News is added to this site periodically. Please visit regularly for updates.

You also can sign up to receive our quarterly e-newsletter.

2011 Commencement

RPTS honored 18 graduates, including the first ever Doctor of Ministry graduates, during its 200th commencement ceremony on Friday, May 20, at 7:00 p.m., at Memorial Park Church, Allison Park, Pa. Dr. Jae Sung Kim, Vice President of Kukje Theological University in Seoul, Korea, was the commencement speaker.

Master of Divinity Graduates

Keith Evans, a native of Western Pennsylvania, is married to Melissa. They keep quite busy raising their daughter, Audrey, and are expecting another covenant child in June of this year, Lord willing. A graduate of Grove City College where he majored in Psychology with a double major in Christian Thought, Keith has been at RPTS since 2006. In addition to his studies, Keith is also the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at the Seminary. The Evans family worships at the North Hills RPC, where Keith has served as a pastoral intern. Keith has accepted a call as the Associate Pastor of the Lafayette RP Church in Lafayette, Indiana.

Jonathan Haney is originally from Ottawa, Kansas, and is a graduate of Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, with a B.A. in Mathematics and a minor in Philosophy. Jonathan and his wife, Adrienne, coffee aficionados, volunteered at The Inner Bean, a campus ministry coffee house in Emporia. Jonathan knew of the Seminary through the denomination but began to sense a call to pastoral ministry while serving on an RP mission trip to Uganda. Lord willing, Jonathan and Adrienne will move to Manhattan, Kansas, following graduation to work with students at Kansas State University while seeking to plant a church there. Jonathan would say that he senses the Lord calling him to “a ministry that reaches out to the downcast.”

Kunio Hase is a member of the Mukonoso Reformed Presbyterian Church in Amagasaki, Japan. One of the smaller churches within the denomination, the Mukonoso congregation has nonetheless been very active in providing servants for kingdom work. Another member of this church, Yasuko Kanamori, a 2010 graduate of RPTS, has spent the last year training at the Biblical Counseling Institue at RPTS. From Kobe, Japan, Kunio is a graduate of Kiuki-Osaka University where he earned a BA in Law. He then attended the Kobe Theological Hall before coming to RPTS.

Mitch Haubert comes to RPTS from a wide and varied range of experiences in theological education and military service. A member of Providence PCA church in Robinson Township, Mitch will serve as an Assistant Pastor. “Studying at RPTS has challenged me on many levels. I appreciate the constant pastoral awareness of the professors,” notes Mitch, “As a ministerial candidate not from the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, I appreciate the professors’ zeal for their own theological traditions while dealing respectfully with those in other denominations.”

Robert Hindman and his wife, Karen, live in Kittanning on a farm that has been in the family since 1820. Presently, he raises hay, horses and beef on 236 acres of some of God’s most wonderful earth. In addition his studies at RPTS and running a large farm, Bob also finds time to be an Authorized Lay Preacher for the PCUSA serving Presbyterian congregations, Srader Grove Presbyterian and Clinton Presbyterian. After graduation, he plans to continue serving as he has, following whatever plans to which God calls him.

Adam Kuehner graduated from Christ College in Lynchburg, Virginia with a Bachelor of Applied Theology in 2005. The decision to study at RPTS was affirmed through prayer and meeting with Dr. O’Neill. Working as an insurance agent, Adam has worked full time and completed his Master of Divinity in forty two months through an extensive use of evening classes and independent study programs offered at RPTS. Upon graduation, Adam plans to seek a full-time pastoral position in the RPCNA. Adams senses that the Lord is calling him to shepherd God’s people and to labor to win souls to Christ. During the summer of 2010, Adam completed a pastoral internship at Covenant RPC in Aurora, Ohio. He fondly recalls lingering after class to share the delight of edifying spiritual conversations with classmates.

Chan Woo Lee came to Pittsburgh from Anseong City, South Korea to complete Doctoral work at the University of Pittsburgh. Lee is a graduate of Yonsei University in Seoul, completing both undergraduate and graduate work in Public Administration. Currently he serves as Assistant Pastor at the Mt. Zion Korean Church in Churchill where he is responsible for several Bible studies and the youth programs. While studying at Pitt, the Lord called Lee to serve him, choosing RPTS at the recommendation of fellow church members and alumni, Chanwoo states that, “RPTS has had a huge influence upon my spiritual life. God led me to the right place to prepare for His way.”

Jackie Lewis, a resident of Highland Park, is a native Pittsburgher who has taught in the Pittsburgh Public School system for the last twenty years and for most of that time, she has been a student at RPTS. “Taking evening classes gave me the opportunity to start seminary and continue working full time,” Jackie said, “which was important to me because I did not want to go into debt. It was a slow process!” “My primary gift is teaching. I teach for a living, but I also do classes at church. I just finished a series on financial health and how that fits into the plan of God and how we need to think about how we spend our money. I am not sure exactly where God is calling me post-graduation in May, but I imagine I will still be teaching.” Among other options, Jackie is interested in international missions.

