On Friday, May 16, 2025, the Board of Trustees of 麻豆视频 (麻豆视频) voted unanimously to grant tenure and promote Rev. Dr. Nathan J茅r茅mie-Brink to the position of L. Russell Feakes Associate Professor of the History of Global Christianity, effective July 1, 2025. This significant milestone honors Dr. J茅r茅mie-Brink鈥檚 exemplary contributions to the Seminary鈥檚 academic life, his influential scholarship, and his steadfast commitment to justice-oriented theological education.

Dr. J茅r茅mie-Brink joined the 麻豆视频 faculty in 2018 and has consistently advanced the mission of the seminary through his scholarship, in the classroom, and in projects that engage the broader church and community. A teacher and mentor dedicated to making history public, he encourages seminary students and their church communities to 鈥渄o history.鈥� For Dr. J茅r茅mie-Brink, this means 鈥渂ringing historical critical thinking into our faith communities and public life.鈥�

His archival scholarship on Black religious history and abolitionist print culture is the focus of his forthcoming monograph, tentatively titled Spreading Fire: Black Print Activism in the Early US. He has published other works on these topics, such as a recent essay on 鈥淩eligion and Abolitionism鈥� in the .

During the pandemic, his work secured nearly $200,000 in grant funding from the Henry Luce Foundation around the needs of unhoused neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work deepened 麻豆视频鈥檚 collaborative relationships with Rutgers University, coLAB Arts New Brunswick, and the Affordable Housing Corporation of the Reformed Church of Highland Park. He shared theological and pedagogical insights gleaned from this project in published in Teaching Theology & Religion.

A distinctive thrust in much of Dr. J茅r茅mie-Brink鈥檚 public scholarship has featured the history of enslavement in New Jersey and its relationship to Christianity and particular church communities. His ongoing work on this topic in the local context of Morris County, New Jersey, can be reviewed at the project website, . This project featured the reburial of the human remains of formerly enslaved African Americans through a community-engaged process featuring local pastors, other public historians, and ongoing community member dialogue.

Among the other scholarly contributions that have grown out of the 麻豆视频 classroom, J茅r茅mies online interactive resource developed with 麻豆视频 Master鈥檚 Student Sue McGeown, featured in .

He also writes for the general public at

Throughout the review process, colleagues, alumni, students, and external evaluators consistently highlighted Dr. J茅r茅mie-Brink鈥檚 academic innovation and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Many noted the historical depth, intellectual rigor, and contemporary relevance of his work. Dr. J茅r茅mie-Brink is grateful that his scholarship and 麻豆视频 can provide a 鈥渟paces and methods for deep engagement–where scholarship, community advocacy, and faithful public leadership converge.鈥�  

麻豆视频 President Dr. Micah L. McCreary reflected on Dr. J茅r茅mie-Brink鈥檚 recognition, stating:
鈥淒r. J茅r茅mie-Brink exemplifies the heart and intellect of 麻豆视频. His unwavering commitment to justice, academic excellence, and compassionate leadership continues to inspire our students and uplift the wider faith community. We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved honor.鈥�

The Seminary community celebrates Dr. J茅r茅mie-Brink鈥檚 achievements and looks forward to his continued leadership in advancing the mission of 麻豆视频 to think critically, act justly, and lead faithfully, locally and globally.

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It was those kids, those kids in Kenya. They changed her life.

The first time Jeanette Goodson visited Kenya was in 1997, on a birthday trip from her husband, Joe. The kids鈥� questions there made her nervous, especially after she tried to help them understand who she was鈥攁n American with African roots. Jeanette鈥檚 worst fear was, 鈥淲hat if they asked me a question about the God I believed in, a question I couldn鈥檛 answer?鈥�

Retired from her 36-year career in the Bell System, Jeanette received a new call, the call to ministry and seminary. Her goal? To learn more about God鈥攎ore about this invisible God she believed in.

From the very first time she walked into 麻豆视频 for her interview as a nontraditional student, she has felt welcomed . . . and challenged. Immediately asked probing questions by Dr. Warren Dennis as he sat on the sofa in the former seminary lobby, Jeanette realized that 麻豆视频 was the place God wanted her to be.  鈥淚 love everything about 麻豆视频,鈥� said Jeanette.

