirit, manifested in the life of the Spirit-empowered believer, could also be viewed as the good works that “God prepared beforehand so we can do them” (Eph 2:10). In her commentary, Lynn Cohick says, “Paul invites believers to walk in those good works that God prepared for them (2:10) and to walk in a worthy manner (4:1), walking in Christ’s love such that it spills over onto others (5:2)”.1 Chapter 5 sets up the final chapter of Ephesians, in which Paul will summarize the entire argument of the second half of the letter. In that last chapter, Paul returns to the theme of “walking in Christ’s love” through the metaphor of armor, which includes righteousness and truth, along with a few additional virtues.

Let’s examine these three virtues: goodness, righteousness, and truth. It’s important to see these virtues as foundational to Paul’s overall argument in chapter five of Ephesians. We are to be imitators of God, walking in love (5:1ff.). Imitators of God live like children of God. After all, “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Paul advances his overall argument in Ephesians 5:15–21, pointing out that when it comes to outsiders, the wise person will also take “advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Seeing our lives in a challenging world as an opportunity is possible only when we live as Spirit-empowered (5:18) children of light.

Notably, in Ephesians the fruit of light consists of virtues If not supported by godly character (the fruit of light), then using words, speech, and arguments to engage outsiders is often more harmful because such engagement is not Spiritempowered. As James 1:19–20 teaches, “human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” James goes on to explain other key points of relational advice that lead us to appropriate interactions with other people.

MAY WE EACH BE THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT IN WHOM GOD USES THE FRUIT OF THE LIGHT TO OPEN THE EYES OF THOSE IN DARKNESS AROUND US, SO THAT THEY TOO CAN HAVE THE HOPE OF A LIFE SPENT WITH HIM.

Godly character virtues develop over time as the believer’s behaviors (and thoughts) are conformed to Scripture’s moral principles such as “love your neighbor as yourself.” As we share the gospel with outsiders, we must ourselves continually become people of virtue, so that our words match our walk. This is why our motto at DTS is “Teach truth. Love well.” We might even switch the order: “Love well. Teach truth.” As Prof Hendricks would often say, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

GOODNESS

Let’s unpack the first fruit of light, goodness: “for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Eph 5:9). We know goodness is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). And in 2 Thessalonians 1:11, we read, “in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of his calling and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith.”

Goodness “calls believers to a vibrant, active concern for others so as to benefit them,” states Cohick.2 Paul told the Romans that he was convinced they were “full of goodness” (Rom 15:14). Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” When people get a “taste” of how we relate to them, do they conclude that we’re good? Goodness is therefore the first virtue of the children of light.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

The second virtue Paul lists for believers living as children of light is righteousness. Cohick says that righteousness “includes both the idea of personal integrity and community justice and fairness”.3 In Romans 6:13, Paul says our bodies are instruments to be “used for righteousness.” Our giving to others in need (2 Cor 9:9–10) “will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow.”

TRUTH

The final virtue Paul points to as the fruit of light is truth. In Ephesians 4:21, Paul shared that “the truth is in Jesus.” Of course, the gospel itself is the word of truth (Eph 1:13). In the last section of Ephesians, in which Paul focuses on the armor of God, he admonishes Spirit-empowered believers to take up the armor of God in order to “stand against the schemes of the devil.” Armor-clad, Spirit-empowered believers can stand fast because the “belt of truth” is around their waist.

Paul’s teaching here is not primarily about an affirmation of ideas but about a way of living. The ideas must be lived out in our everyday lives, as we seek to become more like Christ in all that we do.

When believers imitate God, walking in love as children of light, the fruit of light spills over into the lives of outsiders, benefiting them as well. This is even more important when we realize that the good works that God prepared for us are also what the Bride of Christ (the church) uses to adorn herself at the wedding celebration of the Lamb: “She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints)” (Rev 19:6–8).

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY

The fruit of light in Ephesians 5:9 becomes a foundation that the wise person will leverage in engaging with outsiders—namely, people currently in darkness and not following the light of the world. Though Paul is clear that believers are not to partner with or be “sharers with them,” we certainly see that “Paul encourages believers to take their role as light to be light to others so they too might come into the light”4; the way we live becomes an invitation to other people to experience the new life that they can see in our example.

The apostle Paul brings the admonition to be imitators of God (5:1) full circle at this point. Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, left heaven to come to earth—fully man, fully God—so He could rescue us from darkness. While on earth, His ministry demonstrated that He was the light of the world. Those people He has rescued are now called to be children of light, and our fruit—goodness, righteousness, and truth—can become the means by which God works in the lives of outsiders to bring them out of darkness and into His glorious light.

May we each be the children of light in whom God uses the fruit of the light to open the eyes of those in darkness around us, so that they too can have the hope of a life spent with Him.

1 Lynn Cohick, The Letter to the Ephesians (New York: Eerdmans, 2020) (327).

2 Cohick, The Letter to the Ephesians (328).

3 Cohick, The Letter to the Ephesians (328).

4 Cohick, The Letter to the Ephesians (325).

ENGAGING WISELY WITH OUTSIDERS TO THE FAITH

The Fruit of the Light in Corrie ten Boom

BY KRAIG W. MCNUTT

As we see in the article “Engaging Wisely with Outsiders to the Faith” in this issue, we are light in the Lord, and so Paul exhorts us to “live like children of light—for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Eph 5:8–9 NET). The way we live and relate to others, especially to those who are outsiders to the faith, becomes an invitation to witness our example of new life.

