Covenant Magazine - [Spring - Summer 2009]

COVENANT The magazine of Covenant Theological Seminary

Spring/Summer 2009

ROOTED IN

Relationship

SPRING/SUMMER 2009

FROM THE PRESIDENT

ROOTED IN RELATIONSHIP

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

– 1 Corinthians 12:4–7 Building God’s Kingdom is a community affair. Of course, the Lord could easily bring his Kingdom to fruition without any help from us, but one of the many beautiful things about our God is that he graciously desires for his children to be part of his plans. He delights for us to participate with him in his remaking of the world. Working together in community—under the influence of Christ’s Spirit and for the glory of Christ’s name—to usher in the Kingdom of God is a great blessing and a great privilege of the Christian life.

Fostering a strong sense of Christian community on our campus is vital to everything we do at Covenant Seminary. Those who will soon go forth to serve either as pastors or other church leaders, or as ambassadors for Christ in other vocational settings—and those who help train these ministry leaders—will represent our Lord most fully and most effectively only when they have experienced personally and been affected deeply by the life-changing, world-transforming power of life in covenantal community.

As the apostle Paul reminds us in his extended discourse on the unity and diversity of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12, all of our various personal abilities and attributes are not given to us for our benefit alone. They are gifts God grants for the purpose of building up his church, and through it his Kingdom, so that the world may know that Jesus Christ is Lord. What a joy it is for me personally to see and experience firsthand how this plays out in the context of Covenant Seminary!

In this issue of Covenant, you will see evidence of the many ways in which God is working in and through this institution to develop and nurture strong and lasting community bonds between our students, faculty, and staff. Our hope and our prayer is that, wherever our students may be called to serve after they graduate, the connections formed in seminary will not only enrich their lives and strengthen their ministries, but also enable them to bear much fruit for the Kingdom.

We rejoice that our Lord chooses to use his faithful children in such exciting ways. I pray that you also may know the joy—and the power—of living with, loving, and serving others in such a covenantal community of grace.

FEATURES

oving Service: From L Lemonade to Lunches

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For nearly 40 years, the Women’s Auxiliary has faithfully served Covenant Seminary.

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Sustaining Pastoral Excellence

The Seminary’s lifelong learning programs seek to help keep pastors in ministry, and a retreat center on campus plays a vital role in these programs.

A Work of Heart

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Now entering its second growing season, a community garden project flourishes and continues to provide a connection point for the Seminary’s on-campus residents.

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Nourishing Community End-of-day bread and baked goods donated by Saint Louis Bread Co. are gladly received by the seminary community twice a week.

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A Day to Serve

Once each spring, the seminary community unites to beautify the seminary campus.

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Navigating Grief

DEPARTMENTS

Covenant Seminary counseling professor Dr. Dan Zink reflects on one of his own encounters with loss.

19 ALUMNUS PROFILE Stu Kerns

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SEMINARY NEWS & EVENTS

22 Bryan Chapell, President

ALUMNI NEWS

B AC K

COVER

STUDENT PROFILE

Grant Owens

PS: Please note that with this issue Covenant changes its publication schedule to three times per year rather than four. This cost-saving measure is part of our ongoing efforts to steward wisely the resources God has given to us.

COVENANT | Spring/Summer 2009

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VOL. 24, NO. 1

Loving Service: From Lemonade to Lunches The Women’s Auxiliary displays the love of Christ in their commitment to Covenant Seminary.

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or almost 40 years, a dear group of women known to Covenant Seminary as the Women’s Auxiliary has blessed the seminary community with gracious service, hospitality, and love for the students. In the summer of 1969, founding Auxiliary president Florence Lewis approached the late Dr. Robert Rayburn, then president of the Seminary, about organizing a group of ladies who would be committed to supporting the student life of Covenant Seminary. The vision of one woman was cast in that meeting, and promptly thereafter, a group of seven women committed to volunteer their time and resources to serve in this capacity. Today this remains the mission and heartbeat of the ladies who volunteer.

Currently, more than 20 women make up the Auxiliary, and they actively support student life and the needs of the campus whenever possible. Though they are often silent servants, the women can be seen at a few regular Seminary events, adding their loving touch to Covenant Seminary traditions. They bake their famous cookies and serve punch at graduation, serve lunch during the annual Campus Day (a time when students, faculty, and staff beautify the campus), and organize and provide food for student/professor lunches each semester. In addition, they provide annual scholarship support as well as proctoring and administrative support during key times each semester.

“I am often amazed and humbled by these women, who have been volunteering ever since I was a student at Covenant Seminary,” says Dr. Bryan Chapell, Covenant Seminary’s president. “It is wonderful to experience and reflect on how the Lord uses such loving servants as these ladies to strengthen our faith, exemplify Christ-centered service, and give as they do in support of Covenant Seminary, asking nothing in return. The Lord

must smile as I do in response to servants such as these!”

Current Auxiliary chairwoman Paula Keinath expresses gratitude for the ministries of Covenant Seminary. “The institution is close to our hearts,” she shares. “We identify with its mission and far-reaching impact in pulpits across our nation as well as with the counseling ministry that supports our families.

Closer to home, our local churches benefit from the students and faculty who worship among us and support many church ministries as interns. The Seminary has always been extremely appreciative of our support, which has inspired us to do all we can to be of service to them.” Speaking of her own service, she says, “It has become increasingly meaningful for me personally to have relationships with other ladies who, over many years, have been unusually committed—some of whom are in their eighties and one who is in her nineties. They have inspired me; I have learned the lesson of commitment from them.”

To all those who have been involved in the Women’s Auxiliary, thank you for years of faithful service to the seminary community. May you know the joy we have in experiencing your Christlike attitudes and dedication to the growth of the church. We desire that generations to come will know of your unfailing commitment to the gospel and how you exemplify dedication and true servants’ spirits.

STACEY FITZGERALD Stacey Fitzgerald serves as vice president of media and organizational development at Covenant Theological Seminary.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on how you can become involved with the Women’s Auxiliary, please contact Paula Keinath at PMacK56@aol.com.

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Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Covenant Seminary’s Center for Ministry Leadership uses an on-campus retreat center as a vital part of its programs, which support pastors and helps them to engage in a lifetime of ministry.

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ust a short walk down the road from the activity of the main Covenant Theological Seminary campus stands the Covenant Seminary Retreat Center. It’s a peaceful spot, set on a hill and amid tall trees. The two-story structure looks and feels like a private home and has housed visitors to the seminary community for several years. The building—which accommodates up to 10 residents—includes four bedrooms, a full kitchen, large dining room, and a comfortable meeting room with a view through the trees that overlooks the adjacent valley.

Visitors to the Retreat Center regularly comment on the sense of peacefulness that they feel inside its walls. However, this was not always the case. In June 2006, lightening struck the building, and a fire consumed a significant part of the structure. When this happened, the Seminary leadership decided that the Retreat Center was critical to its mission and chose to rebuild rather than tear down the structure and use the insurance monies for something else. The trial turned into a blessing when the building was redesigned to expand its usefulness as a meeting space. The repairs to the Retreat Center were completed in June 2007, and the Seminary has put the building to regular use ever since.

Center for Ministry Leadership. The Pastor in Residence program provides a context for study leaves and sabbaticals of varied durations for pastors and their families. Program participants have come from as near as St. Louis and as far as Ireland. Administered by the Center for Ministry Leadership, this program provides the temporary residents with free housing and opportunities for interaction with Covenant Seminary faculty and students. Because pastors often struggle to extricate themselves from the pressures of ministry life, one of the most important lessons that they learn from this program is the value of self care. Many find that they begin their sabbaticals with doubts about being away from their churches for extended

It’s a peaceful spot, set on a hill and amid tall trees. The two-story structure looks and feels like a private home and has housed visitors to the seminary community for several years.

periods of time, reluctant to believe that their ministries can survive without them, only to find that they don’t want to leave the Center when their stays come to an end. Although most of the pastors in residence plan to use their time at the

Home Away From Home

One important use of this building has been for the Pastor in Residence program, an initiative of Covenant Seminary’s COVENANT | Spring/Summer 2009

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above, left: During his stay, Harry Uprichard (left), a former pastor in residence from Northern Ireland, spent time with Stephen Baldwin (right, MDiv ‘82). Stephen and wife Karen currently serve as the pastoral couple in residence. above: A highlight of the Retreat Center is its serene setting.