鈥淎t times I was pretty overwhelmed,鈥� admitted Jeanette. 鈥淏ut all the professors encouraged me and walked beside me, guiding me along. And I learned patience鈥攖o take just one step at a time toward my goal.鈥�

At age 77, Jeanette is now an instructor herself: a full-time educator in the Pastoral Care Department of Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center in Edison, NJ. She seeks to emulate the safe environment for learning that she experienced as a student at 麻豆视频. 鈥淢y professors and fellow students were a family with whom I felt safe.鈥� She believes that a sense of safety is critical for authenticity and for learning about self and others.

Jeanette would sometimes arrive early to class just to experience quiet time at the Seminary or in Sage Library. 鈥淭here was peace and serenity in those halls.鈥�

It is through the 麻豆视频 Field Education program and Dr. Faye Taylor that Jeanette first connected with Hackensack. Her desire for an 鈥渆asy six credits鈥� of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) eventually led to her becoming a board-certified chaplain from the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy and a supervisor/educator. Jeanette trains all pastoral care religious volunteers, chaplain interns, and pastors of all faiths in the art of being an effective listener who demonstrates empathy and compassion.

鈥淭o me, pastoral care is journeying with people, seeing people as living, human documents with narratives to tell.鈥� Over the past five years Jeanette has recruited and assisted in training over 300 chaplain interns to work in Hackensack Meridian hospitals, including interns from 麻豆视频.

Jeanette believes in bringing a pastoral care approach to the mission field as well. Those entering another culture need to demonstrate the ability to listen well and commit to journeying alongside people in their context.

After visiting Kenya and seeing the impact of a mission-supported school, Jeanette and her husband, Joe, along with others from Fountain Baptist Church in Summit, NJ, felt directed by God to organize an educational sponsorship ministry in 2000. Over the past 25 years. the Kenya Educational Sponsorship Program (KESP) has supported over 5,000 children from the rural community of Kibwezi to attend school at the elementary, secondary, and college level. Jeanette has been to Kenya nineteen times, often bringing others along to see God at work.

Jeanette and her husband wanted to support those studying missiology at 麻豆视频, so each semester they fund a scholarship for an African American student in the DMin program. She remembers the significant cost of books alone and is happy to help.

鈥溌槎故悠� faculty and staff along with God鈥檚 guidance were the tools that changed my life and made me the person I am today. 麻豆视频 and God worked a miracle on me.鈥�

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After feeling a call to ministry for many years, Maurice West shared it with his pastor. He鈥檒l never forget what his pastor said: 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter how Holy Ghost-filled you are. You need an education.鈥�

Those words got the ball rolling. Without a college degree, Maurice couldn鈥檛 immediately pursue a master鈥檚 degree, but he could enroll at 麻豆视频 for a Certification in Theological Studies/Urban Ministry. Though he had to unlearn many things he thought he knew about the Bible, his professors told him he had a 鈥渉ead for theology.鈥� And with the help of his advisor Dr. Terry Ann Smith, his scholarly writing improved.

Soon after finishing this certification, Good Will Rescue Mission (Newark, NJ) asked Maurice to preach on New Year鈥檚 Eve, beginning a five-year journey leading services there. Maurice realized that more preaching would require more education. So he embarked on another 麻豆视频 certification, this one in Expository Preaching.

By successfully completing those certificate programs at 麻豆视频, Maurice became eligible to apply for graduate courses. A few years later, Maurice finished as the top student in his cohort, earning an M.A. in Theological Studies.

After completing his M.A. thesis (鈥溾��), Maurice was ready for a break. But when Dr. Smith and Dr. Beth LaNeel Tanner urged him to enroll in the DMin program, he realized that he had more to learn and more to say.

What keeps him coming back are the professors. According to Maurice, 麻豆视频 professors respect their students, not just in spite of but because of our differences. They are always willing to connect and always there to encourage. Knowing that Maurice deals with multiple sclerosis (diagnosed six months before starting his M.A.), many of his professors regularly assure him of their prayers.