“Prof” Howard Hendricks, former DTS professor of Bible exposition, was fond of saying, “You cannot impart what you do not possess.” We can’t expect to affect the lives of outsiders for the sake of the gospel if we don’t allow God’s word to influence our lives. One person whose life displayed the fruit of the light was Corrie ten Boom. She beautifully modeled wise engagement with outsiders to the faith.

Corrie ten Boom’s life (1892–1983) demonstrated the fruit of the light and pointed to the true light of the world. She grew up in a Dutch Calvinist home that enthusiastically pursued compassion for others. In her twenties, she started youth clubs that served people with intellectual disabilities. Her parents also helped board children of Dutch missionaries to Indonesia.

In 1940, Nazis raided homes, confiscated personal property, and displaced thousands of Holland’s Jews. It was then that Corrie’s father built a secret room—a hiding place—next to Corrie’s bedroom. This small closet could hide six people standing up inside it. The ten Booms used their home to provide shelter for Jews and others who sought protection from Nazi persecution.

Four years later, local police suspected that the ten Boom house in Haarlem was being used to harbor members of the Dutch underground resistance, as well as Jews—as, in fact, it was. The constant activity in and around the home resulted in a raid by the Nazis, following up on information from a Dutch neighbor, Jan Vogel, who betrayed the ten Boom family. Though the Jews in the hiding place were not discovered, the Nazis arrested several people, including most of the ten Boom family.

Corrie’s father died at the hands of his perpetrators within days of the arrest; Corrie and her sister Betsie were eventually

sent to the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbrück in Germany. At Ravensbrück, Betsie died of starvation. Not long after the death of her dear sister, Corrie was miraculously released due to a clerical error. Had she stayed another week at Ravensbrück, Corrie would have been killed in the crematorium, with all the other women in her group.

Corrie returned to Holland. At first, she harbored great hatred toward Jan Vogel, the neighbor who had betrayed her family by providing information to the Nazi authorities. But the Lord convicted Corrie of this hatred, and she repented. She wrote Vogel a letter and sent him a New Testament after she learned that he was sentenced to death. She told him she forgave him. He replied: “That you could forgive me is such a great miracle that I have said, ‘Jesus, when you give such love in the heart of your followers, there is hope for me.’”1

When we live as children of light, the way we live invites outsiders to the faith to experience the new life found in Christ. May they see in our lives examples of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Corrie ten Boom

1 Robert Fernandez, Corrie ten Boom: A Faith Undefeated (Herald Entertainment, 2013).

Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them.

Making a lasting difference for the Kingdom of God

BY CHUCK SWINDOLL

Those who are filled with the Holy Spirit have a sincere desire to make a lasting difference in the lives of others. They are also some of the most pleasant people you can meet. They want their lives to count. I’ve noticed several other admirable traits among such people. They are not motivated by money or possessions, nor are they interested in impressing people, nor driven by applause, nor afraid of risk, hardship, or even sacrifice. For them, the only thing that matters is that their lives count for eternity.

You may wonder how to cultivate this kind of attitude—an attitude defined by the desire to create a legacy that impacts God’s kingdom. Such a life does not just happen; such lives sprout from being rooted in your identity in Jesus, from the good works you produce, and from knowing why you do what you do. These three characteristics—who you are, what you do, why you do it—correlate to the people you choose to pattern your life after. Those who make a lasting difference choose their mentors carefully. Consider Timothy’s mentor, the Apostle Paul.

Although Timothy seems to have had a passive personality, he was able to influence the early church through Paul’s mentorship. Timothy’s legacy continues to influence us today.

Think about your ministry and consider: “Do I want to make a lasting impact?” If your answer is yes, then you must consider what lies ahead. You do not know how God will use you for His kingdom. Yet suffering is certain in the Christian life, and therefore your ministry will include hardship. Second Timothy 3:1 states that difficult times are ahead. The word difficult may be understood as savage: put bluntly, there will be savage days in your ministry.

To endure difficult days, we must cultivate qualities unlike the savage character of people we’re often called to serve. This savage character is described by Paul in verses 1–5, as he prepares Timothy for ministry in the last days. And rest assured, we are living in such days. Extremely difficult days have arrived! So, in preparing for ministry, we are wise to associate with people who live in submission to God and who rightly divide His Word for practical application. Pattern your life after Christ-like mentors, people who love well and teach God’s Word well: parents, older family members, mature friends, trusted counselors, professors, teachers, and pastors. These reliable people have guided us, reproved us, and affirmed the spiritual gifts within us.

In verses 10–14, Paul is tactical in his encouragement of Timothy, reminding Timothy of their pasts, their futures, and Timothy’s present. First, Paul looks back as he mentions the example of suffering that he set for Timothy. Then he looks ahead as he reminds Timothy that suffering is inevitable in the days to come. Finally, Paul looks at life as it was and encourages Timothy to remain steadfast and obedient.

Reflecting on your desire to make a lasting difference for God’s kingdom, remember your teachers and your mentors, and hear Paul’s message resonating through what they taught you. As you remember your teachers, reflect on their examples of suffering and endurance. Stay realistic as you look ahead and prepare for the tough times you will surely encounter in your own ministry. Don’t forget that you will pay a price for your decision to create an impact. Nevertheless, do not allow fear to deter you. You will make a lasting difference because you are a conqueror in Christ and you have been called for such a time as this.