Retreat Center to work on writing, long-term sermon planning, strategic initiatives, or other ministry projects, they usually find that what they value most is the rest they experience from the stresses of ministry.

In addition to the short-term pastors in residence who reside at the Retreat Center, veteran church planters Stephen (MDiv ’82) and Karen Baldwin serve as the pastoral couple in residence. The Baldwins were early participants in the Pastor in Residence program. While serving as hospitality coordinators of the Retreat Center, they also spend a significant amount of their time involved in the lives of and mentoring seminary students and encouraging the pastors who stay in the Retreat Center.

From Solitude to Sharing

The Center for Ministry Leadership also uses the Retreat Center for other initiatives, such as the Intersect Forum, which enhances personal and congregational health by forging alliances of understanding and experience between pastors and business executives in their congregations. Both pastors and business leaders face the necessity of growing their organizations while adapting to and accommodating for the changing needs of people and organizations. In addition, as Christian leaders they understand the holy calling to love people—especially their congregations and employees—well.

As opposed to traditional models of leadership, which offer little insight into how to balance organizational productivity while simultaneously developing healthy relationships, the Intersect Forum creates a round-table environment where

pastors and lay leaders explore leadership models within a biblical framework.

Since 2005, the Center for Ministry Leadership has hosted a series of Intersect Forums at the Retreat Center. Current plans

[Pastors in residence] usually find that what they value most is the rest they experience from the stresses of ministry. call for the events to continue regularly in the coming years.

Because of the positive response from past participants, the Center is also planning to offer the program in several cities around the country.

A Place for Pastors to Learn and Grow

The Retreat Center is also the home base of the Center for Ministry Leadership’s Pastors Summit. More than 60 pastors and their wives participated in Pastors Summit cohort groups during the first four years of this initiative. Each event included times of sharing, prayer, worship, reflection, fellowship, and recreational activities. Participants selected their individual cohort’s theme for learning and discussion. Themes chosen include spiritual formation, conflict resolution, personality and relational dynamics, emotional intelligence, marriage and family, abuse, staff development and communication, and various cultural realities that influence pastoral ministry.4

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M ee t D r . B o b B u r n s

dean of lifelong learning; associate professor of educational ministry; and director of the center for ministry leadership

Bob has been a pastor and teacher for more than 30 years. His experience in ministry ranges from church planting to family ministry and from worship and the arts to youth and singles ministry. His extensive service in the church is augmented by years of study; Bob holds a PhD in adult education as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree.

One of his most important contributions to lifelong learning is his educational philosophy. He recognizes the limitations of traditional educational settings for adult learners and strives to create programs that challenge the whole person—the head, heart, and hands. above: The warm earth tones used in guest rooms at the Retreat Center echo the building’s serene setting.

Pastors Summit participants report having experienced deepened spiritual lives, improved emotional well-being, greater self-awareness and respect for human limitations, better understanding of pastoral leadership, and invigorated marriages.

Pastors involved in the initiative share that the supportive relationships formed during the Pastors Summit have enabled them to grow through some of their toughest ministry challenges.

Numerous participants have seen their struggles normalized by the shared experiences of others, and subsequently many have

regularly when they come to the campus for class. Students in the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program visit the campus for two weeks each year, and they always look forward to the opportunity to stay in the Retreat Center’s guest rooms. This year, the recently restructured DMin program begins its new cohort-based style of learning. A DMin cohort is a group of 12 to 24 students who meet together from Monday morning to Friday afternoon for two consecutive weeks each year over a three-year period to study a particular topic of interest. The initial cohorts are now being formed, and the hope is that many of the students will have the opportunity to stay at the Retreat Center and spend a significant portion of their class time in the building’s spacious meeting room.

Pastors, ministry leaders, future students, faculty, staff, and local churches have all used the Retreat Center, and we are blessed to have such a special provision from the Lord. In a community that sees as much growth and change as Covenant Seminary, it’s nice to have a quiet place to retreat and spend time with God away from the distractions of life and ministry.

There is no doubt that Christians are called to live in the tumult of life. But, as Elijah discovered in 1 Kings 19:12, at times it is important to find a place of solace where we may reflect on our lives and hear afresh from the Lord.

In a community that sees as much growth and change as Covenant Seminary, it’s nice to have a quiet place to retreat and spend time with God away from the distractions of life and ministry.

developed a clear conviction to stay in their present calls. In these small communities of learning and support, pastors and spouses experience a reprieve from feelings of isolation in their work. Currently the Center for Ministry Leadership is considering ways by which the experience of the Pastors Summit can be made available to a broader number of pastors. The Retreat Center will provide a location for experiential training and personal development in this initiative.

KRISTEN SAGAR Kristen Sagar came to Covenant Seminary after completing her law degree at Washington University in St. Louis in 2007. She works as a writer, editor, and researcher for Covenant Seminary’s Center for Ministry Leadership. She is also the associate director of the Doctor of Ministry program. She grew up in a PCA church plant in Covington, Georgia.

A Seminary Community Resource

The Seminary’s doctoral students also use the Retreat Center COVENANT | Spring/Summer 2009

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Covenant Seminary equips pastors and those who serve beside them to minister the message of God’s grace through the local church. www . covenantseminary . edu

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A Work of Heart

An on-campus community garden draws families together to creatively experiment with and learn about God’s creation.

H

ere you go, baby girl,” Kelsey Reed says with a satisfied smile as she plucks three ripe cherry tomatoes off a small staked vine and reaches through the playground fence to hand them to her youngest daughter, Murrin. When other children see the exchange, they run over to Kelsey, and she places three tomatoes in each child’s outstretched hands. With delight the children pop the small vegetables into their tiny mouths and grin as they squish and taste the tomatoes’ juicy goodness. Because the garden is fully organic, Kelsey doesn’t think twice about giving just-off-thevine tomatoes to the children.

While the youngsters return to riding Big Wheels and climbing the new jungle gym on the Covenant Seminary campus, Kelsey plants her foot in one of 13 raised beds, leans over, and starts straightening tangled vines, deadheading plants, and pulling the occasional stray weed. Without any prompting, she begins sharing about the garden’s origin and her personal horticultural heritage—which spans at least four generations.

Kelsey’s father spent time at the Swiss L’Abri Fellowship (a Christian study center for people with faith questions started by the late theologian and philosopher Dr. Francis Schaeffer and his wife, Edith) where he cultivated his understanding of how God redeems all aspects of life. “I grew up with a lot of those philosophies and perspectives tossed around in the culture of my immediate family—particularly how Fran responded to individuals pondering the existential question with love and validation,” shares Kelsey, the curator of the Seminary’s community garden. The plot of land dedicated to the garden sits just outside the Seminary apartment that commemorates and honors Edith Schaeffer, whose legacy includes helping people discover the wonder of God’s creation and teaching them how to steward it well.

With a laugh Kelsey confesses that she even sees the garden as an unofficial branch of Covenant Seminary’s Francis A. Schaeffer Institute, whose mission is to train God’s servants to demonstrate compassionately and defend reasonably the claims of Christ upon the whole of life. Kelsey envisioned an on-campus garden as a great way to participate in a practical ministry tool. “Professor Jerram Barrs [founding director of the Schaeffer Institute and a former student of Francis Schaeffer] talks about building bridges with non-Christians as a way to share our faith,” Kelsey explains. “I think caring for our world is one often-overlooked way to do that. People are disarmed by things like a community garden because it’s not just talking out ideas. It’s a practical application of the popular philosophy of environmental sustainability. Winsome projects capture people’s

imagination and attention.” She goes on to explain how a church planter’s wife—who may not have the same ministry gifts as her spouse—could use a community garden to connect with women. “It’s an easy way ‘in’ to a lot of cultures,” Kelsey notes. “However, it doesn’t have to be a garden—it could be a knitting circle, a book club, or something else someone is passionate about.”

