Left to right: Gabriel Magill, Philip VanderWeide, Tim Owens, Merrick Potter, Eddie Spuler, Caleb Collins, Mark Christenson, Matt Groen
Last month, the Pastors College held its 23rd annual graduation exercises. It was an honor to celebrate with these students and their families, all of whom sacrificed in significant ways to give themselves to a rigorous course of study, training, and personal growth—all in order to glorify Christ and serve his church. This year’s class comprised eight students, ranging in age from 25-42, hailing from seven different churches in six states. Two students were sent by Emmaus Road Church in Sioux Falls, a testament to the intentionality of Greg Dirnberger and his team in raising up young leaders. For the second year in a row, we had a second-generation PC student in Philip VanderWeide from Covenant Fellowship Church, whose father Brian graduated in 1999. Most of the students were strangers when they arrived, but they all now depart as dear friends and trusted co-laborers in the gospel.
Although it was painful to bid farewell to these dear friends, we are eager to observe the fruit these men and women will bear for the cause of the gospel. Four of the students are returning to their sending churches, eager to take on new ministry responsibilities. Two of the students are actually returning to churches they had been part of in previous years; in their case, the PC served as a sort of “means of re-entry” into Sovereign Grace. The Pastors College can also serve to connect graduates with churches in need of a pastor, and this summer Caleb Collins, who came to the PC from Louisville, relocated to Richmond to join Matthew Williams and the team at KingsWay Community Church.
I hope you’ll join us in giving thanks to God for the provision to Sovereign Grace these graduates represent. And please do pray for them as they relocate and prepare to serve in local Sovereign Grace churches.
Mark Christenson: serving at Emmaus Road Church in Sioux Falls, SD
Caleb & Kristi Collins: serving at KingsWay Community Church in Midlothian, VA
Matt & Jami Groen: serving at Emmaus Road Church in Sioux Falls, SD
Gabriel & Melissa Magill: church-planting in Warren, PA
Tim & Becca Owens: serving at Sovereign Grace Church of Pasadena, CA
Merrick & Abbey Potter: serving at Covenant of Grace Church in Copley, OH
Eddie & Raven Spuler: serving at CrossPointe Church in Arnold, MD
Philip & Shannon VanderWeide: serving at Covenant Fellowship Church, Glen Mills, PA
Jeff Purswell is the Director of Theology and Training for Sovereign Grace Churches and the dean of the Sovereign Grace Pastors College. He also serves as an elder at Sovereign Grace Church in Louisville, KY.