Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary has always been committed to the principle of accountability to the faithful Body of Christ, the Church. To ensure that accountability, we consider it vital to maintain communications with churches who share our vision, especially those who have committed to support our educational ministry through prayer and finances.

We, obviously, cannot be present on a continuing basis at all of the churches who support us, although our faculty and staff are always prepared to come and present reports and provide spiritual leadership within our support community. In general, however, we see benefits in partnering with local believers who understand our vision and mission and can communicate them to their fellow church members and contacts.

For this reason, we are launching the GPTS Ambassador Program. Our goal is to  appoint a seminary Ambassador in churches throughout our sphere of interest nationwide and internationally. Select churches will be receiving a special letter about this program in the near future.

You do not need to be a dynamic speaker or presenter to become a GPTS Ambassador. Your role can be as simple as answering questions or referring inquirers to the appropriate office at the seminary or ensuring that GPTS materials are available on your church’s literature table. Sometimes we just need someone to call who can help us learn more about your church, community or future students. You may serve as a prayer warrior or communicator of our needs during your church’s prayer meetings. May God give you a creative spirit and mind, as well as a willing heart, to serve in this role, and thereby help to defend and preserve the historic Christian faith.

Greenville Seminary occasionally sets up exhibition booths or display tables at a variety of conferences, denominational assemblies, conventions and other special events throughout the country. The cost of sending a staff or faculty member can be high, so we seek local supporters who can erect displays, be present to answer questions, and represent the seminary’s positions. We ship you all necessary materials and display equipment.

To become a GPTS Ambassador, contact the seminary’s Office of Development and Recruiting at info@gpts.edu or 846-322-2717, ext. 319. Download a brochure.

This year's Summer Institute  at Greenville Seminary will tackle the controversy at the heart of the question of the authority of Scripture and the Bible's relation to science: Creation.

The Institute will include a free evening presentation for the public on Monday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m., featuring the internationally renowned Creationist Dr. Jonathan D. Sarfati, a physical chemist, spectroscopist, and chess master,  formerly of Brisbane, Australia, now living in Georgia. Dr. Sarfati, editor of publications for Creation Ministries International, is noted for taking an uncompromising stance on the origins of the universe, the earth, and life, and for defending Scripture in a straightforward manner against any attempt to "reconcile" it with "scientific data" that contradict it.

Also teaching during the Institute along with Dr. Sarfati will be Dr. Joseph A. Pipa, Jr., president of Greenville Seminary and professor of historical and systematic theology. Dr. Pipa has been an outspoken defender of a literal six-day creation view and is co-author of the book Did God Create in Six Days? GPTS uniquely has adopted an official faculty statement on creation, affirming a literal, historical six-day creation as described in Genesis.

For complete information and online registration, click here or on the banner below. The opening lecture will be streamed live online via a web cast from our SermonAudio page. See note below right on how to access.

Pre-order a DVD set of all lectures by Aug. 5 and save $20.

Summer  Theology Course on Southern Presbyterianism Opens Soon

The 2011 Summer Course, "Studies in Southern Presbyterian Theology," opens July 25th and runs through July 29th.

The always popular course will again feature Dr. Morton Smith's "Studies in Southern Presbyterian Theology." Dr. Smith has lectured for nearly 50 years on the topic of Southern Presbyterianism and its theology, and these lectures continue to be a favorite among students, elders, and Christians of all ages. The course is popular because it covers a wide range of topics through the instrumentality of those most interesting and sometimes controversial Southern Presbyterians. More information here.

SUGGESTED READING: Click here.

Second-year student William F. Hill, Jr. has joined the GPTS staff as the seminary's resident information technology specialist, replacing June graduate Breno Macedo.

Bill also made the transition earlier this summer from being a "distance" student living in Norfolk, Va. to an on-campus student beginning with the Fall 2011 semester. His wife Gwen, a medical caregiver, plans to join him in the Greenville area upon completion of nursing studies in Norfolk. Bill and Gwen have been married for nearly 24 years and have three grown children, Danielle, Jen, and Bryan.