Even though Maurice is still paying tuition, he also donates to 麻豆视频. Why? Because 鈥渢he world needs more Christian leaders trained to think critically, act justly, lead faithfully.鈥� Maurice says that his seminary courses have always equipped and empowered him to take the next step in ministry. He regularly preaches at the Market Street Mission in Morristown, New Jersey. Someday he might want to direct a nonprofit. What he knows for sure is that in his job and in his volunteer roles, he serves God better thanks to his 麻豆视频 degrees.

Donate to 麻豆视频 today!

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Althelia Ponds鈥檚 life has taken surprising turns. A hairpin curve happened on Good Friday of 2010.

Though a librarian by trade, Althelia occasionally applied her research, reading, and storytelling skills to preaching. On that memorable Good Friday at Springfield Garden Presbyterian Church (NY), a liturgical dance had her on fire. She felt the Spirit speaking through her exposition of God鈥檚 Word.

After the final 鈥渁men,鈥� the Rev. Dr. Edward Davis challenged her, in front of the whole congregation: 鈥淕od is calling you higher! God is calling you to seminary!鈥�

Althelia had heard this call before, but had resisted. She already had a career, she was funding her daughter鈥檚 college education, and she was already in her fifties.

But this voice couldn鈥檛 be denied, so she started with just one class鈥擠r. John Coakley鈥檚 Old Testament course at 麻豆视频鈥� New York site at St. John鈥檚 University. This course, and all her Seminary courses, broadened her intellectually and gifted her with a cadre of classmates who continue to sustain and support her.

In 2019 the Rev. Althelia Pond was ordained and installed at Mt. Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church as their first African American woman pastor. Still researching, reading, and storytelling, she also brings to ministry the knowledge acquired through her Seminary training.

In 2023, Althelia received two prestigious awards. In April she was inducted into the MLK, Jr. Board of Preachers, recognized along with other mentors serving in the Black Women in Ministry R.E.A.L. THRIVE Initiative. Funded through a Lilly Endowment, R.E.A.L. stands for Relationship Building, Equipping and Expanding, Access and Leadership, and Legacy Development. This program paired experienced Black women clergy with newer Black women in ministries to mentor them as they lead congregations in various capacities.

Althelia takes her mentoring role very seriously, advising not only on sermon prep and delivery, but also the fiduciary and administrative responsibilities that come with leading a church. She takes her mentees on building walk-throughs, tours that include information about the roof, the gutters, and the boiler. She provides insight on city inspections, finding contractors, and rules regarding exemptions. They discuss budgets and how to invite parishioners to take ownership of their building through their financial stewardship. From Althelia鈥檚 perspective, 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to prepare laborers for the kingdom of God.鈥�

Then in June Althelia received the President鈥檚 Lifetime Achievement Award from the office of President Joseph R. Biden 鈥渇or lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service.鈥� She received special notice for a Tuesday Zoom group she participates in with elderly women, a program started by Rev. Dr. Cornell Edmonds during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues with women as old as 103. Althelia describes this precious time as 鈥渁 safe space with no agenda . . . an opportunity to lift up women who have been so faithful.鈥�

Saying 鈥測es鈥� to God has brought Althelia down unexpected roads, but she has never traveled alone.

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MAKING THE STRANGER KNOWN

At age 85, Rev. Ron Lokhorst doesn鈥檛 preach many sermons. But on July 31, 2022, Ron delivered the message for all three services at Central College Presbyterian Church, where he volunteers as the Parish Associate in Westerville, Ohio.

The occasion was the 60^th anniversary of Ron鈥檚 ordination as a pastor. On August 5, 1962, he was ordained and installed as a Minister of Word and Sacrament at the Reformed Church of Port Ewen, New York. In the years between, Ron served in the following roles:

• Lead Pastor, St. Thomas Reformed Church, Virgin Islands
• Executive Director, Warwick Conference Center, New York
• Lead Pastor, Good Samaritan Church, Gahanna, Ohio
• Interim pastor, 5 different churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Virgin Islands
• Lead Pastor, Reformed Church of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
• Pastor of Visitation, Mifflin Presbyterian Church, Gahanna, Ohio

Having grown up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, Ron attended a one-room elementary school and a small high school. In 1959, Ron graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Next, Ron chose 麻豆视频 to further prepare him for his call to serve the Church. 麻豆视频 introduced him to ministry in an urban setting. Ron learned that to be effective, 鈥渙ne must first understand and fully appreciate the setting.鈥�

Attending 麻豆视频 informed Ron鈥檚 thinking and perspective. Professors challenged his biblical and theological interpretations. Deep relationships with fellow students taught him to value authenticity (鈥渂eing real鈥�) and inclusivity. 