The Light of the World IsJesus

BY MARK L. BAILEY

Metaphors are figurative expressions that illustrate a comparison by means of representation. One of the most prominent and multifaceted metaphors in both the Old and New Testaments is that of light contrasted with darkness.

We live in an age reminiscent of the time of the prophet Isaiah, who said, “Beware, those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter” (Isa 5:20). Such reversals are intentional repudiations of all that is right about God and His ways. Into such cultural darkness, God wants to send His light. Light is a great metaphor for God’s answer to the darkness of spiritual blindness, wickedness, satanic power, and death.

The use of light in the Old Testament is the foundation for its connection to Jesus in the New. When used of God, light is an

expression for the glory of His presence (Ps 27:1, 104:2; Isa 60:1, 20), the revelation of spiritual truth (Job 24:13; Prov 6:23; Dan 2:22), and the righteous standard and justice (Isa 2:4, 51:4); it is an expression for the salvation and blessings that only God can provide (Mic 7:8–9; Ps 44:3, 56:13, 89:15; Isa 9:2).

Of the many blessings that could be mentioned, the light of God’s leadership is addressed most often (Job 22:28, 29:3; Ps 44:3). To reject the light of that leadership is to reject God Himself (Job 24:13, 16). Those who have responded positively to God’s light not only find salvation, instruction, and direction, but they also become His servants to take that light to the nations of the world (Isa 42:6, 49:6). These same nuances are found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel of John, one of the seven I AM affirmations of Jesus is His claim to be the light of the world (John 8:12,

9:5). This claim occurs within the book’s larger context, in which the term light is used just over thirty times. As the eternal Son of God, Jesus is said to be the source of life and, as such, becomes the light for all mankind (1:4). His incarnate ministry became the means by which he manifested that light, embodying in full all the attributes of deity (1:14). With Christ’s coming into the world, God’s light has penetrated the darkness of a fallen world (1:5). For Jesus to be called “the true light” speaks of both the integrity and authority of Jesus (1:9). As the divine agent of creation (1:3), Jesus has enlightened every person with sufficient light, thereby rendering everyone accountable for their response to that light.

Because Jesus is the fulfillment of all that God intends light to represent, people’s response to Jesus as the light is also a manifestation of God’s judgment (3:19). In John’s typical literary technique of general overstatement followed

by specific exception, John states, “and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil” (3:19). The wicked so hate the light that they refuse to come to the light; they don’t want their works exposed (3:20). By contrast and exception, people who come to the light live in the light of truth, and God supernaturally energizes their works (3:21).

Jesus affirms all that is said to be true of God and His light in the Hebrew Scriptures. His emphatic claim in John 8:12 to be the light of the world is both a claim of equality with the Father and a promise of life to people who will follow Him in faith. This claim occurs in the midst of a conversation between competing authorities. Throughout the passage, Jesus repeatedly affirms his connections with the Father. Being sent from the Father and one with the Father, Jesus is the personal revelation of the Father in word, deed, honor, judgment, and glory.

Jesus is the light of the world because of his unity and union with the Father.

Jesus warns that exposure to that light may be a temporary experience, thus creating a sense of urgency. This urgency encourages an immediate response of reception; those who believe in that light will become people of light who take the message of salvation to others (John 12:35 36). With intentionality, the final mention of light in John’s Gospel declares the very purpose for which Jesus came into the world: that people will believe in Christ and escape the darkness (12:46).

Those outside of and alienated from the light are said to be blind and lost, stumbling in their darkness. May we continue the mission of Jesus and the apostle Paul, “to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in [Jesus]” (Acts 26:18).

NEW HIRES

VICE PRESIDENT FOR BUSINESS AND FINANCE/CFO

David Tarrant joined DTS in March 2022 as CFO and Vice President for Business and Finance. He is responsible for all financial matters regarding budgets, audit, tax, investments, debt management, and general accounting services. David earned a BBA from the University of Toledo, Ohio, and an MBA from Crown College, Minnesota. He has worked for over thirty-five years with various companies and in nonprofit higher education organizations.

David and his wife, Maureen, have been married for thirty years and have four adult children: Ian, Evan, Owen, and Alissa. They have served in Russia with The CoMission for Children at Risk, working in schools, hospitals, and orphanages, and teaching Christian ethics and morality. David and Maureen enjoy serving in their local church, traveling, and spending time together.

Karen McDonald EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYEE SUCCESS

In December 2021, DTS welcomed Karen McDonald as Executive Director of Employee Success. Karen brings more than twenty years of senior leadership experience in the consulting and financial services industries, where she held consulting roles with Deloitte and PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) and served as Head of Talent Management with Zurich North America and most recently as Vice President of Talent Management for Kemper Insurance in Chicago. She holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Karen also brings vast leadership experience in ministry. She was recently appointed Board Chair of the American Bible Society after her earlier success in chairing the Ad-hoc Strategic Planning Committee that led the development of the organization’s vital framework. Before moving to Dallas, Karen was a longtime member of Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, where she dedicated her time and talents to the Kadima Ministry and the In Focus community. She now plans to join Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

DEAN OF DTS-HOUSTON

Pierre Cannings joins us as the next Dean of DTS-Houston. Pierre is the Executive Assistant Pastor at Living Word Fellowship Church in Houston, where he oversees the church’s young adults, youth, missions, and discipleship ministries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, and a ThM from DTS, thanks to the classes offered through our Houston campus. He is currently finishing up his PhD in Leadership Studies at Dallas Baptist University.