The seeds planted for enjoying God’s creation through a community garden at Covenant Seminary germinated in November 2007 when Kelsey submitted an informal proposal to the Seminary. It wasn’t until men from the Physical Plant department began measuring for the garden frames that Kelsey learned of the project’s acceptance. “I was really surprised at the generosity of the Seminary and how quickly they rose to the occasion,” Kelsey shares. “They got us a tool shed and a compost heap. It was really exciting.” The dream blossomed on Campus Day in April 2008 when the actual garden work began.

Families Dig In

Although this project began as Kelsey’s brainchild, four other people served on the leadership team for the project. As the project progressed, they kept each others’ expectations rooted in the reality of what they could truly accomplish. With a desire for grandeur, Kelsey benefited from the insight of people such as seasoned gardener Sarah Haynes. “Kelsey is the visionary, and I am the practical one,” Sarah explains. “I helped her pare

AT A GLANCE: THE COMMUNITY GARDEN Year established: 2008 Location: On campus, near the playground Number of raised garden beds: 13 Number of participating families: 20 Cost per family: $25 per year

down the many ideas about what to plant and figure out what was really going to work for our space.” Sarah also serves as the garden’s treasurer, which includes tasks such as collecting a $25 donation from each participating family and then purchasing most of the plants.

Throughout the first season, everyone learned a little bit about themselves and learned to sacrifice some desires to

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benefit the community. “Back in Minnesota I had my own garden,” says Sarah, “and it was a place of great peace for me.

It was a place to retreat to on a summer’s evening after the kids were in bed. However, here, I’ve learned to let go of my expectations and my picture of how the garden should look or how it should be cared for and just let everyone enjoy it in their own way. It was virtually impossible to work on it without kids getting involved, and part of living on campus is learning how to love other people’s kids and talk to other parents when conflicts arise.”

Instead of keeping the garden from the children, the planning team got creative and figured out a way to involve them. Children of the on-campus families who participate in the community garden know that the marigolds and cherry tomatoes growing in the raised beds are “theirs.” “My 8-yearold, Elena, loves deadheading the marigolds and planting their seeds everywhere to see where they will grow,” explains Sarah.

The horticulture knowledge sprouting in parents spreads to the children through this project. The kids learn about how to care for and cultivate a garden—especially when it comes to harvesting. “We didn’t want to always be saying, ‘No, you can’t touch that,’ ” explains Kelsey of the decision to include children in the project. “They’re learning to pick only the red tomatoes, not the orange or green ones.”

“Watching my five-year-old, Andrew, get involved has been priceless,” says Sarah. “On Campus Day, when we filled the beds with dirt, he was unstoppable. Long after the other kids lost interest, he continued to spread out the mounds of dirt and pick out the lumps of clay. He worked just as hard and as long as the adults! It made me see something in him that I hadn’t recognized yet—that he really enjoys working alongside me and feeling like he is an important part of a job.”

Beyond those above: Kelsey Reed proposed a community garden at the Seminary in 2007, and it had its first growing simple things, families season last summer. Kids loved helping with various tend the garden

together—especially when it is their week to water, weed, and manage pest control for the plants. Dave Hammond, who, along with wife Melissa, was heavily involved in the planning stages and served as part of the leadership team, enjoyed bringing his three-year-old son into the project. “There have been some great moments throughout the season,” Dave

CATCH THE GARDENING FEVER! Dig in with these helpful tips: • Many bugs taste through their feet, so you can spray tomatoes and other plants with hot pepper water to deter insects.

• Marigolds are a natural pest deterrent.

Plant them around a garden border to keep out unwanted animals.

• Aromatic plants such as basil and rosemary are also natural pest deterrents.

• Plants that grow well together in the same type of soil are often also culinary pairings, such as basil and tomatoes.

• Herbs thrive in dry, sandy soil.

says. “I’ve had a blast amending the soil [adding to the soil to improve the physical properties of it and to increase waterand nutrient-holding capacity] and getting my son involved.

We’ve had a lot of good father/son interaction when we go out and try to plant seeds.” Once the heat of the day passes and after the sun sinks below the horizon, Sarah and Dave both feel calmed by the reflective time they experience while performing garden-maintenance duties. “I find the mindless activities of weeding and watering to be very therapeutic,” Sarah says of the quiet evening activity.

Spreading the Joy

Last summer roughly 20 families participated, though there are always more glove hooks in the tool shed. “If anyone wants to be involved in this, there is space for them,” Kelsey emphasizes. “This is about learning. No one has a monopoly.

It’s an experimental process. There are no high expectations in terms of knowledge—or yield.”

When she thinks of the future of the garden, she explains her overall philosophy that has sprouted in the hearts of others. “It has more to do with ideology than it does with making sure the rhubarb plants survive,” Kelsey says (even though these are second-generation plants passed to Kelsey from German friends who started growing them at their new homestead in Colorado). She hopes the composting, feeding,

garden chores and eating the fresh veggies.

COVENANT | Spring/Summer 2009

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watering, harvesting, and overall tending of the garden will draw women from their homes so they can learn to be in community with one another instead of retreating to the comforts and duties of their homes. “When people have a project together, they chat and are vulnerable with one another.

Your apartment or house is controllable—or at least you have the illusion of control there,” Kelsey says. “We are made to be reflections of Christ to one another. Our fellowship is to be a means of grace and deep encouragement, yet we have a hard time getting out and being with each other. Relationships are risky and messy, but we also need one another.”

Those involved in the garden this past summer got a foretaste of the beauty of such relationships. And others in the community are seeing the many benefits of it. “When we’re out working, it never fails that someone walks by and tells us how this has ministered to them,” Kelsey says with heartfelt appreciation.

The garden’s presence seems to draw out biblical metaphors and even reminds observers of some basic truths of life. For Kelsey, it’s a reminder that she is called to be faithful to plant, water, feed, and nurture, but only God can produce results. “So often in life I’m dependant on my own strength, but that’s not the way we are meant to live,” she shares. Kelsey pauses, looks over the multitude of raised beds and says, “The garden is not as beautiful as it will be one day, but this is just the beginning.” As her voice trails off with her thought, I hear an echo of deep truth about the Christian life. Just as the glory of this garden is yet to be realized, so we wait for the redemption of all of creation—including our own lives.

JACKIE FOGAS Jackie Fogas serves as the senior copy editor and special projects coordinator in the Public Relations office at Covenant Seminary. Her husband, Michael, is pursuing an MDiv and will graduate in May 2009.

A WORK OF HEART BEGINS WITH YOU!

Perhaps now more than ever, our churches are in need of strong, committed, and faithful pastors to serve as leaders.

At Covenant Seminary, we have been praying for new partners to help us advance God’s Kingdom and fulfill our calling to equip pastors for a lifetime of fruitful ministry.

Between now and June 30, 2009, we ask you to consider prayerfully how you can steward the resources the Lord has given you by investing in a future pastor today through the Founders’ Church Leadership Award.

FOUNDERS’ CHURCH LEADERSHIP AWARDS

This special scholarship covers 100% tuition for select Master of Divinity (MDiv) students.

It was established to increase the number of students who enter vocational ministry with little or no debt. Founders’ investors are paired with individual students to walk beside them and hear how their support impacts the students’ lives and future ministries.

This award is given to exceptional students who have shown great potential for church leadership and who are called to full-time pastoral ministry.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

To find out more about how you can encourage and support students and families who are training for ministry, please call 1.800.264.8064 to speak to the development director who serves your region of the country or world.

2009–2010

Lifetime of

Our 24-hour classes can change your life and ministry.

As alumni, you are part of the Covenant Seminary family, and we want to help you engage in a lifetime of fruitful ministry. By offering free classes and resources, we hope to encourage your faith and better equip you for ministry.

GOSPEL-CENTERED SEXUALITY SEPTEMBER 4–5, 2009 Fri., 7–9 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Instructor: Rev. Scotty Smith, adjunct professor of practical theology and founding pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee

God created men and women as sexual beings; thus, sexuality affects all areas of life. We will consider the biblical texts that guide human sexuality and will look at the implications of those texts in our daily lives as imagebearers of God.

