This week I was privileged to teach a 30-hour class on Puritan Theology to ten D.Min. students at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. These were long days of lecturing, but also encouraging and joyful days as the students—nearly all of whom are ministers—were very responsive. Several of them told me that the class convicted them of their need for deeper spiritual maturity; one brother told me that the course transformed his life. He said, “I will never forget how God used you this week in teaching this course for my own soul. I don’t think I will ever be the same again.” Once again I experienced this week that sometimes it is good to minister to only a few handfuls of ministers at once, but to do so in depth.
Throughout the week, nearly all my mealtimes and evenings were committed to visiting. One evening was spent with Dr. George and Virginia Knight over dinner and afterwards going through his library. Another evening was spent with Dr. Scott and Susie Roberts for dinner and fellowship, with their boys, Nathan and Noah. Scott is a great friend for many years—also of our seminary. And yet another evening was devoted to having dinner and fellowship with the seminary’s president, Dr. Michael Kruger (NT professor), and three professors, Dr. Robert Cara (NT), Dr. Richard Belcher, Jr. (OT), and Dr. John Currid (OT). Other memorable mealtimes were shared with Dr. Don Fortson, professor of church history and practical theology; Mark Jones—a former student of PRTS who is now a student at RTS; and several meals with other RTS students. I enjoyed all of these times of fellowship, but it did make for an intensely busy week.
With Dr. William Young
On Friday evening I flew up to Providence, Rhode Island. Bryant White, a single, 25-year-old brother, graciously chauffeured me around for the first day. I spent the morning in a local library catching up on scores of emails, then visited Dr. William Young—a friend of many years and now 96 years old!—in the afternoon, and to see his remarkable library. When I asked him what one piece of advice he would give our seminary students after so many decades of experience, he paused, and then said quite movingly just three words, “Look to Jesus!” I think he said it all.
On Saturday evening I overnighted with John and Phyllis Humphreys. John entertained me with a number of stories about how he has tamed a variety of animals, including a fox, screech owls, rabbits, etc. He truly sees God’s handiwork in nature.
On Sunday, I preached in the morning for Rev. Michael Ives at the Presbyterian Reformed Church of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, then fellowshipped with the flock, after which I gave a presentation on God’s work in the world by means of our seminary. From there Pastor Ives drove me to Grace Community Baptist Church, North Providence, Rhode Island where I preached on “Christ’s Tears and Ours” for pastors Rob Ventura and Jack Buckley. This church has grown considerably in recent years, and now contains a number of remarkable converts from a wide variety of backgrounds. We fellowshipped afterward for a few hours, then overnighted at the Ventura home after enjoying more fellowship. We were up at 5:00 a.m. to catch the early flight home where I faced the tyranny of catch-up even as I tasted again the joy of homecoming.
