Dr. Robert J. McKelvey
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B.S., University of Pittsburgh, 1987;
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After I graduated from college, the Lord graciously opened my eyes to the fact that I lived driven by my sinful desires as God's enemy. By chasing after all that I could grab in this life, I was actually losing my life on a hopeless path to eternal hell. By God's grace alone and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I believed on Jesus Christ as my Savior. My life was set free from the guilt and power of sin for service to Christ rather than myself. At the time, I was studying to be a Medical Doctor and on my way to the Penn State College of Medicine in 1987. I looked with excitement to a career in medicine where I could not only help people physically but spiritually with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I began exploring the possibility of doing medical missions work in Africa. However, after a year in medical school, the Lord changed my plans and directed me to prepare for the pastoral ministry in 1988. Little did I realize that I would still end up in Africa along a different path!
By God's grace, I eventually received a PhD in Historical Theology out of a desire to be properly equipped for training pastors. Our family had already moved to South Africa in 2002 where I served as a lecturer and administrator at the John Wycliffe Theological College near Johanneburg. I was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in America to take up this call. After five years, I received a call to full-time pastoral ministry in 2007 back in the USA at the Westminster Presbyterian Church (of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church) in Windber, PA. By the Lord's grace it is my privilege to go back to the College twice a year as a visiting lecturer. The disadvantage is that my whole family cannot go back to visit our dear brothers and sisters in Christ there.
In 1991, the Lord brought my dear wife Sharon into my life, and the Lord has blessed us with six precious children: Leanne, Laura, Joshua, John, Joseph, and Lydia.
I have a great love for the Puritans and my doctoral dissertation examined John Bunyan's Holy War, proposing that the allegory was written primarily as a Scriptural history of redemption. My dissertation is scheduled for publication with Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht (If I ever finally finish my editing!).
We live in Windber (near Johnstown; yes the one famous for its floods) and while we would like to see more sunshine here (a big change from Johannesburg!), we love the area and pray that the Lord will use our church for the extension of his kingdom in this area. Please pray for this work, feel free to join us for worship or contact us with any questions you may have.
Jeff Lockard
Paul Van Grouw