Each spring, Dr. and Mrs. O’Neill, along with Mark and Sharon Sampson, host a dessert for graduating seniors. While sampling delicious baked goods and fine coffee, the seniors and their spouses share some of their recollections of their time at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

The depth and sincerity of the appreciation and love that these brothers and sisters in Christ hold for each other and the Seminary community is a great encouragement. One cannot help but note the special bond that has formed through the many hours of struggling through difficult biblical texts while striving to understand how to glorify God through individual ministry. Fellow classmates are fondly recalled, as are particular classroom experiences and the wonderful variety of personalities of the faculty. Another common theme is that each quarter revealed a new “most favorite” class at the Seminary.

May 18 marks another commencement ceremony at RPTS, to be held at 7 p.m. at Memorial Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church near Pittsburgh. Nine men are candidates for the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and three women are candidates for the Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.). RP students graduating this year are featured below.

Luke Finley, originally from Winchester, Kan., worshiped the past two years at College Hill (Beaver Falls, Pa.) RPC while studying at RPTS. Luke holds a B.A. in rhetoric from Kansas State University and plans on interning at the Shawnee, Kan., RPC, upon graduation.

“I would like to be involved with ministry to the poor and outcast, whether that is in the city or rural areas, or in another country,” notes Luke. “Through my upbringing and time at the Seminary I have been entrusted with so much knowledge concerning the Bible and the gospel. The call upon my life is to use my time here to pour myself out into others, so that they might be saved and God would be glorified.”

Being raised in the denomination and having a father who is an RPTS alum and retired pastor, Luke has always known about the Seminary. Luke watched a DVD about RPTS one Lord’s Day evening three years ago, and God used that time to plant a seed. Soon after that, Luke was deep into studies at the Seminary. Luke has appreciated the wonderful sense of humor that students often share over many different topics. He also has enjoyed cleaning all of the bathrooms in the Seminary twice a week! In his spare time, Luke enjoys reading, shopping in thrift stores, and cooking.

George Gregory and his wife, Danielle, are parents to twins, Joshua and James (3), and to Elijah (9 months). A native of the North Hills of Pittsburgh, George majored in Christian Ministries at Geneva College. The Gregory family worships at the North Hills RPC. George enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, and reading. In his spare time, he has also studied music and Latin.

Lord willing, George plans to move to Columbus, Ind., upon graduation to serve as associate pastor of the Columbus RPC. He also has a great interest in furthering his education so that someday he might be qualified to serve the denomination as a professor at one of our educational institutions. George would call internships in Washington, Iowa, and Stillwater, Okla., as some of the most formative times of his studies. Working closely with pastors in the denomination and professors at RPTS helped him to truly understand the joys and challenges of the pastorate. George also spent time organizing and leading a post-college ministry at his church.

Reflecting upon his time at RPTS, George notes, “It has helped me to love and appreciate the church of Jesus Christ all the more. The pastoral influence of the professors gave me a stronger desire to serve the people of God in a way that I had not had before.”

During his time at RPTS, George has diligently helped maintain the Seminary landscaping. Along with his father, George has also replaced many of the windows in the Seminary’s married student housing units.

Adam Niess, a native of Wheeling, W.V., is the devoted husband of Anne and proud father of Micah (2). Adam graduated with a bachelor of music in double bass performance from Indiana University. While at IU, Adam was very involved with the Navigators, the group in which he and Anne first met. Upon graduation from Indiana, he took an internship at the Bloomington, Ind., RPC, working with Pastors William Roberts and Richard Holdeman. Adam has also interned at the Columbus, Ind., RPC and once again at Bloomington. He also has led Bible studies at the Allegheny County Jail for most of his time at RPTS.

“My classes taught me a lot and made me aware of the things I still need to learn. Furthermore, the summer internships were a great opportunity for me to put into practice many of the things that I had been learning,” noted Adam. “I have a passion to know more about Christ, to grow in Christlikeness, to preach God’s Word, and to be used by God to disciple and counsel His people.”

Adam enjoys reading about theology and Christian living. He is a coffee connoisseur and delights in playing with Micah. Other favorite activities include time spent with Anne and fellowship over a good meal or dessert. Adam fondly recalls weekly meetings with fellow graduate George Gregory for mutual encouragement.

Lord willing, upon graduation, Adam will return to Indiana to serve as an associate pastor.

Greg Stiner, an elder at the Shawnee, Kan., RPC, came to RPTS after serving in an engineering position at W. L. Cassell & Associates in Kansas City. Greg and his wife, Janis, are currently living in the Morningside neighborhood of Pittsburgh and worship at Grace (Gibsonia, Pa.) RPC. They have three grown children, Elijah, Patrisha, and Joseph. Raised near Emporia, Kan., Greg attended Clarksville Baptist College in Clarksville, Tenn.

During his studies at RPTS, Greg has been involved in prison ministry. He also completed internships at the Shawnee, Kan., RPC, and Grace (Gibsonia, Pa.) RPC, and participated in a short-term mission work in Kitchener, Ont. Gardening, tinkering, reading, piano playing, and spending time with grandchildren top Greg’s list of favorite activities. “One of my dreams,” notes Greg, “is to, Lord willing, watch my children’s children come to faith and take up the call of Christ in their own lives.”

Greg came to RPTS through the great encouragement of his session in Shawnee and the recommendation of Dr. Rick Gamble, RPTS professor. Greg has accepted a call to serve as pastor of the Sharon, Iowa, RPC, where he and Janis will move following graduation. “My plans include settling into a pastorate where I long to see the power and blessing of Christ extending and growing His kingdom,” says Greg. “The academic and spiritual leadership of the faculty and staff have provided a broad and deep biblical base for ministry and living the Christian life with vigor and zeal.”

Fondly recalling praise and testimony times at RPTS, Greg expresses his heartfelt gratitude for his professors, the Midwest Presbytery, the local churches in North Hills, Gibsonia, and Shawnee, and family and friends, especially his youngest brother and his wife for lovingly and selflessly supporting the family’s decision to come to RPTS.

Beverly Simpson, a member of the Providence (Pittsburgh, Pa.) RPC, is a candidate for the master of theological studies degree. With an undergraduate degree in French, which included study at the University of Grenoble, France, Beverly used her language skills in corporate communications for a number of years. “There always was a desire for full-time ministry,” said Beverly. “Study at RPTS has confirmed and prepared me for fulfillment of that call.” Beverly enjoys spending time with a number of the elderly saints at the RP Home, which has deepened her appreciation for their faithfulness to the Lord and to one another. She also reflects upon the blessing of covenant families as witnessed at the Providence congregation. “What a joy it is to see these children grow in grace as they are nurtured and brought up in the Lord,” states Beverly.

Beverly notes the great blessing that RPTS students are granted as they study and learn under the diligent instruction of pastors who are faithful to scriptural doctrine. “Study at RPTS discovers the rich treasures of God’s covenant with His people, which is the way of life before Him and with one another in this world and in the world to come,” comments Beverly. With eternal gratitude, she recalls Psalm 23:6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

The Seminary is taking the special step of conferring a posthumous degree upon Madelyn Formley, who went home to be with the Lord. Madelyn had nearly completed the master of theological studies degree.

Mark Sampson is director of development at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pa.