The Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS) in Pittsburgh, Pa., honored nine graduates at a commencement ceremony on May 20. Four graduates received their three-year master of divinity degrees, and five graduates received their two-year master of theological studies degrees.

Master of divinity (M.Div.) graduates were:

Joel Butler of Philadelphia, Pa., is a member of the American Presbyterian Church. During his years at RPTS, Joel served at nearby Covenant Fellowship (Pittsburgh, Pa.) RPC as a youth leader, a member of the outreach committee, and leader of KidZone community outreach. He will continue to serve the church, and aspires to teach men and youth. In July, Joel will marry Autumn Neely, and become father of her daughter, Carla.

Brian Hasenkopf of Saegertown, Pa., serves as ruling elder (on sabbatical) for Covenant (Meadville, Pa.) RPC. He is still discerning whether he is called to pastor a church plant or current congregation. Hasenkopf is serving Newry RPC in Northern Ireland over the summer with his wife, Tonya, and two boys, Elliot (13), and Spencer (10).

Richard Brewster Holdeman of Bloomington, Ind., is a lecturer in the biology department at Indiana University, where he also coaches the ice hockey club. He feels called to pastor a congregation in a college town where he can continue to be involved in academic life and minister to college students. He also is associate pastor of the Bloomington RPC. Holdeman is a member of the Seminary’s board of trustees, for which he will begin to serve as president this summer. He and his wife, Amy, have three daughters: Maggie (8), Grace (5), and Anne (2).

Titus Martin of Phoenix, Ariz., follows in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather, uncle, and father, all of whom graduated from RPTS. Currently a member of Tusca (Beaver, Pa.) RPC, Titus attended the North Hills (Pittsburgh, Pa.) RPC while in Pittsburgh. Titus has embarked on a seven-month missionary trek through as many countries across the globe (see June RP Witness).

Master of theological studies graduates were Kenneth Wayne Boyer, Jr., of O’Hara Twp., Pa., Young-Rak Jung of Seoul, Korea, David Rhodes of Manor, Pa., Jerome Stevenson of North Braddock, Pa., and McNeal Stewart, III, of Pittsburgh, Pa.