Reformed Baptist Seminary is offering a theological module on "Pastoral Theology" on the week of January 23-27 in Taylors, South Carolina. We've invited Pastors Bob Selph, Tom Ascol, Gary Hendrix, and Donny Martin to address the nature and various facets of pastoral ministry. We've also invited Dr. Mark Ward, an author at BJU Press, to lecture two sessions on "The Pastor and His Technology." Students and auditors are invited. For more information, you can download the module flyer, course syllabus, registration form, and lecture schedule here.

The Divinity program is a traditional theological curriculum designed for men who are preparing to serve as pastors, Bible teachers, church-planters, or foreign missionaries. RBS seeks to provide the student with a thorough theological education. To this end the seminary offers training in exegetical, historical, systematic, and practical theology. Recently, RBS redesigned its Divinity curriculum to accommodate those desiring the basics of a ministerial education as well as those wishing to pursue advanced degrees (Th.M., D.Min., Th.D., Ph.D.). The basic or core Divinity program has been streamlined and requires a minimum 85 credits. Students who plan to pursue an advanced degree and desire a weightier Divinity program can earn over 100 credits by taking the 3-credit version of certain 2-credit courses and by taking extra elective courses.

This month at least two students will graduate from Reformed Baptist Seminary: Timothy Berry and Casey Kirkman. Below is a brief profile of Tim:

Distance learning has meant that I have been able to study through Reformed Baptist Seminary from across the Atlantic! I am married to Dorcas, my wife of 11 years. We live in the centre of the UK on the edge of the Peak District National Park, which is a beautiful rural area, approximately 1 hour south east of Manchester.

We are involved with a small village Church known as Stanton Lees Chapel, which seeks to reach out to the rural communities and nearby towns. The Chapel probably boasts the finest view from its car park in the whole of England! Like many similar Chapels here in the UK, it pulled out of a denomination forty years ago to become an independent, Reformed evangelical church.

I have had the privilege of working part-time for the Chapel for the past three years. This has mainly involved working with children and young people: leading and teaching in the evangelistic Sunday School and running Friday evening outreach clubs. I also visit local state schools to lead their collective worship times, produce and distribute the Chapel’s evangelistic magazine and run a parent and toddler group. There have also been opportunities for me to begin preaching and taking the mid-week Bible Studies.

In a society where less than 15% of the population regularly attend a church, I believe that reaching out to the rising generation that knows so little about Christianity is vital. The Lord has given us some blessings, particularly among the teenagers. We have been able to begin a monthly discipleship group for six young people who have made professions of faith, three of whom come from non-Christian homes. Our immediate future is in continuing with this outreach work and looking for more opportunities to reach the whole community with the gospel.

To relax we enjoy reading, dining out and touring the beautiful Peak District. During vacations we love to travel abroad, although we have not left Europe as yet. Dorcas is a Spanish and French teacher, so we like to get off the beaten track in these countries.

Timothy Berry, M.T.S.
Graduate of Reformed Baptist Seminary
Member of Stanton Lees Chapel