MODELS IN URBAN CHURCH PLANTING

THE CHURCH AND CAMPUS MINISTRY

OCTOBER 30–31, 2009 Fri., 7–9 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

JANUARY 15–16, 2010 Fri., 7–9 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Instructors: Rev. Craig Brown, president of Word-Song Ministries and Ministry Solutions Group; Dr. Philip Douglass, professor of practical theology; and Dr. Nelson Jennings, professor of world mission

Instructor: Dr. Rod Mays, national coordinator for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)

We are called to plant churches where the full giftedness and diversity of the members is brought to bear on the fabric of cities, the needs and blemishes of cities are addressed and served, and the culture and beauty of cities is engaged and redeemed.

A wonderful advocate for college students in the church, Rod will share a Reformed perspective on some of the issues, challenges, and solutions facing students, campuses, and churches today.

> PREACHING LECTURES

> FRANCIS A. SCHAEFFER LECTURES

September 29, 10–10:45 a.m. (chapel service) & September 30, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

October 9, 7–9 p.m. & October 10, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Dr. Mark Dever, senior pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC will be our guest preacher and speaker. Learn more about effectively engaging listeners with the Word of God! COVENANT | Spring/Summer 2009

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Join Andy Crouch for lectures and discussions related to his recent book, Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling, which engages the cultivation and creation of culture. Andy is a senior editor at Christianity Today International.

Ministry Series

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• RESOURCES FOR LIFE Search or browse our podcasts and audio and print files of lecture series, sermons, and other excellent resources!

PREACHING THROUGH THE PSALMS FEBRUARY 5–6, 2010 Fri., 7–9 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Instructor: Dr. George Robertson, adjunct professor of practical theology and senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia

We will explore practical ways to preach the Psalms effectively.

Students will learn about and work with the psalmists’ literary techniques and themes.

These techniques, combined with a basic understanding of expository preaching, will prepare participants to craft two sermons from the Psalms.

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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY MARCH 5–6, 2010 Fri., 7–9 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Instructors: Graham Behnke, director of children’s ministry at The Kirk of the Hills in St. Louis, Missouri; and Rev. Jason Walch, children’s ministry pastor at Chesterfield Presbyterian Church near St. Louis, Missouri

We will discuss the church’s covenant responsibility to children and lay a foundation for those who are called to pastor children (birth to sixth grade) or oversee others who serve in this ministry. Participants will learn about the biblical foundation for ministry to children as well as philosophy, models, and organization of children’s ministry; recruiting and developing leadership; and programming.

THE POLITICS OF MINISTRY PRACTICE APRIL 9–10, 2010 Fri., 7–9 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Instructor: Dr. Bob Burns, associate professor of educational ministry, dean of lifelong learning, and director of the Doctor of Ministry program

When political activity is viewed as the daily negotiation of ministry interests, one quickly sees that, with this perspective, all ministry is political in nature. We will explore how to identify varied interests, select negotiation strategies, navigate formal and informal authority and power structures, and explore ethical issues of ministry life.

Sign up online today! www.CovenantSeminary.edu

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Current MDiv student Andy Wood is one of 12 volunteer bread runners for Covenant Seminary. Twice a week, the seminary community gladly receives the remainder of that day’s freshly baked breads, bagels, and pastries from a local Saint Louis Bread Co. bakery-cafe.

nourishing community

T

he mail room in Edwards Hall on the Covenant Seminary campus hosts a strange ritual on Monday and Thursday evenings. Shortly after 9 p.m., students, spouses, and children of various ages restlessly clutch brown bags and plastic sacks of many sizes, their eyes fixed on the door.

The atmosphere is cheerfully tense with anticipation. The tension breaks when through the door emerges a figure holding giant opaque plastic bags full of bread loaves and bagels and boxes of pastries. The bread runner has arrived. Twice each week, the Saint Louis Bread Co. (known around the country as Panera Bread) on New Ballas Road donates its leftover bread items COVENANT | Spring/Summer 2009

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to Covenant Seminary. The bread runners—members of the seminary community who volunteer to pick up the homemade bread—deliver the gift to the campus.

The biweekly ritual begins when the runner travels to the Saint Louis Bread Co. around its 9 p.m. closing time. Once the store shuts down, the bread runner loads all the leftover bakery goods into his or her vehicle and transports it 2½ miles to the Seminary. Just before reaching the school, the bread runner makes a quick stop by the home of professor Phil Douglass, who lives on the edge of the campus. Dr. Douglass and his wife, Rebecca, select bread and pastries to serve in their

Monday Spiritual and Ministry Formation classes. The class is for first-year students, and couples are encouraged to take the class together. Rebecca leads breakout sessions for the women in the evening class, and the pastries help create a welcoming and nurturing atmosphere for all who attend.

After the Douglass home stop, the bread runner heads over to Edwards Hall to deliver the items to the waiting throng. About 12 students serve as bread runners, and one of those is MDiv student Andy Wood. He began working as a bread runner when former volunteer Russell Jung (MDiv ’08) invited him along on a run. “It is nice to have an opportunity to serve, but mainly I like having a good relationship with a local business,” Andy says. “I’ve enjoyed showing up and interacting with the workers [at the Saint Louis Bread Co.] and representing the Seminary.”

Annemarie Rietkerk, wife of third-year MDiv student Mark Rietkerk, first discovered the ministry of being a bread runner after she was a beneficiary of the bread. For her, the free bread filled a void she had felt since leaving her native Netherlands to come to Covenant Seminary. “In the Netherlands we used to eat bread for breakfast and lunch. When I came here, I missed really good bread,” she shares.

When Annemarie heard that the Seminary needed people to help pick up the baked goods and bring them to campus—and that the bread runner gets the first pick of the items—she eagerly volunteered. She served as a bread runner for two years. Whenever possible, Annemarie involved her three children in the errand, enlisting them to help carry bags of bread. It proved challenging sometimes, though. “I could only bring one child with me because all of the bread would fill up my van,” she explains.

Though serving as a bread runner is fulfilling, the task demands commitment. Because most runners live on campus and have families, leaving studies and family life in the evening to drive to Saint Louis Bread Co. can be difficult.

Annemarie and Andy both have received thanks from students for their errands, but as soon as they arrive at Edwards Hall with the bread, they realize they are not the main attraction. “I think most people are pretty fried by that time in the evening, and they are there primarily to get some free bread for their families,” Andy says.

Occasionally Annemarie travels from her home in St. Peters, Missouri, to the Seminary to acquire donated bread only to find it all gone. This experience is disappointing, but, she says, “because we receive it for free, I feel like there’s no reason to complain. It’s an enormous gift.” The bread and pastries are a gift that the community happily receives, and the transporting of the items is a gift which the bread runners happily give.

above, top: The multitude of end-of-day bagels and breads donated by a local Saint Louis Bread Co. are a staple in many seminary families’ homes. above, center: Students enjoy catching up with one another as they take their pick of the goodies. above: Although the breads and pastries fill several tables, the items quickly disappear as they make their way into the hands of grateful seminary students and their families.

MEGAN FOWLER Megan Fowler is a freelance writer, legal assistant, and wife to third-year MDiv student Lindon Fowler. They own a house in University City, Missouri, where Megan attempts to grow hydrangeas and show her neighbors the love of Christ.

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Grief

navigating

reflections on my brother’s death

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anuary is cold in new hampshire.

Cold air, cold winds, blowing snow. It is cold and harsh weather for watching someone die—at least that was my experience when I visited my brother Chuck for the last time.

Chuck was at the end of his valiant battle with pancreatic cancer, a nasty disease that few survive. Unable to do anything more for him, the hospital staff sent Chuck home. He took his final ride in the family van. He climbed the steep, rough stone steps in front of his house as he leaned on me and on our other brother, Dave. He rested every two or three steps, mustering his remaining strength and making a supreme effort to climb his personal “Everest.” I wonder if, as he passed from the van to the house, he noticed for the last time the fresh air, the birds, the sun, and the clouds that he loved so much.