Pierre married his high school sweetheart, Monica, in 2006, and they have three children: Natalia, Pierre II, and Carter. Our Vice President for Education, George Hillman, writes, “I am personally thrilled about Pierre joining the DTS-Houston team, since he’s one of my former students. He is a Houston guy who is passionate for the city. The Lord is on the move in Houston, and we are looking forward to what’s next.”

Pierre Cannings

David Tarrant

Dr. Bruce Fong

The DTS family benefited greatly from Dr. Bruce Fong’s thoughtful, caring leadership as Dean of DTS-Houston and as Professor of Pastoral Ministries. He loved time for thinking in his office; time for enjoying God’s creation through fishing, bicycling, swimming, hiking, hunting, and motorcycling; and time for investing in his students in the classroom. One of the greatest joys of his life was his connections to friends all over the world. “I treasure those very special lives that love me and let me love them,” he wrote.

“Friendships touch my heart and ignite a special fire that convinces me that God, Jesus, and heaven are real.” Born in California, Dr. Fong lived in four other states and in Scotland before finding his way to Texas. As a blogger, author of numerous books and articles, and frequent speaker, he brought encouragement, instruction, and hope from his own experiences. “Live each day to the fullest with the grace of God,” he wrote, “because we have far fewer days ahead than we have already lived in the past. Press on with enthusiasm.”

On January 7, 2022, at the age of 69 and a year after his diagnosis with ALS, Dr. Fong went to be with the Lord. He leaves a legacy of devotion to his wife, Yvonne, and their three married children and four grandchildren.

Dr. Willie J. Bolden

Dr. Willie J. Bolden graduated from Biola University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education, and Christian education characterized his life’s mission in all the years following. His own educational journey led him to earn a Master of Arts in Theological Education from Talbot Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in Missions and Evangelism from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through speaking, teaching, and preaching, Dr. Bolden reached many people with clear guidance in subjects including biblical marriage, blended families, evangelism, Bible doctrine, and Christian education. In 1995, Dr. Bolden and his wife, Loretta, moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area and started These Are They Community Church in Desoto (now New Legacy Community Church). The name originated in Revelation 7:13–14: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (NIV). He later accepted roles at DTS-Houston as Executive Director of Community and Church Relations and as Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Ministries and Educational Ministries and Leadership. He continued to serve at DTS-Houston until he passed away on November 14, 2021, after a lengthy illness. Stan Newton, Director of Community Relations and Formation Ministries at DTS-Houston, remembers Dr. Bolden’s “go-getter” approach during engaging conversations at the office. “He told me what he thought and why—never as an attempt to change my mind, but as an invitation to get to know him better,” says Newton. “He let me see who he was and offered himself to me as a companion, confidant, and friend.”

Dr. Charles P. Baylis

Dr. Charles P. Baylis, Professor of Bible Exposition, joined the faculty of DTS in 1994. As a teacher and author, he specialized in the literary study of the Bible’s story. His understanding of the Bible was enhanced by his explorations of biblical sites in Israel, Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Dr. Baylis’s enthusiasm for the narrative of the Bible led him to found BiblicalStory, Inc., where he served as president and CEO for seven years. The mission of BiblicalStory, Inc. is “to reveal the power of the word of the triune God of Israel through the careful understanding of the narrative of the Biblical Story,” and to help people develop the ability to understand the Scriptures for themselves. Their website, TheBiblicalStory.org, states, “It is our hope that you will never read the Bible the same as you begin to conceive the magnitude and the cohesion of the narrative into which all of us have been placed for such a time as this.” This was also Dr. Baylis’s educational approach in the classroom. Dr. Baylis enjoyed time with his family—his wife, three adult children, and three grandchildren. He died early on a Sunday morning, March 6, 2022, leaving an immense contribution to the field of Bible Exposition.

ALUMNI Connection

NEW POSITIONS

Cary A. Clifton (ThM, 1981), Asia director, Center for Intercultural Training, Union Mills, NC

Keith H. Lasco (MACE, 1995), chaplain, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Health System, Houston, TX

Jessica L. Gardner (MAMC, 2014), social media marketing specialist, Buckner International, Dallas, TX

Joshua S. Hankins (ThM, 2021), director of children’s ministry, Heritage Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA

Paul D. Singleton (MABS, 2016; MACL, 2016), senior pastor, First Congregational Church, Mantorville, MN

Chad Reeser (ThM, 2008), connect & care ministry leader, Cherry Hills Church, Springfield, IL

Jazmine Sanchez (ThM, 2018), middle school Bible teacher, Highlands International School, La Paz, Bolivia

Marshall Dunbar (DMin, 2019), vice president of student development, Dallas Christian College, Dallas, TX

David Gomez (ThM, 2000), district superintendent, Alliance South Central District, Mercedes, TX

Calvin A. Blom (ThM, 1978), senior pastor, Grace Bible Fellowship, Kelso, WA

Stephen T. Partrick (ThM, 2013), lead pastor, The Branch Church, Dahlonega, GA

Jill A. Lamar (MABC, 2016), licensed professional counselor, Thriveworks Counseling, Philadelphia, PA

STAYING CONNECTED

James A. Brown (ThM, 1961) has been given many opportunities to disciple and train men in the next generation.