A native of New York, Bill was raised in a Christian home in New York, Wisconsin and Ontario, but, by his own testimony, lived much of his young life in rebellion against God, though never intellectually denying the truths of the Christian Faith. After marrying Gwen, "We continued to attend Baptistic style churches until the day God convinced me of the beauty that is the Reformed Faith. I still remember the day I completed R.C. Sproul’s book “Chosen by God.” I will never forget the tears of joy that I shed when I realized the beauty of God’s election in my life," Bill says.

The Hills have been members of Immanuel Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Norfolk. Bill began his studies at GPTS in 2010 under the GPTS mentor program (distance learning). Convinced that he was missing vital elements of seminary life and education by studying at a distance, he made the decision to move to the Greenville area. His studies at GPTS remain the central focus of his life as he prepares for the gospel ministry.

"I still have a strong, irresistible desire to serve God in this capacity. I am trusting and praying that this is also God’s desire for me, Bill says.

"Looking back over the 45 years of my life I can clearly see the hand of God working for me even when I was rebelling in my heart and actions towards Him. He has been so patient and kind even when I was so vile and full of anger. He is a great God and I desire to serve Him with all of my heart."

For more about Bill and his current ministries, visit his web site and blog, TheParchment.net. You can also find Bill on Facebook and Twitter. Oh, one more thing: Bill is a dedicated New York Yankees fan — the Yankee label likely to cause some concern in his new home in the Deep South.

How Are We Doing? We Miss You!

One thing is sure: Greenville Seminary could not have survived, humanly speaking, for the past 24 years without the financial support of thousands of Christians who share our biblical vision for educating new generations of preachers and church leaders.

God has blessed us with numerous faithful supporters over the years, many of whom give consistently on a monthly or other periodic basis. Others have given in the past, but we have not heard from them for some time. If you are someone who has not sent a contribution lately, perhaps you would be willing to share with us your reasons. In order to continue and improve our work of outreach and training men for the ministry, we are seeking to understand people's reasons for discontinuing or interrupting their regular support. You can greatly help us if you will fill out a short online survey, which will be anonymous unless you wish otherwise. Thanks for taking time to respond. [Click here]

The tables below show our financial condition as of the end of June 2011 and our 2010-11 Fiscal Year. We are grateful to God and our supporters that donations during our 2010-11 fiscal year exceeded donations during the previous fiscal year by $134,866. While expenses were up considerably as well...and cash flow problems arose from time to time, we were able, by God's grace, to finish the fiscal year "in the black" by $36,292. Those funds have been used to meet critical obligations, so we stand at the beginning of our new fiscal year in urgent need of critical support for the summer and beyond. Your special gift would be greatly appreciated!

We, the trustees, administration, faculty and staff of Greenville Seminary are so blessed by two key groups of people -- our supporters and our students. Recent comments from individuals in each of these groups were especially encouraging as they touched on what lies at the heart of our ministry:

From a donor, in a note accompanying a gift:

"Your most recent letter...touched an over-riding concern of mine and prompted this gift. The specific phrase you used was 'godly men with the convictions and fire of our Presbyterian forefathers....' I'd say, to use my own husband's words, we (the church) need men with gumption! I, as a woman, wife and follower, need to know the Lord is still at work preparing and providing rigorous, focused training to raise up men with gumption! Don't stop."

From a prospective student, following his visit to the seminary:

SUMMER READING IDEAS

Visit our new Amazon.com Seminary Bookstore

CHILDREN'S BOOKS FOR SUMMER READING: Click Here

CREATION STUDIES: Click here.

SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN HISTORY: Click here.

DR. PIPA ARGUES FOR FIRST-DAY CHRISTIAN SABBATH IN NEW BOOK

 

Perspectives on the Sabbath presents in point-counterpoint form the four most common views of the Sabbath commandment that have arisen throughout church history, representing the major positions held among Christians today.

Greenville Seminary President Dr. Joseph A. Pipa Jr. backs the Christian Sabbath view which reasons that ever since the resurrection of Christ, the one day in seven to be kept holy is the first day of the week.

 

Order this book  and Dr. Pipa's recent book on Galatians from our Amazon store:

 

 

SHOW YOUR COLORS: NEW GPTS GIFT SHOP OFFERS MEMENTOS

Visit our new online Gift Shop to purchase GPTS golf shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, and travel mugs. All net proceeds help support the seminary.