Ron recognizes that during his seminary years (1959-1962), inclusivity at 麻豆视频 was more aspirational than actual: Ron graduated in a class of 25 white men. He is impressed by the diversity reflected today in 麻豆视频鈥檚 faculty, staff, and students. 

So what text does one choose on the anniversary of 60 years in ministry? Ron chose John 1:26, where John the Baptist refers to Jesus when he says to the priests and Levites, 鈥淎mong you stands one whom you do not know.鈥� This same passage was used by 麻豆视频 professor Dr. Vernon Kooy at Ron鈥檚 ordination. Ron borrowed the same title also: 鈥淭he Well-Known Stranger.鈥� Ron remembers Dr. Kooy saying, 鈥淩on, there is one reason you are ordained to the ministry: you are to make the stranger Jesus known in the lives of people you are called to serve.鈥�

Sixty years after graduating from 麻豆视频, Ron continues to serve, both in his church and in the memory care unit where he lives with his wife Karen, who has dementia. 鈥淏lessed to be a blessing鈥� is his mantra and his witness.

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The association exists to support and strengthen the ties among alumni near and far, current students, churches, communities, and the seminary.

The new Alumni Council members are:

Executive Officers

President 鈥� Barry Wise (2017)
Vice President 鈥� Harry Tysen (1974)
Secretary 鈥� Joyce Moses (2016)

Committees & Chairs

Nominating Committee – Robert Anderson (1968)

This committee will recommend candidates from all active alumni members for office to be elected by the Association.

Honors & Awards Committee – Wes Wilson (2018)

The Committee will recommend to the Council nominees for the following awards: 1784 Legacy (RCA), Chaplaincy (PC&C), Global Ministry, and Prophetic Ministry.

Student Recruitment & Retention Committee 鈥� Sharon Johnson (2015)

Committee members will assist the Seminary in attracting and retaining eligible, high-quality students.

Financial Stewardship Committee – Adebisi (Bisi) Shofu (2013)

This committee will maintain the Association鈥檚 annual budget, lead fundraising efforts for the Alumni Fund, alumni scholarship funds, and various 麻豆视频 Funds.

Social Action Committee 鈥� Geraldine Clark (2012)

Committee members will work in concert with the staff liaison for Alumni Relations, and will assist the Seminary in carrying out its mandate to engage in Christ-centered witness by identifying and advocating for positive-change social justice issues.

Cares Committee – Alice Scott (2018)

The Cares Committee is the pastoral care arm of the Alumni Association and will support alumni by communicating with those who are in bereavement, experiencing illness, or other difficulties.

Communications Committee – Vacant

This committee is responsible to for ensuring that current information is regularly sent to all alumni via social media, postal mail, and email.

National Regional Coordinator – Mark Kraai (1974)

This role is to communicate with all Regional Coordinators.

These and other alumni have worked hard to lay the groundwork for a strong Alumni Association.听 This Council is in the process of:

• Connecting with you by graduating classes
• Connecting alumni regionally across the country
• Engaging with Seminary leadership
• Preparing for the next slate of Alumni Council leaders for the coming year

We need your help!

• We are looking for volunteers for the standing committees.听 If you would like to participate in one of these committees listed above, please email alum@nbts.edu.
• Donate to the Alumni Association Fund so that we can complete the matching grant of $10,000 awarded towards the development of the Alumni Association by In Trust
• Meet the Alumni Council鈥搇 – Thursday, 2/25/21 at 7:00 鈥� 8:00 pm – eastern time. 听

For more info, please contact Joan Marshall at alum@nbts.edu.

For more resources for alumni – Click here.

For a great place听for Alumni to share stories, successes, and assistance with each other, be sure to join our

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