When Chris Hemmelman graduated from RTS in 2015, he carried with him more than theological knowledge—he brought a philosophy of ministry that would sustain him through the challenges of planting a church in Washington, D.C.
“RTS prepared me to serve as a leader and pastor by equipping me to preach God’s word and shepherd God’s people as an expression of love for God and his people,” Hemmelman reflects. Now the lead pastor of First City Church, which he helped plant in January 2016, Hemmelman credits his RTS education with grounding him in timeless principles rather than passing trends.
One moment from his seminary years continues to shape his ministry today. “I remember Dr. Howard Griffith’s encouragement—‘The Reformation was a renewal movement. Our preaching and teaching should bring renewal and life to the churches we serve,’” Hemmelman recalls. “This profoundly shaped me. In all that I do as a pastor, I want people to know Christ, experience his transforming power, and find their life and joy in him.”
That conviction proved essential when facing the pressures of church planting. “When you plant a church, you hear so many voices telling you the latest and greatest strategies and models for church growth,” Hemmelman explains. “I am thankful for the training I received at RTS that grounded me in the ordinary means of grace—word, sacrament, prayer, community, and discipleship.”
The approach has borne fruit. “As a church, we have confidently leaned into these means, putting our hope in God’s power and promise to work by these means in us and through us,” he says. “And by his grace, we have seen many disciples made, and a church grow and thrive.”
For Hemmelman, faithful endurance is found in ancient practices. His advice to current students? “Be patient with the process. Development for ministry is a crockpot, not a microwave. Embrace the process and the hard work.”
It’s wisdom born from nearly a decade of sustained ministry, and an RTS education that prepared him for the long haul.