That last evening, his breathing became labored—alternating between moments of stopping and starting. We were waiting for death to come. It’s a hard kind of waiting. For a time we were focused on every twitch, our eyes glued on Chuck with uneasy anticipation. You can’t keep up that kind of vigil for long. The quiet talk gravitated to the sharing of memories of my brother’s humor and playfulness. It was a celebration of a life well lived and his impact on each of us. It was Chuck’s wife, Sally, who saw that he hadn’t restarted breathing that last time. “Chuck has stopped breathing,” she said. I took my brother’s right wrist and felt one beat, a second, and then nothing. His pastor had taken the other wrist. “He’s gone,” we said together.

My brother’s death jump-started a process of grief for our family that still continues. For me, it was most intense in that first year, with the culmination coming 11 months after Chuck died, when Sally lost her own battle with cancer. As grief came upon me, I knew I had felt this before. My father died when I was five years old, so living with a missing person has been a way of life. And death has visited regularly enough.

Our first child was stillborn, prematurely. My wife’s mother died shortly after that. There was a miscarriage in between the birth of our two girls. My wife’s father died some years later.

And there were others. In all of these experiences, I learned that it is hard to take in all that happens at the time of these events. “There is no real way to deal with everything we lose,” writes author Joan Didion in her book Where I Was From. I believe it is part of God’s design that enables us to protect

ourselves from the intensity and depth of such great losses. But quite often we keep up the defenses long after they are useful.

That is what I do. That is what most of us do.

Dealing With the Pain of Loss

It strikes me that grieving is like housebreaking a puppy: you grab him by the neck and hold his nose in the evidence of his youth.

But in this case, you as the griever are the puppy. You have to try to find ways to not run and to force yourself to face the wretched

Although determined from the beginning to face the pain of this loss, I could not force myself to do it. In the aftermath of death, I did what I always have done. hole in your soul from the loss. I knew I would likely try to run from the pain of Chuck’s death. I would try to believe I was okay and that it somehow didn’t matter anyway. I had learned such strategies at a young age, starting when my father died. But wanting to grieve well, I made moves to avoid the avoiding: I put my bother’s picture where I would see it every day, and I played a song that reminded me of Chuck and his death. Yet I found myself diverting my gaze from the photo and hitting “skip” when that song came up on the CD player. Although determined from the beginning to face the pain of this loss, I could not force myself to do it. In the aftermath of death, I did what I always have done.

Friends tried to help. They spoke well-intended words, asked how I was, and talked with me—but all with little effect. They did not know my brother, and they were not there for any of this experience. My words cannot take them there. So I tended to keep my words to myself. I gave short answers. And I continued to do what I always have done.

My friends’ words were limited in impact. “God is sovereign,”

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some offered. Others reminded me that God works all things together for our good. God is sovereign and he does work all things together for good, but reminders of such truth in the midst of one’s grief may not be helpful. To the mourner, these words can come off as an escape from entering into the grieving person’s experience and make it appear that the comforter is uncaring. Such reassurances may be more about the intended comforter avoiding the grieving one’s pain than bringing comfort.

In the freshness of grief, it is not time for theology, teaching, or correcting. The gospel—rightly understood—is the help that is needed. In the aftermath of death and the resulting sorrow, we don’t need facts as much as we need a person. We need a personal, alive, relating God—not information about him. And we need the whole gospel, not only the Jesus-paid-the-price judicial part, but also the you-are-in-relationship-with-God part.

In these hard moments, we don’t need more truth about God; we need more experience of him. And we can invite people into this experience of him through their experience of us as we are present, listening, accepting, and loving them.

A Breakthrough

His name is Ed. He was a student I had in class during a previous semester. I knew his name but not much else about him. At the end of class one day, I saw him come in and sit down. He was waiting for the lingering students to ask their after-class questions. I wondered why he was there. When all the others had gone, he came up and commented about my brother’s death and asked, “How are you doing?” Others had asked that same question, and though I appreciated their concern, his question was different. Somehow I knew that he understood that there was no simple or clear answer to that question. And I knew Ed was willing to wait while I tried to find words to express the part of grief that was center stage at that exact moment. And then he asked if he could drop in again to see how I was doing. I said, “Yes.” And he did. Each week or two throughout that semester, Ed stopped by after class and we talked. Some days I had to reach to find something to say because I had not thought about my brother or his death much, avoiding it all, I suppose. Other days there was something fresh that I needed to share with another person. Ed’s consistent and caring presence helped me face my grief more than I would have on my own. Ed became a special friend to me.

A day or two before my brother’s death, I remember searching through the Psalms looking for a passage that fit the moment. Almost everything I read talked of the demise of enemies and the victories of God’s people. “My brother is downstairs dying. I know where he is headed, but this doesn’t feel like victory,” I thought. Then I came across Isaiah 12:2: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has COVENANT | Spring/Summer 2009

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become my salvation.” That fit, and it opened my eyes. The question was whether or not I would trust God, even as I looked death in the eyes while watching my brother die. This helped me realize that grieving is much like the experience of old-time navigators. To navigate the sea successfully, it was necessary to focus on an external reference point—the North Star or a lighthouse beacon, for example. Grieving well requires the

[God] also does what he has always done.

He comes alongside, not to be the remedy to pain and sorrow, but to be present with us in dark times. same thing: focusing on God as our external reference point.

It requires trusting in him. Only then can we not be afraid.

Navigating grief isn’t about leaning on truth or learning lessons.

Essentially, that would be trusting ourselves and thinking that if we could learn what we need to learn, then we’d be able to manage the crisis. This is not God’s hope for us in the midst of suffering; rather he desires for us to trust him.

There is much more that could be said. To talk of the change in perspective that grief brought so that the inconveniences of life no longer looked so life-and-death in nature might be good. Or to dwell on how God seldom answers questions—even the questions that stand out boldly in a time of grief—might be beneficial. But maybe not.

Maybe all such talk is the wrong thing to do, misleading in suggesting that there are answers and that grieving well is done by affirming truth and by trusting knowledge when what is really needed is to trust God. The remedy for me when I do what I have always done in the aftermath of death is to trust him—in the midst of the sorrow, the loneliness, and the often unrelenting pain. The remedy for you, too, when you do what you always do, is to trust God. Then we will be more aware of his presence. We will know better his love for us—the love that is always there, even in dark circumstances. And we will know better the reality of God, that he is the living God who relates and loves and cares. He also does what he has always done. He comes alongside, not to be the remedy to pain and sorrow, but to be present with us in dark times. And he weeps with us. And that is enough.

DR. DAN ZINK Dr. Dan Zink is associate professor of practical theology at Covenant Seminary. He also teaches in the counseling department. He enjoys thinking, understanding the dynamics of life in the real world, pondering the shaping influence of families, exploring the intricacies of the human heart, tinkering with people’s hearts for their good, trying to better see into his own heart, searching for words to encourage heavy pondering in others, and growing up.

A Day

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to

hen current fourth-year MDiv student Ken Gerlits saw the flyers for Campus Day as a first-year student, he knew he wanted to participate. Even more, Ken wanted his family to be involved. “We have a desire to do ministry as a family rather than just having me engaged in ministry activities, so I thought that this could be one way that the entire family could serve this community together,” Ken says. Shannon, Ken’s wife, was hesitant however, unsure as to whether their two children would be welcome participants or if they’d be seen as in the way. Ken assured her that the Seminary delighted in engaging the entire family in the various activities.

Additionally, the children expressed a desire to be involved, so he put their names on the list. Since then, Ken has annually taken his family to Campus Day. “We’ve loved it,” Shannon says.

“We live on campus, and we feel like this is very much a part of our home. We are trying to make this time in seminary part of all of our lives, not just my husband’s life.”

Fellow on-campus residents Sarah Haynes and her husband, Matt, an MDiv student, brought their children to their first Campus Day last spring. For them, it was an opportunity to teach by doing. Before coming to seminary, the Haynes family had their own house, and the children played an integral part in the yard and garden work. “The kids were always very active with weeding and helping in the garden,” Sarah explains. “It was something they enjoyed doing alongside me. Campus Day was a chance to do that again.”