William D. Taylor (ThM, 1967) is continuing with TaylorGlobalConsult after serving for over twenty-five years with World Evangelical Alliance. He also partners with Instituto Crux, a Spanish-language apologetics platform.

After over two years of ministry in an English-speaking church in Guatemala, Ralph F. Porter (ThM, 1969) and his wife, Helen, have retired for the fourth time and moved to a retirement community in Winona Lake, IN.

Donald J. Wyrtzen (ThM, 1969) has arranged, orchestrated, and conducted for major artists including Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael Card, Babbie Mason, and Andy Williams. He lectures on church music, worship, and hymnology in many Christian colleges and seminaries.

Although Benjamin J. Meyer (STM, 1971) is eighty-seven years old, he is still preaching in a retirement community church with his wife beside him. Benjii has been at the chapel for sixteen years.

Bruce S. Main (ThM, 1975) serves congregant seniors as interim pastor of visitation and care in his church community of College Church in Wheaton, IL.

Richard D. Rood (ThM, 1976) published A Day in the Life of a Chaplain with Resource Publications.

Larry D. Anderson (MABS, 1977) and Nancy both retired from Liberty University after twentyseven years as professors.

Leonard A. Brooks II (ThM, 1977) served as a part-time pastor for three years. Lenny also taught Bible studies with Chinese graduate students at the University of Iowa for over twenty years at a Friday night Chinese Bible fellowship which became a church. Some from those Bible students went on to seminary and returned to China, where they are serving our Lord full time, assisting in the training of church leaders. He is rejoicing in the grace of God that all his children and their spouses are following Jesus and serving His church.

After serving for twenty-one years as senior pastor-teacher at Calvary Bible Church in Nassau, Bahamas, Allan R. Lee (ThM, 1977) retired because of health reasons. Allan now teaches Bible via Zoom, continuing his ministry, Teleios Theological Institute from Tampa, Florida, where his family now resides.

Charles H. Dyer (ThM, 1979; PhD, 1986) published What Does the Bible Say about the Future? with Moody Publishers.

R. Dean Linsky (ThM, 1979) finished twenty-eight years as senior pastor for CrossWay Church in Mohnton, PA, on May 17, 2020. He is grateful for a smooth two-year transition with the new senior pastor. He and his wife have continued their involvement in the church as volunteers.

Thomas M. Stallter (ThM, 1979) published The Gap Between God and Christianity: The Turbulence of Western Culture with Resource Publishing.

After three years of ministry in the Episcopal Church in eastern North Carolina, Michael B. Thompson (ThM, 1979) moved with his family to Cambridge, UK, in 1983 for doctoral study. From 1988 to 1995 he taught New Testament in Nottingham, before returning to Cambridge to teach for twenty-five years at Ridley Hall, a Church of England seminary. After a career including books, articles, editorial work for Grove Books, and acting as Principal (dean) of the seminary when needed, he retired in 2020. Married for 43 years, he lives with his wife, Susanne, in a flat where he still gives occasional lectures at Ridley, when not playing guitar or tennis!

With all three married children and seven grandchildren in the area, Ruth (MABS, 1980) and Rod (ThM, 1980) Stiling plan to remain in the Pacific Northwest following Rod’s retirement from the History Department faculty of Seattle Pacific University in June 2021. Rod and Ruth feel enormously grateful and blessed for the journey thus far, with all its trials and joys; this has included adventures in family life, ministry, and higher education in the Philippines, Wisconsin, and Washington State. Come see them in Edmonds, Washington!

Alan L. Brown (ThM, 1981; DMin, 2008) has been a missionary with Avant since 1988, serving with his wife, Phyllis, in Costa Rica, central Mexico, and northeast Ohio,

ministering to the Hispanic community. Alan joined the faculty of Rio Grande Bible College in August 2022. Rio Grande prepares Hispanic people for the ministry and currently has students from twenty-two countries. Twenty years ago, Alan and Phyllis adopted a biological sibling group of six Mexican children when they lived in Mexico. Their children now range from twenty-two to thirty years old, with all of them living in the Northeast. The Lord has blessed them greatly as a family.

Edgar B. Hardesty (ThM, 1981) retired from Cairn University after thirty years in July 2021. He continues to serve as a pastor and will celebrate fifty years in the pastorate in 2022.

Mark D. Carpenter (ThM, 1982) is involved in the tech team at First Christian Church, in Champaign, IL.

Alice and Gary A. Fredricks (ThM, 1982) are retiring from Cru after serving for fifty-five and fiftyseven years, respectively. They will become Staff Emeritus in July 2022 and shift their focus from serving with Cru to their local church.

Dan K. Rosendahl is studying the pastoral work of Swedish pastors who indicated that their ministries were doing well in 2016, after completing work on those whose ministries were not doing well.

Daryl D. Wilson (ThM, 1982) began a new ministry as pastor of Temple Baptist Church (SBC) in Clute, Texas. In addition, he continues to serve on the administrative team of the Gulf Coast Baptist Association and as foundation chair for the Brazoria County Retired Teachers Association.

