Two weeks ago we kicked off the 21st year of the Sovereign Grace Pastors College. The beginning of the school year never becomes rote for us, and we are marveling yet again at the quality of students and their families sent to us by our churches. Thank you for investing in these families, and for entrusting them to us for the next 10 months! They are truly an expression of God’s kindness to Sovereign Grace.

This year, we have 11 students, ranging in age from 22-41. They come from 7 different churches in 6 states. It’s our most international class in a while—if you trace their country of origin, the men and their wives hail from 7 different nations and speak 7 different languages (British English being one of them). Let me introduce you to the class of 2019.

back row • Matt Turner – Pratville, AL • Drew Williams – Knoxville, TN • Ben Shaw – Louisville, KY • Nate McLaurin – Winona Lake, IN • Todd Santee – Aurora, CO

front row • Jon Bendo – Louisville, KY • Cale Benefield – Dayton, OH • Mark Waite – Dayton OH • Andres Contreras – Juarez, Mexico • Fengyu Ji – Louisville, KY • Karl Sauter – Juarez, Mexico

All of our labors and good intentions profit nothing without the Lord’s hand of blessing. Would you please join us as we pray for our students and their families? Here’s what we’re asking: that hunger for God and his word would be kindled and burn bright and continuous throughout the year, that marriages and families would be strengthened and find new life and joy and godliness, that minds would expand and grasp truth and its contours and relationships and implications, that a passion and faith for God’s purposes in the local church would be galvanized, that gifts for ministry would be discovered and sharpened and empowered, that dimensions of God’s calling would be discerned and vision for ministry clarified and inflamed, that teachers would be strengthened and sharpened and graced to teach their courses like never before—that in everything, every context and in every way, Christ would be magnified in every mind, heart, and life associated with the Pastors College. Thank you for your support.

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As Director of Theology and Training for Sovereign Grace, Jeff Purswell is the Dean of our Pastors College, leads our theological training, and helps develop theological resources. He is also an elder at Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. He and his wife, Julie, have two sons.

We had the privilege of celebrating our 20th graduating class of the Sovereign Grace Pastors College on Saturday, June 2nd. It was a joyful, yet bittersweet time, as we bid farewell to the 10 men and their families who comprised the 2017-18 class.

Bart Lipscomb, who came from Redemption Hill Church (Round Rock, TX), shared the following words during the ceremony, summarizing his Pastors College experience:

When we were praying and making the final decision to come to PC, one of the main verses that God used to guide us was the verse on the back of your program – 1 Timothy 4:16, “Watch your life and your doctrine closely.” And so, when we sat down way back in August for orientation, unbeknownst to us Jeff started talking about how the entire program is designed around those words. It was the first of many, many times throughout the year where God confirmed this was exactly where we needed to be. We’ve been blown away at the rigorous equipping, intentional care and genuine fellowship that has spurred us on to watch our doctrine and lives. It has marked every aspect of PC…

I can say, without a doubt, the content and the world-class scholars we had every week in the classroom were second to none. Beyond that, the quality of the professor’s character was just as instructive as their lectures. People ask what my favorite class was and I really have a hard time deciding. The Lord used the Parenting class with Brian Chesemore and Bob Kauflin to reveal to me what it means to parent by faith in Christ. And I thought I knew what it meant to serve as a pastor before, but I spent the entire class we had with C.J. Mahaney on pastoring having my view lifted to see responsibility and privilege beyond imagination. The same thing could be said for Greek, Church History, Apologetics and Theology courses. Each class caused me to understand the Gospel better, to love Christ more deeply, and to desire to serve with passion and precision…

The joy of all these things was multiplied by getting to spend this year with my fellow classmates. I didn’t know you could experience such a bond in such a short period of time. But, these men and their wonderful families –people I’d never met before—are now lifetime friends. I eagerly looked forward to fellowship group to spend time with and learn from them. These men love Jesus, they are extremely gifted and at the same time they are humble servants. They truly were part of my education this year. I have so much respect for them and anticipation for how God is going to use them in the future…

As we return, I can’t help but shake my head and think “Why me?” Why did I get to experience so much of God’s grace this year? But, that is what makes grace, grace. And our desire is to steward and pass on what we have received here. When I think about the effects of the PC upon 10 students and their families, being multiplied in the lives of all those we’ll encounter in our home churches and new church plants in years to come, I truly marvel at God’s kindness and grace.

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As Director of Theology and Training for Sovereign Grace, Jeff Purswell is the Dean of our Pastors College, leads our theological training, and helps develop theological resources. He is also an elder at Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. He and his wife, Julie, have two sons.

Last month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Michael Reeves to the Pastors College to teach on the Reformation–our history, theological roots, and the profound implications of both upon our lives, ministries, and churches. Our expectations were high and Dr. Reeves exceeded those expectations.

Steve Bice, the pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Bellbrook, Ohio attended the course and was greatly affected.

 I took the week away from regular pastoral ministry, and my family, because I read that this class wouldn’t simply be a church history class, as wonderful as that would be, but a “why the reformation matters for pastoral ministry” kind of class. What I simply was not anticipating, however, was the intensely personal, emotional, and pastoral manner in which Dr. Reeves communicated the persons, struggles, beliefs, and teachings of the Reformation. I was often brought to tears and my heart was so warmed to the glories of the Trinity, the wonders of grace, and the wonderful gift of the scriptures. My personal walk with the Lord is refreshed. My preaching renewed. Various other aspects of pastoral ministry freshly informed. I’m so very grateful for the investment that our Pastors College makes in guys like me, and our churches, through such solid, biblical, pastorally-informed training. 

Weren’t able to join us? We recorded the entire week and are making the course in its entirety available to our pastors in the next few weeks.

Additionally, please enjoy this interview that Jeff did with Dr. Reeves. He covered everything from Reeves’ background to why the Reformation still matters for pastors.

Here is a timestamp list so you can easily locate topics covered.

We trust this will be a strength and encouragement to you.

Michael Reeves recently taught a week on the reformation in our pastors college. Here is an interview we did with him during that week.

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As Director of Theology and Training for Sovereign Grace, Jeff Purswell is the Dean of our Pastors College, leads our theological training, and helps develop theological resources. He is also an elder at Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. He and his wife, Julie, have two sons.