As facilities and operations manager, Jason Robey (MATS ’07) serves as the coordinator for Campus Day. Jason says the event not only helps the grounds crew accomplish important but time-consuming maintenance, but also serves to promote community. “Professors and staff work as well, and people often get to know folks who they otherwise wouldn’t,” he says. “Kids love being out there helping, and it adds another dimension to the community that day.”

Serve

So how can a toddler participate in Campus Day? Although having entire families involved enriches the experience, Jason admits it can be challenging to find age-appropriate activities for children. Many families sign up for tasks such as mulching and weeding, where there is plenty of room for kids to work with adults. When it came to collecting leaves last year, the Haynes children did “a lot of holding trash bags open,” explains Sarah. An exciting project that really took shape during that Campus Day was the establishing of a community garden. Sarah’s two oldest children, then ages 5 and 7, hauled dirt, removed clay clumps from the soil, and broke up the dirt and spread it throughout the newly constructed raised plant beds.

The Gerlits family has helped through work such as mulching and planting flowers. Shannon says other participants went the extra mile to affirm her children’s efforts and make them feel appreciated—including their 15-month-old.

For families, Campus Day does more than get children out of the house. It allows them to take ownership of elements of the community they might have previously taken for granted.

Sarah saw that Campus Day increased her children’s sense of responsibility for their environment. “It reinforces rules such as not littering,” she says. “It also gives the children a sense of ownership of the campus and shows them how fun it can be to work as a team and work hard to accomplish something together.” For the Gerlits family—which has grown from four to six during their time at seminary—Campus Day has continued to be a family event. “We want to teach our children the value of helping and serving and teach them to do all they do to the glory of God,” Shannon says.

MEGAN FOWLER Megan Fowler is a freelance writer, legal assistant and wife to third-year MDiv student Lindon Fowler. They own a house in University City, Missouri, where Megan attempts to grow hydrangeas and show her neighbors the love of Christ.

above: Children often participate in Campus Day, a once-a-year service event during which student and staff volunteers work together to beautify the Seminary campus. One of last year’s projects included constructing raised beds (above, center) for a community garden (see related story on page 7).

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ALUMNUS PROFILE

above: In June 2007, fire ravaged Zion Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Yet God used the devastating event to strengthen and grow the congregation.

A Ministry of Hope, Tested by Fire “Each one’s work will become manifest… because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” – 1 Corinthians 3:13

cultural realities in mind. We try to help people connect the dots so they see their lives—and current trials—as part of the larger mosaic of God’s plan for the world. The Bible is always relevant because the issues people wrestle with are timeless.”

And despite the recent and current trials, Kerns attests to the strengthening of the Zion Church congregation through God’s faithful provision.

Reverend Kerns first sensed an internal call to ministry while still relatively young. “I had thought about becoming a pastor while growing up but tabled it in college, realizing I didn’t have the desire yet,” Stu shares. “I prayed a simple prayer asking God to give me the desire if he wanted me to become a pastor. Around that time, I was teaching high school English in Lincoln. During my third year as a teacher, I was challenged

by Rev. Hugh Barlett [MDiv ’90]—pastor of Zion Church from 1989 to 1992 [then known as Covenant Presbyterian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska]—to consider an internship with him. At that point, I realized I had the desire.” After his oneyear internship, Stu—together with wife Kelli and daughter Lindsay—headed off to Covenant Seminary for Stu to pursue training for pastoral ministry.

“I was drawn to Covenant Seminary by the pastoral environment and warm fellowship,” Stu remembers. “In 1987, my father died unexpectedly, and the professors’ fatherly care—especially

W

hen the emergency call came in on Saturday, June 9, 2007, revealing that a historic church in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, was ablaze, firemen rushed to the scene. But the fire, which started under the kitchen of the old Zion Church (PCA) building, had already grown so hot that little could be done. Reports state: “Firefighters dispatched to 9th and D Streets about 5 a.m. saw flames shooting 5 to 20 feet out from the north basement windows of the church as they arrived. Eventually, convinced the building was empty, they decided the fire had spread too far and went into a defensive mode to keep it contained to the building.” In the end, only the building’s shell remained—and gone in the smoke and flames were the plans to host a ceremonial groundbreaking event for a new education wing the following day (June 10).

Congregants of the church gathered a few weeks later to bear witness to the final destruction of the unsalvageable building. “What could be gotten out was removed. What could be saved was saved. Guys in the know and guys in authority said the whole thing had to come down,” says Associate Pastor Keith Ghormley. Mirrored in the collapse of this building is so much of the angst that plagues the United States today, in which we see uncertainty about the current economy, political concerns related to the recent elections, and continual international conflicts pressing close. How does one respond?

In the words of Rev. Stu Kerns, pastor of Zion Church, “We respond with hope,” Stu says. “Every age has its challenges.

As Reformed believers, we understand that the truth of the gospel impacts how we think about economics, politics, art, culture—you name it. We try to preach and teach with these COVENANT | Spring/Summer 2009

“ AS REFORMED PEOPLE, WE BELIEVE THAT THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL HAS AN IMPACT ON HOW WE THINK ABOUT ECONOMICS, POLITICS, ART, CULTURE—YOU NAME IT.”

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that of Dr. Robert Reymond and Professor Jerram Barrs—was a great balm to me during that season.” It didn’t hurt that Reverend Barlett had also recently graduated from Covenant Seminary. However, “I was ultimately drawn to Covenant

Seminary because of its commitment to the gospel and pastoral training,” Stu notes. The foundational ministry preparation and gospel application that Stu received at Covenant Seminary has been the basis for his 18 years of pastoral ministry. The Kernses’ time in Lincoln was not finished, however. Covenant Presbyterian Church—having sent the Kernses to seminary— invited them back to serve in leading them.

The church has consistently maintained its heart as a sending church—playing a role in the ministry preparation of Wayne Larson (MDiv ’97), Brad Anderson (MDiv ’99), Doug Serven (MDiv ’00), Jeremy Tredway (MDiv ’00), Shawn Young (MDiv ’02), Randy Arms (MDiv ’04), Nick Gleason (MDiv ’05), Lou Karre Carmichael (MAC ’06), Steve Allen (MDiv ’07), Dave Baker (MATS ’07), Joe (current MDiv) and Karen Choi (current MATS), Kate Ghormley (current MAEM) , and Ben Sinnard (current MDiv). “It’s been a pleasure to serve in Lincoln with several fellow Covenant Seminary graduates as my associates,” Stu says of Todd Bowen (MDiv ’93), Adam Odell (MDiv ’96), and Tobey Brockman (MDiv ’01).

In 1992, Reverend Barlett accepted a call to another church, and Stu became the interim pastor at Covenant Presbyterian. After a season of searching, the session recommended to the congregation that Stu be offered the position of senior pastor. “According to the denominational bylaws, I had to be approved by a super-majority [80%],” Stu remembers. “Some of the folks in the congregation wanted an older and more experienced pastor, and I was only 30 years old at the time. But when the final vote came, I was approved by a difference of one vote: 80.5%.”

Reflecting on the current state of the church, Stu notes, “By God’s grace, the church has grown from about 150 to more than 400 and has planted two daughter churches in the past eight years. Although our attendance right now is temporarily lower, the power of church planting is worth the risks!”

One of these risks came in 1997. There was an old, historic, Germans-from-Russia congregation in downtown Lincoln.

After some discussion, it was agreed that the churches would merge and take the name Zion Church (PCA). “We happily enjoyed—and grew at—this location,” Stu reflects. “We were in the process of expanding the facility and were one day away from a ceremonial groundbreaking when, as mentioned, the building was burned beyond repair.” And yet what seems loss and defeat proved in time to be a victory.

“Although it was a devastating blow, our understanding of God’s providence led us to prayer and openness to his leading,” Stu says. “As a result, we have since relocated to a facility that wonderfully meets our needs and sped up the timetable to plant Redeemer, our second daughter church.” Two pastors from Zion Church—Rev. Tobey Brockman and Rev. Adam Odell— launched a group of about 90 people back into the church’s former location.

“We have seen God’s providence in his provision through the fire,” Stu reflects. “We were able to pay off debt, purchase a facility, do some renovations, and have money left over to help fund the new church plant. The congregation has been strengthened through God’s faithful provision.”

