March 2021 Fidelis

Letter from the President

Dear JWC family and friends,

Greetings from John Witherspoon College!

One of the many truths JWC students learn in the New Testament class is the command from Jesus, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37 ESV, emphasis added).

Learning to love God—as well as our neighbor—must begin by loving God with our minds. We grow to love Him through the study of His Word and the observance of His commands by the power of His Spirit.

At John Witherspoon College, students are challenged to love God and see His truths in all their subject areas, whether in math and science, history and the languages, ethics and counseling, or economics and leadership. Students learn to become godly citizen leaders. They learn to love God and their neighbor by practicing love, which is patient and kind . . . (1 Corinthians 13:4), something our world desperately needs more of today.

Thank you for your prayers and partnership toward helping students receive a Christ-centered classical education for service to the church and the world.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Ronald Lewis

President

Bible Verse Here

JWC Life Science Class

Spring Semester 2021

For the second year, JWC is teaching its Life Science course at the excellent science facilities at Rapid City Christian School. The curriculum for this cell biology course was originally created by Dr. Loyal Tillotson, MD and PhD from Harvard University, who continues to provide audio case studies to the class. This course is taught by Professor Lyle Harris and focuses on investigating God's marvelous and intricate structures created within the cell.

Third Thursday Chapel

March 18, 11:00am-Noon

Dawn Reber, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

The public is invited to the Third Thursday chapel at John Witherspoon College on March 18, from 11:00am to Noon. After the students lead in worship, we will hear a message of good news from Dawn Reber, the Celebrations Director for Crusade Ministries. Dawn will share about the upcoming Black Hills Paha Sapa Celebration on September 24-26, 2021.

Alumni Levi Berntson

"Thankful for the education that I received

at John Witherspoon College"

LEVI BERNTSON was graduated from John Witherspoon College

on May 10, 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Studies.

Pictured here with his wife Jordan.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD of John Witherspoon College, I would never have guessed what I was getting myself into. At that time, I couldn’t have dreamed of the richness that I would find in classical education, nor of the love that would develop in me for Latin, Hebrew, and Greek. Nor did it ever cross my mind that I would graduate from JWC and receive a full-ride to Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson, MS), one of the premiere Reformed seminaries in the world. Yet this is what happened. I believe that there are three primary reasons why JWC was and continues to be such a profoundly helpful and godly influence on me in my Christian walk and in my preparation for pastoring and teaching.

First, JWC instilled in me the Christ-centered nature of all study. It is Jesus who is the fountain of all knowledge, and who upholds the universe and the human mind so that we may learn and understand His creation and His Word. Indeed, Christ provides the goal of all study, making His Gospel and glory the purpose of all which we do as Christians.

Second, JWC showed me the importance of reading and wrestling with the literature, myths, stories, and philosophy of the unbeliever. By virtue of their being created in the image of God, unbelievers have genuine knowledge from general revelation. Therefore there is so much to be plucked from a careful and thoughtful harvesting of pagan intellectual fruit. Just as Paul read and used Greek poets like Epimenedes and Aratus, yet subjected them to serious critique at points, so thoughtful Christians may use and subject the thoughts of brilliant thinkers like Aristotle to the infallible, inerrant truth of Holy Scripture. Wrestling with pagan thought has sharpened my ability to check my own subtle assumptions and submit them to the Word, while simultaneously refining my own thinking, teaching, and preaching.

Third, JWC introduced me to a love for the languages. Not only was I thoroughly prepared for intensive Hebrew and Greek study in seminary, but I was also equipped with a great deal of experience in Latin. In fact, this semester I am working on a translation of a Latin work from an 18th century Reformed theologian which has never before been translated into English. Lord willing, its publication is forthcoming.

I am so thankful for the education that I received at John Witherspoon College. I am presently pursuing a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theology at RTS. I’m also the Pastoral Intern at a PCA church here in Jackson where I preach and teach each week. Additionally, I work as the Teaching Assistant to our professor of theology, J. V. Fesko, who is my dear friend. Jordan (my wife) is almost done with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and the two of us absolutely love Mississippi. Lord willing, we look forward to my PhD studies, and wherever God calls us next. We praise our Father in heaven for gifting more than we could ever ask or think. JWC is a part of that gift.

Levi Berntson,Class of 2019

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