Annual Directors' Report

/

Reformed Baptist Seminary marked its 20th year of ministry this May. We give thanks to God for His sustaining grace over the years and for the privilege of training many students for gospel ministry. Since 2005, RBS has graduated 178 students. We are also deeply grateful to the individuals and churches who have faithfully partnered with us. Your prayers and financial support have enabled us to provide sound theological education in a format that is both flexible and affordable. On behalf of our students, faculty, and board, thank you!

Students & Graduates

Students completing the 2024 fall semester numbered 117: seven enrolled in the Certificate Program; 52 in the Marrow Program; 16 in the Scholar’s Program; four in the Biblical Counseling Program, and 38 in the Divinity Program. By the end of the 2025 spring semester, a total of 22 students graduated: one with the Certificate of Reformed Baptist Studies (CRBC); one with the Diploma of Theological Studies (DTS); ten with the Master of Theological Studies (MTS); six with the Master of Arts (MA); and four with the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree. We anticipate an enrollment between 115 and 120 students for the 2025 fall semester. 

Residential Classes

The 2024 fall offerings for our Classical Studies Divinity Program included Historical Theology III (Jeff Smith) and Philosophical Inquiries (Nick Kennicott). This spring, courses included Elementary Greek I (Tom Fowler), Man & Christ (Bob Gonzales and Brian Borgman), and Historical Investigations (Nick Kennicott). The 2025 fall semester will feature Elementary Greek II (Fowler), Biblical Theology (Bob Gonzales, John Sweat, and Vadim Chepurny), and Christianity and Classical Culture (Nick Kennicott). Six students are currently enrolled in the residential Divinity program, and several others are auditing the classes.

Modular Instruction

In September 2024, Charles Hodges and Sam Barber taught a modular course on Counseling & Physiology in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Then, in November, Jeff Smith, Bob Gonzales, and Nick Kennicott lectured for a module on Baptist Symbolics. Brian Borgman taught on the doctrine of Christ in January 2025, and Keith Evans lectured on Theology & Secular Counseling in June. 

We’ve scheduled John Sweat to teach a module on Biblical Theology in October 2025. Then, in 2026, Sam Barber and Rick Horne are scheduled to teach a modular course on Counseling Children & Adolescents. For more information about upcoming modules, look at the Upcoming Events on our homepage.

Training in Nepal

For the past several years, RBS has partnered with HeartCry Missionary Society to provide theological instruction in Nepal. In February of 2025, Rob Ventura and Jim Domm traveled to Butwal to teach a course on the Exposition of Romans. This September, Sam Barber is scheduled to teach an introductory course on Biblical Counseling. This will complete the 24-credit Certificate of Theological Studies program. 

Ministry in Kenya

In May 2025, Nick Kennicott went to Kisumu, Kenya to preach at the graduation ceremony for the Kisumu Reformed School of Theology (KReST) and teach a modular course on the Doctrine of Christ. RBS has a formal affiliate relationship with KReST to share resources and offer recognition, approval, and support. He also preached at Grace Baptist Church of Nairobi and Grace Baptist Church of Kisumu. 

Accreditation

At the beginning of the 2024–2025 academic term, RBS applied for accreditation with the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS). On September 27, ARTS notified us that our application had been approved. Since then, we have been engaged in a “self-study” in which the seminary is measuring itself in the light of ARTS academic standards and is making adjustments accordingly. The Lord willing, we hope to have our self-study completed within the 12-month timeframe and submitted to ARTS’s Committee for Accreditation. If they are satisfied with the self-study, they grant RBS “candidacy” status and will schedule a site-visit to Florida. If that goes well and if we’re able to make any necessary changes, we hope to be approved sometime in the latter half of 2026. We believe the process of pursuing accreditation will help us identify areas where we can improve our training programs and, in the long run, open more doors of opportunity for our graduates. Please pray for God’s blessing on this process. 

Financial Report

We ended the last fiscal year at $49,000 in the black. If you are a supporting church, we are grateful for your generosity, and we hope you’ll continue supporting us or maybe consider increasing your support. If you’re not yet supporting RBS but would like to know more about our needs, please feel free to contact us. If you are one of our supporters, please be advised that you can request a much more detailed financial report at any time. Just email us (info@rbs.org), and we will forward you that info. 

Conclusion

RBS remains dedicated to serving local churches and equipping students to effectively proclaim the gospel. Together, let us continue to advance the Kingdom and fulfill the mission that Christ has entrusted to his church. Thank you for being part of this ministry.

/ /

Bob Gonzales

Bob Gonzales has served as a pastor of four Reformed Baptist congregations and has been the Academic Dean and a professor since 2005. He is the author of Where Sin Abounds: the Spread of Sin and the Curse in Genesis with Special Focus on the Patriarchal Narratives and has contributed to the Reformed Baptist Theological Review, The Founders Journal, and Westminster Theological Journal. Dr Gonzales is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society. He and his wife, Becky, reside in Boca Raton, Florida.