Fire will ever be iconoclastic. But Christian hope is resilient to such temporal flames. Death has no sting. The grave has no power. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

With such a testimony and experience, Stu has participated in the Pastors Summit, hosted by Covenant Seminary’s Center for Ministry Leadership. This pastoral-research initiative asks

THE CONGREGATION AT COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SENT THE KERNSES TO SEMINARY THEN INVITED THEM BACK TO SERVE IN LEADING THEM. experienced pastors to evaluate the best and hardest periods of their ministries in order to identify patterns of brokenness and grace in vocational ministry.

Thanks in part to Stu and Kelli Kerns Stu’s participation, the findings of the study have filtered down into the Seminary’s curriculum in order to address preemptively some of the issues that experienced pastors wish they had been exposed to earlier in their careers.

It goes without saying that ministry is often hard and involves sacrifice. And yet, one of the Pastors Summit findings is that pastors—whose work resists obvious measures of success and failure (because who knows the heart of a man?)—need to have outlets that have immediate results. Stu is no exception.

“We live on 38 acres and have two horses, so there is never a shortage of outdoor work to do,” Stu notes. “I recently took down and cut up a tree, and thankfully I enjoy mowing! Much of pastoral work is invisible. We usually can’t see what the Holy Spirit is doing in people’s hearts through our efforts. However, life on the acreage gives me tangible things that begin and end, and I can stand back and look at it and say ‘finished.’ That is helpful for those of us in ministry whose work is mostly seen only by faith.”

It is seen by faith, tested by fire, and believed by hope.

“If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward” (1 Cor. 3:14).

JOEL HATHAWAY Joel Hathaway (MDiv ’04), director of alumni and placement services, is involved in assisting students in their post-seminary ministry placement. As such, he regularly hears of the desire for mentorship and life-on-life ministry implementation.

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SEMINARY news & events PROFESSORS’ SPEAKING SCHEDULES

transition in seminary administration After 12 years of faithful service, Wayne Copeland, former vice president of business administration, has transitioned in order to pursue new ministry opportunities. Wayne has overseen many areas of our operations, including compliance, accounting, budget planning, healthcare and benefit administration, facilities, and information technology services during his administrative tenure.

Most recently, he supervised work on the newly constructed Founders Hall. The Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff would like to express their deep gratitude to Wayne for his faithfulness, stewardship, and dedication to the work and mission of Covenant Seminary.

We are very pleased to announce that Albert “Al” Li assumed the role of vice president of business administration in April. He has worked as a treasury manager and financial analyst for Monsanto and as a vice president at Bank of America. Al is a graduate of the University of Missouri and currently serves as a deacon at The Journey in St. Louis, Missouri.

Jerram Barrs

Bryan Chapell

Professor of Christian Studies and Contemporary Culture; Resident Scholar of the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute

President; Professor of Practical Theology

MAY 1–2 Seven Rivers

Presbyterian Church; Tampa, FL. Spring Leadership Institute. TOPIC: “Apologetics and Evangelism.”

JULY 6–11, 13–18 University of

Cambridge; Cambridge, UK. Cambridge Summer School of Theology. Teaching on apologetics and the doctrine of sanctification.

ala, along Library director Jim Pak s from tive nta rese rep er oth with ping hel local seminaries, will be gical olo The host the American conLA) (AT n atio Library Associ 20. to 17 e Jun from ference Covenant of n atio oci ass The h ATLA Seminary’s library wit tinually con to allows the library it our Vis es. urc expand its reso these lore exp to ay tod Web site resources! www.CovenantSeminary.

edu/library

St. Louis, MO. Teaching DMin class.

JUNE 4 Durham Performing Arts

Center; Durham, NC. Acts 29 Advance 09: Resurgence of the Local Church conference. TOPIC: “Communicating the Gospel Through Preaching.”

JUNE 15–19 Orlando, FL. 2009

PCA General Assembly.

JUNE 26–JULY 11 Switzerland

Professor of New Testament

and Russia. Preaching at Calvin Quincentenary commemoration.

TOPIC: “In Praise of Predestination.”

MAY 23–28 Eger, Hungary.

JULY 21–23 Trinity Evangelical

Hans Bayer European Leadership Forum.

TOPICS: “Teaching Discipleship in Mark” and “How Did We Get Here?: Foundations of Critical European New Testament Scholarship.”

Divinity School; Deerfield, IL. Teaching DMin class.

AUG. 3–7 Schloss Mittersill,

Presbyterian Church; Columbia, MO. Teaching adult Sunday school; TOPIC: “Union with Christ.” Preaching on Psalms.

Austria. Bible & Culture 2009 conference. TOPIC: “Teaching Discipleship in Mark.”

David B. Calhoun Professor Emeritus of Church History SUNDAYS Grace Presbyterian

Church of St. Louis; St. Louis, MO. Interim pastor.

ATLA Conference

MAY 26–29 Covenant Seminary;

Robert Peterson Professor of Systematic Theology SUNDAYS, MAY Redeemer

Dan Zink Associate Professor of Practical Theology (Counseling) MAY 23–28 Eger, Hungary.

European Leadership Forum.

Co-teaching Christian counseling track.

Faculty Books Jerram Barrs, professor of Christian studies and contemporary culture, has written a new book called Through His Eyes: God’s Perspective on Women in the Bible. His next book, Learning Evangelism From Jesus, is scheduled for release in May. Christ-Centered Worship by Dr. Bryan Chapell, president of Covenant Seminary and professor of practical theology, will be released in August. This book is a useful resource that traces the history of Christian worship and calls contemporary congregations to gospel faithfulness.

Turbo Tax Recognizes Covenant Seminary

Available Scholarship Funds to Increase

One-Stop: To Better Serve Our Students

In an article titled “Tapping Your Inner Freeloader: 11 Tried and True Tips to Get Things Free,” posted on the Turbo Tax Web site, Covenant Seminary was named in a “quick list” of providers of free online education. Check out the article at http://turbotax.intuit.com/taxtools/tax-tips/general/7106.html. Or, better yet, take advantage of these free online classes by visiting www.worldwide-classroom.com!

To assist students with this year’s tuition increase (applicable to students pursuing MA and MDiv degrees or the Graduate Certificate), we are pleased to announce that scholarships will extend to all summer classes in 2009. In addition, to help offset the financial burden that the tuition increase may place

For several years, Covenant Seminary administration and staff have considered ways to better serve students. Completion of the new Founders Hall enabled one of their dreams to become reality. The allnew One-Stop area is home to the Business Office, Financial Aid Office, Registrar, Student Services, and some academic advising. Our students know that this is the one place they now go to take care of all student matters. One-Stop has also become the hub for institutional records.

on our student population, we will be increasing our available scholarship funds by 7.9% for the coming academic year.

GET IN TOUCH! More information, longer news updates, and other alumni news are available on the Alumni Portal at www.covenantseminary.edu/connect/contact or through the Covenant Seminary Alumni Facebook group.

ALUMNI BIRTHS & ADOPTIONS Angie and Randy Arms (MDiv ’04) welcome adopted daughter Prajapatee Noel, born Oct. 28, 2005.

Kevin (MDiv ’05) and Christy Brimm (MATS ’07) welcome Levi Andrew, born Feb. 5, 2008.

Laura and Jason Brooks (MATS ’00) welcome Maryanna Grace, born Dec. 28, 2008.

news

Laurie (Stump) Fulper (MAC ’98) on receiving her LPC while working in agency mental health serving abused and neglected children. She married Derek Fulper in September 2004.

Sean Radke (MDiv ’07) on his ordination to the position of assistant minister to college students at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Durham, N.C., on Sept. 21, 2007.

Rodrigo (MDiv ’03) and Ana DeSousa (MATS ’03) welcome Nicole Vasconcelos, born Nov. 20, 2008.

William Wall (MDiv ’76) on the publication of his commentary Your Future Foretold: Revelation Made Clear for the Busy Layman.

Marcie and Ed Eubanks (MDiv ’05) welcome twins Abigail Ellis (Abbey) and Anna Caroline (Caroline), born Oct. 24, 2008.

