CONFESSIONAL. EXEGETICAL. PASTORAL.

July 2024

Dear Friends of IRBS,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The coming of July allows us to reflect on the many good things the Lord has bestowed on IRBS during the past academic year. We are thankful for our graduates, for the excellent courses offered by many faculty members, and for the different ways everyone at IRBS has given service to the King of Kings. 

Will you give thanks with us?

In Christ's Service,

James M. Renihan

President, IRBS

Dr. Renihan will be teaching Symbolics part 2 at Crosspoint Church in Palmerston North, New Zealand, this month (details below). He'll also be preaching at Crosspoint on July 14 and at Shore Baptist Church Auckland on July 28.

Charles Rennie, Drs Academic Dean

Charles Rennie has been in the pastoral ministry since 2008, after graduating from Westminster Seminary California and IRBS. He has earned a Master’s Degree from the University of St Andrews. He is presently a doctoral candidate at Durham University, researching the contemplative theology of thirteenth-century theologian, Bonaventure.

With a focus upon the medieval tradition, he is especially interested in how a critical and yet charitable understanding of the theological discussions of the past may be able to contribute to the theological discussions taking place within the church today.

J. Ryan Davidson, PhD Dean of Students

Ryan has been serving as the Pastor of Grace Baptist Chapel (Hampton, VA) since August of 2008. He has been married to his wife Christie for nearly two decades, and they have four wonderful children. Ryan is a graduate of Samford University (BA), The College of William & Mary (MEd) in Counseling, and Southern Seminary (ThM) in Louisville, KY, and received his PhD in Early Church History/Pastoral Theology from The Free University of Amsterdam, Netherlands. He has contributed to various academic journals and has had the opportunity to teach pastoral theology around the world.

Richard Barcellos, PhD Director of Publications

Richard C. Barcellos, PhD, is pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Palmdale, CA, and Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology at IRBS. He is author of Trinity & Creation: A Scriptural and Confessional Account and Getting the Garden Right: Adam’s Work and God’s Rest in Light of Christ. He is also the Managing Editor and Book Review Editor for Journal of IRBS.

Apply today

for the 2024/2025 Academic Year.

Please submit applications no later than July 15 for fall admission.

Fall Course Schedule

Registration now open

Symbolics - J. Renihan

Hebrew II - J. Wilson

Ancient Church/Patristics - J. Montgomery

Introduction to Research Writing - M. Grinder

Acts & Pauline Epistles (UK) - T. Decker

Foundations of Philosophical Theology - J. Dolezal

Homiletics I - R. Davidson

Preaching Practicum I - R. Davidson

Hermeneutics - R. Barcellos

Email admissions@irbsseminary.org for more information about any of these classes.

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Introducing the IRBS BDiv

With the new academic year, our diploma program is transitioning into a BDiv (Baccalaureate in Divinity) program!

Like the Diploma Program, the BDiv will be designed to give mature students (30 and above) an opportunity to study at IRBS who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. It is an exact reflection of our MDiv program, 110 credits that may be completed in a minimum of 3 years of full-time enrollment. It will also require completion of 600 hours of ministry internship work. The courses can be completed residentially, online, or a hybrid of the two. Students who are accepted into this program will be on temporary academic probation, which will be lifted after 15 credits are completed with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. BDiv students will participate in class as any other student would, regarding assignments, examinations and class participation.

The BDiv will be a degree granting program. Upon completion of the program, a bachelor’s degree will be conferred to graduates.

Opportunities to Connect

Our monthly fellowship time is on hiatus. Stay tuned for it to pick up again in September. Have a blessed summer! If you'd like to be added to the invitation list, please send your email address to kristen@irbsseminary.org.

All students are very welcome to a monthly missions prayer meeting via Zoom.

Our particular focus will be on persecuted brethren, unreached people groups, and confessional Baptist missionary endeavors. Please join us as we bring these vital matters in prayer to our God.

Please email bnasmith1@gmail.com with questions.

3535 Conference

August 13-15

Registration is now open

Theme:

Ecclesiology

Community Baptist Church

Fargo, North Dakota

August 13-15

Tue-Thu

We have noticed that there seems to be growing interest in the theology and practice of Christ's churches. What does the Word of God say about this important topic? And how have Christian congregations applied what they find in Scripture? In August, Dr. Renihan and Dr. Chad Van Dixhoorn will be the featured speakers at a conference on ecclesiology sponsored by the 3535 Foundation. This will be a time to think about the Doctrine of the Church presented in the Bible and as understood and practiced by our fathers in the faith.

Financial assistance for interested persons is available from the 3535 Foundation. Please consider attending this important gathering.

Partner with us

Our Church Partnership program offers tuition-free, credit-earning courses to members of supporting churches, along with many other benefits.

Check them out at Church Partnership Program.

Things to read

IRBS Merch Store

in partnership with Wrath & Grace

Prayer Requests

Praise God for a time to slow down and reflect.

Please pray for new and returning students, as well as faculty, as they prepare for the upcoming fall semester.

Also, we appreciate your prayer for our upcoming international classes this month and for travel mercies for the faculty who are crossing oceans to teach truth.

As always, pray that the Lord's will be done in all that we do, and that His glory remains the ultimate aim of all.

Thank you for your faithful prayer support.

May IRBS continue to be an effective tool in His hand.

Soli Deo Gloria!