Faculty_Godfrey_hiResProvidence Christian College in Pasadena will celebrate Reformation Day on October 28  with Special Guest Speaker Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, president of Westminster Seminary California in Escondido. Chapel service begins at 11 a.m.

As the only Reformed Christian College on the west coast, Providence will honor Reformation Day, a key holiday in the Reformed tradition, that marks the day Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany back in 1517 that signaled the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

“As the 500th anniversary of this historic occasion fast approaches, we pause to reflect on its significance and celebrate this milestone annually for its pivotal transformation of church history,” said Providence President Dr. Jim Belcher. “We are honored that Dr. Godfrey will be here at Providence to mark such an important celebration of our faith with our students, faculty and administration.”

Dr. Godfrey has taught church history at Westminster Seminary California since 1981. He taught previously at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Stanford University, and Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is also an ordained minister in the United Reformed Churches in North America.

“All Christians need to cultivate a life with God that is growing and developing. If we are not growing, we will stagnate or die,” says Dr. Godfrey when asked what he wants to instill in students. “And that in their time of study that they will grow in confidence of scripture – it’s true and provides all that we need for faithful ministry and the upbuilding of the church.”

“For me as a reformation historian, I gave years of my life to study how the reformers recovered the gospel and I think it is so critical we preserve that in the life of the church today,” Dr. Godfrey adds. “Students need to know where the church came from and how it has developed the way that it has and what the challenges are to keeping the church in our day faithful to the scriptures.”

Martin Luther is one of the most significant figures in the Protestant faith. This law student turned Augustinian monk became the center of a great controversy after the theses he nailed on the church door back in the 1500s were copied and distributed throughout Europe. Luther led the effort that, among many things, translated the Bible and the traditional mass from Latin into the German language so the people could understand its message. Today, Luther’s legacy lives on in the creeds and confessions of Protestant churches worldwide.

“As we consider the importance of this Reformation Day, we strive to be more knowledgeable proclaimers and defenders of biblical truth and renew ourselves and our students to be eager to share those truths and spark a new reformation of church and culture.” added Dr. Belcher.

Reformation Day Chapel Celebration
Featuring Guest Speaker Dr. W. Robert Godfrey
Friday, October 28 at 11:00 am
Franson Hall
Providence Christian College
1539 E. Howard Street
Pasadena, CA 91104