Neil C. Damgaard (ThM, 1983; DMin, 2008) published Wounded Faith: Understanding and Healing from Spiritual Abuse with the International Cultic Studies Association.

J. Scott Hesler (ThM, 1983) published A Common Man’s Guide to God with Westbow Press.

James F. Cox III (ThM, 1984) retired, but serves as pastor emeritus of Hamilton Bible Fellowship in Hamilton, NY, and continues to minister through music. Previously, he served as the Protestant chaplain for Colgate University. In 2016, Putter moved to Luray, VA, to establish River Dell Bed & Breakfast.

churches in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska, after serving under the mentorship of Dr. Bruce Ewing at Fellowship Bible Church of Tulsa. He will also continue to serve with ReachGlobal in Indonesia, teaching and counseling church planters and partners in Sumatra.

After surviving several hurricanes, Central Baptist and Friendship Baptist Churches came together as one congregation to become Grace Baptist Church because of severe flooding from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Both churches were reconstituted on July 7, 2019.

Phillip J. Sigman (ThM, 1987) serves as the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Groves, TX, by the grace of our Lord and will continue for His glory.

Michael A. Klumpp (MABS, 1988) recently published the children’s book Say Yes, the poetry chapbook Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band, and I Am: The Miracle. He also serves as a pastor/teacher for The Sunday Hour radio broadcast.

Church, a bilingual Hispanic congregation in the Carrollton/Farmers Branch area of the Metroplex.

Maceo Gray (ThM, 1998) published Bridging the Racial Divide with the Cross of Christ through HopeAgainMinistries. org. Maceo shares his personal experiences of growing up in the south during the era of segregation and being the first Black engineer hired at Bendix Corporation in Kansas City, MO. He and his late wife, Annie Pearl (MACM, 1998), were the first Black family in their church. His intent is to show how Christ’s healing power of the gospel can speak into this discussion.

After thirty-eight years of pastoring in Washington and Wisconsin, Jeff MacLurg (ThM, 1984) now serves as the Northwest Development Director for The Timothy Initiative. TTI disciples indigenous disciplemakers who plant churches. It has started over 115,000 churches in thirty-five countries and will see more than 40,000 churches started in 2022.

Marlin Mohrman (ThM, 1985) stepped down on February 13, 2022, as Lead Pastor of Morris Evangelical Free Church in Morris, MN, after fifteen years of ministry. He and his wife, Nancy, will begin a new chapter of serving with IPM (Interim Pastor Ministries). He has served

Mel E. (ThM, 1989) and Patricia Davis (MACE, 1989) retired from WorldVenture after thirty-one years of service in Slovenia.

Andrew J. Beaty (MACE, 1992) and his wife, Karen, adopted a son, Joshua on March 23, 2022. Joshua’s grandmother (guardian) passed away last fall from COVID-19, and the Beatys have been friends with her for fifteen years. Joshua joins the Beatys’ five older biological children and six adopted children in the “Beaty Bunch.” Joshua’s new grandparents are Frank (ThM, 1972) and Judie Beaty.

Vincent J. Gonzales (ThM, 1992) founded and serves as the senior pastor at North Dallas Family

(L to R) Michael P. Luciano (ThM, 2007), Thomas L. Basile (ThM, 2005), Abraham Joseph (ThM, 1998; PhD, 2012), James O. Rose Jr. (ThM, 1967), Mark L. Bailey (PhD, 1997), (not pictured) Brian K. Newby (ThM, 2012).

Abraham Joseph (ThM, 1998; PhD, 2012) was installed as a senior pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in New York, NY.

Ronnie L. Stanley, Jr. (ThM, 1999; DMin, 2022) became the Vice President of Men’s Ministry at Central Union Mission in Washington, DC. In addition, Ron is also the new grandfather of Ilia Maeve Schaffer. She is the daughter of Noah (son-in-law) and Ashley Marie (Stanley) (daughter).

ALUMNI Connection

Timothy D. Gibson (ThM, 2002) serves as the lead pastor of Journey Bible Church in Broken Arrow, OK.

J. Gregory Sheryl (CBS, 2002) serves as a customer service representative with Minol, Inc. He also occasionally does pulpit supply and writes. For the last fifteen years, Greg has been a contributor to The Quarterly Journal, which was the publication of Personal Freedom Outreach, founded by M. Kurt Goedelman and based in St. Louis, MO.

After serving fourteen years in Iowa, the Lord led John F. McClung Jr. (MACE, 2007) to serve as the pastor of Living Faith Fellowship Church in Eureka, Illinois.

they attribute completely to God’s grace and prayer after years of infertility struggles. They plan to start the certification process for foster-to-adopt this summer.

vision is to collaborate with local ministries to support more effective use of and access to Scriptures and other resources in the minority languages of homeland communities of immigrants.

Janene (Crickett) Keeth (MACE, 2005) published Before the Throne with Moody Publishers, an eight-week Bible study on finding strength through prayer.

Jonathan M. Brooks (MACE, 2009) serves as the lead pastor of Restoration Church Bryan in Bryan, TX. In February 2020, Restoration was a church of four hundred. For the last year and a half, Restoration has been gathering in “The Ice House on Main,” an event venue in Downtown Bryan. Over fifteen hundred people worship weekly at Restoration, and they have launched thirty small groups across the Bryan/College Station area. Since October, sixty-four have been baptized, as their community continues to respond to the gospel!

