2026 UPDATe
Ministry Report
Letter from
the President
Dear Friend,
Each spring, we step back and take stock of what the Lord has done. As in years past, we are overwhelmed with gratitude. The Lord has blessed us, and we are grateful to him. As we give thanks, we also need to take time to look forward and consider how we can faithfully strengthen our mission.
We are grateful for our new graduates. These are men who have studied hard and prepared well. They did not take the easy path of ministerial preparation, and all of them are committed to pouring out their lives in service to Christ and his people. Watching these men graduate is bittersweet. They have been in our homes and are close to our hearts, but they came to us to train for a noble task, and we rejoice as they take up the calls that they have received from the Church. This year we are also celebrating the retirement of a graduate who has been serving faithfully as a pastor for decades. His story provides a model of what we pray will be true of all our graduates.
As we look ahead, we know that the need is great. There are more pastoral vacancies in American churches than ever before in Greenville Seminary’s history. There are also significant needs overseas. Our vision is to see churches that are well-tended by godly ministers who preach Christ with conviction. The men we send out must be well-trained; they must know their Bibles; they must have firm and clear convictions about the truths we confess; and they must, above all, be men who pour out their lives in consecration to their Savior.
By God’s grace, it looks as if our next class will be even larger than this year’s. We rejoice in this, because we look not just to coming years, but to coming decades. We want to be used by the Lord to train men who will pastor our grandchildren and who will be sent out by the Church to proclaim the good news of salvation to God’s elect across the globe.
To do this, we need your help. We have depended entirely on the Lord’s provision, year by year, to fulfill our mission. Over 90% of our budget needs this year were met through the generosity of supporting churches and donors like you.
Despite our commitment to the lowest possible tuition costs, we regularly speak with men who are affirmed by their churches and eager to serve, but unable to afford the cost of relocating to Greenville and beginning their studies. With our growing student body, the need for scholarships and housing assistance continues to increase. We remain committed to ensuring that the men we graduate have no debt from their seminary studies. To do this, we are trusting the Lord to provide, and we are asking you to partner with us.
The work before us is spiritual in nature. The Lord has always been faithful to raise up men for gospel ministry by providing for their training and sustaining them in their work. As we look to him and plead for his continued blessing, we ask you to join us. Join us in praying for God’s provision. Join us in supporting the training of faithful men. Join us in raising up confessionally minded pastors for the next generation and missionaries to the ends of the earth.
These are exciting times at Greenville Seminary. We have much to be thankful for. As we graduate another cohort of well-trained men and prepare for the ones that the Lord will be sending us, we are always mindful of what Scripture tells us in Psalm 127:1, “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”
Yours with gratitude,
Dr. Jonathan Master | President
The Sacred Journey
At Greenville Seminary
A 40-Year Harvest: An Interview with GPTS Alumnus, Decherd Stevens
Q: Looking back over 40 years of ministry, how did the Lord first direct you to Greenville Seminary?
A: My journey toward the ministry began in 1975 when I first sensed a call to preach. While I initially sought training elsewhere, my Reformed convictions led me to withdraw from my previous studies. I had a deep desire to be a gospel minister but lacked the financial means for the necessary education. That changed one day at work when a customer mentioned a new seminary coming to town that offered a Bachelor of Divinity recognized by most presbyteries. I inquired and was honored to be among the first four students at GPTS in the fall of 1987.
Q: How did the Lord provide for you during those foundational years?
A: Those were “shoestring” years. For nearly a decade, I balanced a full-time job, night classes, weekend preaching, and the responsibilities of raising a young family while remodeling a house. It was a slow process—affectionately called “Decherd’s Decade”—but the Lord was faithful. GPTS has always prioritized excellent theological training coupled with financial support, whether through scholarships or sponsorship, or just keeping credits affordable. Two years into my studies, I was called as a Student Pastor in a PCA congregation, allowing me to apply my training in real time until my graduation in 1995.
Q: How did GPTS prepare you for the complexities of a four-decade ministry?
A: It was a humbling and thorough preparation. I quickly learned that I didn’t know as much as I thought; it took only ten minutes in a class with Dr. Morton Smith to realize that. GPTS gave me a full-orbed, thorough knowledge of biblical truth that has served as my anchor for 40 years.
Beyond the academics, the accessibility of the faculty was vital. I frequently called my professors for advice on the difficult problems a young pastor faces. For instance, Dr. Jay Adams was instrumental in guiding me through complex counseling situations. That personal mentorship is a hallmark of this institution.
Q: We often talk about the “GPTS family.” How have those relationships impacted your call and your own family?
A: The relationships formed at GPTS are priceless and, in many cases, have lasted over 35 years. Because I pastored in Greenville, our home became a hub for fellowship with professors like Dr. Smith, Dr. Krabbendam, and Dr. Pipa. They didn’t just teach me; they preached for my congregation, encouraged my work, and even baptized some of my children.
