Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men….And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:7, 8, 11–13

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching.

Romans 12:4–7

In his letters to the Ephesians and the Romans, Paul teaches us that the ascended Christ gives gifts to the church in the form of specific callings. These gifts are given so that God’s Word will be preached, taught, and spread. Furthermore, Paul tells us that these specific callings are given to the church for her spiritual welfare—individually and corporately.

The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) has been blessed by God’s faithfulness in providing us with these gifts. Have you heard a good sermon recently? There is one of the gifts. Have you been blessed by godly counsel from an elder? Here is another gift. Have you received godly instruction from a teacher? Here is yet another gift. We can thank God that He has given to the RPCNA faithful ministers and instructors who lovingly labor for the well-being of the church and for the spread of the gospel.

Two institutions that play crucial roles in promoting the gospel and the spiritual welfare of the church are the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS) and Geneva College. Both of these institutions of higher learning prepare believers to be faithful to God’s Word in their callings and in their personal lives. These institutions stress Reformed truths in their instruction.

The RPCNA Trustees of Synod are committed to supporting these two worthy halls of learning through the distribution of funds given to the Reformed Presbyterian Mission & Ministry Fund (RPM&M). The RPM&M Fund is money raised by the Trustees of Synod to be granted not only to RPTS and Geneva College (which is a separate corporation from the RPCNA but is included in the annual RPM&M distribution), but to other RPCNA denominational boards and institutions as well.

In 2017, RPM&M received $400,000, which was distributed according to Synod’s approved 2016 budget. As Figure 1 indicates, in 2017, 20.25% was distributed to RPTS, and Geneva College received 12%.

This article focuses on RPTS and Geneva College. Subsequent articles will focus on the other boards and institutions that receive funding from RPM&M.

RPTS

Since its inception in the spring of 1810, the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS), located in Pittsburgh, Pa., has been faithfully teaching and training men to be preachers of God’s Word. Students seeking to become pastors are taught by pastors, thus gleaning from valuable experiential knowledge.

Students come from near and far to study God’s Word at RPTS. They are drawn to RPTS because of its “high view of Scripture, [its] passion to set forth the historic Reformed faith without compromise, and [its] commitment to the urban setting where God has placed [the Seminary],” states Jerry F. O’Neill, president of RPTS. Students with diverse backgrounds enjoy biblical unity and camaraderie as they receive training from dedicated professors to become effective servants in the kingdom of God.

In more recent years, the seminary has also been able to provide instruction and training to men and women who seek to serve God’s kingdom through other types of ministries, such as mission work, Christian education, youth/student ministries, and counseling.

Geneva College

Thirty-eight years after RPTS opened its doors, Geneva College was founded by the RPCNA with the purpose of training and discipling students to be faithful lights in the world as they acknowledge the kingship of Christ in their personal lives and in their chosen calling. Their vision statement affirms this purpose: “Geneva College will inspire students to integrate faith in Christ into all aspects of life in the real world, and to serve faithfully within their callings for Christ and Country.” Geneva College is governed by the RPCNA and stresses instruction from a Reformed perspective as it serves traditional students, adult learners, and graduate students.

Campus life offers fellowship among students through Bible studies, pickup sport games, and other activities. Geneva College prepares these students to be witnesses to the world. “I was able to grow in my faith, and understand more deeply what I believe, as well as why I believe it and how it should affect other areas of my life, which has led to a greater readiness to give an answer for the hope that is in me,” affirms Elise Mann, a 2014 Geneva alumna. “Their instruction and integration of their faith with their work has been an example I continue to look back on to this day.”

God’s church is blessed, and His gospel is spread, when there is faithful preaching and adherence to His Word. Please pray for the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Geneva College that they may continue to uphold, live, and teach the truths of God’s Word to those who seek to serve the church as preachers, instructors, and in other ways. Pray that the students of RPTS and Geneva College will bear fruits of their academic labors as they serve the church and live as lights in this world. Please also consider giving to the denomination’s RPM&M Fund, as your gifts are used toward these worthy ends.

Mary Brown lives in Nunn, Colo., with her husband, Clyde, and their four children, Charity, Timothy, Hope, and David. She is a member of Laramie, Wyo., RPC, where her husband serves as an elder.