Rebecca M. Jowers (MACE, 2012) serves as the founder, president, and executive director of the Poiema Foundation. The Poiema Foundation educates the public and raises awareness to prevent sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and other methods of sexual exploitation. It also facilitate the restoration journey of survivors in its safe house by providing for their physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs. Over six hundred active volunteers help make this possible.

Jason Benningfield (MACM, 2014) has served as a men’s care minister at Our Calling, a homeless ministry in Dallas, since July 2021.

Kimberly S. Jackson (MACM, 2006) and her husband, Lee, founded Distinctly His Ministries. Their mission is to provide resources, services, and opportunities to encourage, equip, and empower youth and families, cultivating a distinct and thriving godly culture.

After spending nearly a decade at Trinity Fellowship Church in Richardson, Jeff Harding (MACE, 2012) accepted the newly created role of Family Ministries Pastor at Calvary Church in St. Peters, MO. Starting the job this past January, he supervises and invests in the staff that lead the preschool through college ministries, and interfaces with parents and families through parenting classes, milestones (such as child dedication and baptism), and various events. Jeff and his wife, Faith, love spending time together with their son Deacon, whom

In addition to authoring two books, Rick E. Meyer (MACL, 2013) will eclipse 140,000-lifetime miles in April with an overall lifetime average pace under 6:40/mile. He has also helped coach approximately forty All-Americans, dozens of State Champions, and several state record holders.

After ten years serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Oaxaca, Mexico, Ramon F. (MABL, 2013) and Deborah Hayhoe (MABL, 2008) Padilla joined Outreach Canada in 2021 to serve existing diaspora ministries in the greater Toronto area and across Canada. Their

Jed Ostoich (ThM, 2014), Seana Scott (MAMW, 2021), Sandi Glahn (ThM, 2001), Lacie Phillips (MACE, 2009), Jennifer Matenaer (MAMW, 2022), Logan Matenaer (ThM, 2022), and students Rachel Larden, TiYang Bai, and Radha Vyas attended the national meeting of the Evangelical Press Association in Colorado Springs, CO.

Zachary M. McAlack (ThM, 2015) has served as young adult pastor at Calvary Baptist Church since June 2016. He and his wife, Leah, have two children, Wilbur and Lucy. They are celebrating God’s goodness and provision for Wilbur, who had extensive heart surgery in September 2021.

Lisa J. Bowe (ThM, 2016) serves as the head of school at Whitefield Academy in Kansas City, MO.

Scott R. Cyre (ThM, 2016) serves as the senior pastor at King of Kings Fellowship in Lethbridge, Alberta. The church was founded

in 2002, and Scott joined the staff in 2022. King of Kings declares itself fully evangelical and responsibly charismatic.

Caroline and Jonah Lanclos (ThM, 2017) had their first child, Boone Hewett Lanclos. They also recently accepted the call for Jonah to pastor Shoestring Valley Community Church in Onalaska, WA.

Matthew (ThM, 2019) and Sydney McCullar welcomed their first son, Samuel Pierce, on March 25, 2022. After serving as the college pastor at Countryside Church in Stillwater, OK, for five years, Matt transitioned to serve as equipping pastor.

On May 6, 2022, Raymond Turner II (MACL, 2020) released his fourth studio album, entitled Trouble in Paradise

to program as a senior software developer for Cox Enterprises bi-vocationally.

Elizabeth M. Woodson (MACE, 2017) published Embrace Your Life: How to Find Joy When the Life You Have is Not the Life You Hoped For with B&HBooks.

Bill J. Reed (MBTS, 2021) founded Navigation Strategies, a career and life coaching practice. He helps men in ministry and business get unstuck and advance toward God’s plan for their lives in his Little Rock, AR, office and on Zoom.

Congrats to one of our legacy students, Olivia Chaney (MAMW, 2022) on her graduation. Olivia was also the recipient of the Roy B. Zuck award for Media Arts and Worship. Her father, Rodney L. Chaney (ThM, 1989) serves as the pastor of Sunrise Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, NC.

IN MEMORY

Gospel Mission’s bilingual school. In 1965, George was appointed director of the school. He was involved in three church planting efforts during this time, knowing that if he didn’t engage in the work, he would produce students who likewise didn’t engage. George and Dora served with the Belgian Gospel Mission until 1971, Greater Europe Mission (GEM) until 1989, and under the D. M. Stearns Missionary Fund, Inc. George wrote several books in French on the issue of evil and suffering, raising children, and the church; he co-authored Recovering Biblical Ministry by Women with his wife, Dora.

Jaclyn Herrig (MABC, 2018) married in 2020. Jaclyn and Daniel welcomed their first son, Hans, in December 2021.

William E. Brown (MBTS, 2019) joined the Northwood Academy faculty to teach middle school and high school Bible courses, as well as serve as an assistant coach to varsity football. William’s room number is the DFW area code, so it has the DTS purple color paint on the wall, and the sponsor church serves Hope Coffee, where he previously worked.

