"The LORD God omnipotent reigns..."
Revelation 19:6

I was born in Los Angeles, into an unbelieving family, the second of five children. My parents divorced when I was 9 years old. Life was confusing. Why was I even alive? The world was a mess, and so was I. Had God not intervened in a wonderful way, the trajectory of my life could only be tragic. But His powerful grace came to this depressed, dark, and even suicidal young man, and He washed me in His own blood, and gave me a new heart, and a clear reason to live. I was a new creation in Christ, all before my 15th birthday!

This new life brought with it a love for God's Word, and a thirst to better understand His ways. I started my faith journey in Neo-Orthodox churches, which clouded my beginning steps. But after much study, pruning and wrestling, God clearly showed me the errors of liberalism. Through a long and circuitous journey, brought me, by ever advancing steps, to understand Reformed truths that I now count so precious.

I yearned to be a useful instrument in God's hand and aspired to the pastoral ministry. Many friends and counselors encouraged these desires. Seeking further theological education, my wife and I relocated from L.A. to Northern New Jersey, having been accepted into the Trinity Ministerial Academy, I matriculated in September 1986. Oh, those were glory years! The seminary instruction was rich, challenging, practical, pastoral and earnest. Church life was glorious, with the TMA professors also my pastors. I grew by leaps and bounds, in knowledge, and also in Christian graces.

Following the completion of my studies, I hoped for pastoral usefulness. But I was in a troubled marriage. It seemed that nothing worked to make our marriage better. I could not pursue pastoral work with this being my grim reality. Thus began the toughest 25 years of my life, a season I call my wilderness time. I poured myself into the raising of my three precious daughters, we homeschooled them. I attempted to be useful in the various Churches of which we were a part. After some years, I came to realize what many others had told me— my wife was unconverted. It was only with 15 months of life remaining that she was savingly joined to Christ. A second cancer diagnosis, seven months after her new birth, would be the proving ground to demonstrate the reality of her newfound faith. God's ways are truly mysterious! She passed from this life in January 2015.

In the process of grieving her loss, those old yearnings to be useful in the Church rekindled. I was re-married in July 2018, to a true yoke-fellow (Colleen), who shared my burden to see God's Church grow on Earth, to the praise of the glory of His grace.

I am so thankful for the opportunity afforded by RBS to complete my Master of Divinity degree. Working on my thesis has honed my skills and helped me re-engage in the integrated disciplines of theological study. I am thankful for the professors and mentors who have interacted with me in this project. They have been a great blessing, helping me to enhance my spiritual thinking processes.

Being able to do this work, as I lived my life and remained in my local church, is an advantage in many ways. May God continue to use this seminary in ever increasing ways.

I now plan on continuing in my local church, seeking to be useful in whatever way I am able.

Jerry Doman