After graduating from Geneva College with a major in history, H. P. McCracken did some substitute teaching while searching for a full-time teaching position. Recommendation from several people directed HP to the Seminary. Upon graduation from RPTS, HP is seeking a call to the pastorate in the RPCNA if it is the Lord’s will. HP and his wife, Carly, make their home in Beaver Falls where they enjoy raising their son, Owen, who is 10 months old. A life long member of the College Hill RPC in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, HP completed an internship there. He also interned at the Columbus RPC in Columbus, Indiana. When not studying for class, HP enjoys fishing, traveling, volleyball, soccer, skiing and time spent with family.

Roberto Reyes is a member of the Swissvale Baptist Church, where he has served as a pastoral intern with responsibilities for Youth Ministry, preaching, and teaching of Apologetics. Married to Gina Bessetti-Reyes, the couple lives in Avalon, Pennsylvania. Originally from the Bronx, Roberto studied at DeVry Institute of Technology in Queens and Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pennsylvania. When not focused on studies, Rob enjoys spending time with Gene and their friends, reading, and practicing Martial Arts taught by Dr. Richard Gamble at the Seminary. Rob senses a call to pastoral ministry with an emphasis on Apologetics. Lord willing, he and Gene hope to start a family, and Rob hopes to pursue work in a Ph.D. program. Weekly prayer with a classmate, Kunio Hase, is a key memory of his time at RPTS. Rob notes his appreciation of and gratefulness to the faculty for their dedicated preparation of men and women for service in Christ’s Kingdom and their pastoral care of the student body.

Jay Yanak and his wife, Lissa, reside in Pittsburgh and were married in Jay’s second year at RPTS. Jay graduated from Grove City College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. The Yanaks are members of City Reformed PCA in Pittsburgh. Jay learned of RPTS from friend and mentor, Zachary Kail (RPTS ’08). “I wanted to deepen my relationship with Christ by learning more about His word,” said Jay, “RPTS has definitely done that.” Upon graduation, Jay immediately plans to seek work in the teaching field or utilizing his business management skills, while Lissa finishes an advanced degree in Counseling. The Yanaks hope to start a family, Lord willing, while continuing to seek God’s will in how Jay is to serve in the Kingdom. He comments: “I am to be a blessing to the people around me!”

Master of Theological Studies

Matt Correll, his wife, Renee, and son, Noah (1), are members of Chapel Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Beaver, Pennsylvania. Matt has a B.A. in Christian Education from Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, and an M.A in Higher Education from Geneva College. Matt is a part-time faculty member at Geneva in the Bible Department and in the Community Ministries Department, part of the Degree Completion Program. He also serves his church as a teacher of the college-age group and as a small group leader in the young adult ministry program. He senses a call to a full-time teaching position and doctoral work, Lord willing.

Stanley Holbrook has a B.S. in Human Resources from Geneva College and an M.B.A. from Point Park University. He also has a Masters of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Stanley and his wife, Michelle, live in Pittsburgh. They have five children-two daughters, Janet and Stanlee, along with three sons, Michael, James and Cedric. Stanley plans to complete work on a Doctor of Ministry with a concentration in the Theology of Work at Bakke Graduate University. Stanley has a great passion for work ministry and has started several newsletters and a website devoted to this important topic. He senses a call to serve in workplace ministry helping people see God’s directing of their lives in terms of a vocation integrating faith into the workplace.

Alisha McCombs and her husband, John, a second year student at RPTS, met while serving in the Army in the ancient city of Nineveh, modern day Mosul, Iraq. Together, they searched for a seminary where they could concentrate on Biblical Counseling. After time spent with Dr. O’Neill, they decided to call RPTS home. Alisha is a graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology. Alisha and John are expecting a baby girl in June, 2011! Born in Florence, Alabama, Alisha is a member of New Hope Church in Pittsburgh, where she enjoys sharing her God-given talents in music and teaching. Alisha has been called upon numerous times to share her wonderful vocal talents with the RPTS family. She is looking forward to motherhood and plans to continue to work in counseling and teaching.

Doctor of Ministry Graduates

Craig Davis and his wife, Robyn, live in Kennewick, Washington, and have four children: Prescott, Caleb, Megan and Isaiah. Craig is Minister of the Word at Grace United Reformed Church, also in Kennewick. Craig learned of RPTS serving on the staff of Coalition for Christian Outreach at Geneva College, where Robyn was a student. Craig is a graduate of Covenant College, majoring in Sociology and Missions. He also earned his Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Craig notes that the God used the D. Min. professors and program to stretch specific ministerial skills and to sharpen some of his “worn tools.” “Looking backwards,” said Craig, “the program came at a good time in life; looking forward, I am grateful for the many challenges which, by God’s grace, will bear fruit in His time and in His ripening fields.”

John Stanko is a pastor at Allegheny Center Alliance Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From 2001 to 2008, he spent significant time in Africa ministering in leadership development and church consulting. John also finds time to serve as an Adjunct Professor at Geneva College’s Master of Organizational Leadership program and also as the Assistant Director of the Center for Urban Biblical Ministry (CUBM). John has published eleven books and has finished a verse-by-verse devotional for the entire New Testament. John learned of RPTS through CUBM, which is located on the Seminary campus. Notes John, “The doctoral program gave me the structure needed to grow and learn for the opportunities that are yet ahead of me.” John mentions Dr. Jack Kinneer as being particularly helpful during his studies and he gives a special word of thanksgiving for the years of support from his wife, Kathryn.