I was born into a Christian home where I came to know the gospel at a very early age. I can’t trace my conversion to a specific time, but I praise God that he has granted a sinner like me repentance and faith in Jesus and awakened in me a love for his word.

From early in my teen years, when I first began to really read the Scriptures for myself, I remember praying that God might use me in his church. After graduating high school, I enrolled in the Pastoral Studies program at Moody Bible Institute. I benefitted from the instruction of many godly professors, but perhaps most influential for me were the courses in Greek exegesis. Dr. Jon Laansma taught me the importance of letting the text speak for itself and modeled for me a humble submission to the authority of God’s word. It was ultimately these classes on faithfully exegeting the text of Scripture that moved me from Dispensationalism to a reformed and baptistic theology. This wasn’t just an academic transition for me, but one that was truly full of excitement and joy. At the risk of overstating things, there was a sense in which it felt like I was finally coming home.

In 2000, I was called to pastor at a new church plant in Channahon, Illinois (Living Word Bible Church) and this is still the church where I’m serving today (though we have since purchased a facility and moved to Morris, Illinois). The elders and deacons who serve alongside me are a constant encouragement and example. I am richly blessed to be a part of this body as a pastor-teacher. Of course, part of serving as a pastor-teacher is the need to always be learning and growing.

What an immense privilege it has been for me to benefit from the instruction of the professors at RBS! The blend of scholarship and pastoral experience and application has both encouraged and equipped me to be a more faithful shepherd of God’s flock. A huge “thank you” to Dr. Gonzales and to all of the busy pastors who give of their time to make this quality theological education available, and also affordable.

Our church counts it a great privilege to support the work of RBS, and I personally look forward to auditing many more RBS courses in the future.

Finally, I am thankful to God for my wonderful wife, Andrea, and for each of the children that God has blessed us with (Nathanael, Mary, Kami, Hannah, Matthew, and Micah). God has been gracious to me and I know that He is always gracious to me in Christ. To God alone be all the honor and glory!

Timothy Greene