My family profited immensely from this. Each year, we welcomed seminary students and their families into our congregation. These students became dear friends—one of them even married my daughter! To this day, a fellow 1995 graduate remains my best friend.
Q: As you reflect on your call since graduating, what makes you most grateful for the “investment” made in your education?
A: Ministry is full of profound joys, like seeing the conversion of sinners, but it also holds deep sorrows and painful lessons. I am most grateful that GPTS gave me a more accurate understanding of the Bible and the wise counsel of godly men to navigate it all. I am also deeply thankful for my wife’s support and her hospitality, which allowed the fruit of my seminary years to overflow into our home and church. When you support GPTS, you aren’t just paying for a degree; you are setting up a man for a lifetime of faithful service.
Q: Looking at the high rate of pastoral burnout today, why do you think GPTS graduates exhibit such pastoral persistence?
A: A wise pastor once told me, “Things are seldom as they seem.” We frequently have no idea what people in the pew are going through. Likewise, we rarely know what the pastor is going through. I believe my own forty-year tenure is due in large part to the foundation I received at Greenville Seminary.
That same pastor once told me, “A good week in the ministry is when you don’t think about quitting more than twice.” There were many times I wanted to quit, but the personal mentorship and deep-rooted convictions I gained at GPTS reminded me that I am a bondservant of Christ. I suspect other graduates persist because they, too, were taught that ministry is about more than “biblical data”—it is about a lifetime of faithful, sacrificial service to the sheep.
Spotlight: Josh Marcus
Faithfulness and Fortitude
The path to pastoral ministry often requires a “plunge” of faith—a step that Josh and his family know well. Guided by his grandfather, a veteran missionary in Mexico, Josh moved his wife, five children, and two dogs across the country from California to South Carolina to pursue full-time training at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (GPTS).
How has GPTS prepared you to become a pastor?
My studies at GPTS have prepared me for future pastoral ministry by making me a better student of the Scriptures. By balancing historical, systematic, and biblical studies, GPTS has given me the tools to rightly handle the Word of God. The lectures and readings together provide a clear grasp of the major contours of the Christian faith. By pairing classic and modern authors, the curriculum offers a well-rounded education. Studying Calvin’s Institutes established a strong early-Reformed, experiential foundation, while Bavinck introduced a more recent approach that engages a range of modern theological developments.
I’m very grateful for the commitment the seminary has to a “Word and Spirit” ministry, which evidences itself in a few ways. First, they emphasize expository preaching, where the text determines the message of the sermon and not the other way around.
Furthermore, they recognize the need for dependence on the Spirit in preaching. From the hard study in the text to the delivery of the sermon, we are taught to stop depending on self and depend upon the Holy Spirit’s aid, not trusting in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. This training has been a true blessing, helping me grow not only in knowledge but also in my ability to faithfully preach God’s Word.
What will you take away most from your time at the seminary?
I’m grateful for the Lord’s mercy in providing professors who love the Lord Jesus Christ, who are exceptionally knowledgeable in his Word, and who have spent much time and energy sharpening my thinking and encouraging me spiritually. Having professors who care for my spiritual wellbeing made Greenville a place to grow not just intellectually, but also in holiness for the purpose of being set apart for ministry.
Spotlight: Jai Paul Geddam
Answering the Call to South India
Drawn to Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary through trusted counsel and a growing conviction of the need for deeper preparation, Jai Paul came to be equipped for long-term ministry in India. His studies have sharpened his focus on proclaiming the gospel and building up the Church in his home country.
How did you hear about GPTS?
The Lord’s leading in my life to attend Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary is something I can only describe as gracious and providential. While serving in a parachurch organization in India and seeking clarity about future ministry, I was first introduced to GPTS through a former professor and friend who spoke very highly of the seminary. Through prayer, counsel, and growing conviction, the Lord directed my heart toward deeper theological training, something I now clearly see as his hand guiding me step by step. From the beginning, my desire has been to return and serve the Church in India.
I chose GPTS because of its strong commitment to confessionalism and Scripture. I desired a place that would not only teach theology academically but would shape men to faithfully preach the Word of God. Another aspect that deeply resonated with me was the seminary’s heart for world missions. Coming from India, I longed to be equipped not only for pastoral ministry but also to serve the global Church.
How has GPTS prepared you for ministry after graduation?
The training I have received has equipped me to preach the Word of God faithfully and handle Scripture with care. The faculty have modeled that pastoral ministry is not about prominence but faithfulness—to shepherd God’s people with humility, diligence, and conviction—a vision that is essential for church planting in India.
Where are you ministering after graduation?