Rex P. Rennie (ThM, 2021) recently began as outreach pastor at New Salem Baptist Church in Kennesaw, GA, passionately seeking to develop a clear flow of steps for reaching the lost in that area. He is beginning to focus on ensuring that members of the community nearby receive Christ’s touch from New Salem, so that New Salem may fulfill the second half of its vision: “growing deep and going wide.” He and his wife, Rachel, have been married over five years and have three children, Walter, Gayle, and Phoebe. Rex enjoys spending time with family and continues

John C. Anderson (ThM, 1952; ThD, 1959) passed away on March 12, 2022. Before coming to DTS, John graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and served in the US Navy as a chief Petty Officer in the South Pacific during World War II. He went on to teach Greek, Hebrew, and Bible at Bryan College in Dayton, TN.

Robert W. Wilson (ThM, 1955) went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2021. Bob served as a pastor across Canada. He served at several churches across his forty years of ministry. His last ministry was as pastoral care minister at Wortley Baptist Church in London, Ontario.

Bruce A. Woods (ThM, 1960) went to be with the Lord on March 23, 2022. Most of Bruce’s career was serving with Stanley Morton Memorial Baptist Church in Vancouver, BC; he started there in 1972. He was a skilled preacher and Bible teacher with a deep desire to know God and lead others to do the same. He authored three books and was a dramatist, with over 250 solo performances in North America.

George M. Winston (ThM, 1952) went to be with the Lord on January 17, 2022. George was born in Brussels, Belgium. After studying in the US, the Lord called him back to Belgium, where he served in the Belgian

Loren Fischer (ThM, 1963) passed away on February 2, 2022. Loren served as the pastor of evangelism and discipleship at first Baptist Church in Portland, OR, and as a nursing home chaplain.

Ronald L. Pollinger (ThM, 1964) died on January 27, 2022. Ronald worked as an assistant pastor with youth in California for many years. For twenty-five years, he taught at an elementary school and served in administration.

Aldonna “Donnie” Rohrbough went to be with the Lord on May 3, 2022. She was the wife of Robert T. Rohrbough (ThM, 1966). Donnie served as a business education teacher and as a real estate agent. Donnie and Bob were members of Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church until they moved to be closer to their son Joel and his family.

James H. Nesbitt (ThM, 1969) died on March 24, 2022. Jim and his wife, Nancy, joined the Unevangelized Fields Mission and served as church planters in France. One church plant in Valence has grown from a small Bible study to now having two services. After returning home from France, Jim returned to his home in Winona Lake, IN, and served as the director of the modern language department at Grace College.

Brent L. Phinney (ThM, 1973) went to be with the Lord on February 16, 2022. Following graduation from DTS, Brent served as associate pastor of Haltom Road Baptist Church and later as minister of youth at First Baptist Church in El Paso. In 1979,

he became pastor of First Baptist Church of Willow Park, where he served for twenty-one years. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Brent became a hospice chaplain until he retired.

moved to Wyoming in 2012 and John served several years as a registered nurse on the night shift at Niobrara Health and Life Center. John was a faithful members of Harrison Bible Church, where they actively served.

Ivan B. Joffer passed away on August 12, 2021. He worked for the San Jose steel company before working from home as a freelance draftsman. Ivan loved teaching Bible studies wherever he lived.

make apologetics relevant to their congregations by serving as the equipping and outreach consultant for Pacific Church Network. Brent pastored at Bethany Church in Long Beach, CA, and ShoreLife Church in Huntington Beach, CA.

Jeanne Hopper went to be with the Lord on April 11, 2022. She was the spouse of Mark S. Hopper (ThM, 1975). They enjoyed over fifty years of marriage before her passing.

Karen Zanghi passed away on March 1, 2022. Kae was the wife of Richard J. Zanghi (ThM, 1981; PhD, 1986). Kae served at Dallas Theological Seminary for ten years while her husband earned his degree.

John Baldwin (ThM, 1984) passed away on February 17, 2022.

John served in three pastorates, including Emmanuel Baptist Church in Coquille, OR, from 1988 to 2006. He enjoyed woodworking and was known for chopping wood in his free time. He had a heart for the outdoors, but he also loved missions. He, Vickie (his wife), and their children often served overseas in places like Albania, Kenya, India, and the United Arab Emirates. They

Steven J. Farrar (DMin, 1989), the founder of Men’s Leadership Ministries and the author of Point Man: How a Man Can Lead His Family, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 19, 2022.

Jeffrey W. Baldwin (ThM, 1992) died on March 7, 2022, from cancer. Jeff was the academic dean at the Greek Bible College in Athens, Greece.

J. Loren James (MABC, 1997) passed away on December 26, 2021. Loren served as the co-director of the counseling center at The Lakes Church in Sachse, TX. He went on to study at Rosemead Graduate School of Psychology and worked as a clinical psychologist for several years.

Brent L. Strawsburg (DMin, 1999) passed away on April 12, 2022. He was the president and founder of Brent Strawsburg Apologetics. He specialized in helping churches

Tim W. Woodruff (MACE, 2005) died on February 10, 2022. From 1978 to 2001, Tim worked in banking. After graduating from DTS, he dedicated to life to serving the Lord through the Decatur Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Wise County, American Heart Association, First United Methodist Church of Decatur, and CASA of Wise and Jack County.

William A. Miller III (MACE, 2019) passed away on April 22, 2022. Will served as the executive coordinator for Hesston College in Hesston, KS. Before serving at Hesston, Will was the young adults minister at Redeemer Bible Church and distance education manager at Dallas Theological Seminary.

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