Praise God for the riches of his kindness and grace! I am so thankful for my experience at RBS and the work that the Lord is doing here. Having just completed my training in the BDiv program, I can say that it has been an incredible journey. One that the Lord has powerfully used, and I’m sure will continue to use in the future.

My name is Alex Russell. I’ve been living in Calgary, Alberta Canada ever since my wife Erika and I were hitched in 2015. Since then, the Lord has blessed us with 3 children: Clara, James, Benjamin, and one on the way. We were just simple professors of the faith when we were married, having the form of godliness, but denying the power. It wasn’t until my folks sent us Paul Washer’s “Shocking Youth Message” that our lies and hypocrisy were exposed. God saved me first in 2017, immediately striking me with an evangelistic obsession, much to the bewilderment of my wife. Gloriously, Erika would be converted nearly 9 months later, in the context of Fairview Baptist Church, where we would end up growing and serving until today.

It was Fairview and Pastor Tim Stephens that would nurture my desire for pastoral ministry and encourage me to apply to Reformed Baptist Seminary. Before this, we weren’t sure what options there were for me in terms of theological training. Orthodox seminaries in Canada were something of a rarity, and our family couldn’t afford to pick up shop and pay tuition elsewhere. Not to mention, we weren’t convinced that leaving the ministry of Fairview for training was the most biblical format. Finding RBS was a God-send. I could hardly believe I could get an affordable reformed education via distance learning that would allow me to remain serving in my local church. It was a no-brainer.

I still remember what it was like first listening to the lectures as a relatively new and eager believer. It was staggering. The level of theological depth uncovered was more than I could have imagined. I felt I was reading the Scriptures for the first time. I still have all the enthusiastic underlines in my Bible to prove it.

As my training with RBS progressed, so too did my understanding of the Scriptures. It pushed me to think more deeply about the things of God, and become more disciplined in their study. Both of which had immense impact on my ministry at Fairview. I have now been an elder of the church for 3 years, in which we have navigated some very uniquely complicated circumstances. Primarily, the arrest of our senior pastor, and the closure of our church for assembling during COVID. This was an intense period, as my early training was conducted on a trial by fire basis as the only remaining elder. Yet, the Lord was working powerfully and has blessed, and vindicated as a result. Looking back, I know that the tutelage I received at RBS gave me a critical advantage. The theological and practical truths I had learned equipped me with a solid foundation to navigate that difficult period. Praise God!

Thank you, RBS and faculty. Myself and others at Fairview Baptist have been greatly blessed by your labors. A special thanks to Dr. Gonzales whose efforts and oversight have been a particular encouragement to me. May the Lord continue to use this seminary to powerfully advance the kingdom of the Son and glorify his name.

Alex Russell