MOVES & TRANSITIONS

Rachel and Jeremy Huggins (MDiv ’02) welcome Hiro Clive, born July 27, 2007.

Jennifer and Brent Lauder (MDiv ’05) welcome Lydia M’Cheyne, born Oct. 9, 2008.

Kristen (MAC ’03) and Todd Mallonee (MDiv ’03) welcome Timothy Xavier, born Feb. 8, 2008.

Kristin (MATS ’08) and Burress McCombe (MDiv ’08) welcome Cora Grace, born Nov. 28, 2008.

Andy (MDiv ’03) and Kacey Moehn (MAC ’01) welcome Jennifer Hope, born Sept. 1, 2008.

Emmalee and Tim Padgett (MDiv ’07) welcome William Galbraith, born Dec. 9, 2008.

John (MDiv ’06) and Elizabeth Ranheim (MAC ’05) welcome Caleb Edward, born Dec. 2, 2008.

Rachel and Nathan Tiemeyer (MDiv ’04) welcome Hannah Grace, born Oct. 11, 2008.

Allegra and Dave Vosseller (MDiv ’98) welcome Nathan David, born Aug. 28, 2008.

CONDOLENCES To Christy and Luke Davis (MDiv ’96) on the Nov. 23, 2008, death of their 19-month-old son, Jordan, who suffered from a significant neuromuscular disorder. Luke serves as the chaplain at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis, Mo.

Jon Beane (MDiv ’02) from assistant pastor at West Boca Presbyterian Church in Boca Raton, Fla., to RUF campus minister at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga. Pat Hickman (MDiv ’05) from RUF campus minister and assistant pastor at Living Faith Community Church in Queens, N.Y., to Denver, Colo., to join Bill Connors (MDiv ’07) in a new church plant.

John F. Jones IV (MDiv ’01) from senior pastor at Intown Presbyterian Church in Portland, Ore., to senior pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Anchorage, Alaska.

Jon Mould (MDiv ’91) from church planting and teaching in Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa to without a call.

B. J. Otey (MDiv ’05) from associate pastor at Central Presbyterian Church (EPC) in Clayton, Mo., to senior pastor at Springhill Presbyterian Church near Bozeman, Mont.

Duane Otto (MDiv ’98, MAC ’98) installed as assistant pastor at-large of Christ Church (PCA) in Normal, Ill. Toby Pope (MDiv ’07) to solo pastor of Salem Presbyterian Church in Gaffney, S.C. David Schweissing (MDiv ’99) from associate pastor to senior pastor at Presbyterian Church of Pitcairn in Pitcairn, Pa.

To Eric Phillips (MDiv ’07) on the death of his father on Sept. 12, 2008. Eric is a co-church planter of CityWide Redeemer (PCA) in North Las Vegas, Nev.

Jim Thorpe (MDiv ’00) from pastor of Aimwell Presbyterian Church in Ridgeway, S.C., to pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Atmore, Ala.

To Howard Brown (MDiv ’98) on the death of his mother on Aug. 9, 2008. Howard, wife Kellie, and their children (Harrison and Clark) live in Charlotte, N.C., where Howard is the senior pastor of Christ Central Church.

Jason Tucker (MDiv ’08) to his first call as minister of assimilation and outreach at Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Ala.

CONGRATULATIONS

Brett Varner (MDiv ’04) from assistant pastor of Covenant Church in Fayetteville, Ark., to ESL teacher at Agape English Language Institute in South Carolina.

Jarrett Allebach (MDiv ’06), on his ordination to the position of assistant pastor of youth, families, and children at Christ Community in West Hartford, Conn., on Oct. 19, 2008.

Wesley (MDiv ’07) and Stephanie Vander Lugt (MA ’08) from youth ministry at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Mo., to Armonía Ministries in Mexico City, Mexico.

Executive Editor David Wicker Managing Editor Stacey Fitzgerald Editor Jackie Fogas Assistant Copy Editor Rick Matt Design and Production Libby Dowdall Editorial Contributors Stacey Fitzgerald Jackie Fogas Megan Fowler Joel Hathaway Photo Contributors Libby Dowdall Jackie Fogas Lisa Hessel

Rick Matt Kristen Sagar Dan Zink

Stu Kerns Lacour-Niesen Kelly Park

Covenant Theological Seminary 12330 Conway Road St. Louis, Missouri 63141 Tel: 314.434.4044 Fax: 314.434.4819 E-mail: covenantmagazine@covenantseminary.edu Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News publishers.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission.

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Volume 24, Number 1. ©2009

Covenant is published by Covenant Theological Seminary, the Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America.

The purpose of Covenant Seminary is to train servants of the triune God to walk with God, to interpret and communicate God’s Word, and to lead God’s people.

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STUDENT PROFILE

K

Getting the Gospel from the Head to the Heart

nowing Jesus better. This is the desire of every faithful believer. Yet for too many Christians, “knowing Jesus” can come to be defined by the amount of theological learning we cram into our heads. For Grant Owens (MDiv ’10) and his wife, Colette, finding a way to unite the knowledge of the head with the deeper knowing of the heart was a primary factor in their search for a seminary. Natives of South Africa, Grant and Colette benefitted greatly from the ministrations of a Reformed campus ministry during their college years in Cape Town and later spent time working with that ministry.

“Many of those students claimed to be Christians but really knew nothing of the gospel,” Grant remembers. “Yet they were asking big questions about life and trying honestly to find answers.” Grant knew he was good at the idea side of things, but he recognized that it would be heart knowledge of the gospel that would reach people for Christ. “I began asking myself, ‘Do I really know Jesus? Is my ministry an outflow of love for him? Can I interest other people in the Savior, or can I only explain him?’ ” Grant and Colette first heard of Covenant Seminary through short-term missionaries from the St. Louis area who visited South Africa. At first it was just one of many schools they were considering. But then something on the Seminary’s Web site caught their attention. “It was the tagline that says, ‘We believe that a seminary education is successful only if, at its end, the student knows Jesus Christ more intimately than at its beginning,’ ” Grant remembers. “That was the hook for us. We wanted to know Jesus better and help others to do the same.

Having the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute on campus was a big draw as well. We were familiar with Schaeffer from our university days and were part of an informal discussion group focused on his works. His mind-set of engaging culture compassionately with the gospel was very appealing. Later we learned that this mindset, which is really just the application of biblical principles, is layered throughout the entire curriculum.” Six years after beginning to move toward seminary, the Owenses arrived.

“We weren’t prepared to find Covenant even better than we had expected,” Grant shares. “Here Christianity isn’t merely a philosophical, theological, or moral framework. We found people living out the gospel in so many meaningful ways. We really appreciate the emphasis on God’s grace and how it is part of every class and every aspect of seminary life. The professors

Grant, Jono (age 2½), Colette, and Laura (9 months) Owens

are models of that grace in their openness about their own faith journeys, in the ways that they engage lovingly with one another and with opposing viewpoints, and in the many ways they show that they really do care about their students.

Additionally, we have been greatly blessed by the family atmosphere of the campus and the way everyone supports one another. All of this has been life-changing for us. The Christian faith really comes alive here.” Colette adds, “Covenant is not just about the academic content—excellent as that is. It’s even more about fostering a sense of self-awareness and an attitude of love toward the world. These things form the foundation of the Christian community we experience here.”

Only God knows what the future holds for Grant, Colette, and their two children, Jonathan (“Jono”) and Laura. But they believe that their time at Covenant Seminary has made them more open to the many possibilities for ministry. More importantly, the Owenses feel that God has used the school to bring them closer to Jesus—just as they longed for years ago.

“Our time here has given us a vision for what we want to see in our future ministry,” Grant says with emotion. “If the God who breathed us into existence is at work in us, then others should be able to see that difference. Here we’ve experienced just that—God working through the gospel on a daily basis. This will make me a significantly better pastor no matter where we serve. Covenant really delivers on that tagline.”

RICK MATT Rick Matt (MATS ’05) serves as associate director of public relations for Covenant Seminary, where he writes and edits a variety of print and electronic materials to support the Seminary’s mission of training pastors and ministry leaders for Christ’s church.