I plan to return to India and serve as a church planter in Hyderabad. My prayer is that the Lord would use me to faithfully proclaim the gospel and see new congregations established for his glory throughout India.
Spotlight: Austin Loewen
Providence and Preparation
How did the Lord lead you to GPTS?
While serving in a church in Canada, I was gradually being drawn to Reformed theology, so I began looking for a seminary that was both biblically faithful and theologically Reformed. At the same time, a more practical factor came into view—Greenville’s climate promised to be a significant blessing for my wife’s health, making the possibility of moving much more compelling. Between the sunshine and the rigorous studies, our family has enjoyed many great blessings. Before seminary, we had little familiarity with confessions or catechisms, and we did not regularly attend evening services or midweek prayer meetings. Since then, our lives have been reshaped—we now practice family worship, have had our daughters baptized, and are thriving under the regular ministry of the Word.
How has the Lord provided for you at GPTS?
Early on, we found an amazing church where we have sat under the faithful preaching of the Word, Lord’s Day by Lord’s Day, morning and evening, week after week.
He has also provided a rich community for our family. My wife has been deeply encouraged by friendships formed through our church and the seminary’s ladies’ fellowship, while our children have built meaningful relationships and are being grounded in the faith through catechism and regular teaching. Lastly, the Lord has provided for us financially, granting me multiple scholarships and opportunities to serve him through internships.
Where is the Lord sending you next?
I am joining as a pastoral intern at a church in northern California, with plans to pastor one of the churches in that presbytery as the need arises.
Spotlight: Jimmy Dukes
Equipping the Shepherd
While serving as missionaries in Peru, Jimmy and Nadia recognized a growing need for deeper theological training to sustain their ministry. A chance encounter with a seminary staff member at a conference in Alabama became the providential spark that opened the doors to Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Why GPTS?
The more I learned about GPTS, the more I knew it was the right fit. I was looking for a seminary that was confessionally faithful, biblically grounded, conservative, Reformed, and Presbyterian. GPTS stood out because its focus was not just on academics, but the training of pastors. I had heard too many stories of men finishing seminary unprepared for the work of shepherding. At GPTS, the professors were not distant academics. They were pastors and men who genuinely cared for the students and for the church.
I am especially grateful for the friendships with both students and professors. I have grown to love the faculty not only as teachers, but as shepherds who have prayed for me, watched over me, and shown me what faithful pastoral care looks like.
How has GPTS impacted your ministry as you study and pastor at the same time?
The training has impacted every area of my work. Preaching classes gave structure to my sermons, while theology and polity courses strengthened my Presbyterian convictions. Most importantly, the pastoral classes helped me think more carefully about shepherding souls, counseling, and caring for Christ’s people. This knowledge hasn’t stayed in the classroom; it has flowed directly into my ministry here in Peru.
What is next for you?
I plan to continue serving as a pastor and missionary in Peru. Having planted a church there in 2019, I want to keep laboring for its strengthening and the training of local men for ministry. Additionally, Nadia and I hope to develop a mercy ministry—specifically a refuge home for women in need. I am grateful that GPTS prepared me not only for pulpit ministry, but also for the broader pastoral work the Lord has called us to here in Peru.
Spotlight: Andrew Rutherford
A Call to Rigor
For many, the path to the pulpit begins with a search for the best possible training. While he was initially set on a different seminary, Andrew began scouring the internet to listen to various graduates as he compared his options. Time and again, he was impressed by GPTS graduates’ preaching, leading him to realize that he needed to go where he would be taught how to preach Christ clearly and powerfully.
What made you sure about your choice to attend GPTS?
The linchpin was being invited to hear my friend preach his second sermon in Homiletics Practicum II with Dr. Pipa. I was deeply moved by Dr. Pipa’s encouragement and correction of this group of men. I could tell his aim was Christ’s glory and the good of the Church. I toured the campus that day and was introduced to other faculty and staff. The whole experience was life changing.
What sets GPTS apart?
If I had to describe GPTS in one word, it would be “rigor.” This is not a place for lazy men. This was one of the most eye-opening and helpful aspects of my time here, helping me put to death the academic laziness I learned in my undergrad. The courses required immense effort, with volumes of reading and research poured into every paper and exam. However, the motivation was never just a grade—it was the glory of Christ and the good of his Bride. The faculty constantly reminded us of our ultimate aim: to be a living sacrifice for Christ and a faithful servant to his Bride.
What are your plans after graduating?
I am currently pursuing a call as an Associate Pastor at my local church, where I plan to start a biblical counseling ministry to support rural churches. This call will allow me to preach regularly while supporting our church-planting efforts with the Word and sacraments. I am proud to be a GPTS grad, equipped for the hard but rewarding work of the ministry.
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